Moremi Game Reserve: Breakdowns and stupid questions
Game drive in Moremi
After a long and relaxed breakfast in the Botswana morning sun we pack our seven things and start our game drive through the Moremi National Park.
Just as we leave our campsite, a huge elephant stands behind the next bush and shakes the fruits from the tree. What a sight. Everyone in the safari van totally freaks out and we are about to put on the party caps. When we have all calmed down again 10 minutes later, we try to explore the next escape route, just in case. Somehow we stand quite unfavourably, because in front of us is a huge mud hole and we are healed from mud holes since yesterday. However, the by-pass road is in the immediate vicinity of the elephant and we do not want to irritate him under any circumstances. After watching Mr. Elephant for about 20 minutes, a safari car with rangers roars up. They don’t even bat an eyelid as they race past the elephant at full speed over the by-pass at a distance of about 3 metres. Of course, the elephant is not enthusiastic at all, which he makes clear with a loud toad and angry ears. The rangers don’t give a damn and we shit our pants.
Time to slowly but surely disappear. At the main gate to the campsite we want to get rid of some questions today. On the one hand we want to know which route is the best to drive on, because most roads are still closed due to the heavy rain and are not passable. We just get the tip to take the road towards the airport and turn right and left into the side roads.
Besides, we want to know if we can have another camp site for tonight. After all, there were an incredible number of mosquitoes on number 6 yesterday that killed our last nerve. The face of the employees is priceless. With her eyes rolled back into her head, she looks speechless and shakes her head. Then she looks to the ground and I can literally read her thoughts.
Four potatoes are afraid of mosquitoes and are now of the opinion that there are no more mosquitoes about 500 meters away. Yes, it is clear that only Europeans can be that stupid. Our request is answered with one thing: We should check which campsite is still available at 5 pm and then she shakes her heads very clearly again. All right, I got the clue!
So we go on a safari a bit ashamed. Before we turn towards the runway we already have to register the first safari successes of the day, here and there we can discover elephants and antelopes again and again between the bushes. At the runway, however, we are not quite so sure about the way any more, because somehow we can’t find a road with halfway outstretched tire tracks. If you can even call this a street anymore. Actually we drive in a mud furrow, which is covered with grass on the right, left and in the middle. Our questions to the rangers at the airfield won’t help us either. After we take the next right on their advice and drive through deep undergrowth, with which we will tear off almost half of the underbody in my eyes, we turn around to be on the safe side. We don’t want to pull blades of grass from under the car in the wilderness.
On the main path we decide to make a detour to the Paradise Pools, which should be very scenic. The way there is probably quite marshy and muddy. And as we all know, since yesterday we prefer to keep a bit further away from mud holes.
The route leads through densely overgrown area and there is no road or even road signs far and wide. Google Maps with GPS doesn’t help either, because we are supposed to be in the middle of the water. Thank you Google, a very good hint. Only two extended tire tracks, in the middle of which the grass already grows meters high, show the way. But we wanted adventure, so now we’re going on adventure. The mood in the safari car is back in full swing and nothing can stop us anymore.
Flat tyres in the middle of nowhere
About 10 minutes later we rip open the rear tire at a branch, which now announces its end hissing and whistling. Great, the second breakdown in the middle of the bush, I can’t think of anything better! Did I already mention that getting out here is actually forbidden and maybe a greedy lion or a vicious wild boar can wait behind the next bush?
But it doesn’t help, now teamwork is needed. Since the girls have no idea of technology anyway, we secure the surroundings and check for game, and I am also responsible for taking photos and videos. Let me put it this way: That I can do.
Besides photos and videos I can also give instructions and so the jack is attached and operated under professional female guidance. Fortunately, spare tire number 1 hangs directly at the rear of the tailgate and we don’t have to pull out the spare tire from under the car under sweat and tears.
To be honest, everything works surprisingly well and in about 20 minutes the tyre is changed, the hands washed on the on-board water supply and the safari vehicle is ready to go again. From now on, we don’t take any more risks.
Fifteen minutes later we reach a beautiful clearing where a few antelopes graze in the background and an elephant dozes in the shade of the trees. The landscape simply looks so incredibly paradisiacal that it more than deserves the name Paradise Pools. In a pond we see a rather big crane or something similar and we enjoy the view for a while.
The journey continues through the dense bush and marshlands and we all can’t get enough. It doesn’t take us long to get to the next mud hole. This time we are aware of all risks and want to check the puddle professionally beforehand. Mirko and Pierre set off to prove their wilderness suitability.
While Mirko tries to check the depth of the water with a very thin branch that keeps breaking off, Veronica and I are already lie laughing in the footwell. How much sense can it make to check the soil condition of a mud hole with a thin branch? When Pierre professionally throws a stick into the puddle, we laugh in tears. If the testing of a water hole is like this, then we would rather save ourselves this water crossing. Veronica thinks that the women have to take care of that and looks for a better stick and then almost falls into the puddle herself. Even after Veronica’s analysis we come to no clear result, therefore a majority decision is required. Pierre and I are against it and Mirko and Veronica are undecided. When I remind everyone again that after yesterday’s experience and only one spare tire in our luggage, we should probably not take any more major risks, we turn around and drive back to the main road. Instead of through the mud hole our way leads through the Mopane forest towards Southgate.
Shortly thereafter, our decision is rewarded with four zebras at the roadside, which we can observe from very close and in complete peace. Even Veronica’s dog barking out the open window can’t scare them. In fact, we’re so close we can almost pet them. Simply beautiful! On the way back we even startle a buffalo in the bushes. Panicked, he runs down the street and then disappears into the bushes on the other side, unfortunately without us being able to take a reasonable photo of him. All in all a very successful safari day.
Back in camp we decide to divide the work. The girls pitch the tents at campsite number 1, while the boys pick up our chairs and the table from campsite number 6. We are still absolutely sure that there will be fewer mosquitoes here than on Campsite 6.
I’m afraid our dinner isn’t quite as lavish tonight. Instead of potatoes and vegetables we have canned spaghetti with steak. Well, not quite the idea of a successful dinner, but the hunger is quickly satisfied because the spaghetti really tastes terrible. And we’ll do the dishes before dark.
Nature 1: 1 travelgroup
Miraculously there are fewer mosquitoes and on the last camping evening we share the last 8 bottles of beer under the glittering starry sky. Around 9 pm it is so dark that we decide for the safe tent, because you really can’t see your hand in front of your eyes.
About half an hour later, when peace has returned to the camp and half of us are peacefully asleep, the alarm system of our car goes off out of nowhere. You can probably hear that horrible horn for the next 50 kilometers. As if stung by a tarantula, we are all standing vertically in the tent at the same time and it takes a moment before we even know what is going on. Luckily we took the car key into the tent and can quickly set off the wild roar.
Our roof tents immediately become a high-security fortress. Like the prison guards, we now shine our headlamps on both sides of the area. What was that, a hippo, a hyena, a savage who came out of the bush and tried to rob us? Luckily we can’t find anything to worry about, but I won’t be able to get out of my tent tonight! And had I already mentioned that head lamps in the bush are absolutely critical goods?
After the night’s rest on the campground has been restored, our alarm system goes on again after about 15 minutes. And again we secure the area and can’t find anything. From now on, we’ll just leave the car open. The chances of someone trying to rob us are negligible. Nothing’s going to happen.
Shortly afterwards I hear the lions roaring in the distance again, probably complaining about the disturbance at night.
Continue: 140 kilometers to civilization