The delta was INCREDIBLE!
I was very fearful of this part of the trip. I had read some horror stories online about hippo attacks and even one documented crocodile attack. But those are the 1 in 1,000,000 occurrences. (We can NOT live in fear!)
The delta was sublime. From camp we boarded a speedboat, with our day packs, water, tents, and sleeping bags, for an hour ride to the mokoro point. Here we met the polers and loaded all our gear into the mokoros. It was a scorching hot hour and a half ride to our campsite but it was so beautiful and peaceful swooshing through the reeds and waterlilies.
When we made it to camp we set up our tents and ate a pasta lunch. Because of the intense heat the day time is mostly siesta. Some people went off to the swimming hole and some of us lounged around camp. At 5:00pm we loaded into the mokoros once again, just a quick trip to a larger land mass, and went on a nature walk. We learned about the delta and many of the plants (including the poisonous apple trees). We returned to camp for dinner (beef, 'collard greens', and pap - sort of like polenta). We all sat around the campfire chatting and playing cards.
In the morning we woke up at 5:30 for tea/coffee then set off on a 3 hour game walk. The game walk is long but it's fun getting to walk up close to the animals without the land rover engine disturbing them. We saw tons of wildebeest, giraffes, zebras, impalas and a few birds. The walk was long and quite hot. Luckily we packed granola bars with us because all of us were feeling a bit weak from the heat. Eventually we went back to camp for brunch. EGGS! And toasted bread! What a luxury!!!
After brunch we went to the swimming hole. Luckily no hippos or crocs in site! phew. I opted to keep my waterproof shoes on - the squishy bottom is not the most comforting feeling for my squeamish self! Siesta continued until the evening. I had brought along embroidery string with me to make friendship bracelets (as Amanda and I did so often in our childhood). I only wish I had brought more. The kids and the german girls wanted to learn as did some of the polers. Who knew it would be such a hit!
In the evening we went on a sunset mokoro ride. We went to the slightly larger pond area. We watched the sunset while a hippo nearby kept a watchful eye on us. Luckily it didn't seem too disturbed by our presence and kept its distance. The sunset was beautiful.
After dinner (some kind of creamy meat pasta) we built up the fire again. Hilary, Amanda and I brought goods to make smores. We taught everyone what a smore was and everyone loved them. The polers then sang some songs for us. (One of which will never get out of my head! Much to my tent-mates demise).
A few of us went out to the water's edge to do some stargazing. The stars were magnificent! We saw several shooting stars. All the while listening to the frogs that sound like chimes. It was magical!
Sadly this was our last night in the delta. In the morning we packed up our tents, loaded the mokoros and had a much quicker ride back to the mokoro station, as it was downstream on the way back. We passed the hippo, seemingly still in the same spot. The one and only reason I was happy to leave the delta was to no longer have to go to the bathroom in a hole.
Back at camp a few people opted to do the scenic flight over the delta. Most of us stayed back, did laundry, and went for a swim in the pool. Tomorrow is a long driving day so many people stayed up drinking tonight.
"I shall never forget beautiful Delta"
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