Botswana

This bugger was doing a good 50km/h and was the only wild game we saw at the Makgadi Pans. Due to the late start of the rainy season there was not much water in the pan and whatever there was, was not a threat to tourists.

We camped at Kubu Island where a lost city is located with some of the ancient ruins still visible. (If you read the book by Wilbur Smith called 'The Sunbird' you will associate this area with the book).

Photo : Danie Vink

A very dangerous situation occurred just the previous day we got somewhat lost and ended up at Green's Baobab that was not on our way to Kubu Island. We also did not know from which direction we approached the trees and as it was October/November, about midday and just north af the 'Tropic of Capricorn' the sun was directly above us and armed with only a map and the sun we had to find our direction. Using a six foot tent pole of which the shadow was only a few centimeters long it took us about 15 minutes to determine our direction. (For more info on how to do it without the use of a compass or GPS please mail me).

Going east there were some low brush to be negotiated on the fringe of the panand we lost part of our electrical fuel pump. As the reservoir of the carburettor has about half a kilometer of fuel in it we only noticed the damage after said distance and one of us had to walk back to find the missing part. We were very lucky as the part could have gone down a rabbit hole and we did not have a spare and to top it all . . .  we were the only vehicle!!!!!

Do not try this on your own.