Khwai to Livingstone

Early drive 4 lionesses and a cub playing on the road, red billed hoopoe, impala running, heron, darter, Egyptian goose, egret, Meyer's parrots, coucal, wild basil, finches, crowned cranes flying, lapwing, cormorant, jacana Jesus bird, grazing hippo, saddle billed stork, vultures and cranes circling in sky, darter drying wings, hammerkop, dwarf bittern, Khwai village and across bridge to Moremi North gate. Monkeys, egrets, Fork-tailed drongo, red billed quelea, little bee eater, bearded woodpecker, red Lechwe, spurwing goose, waterbuck, zebra. Night elephants trumpeting, zebras, hippos, Impala, springhares, . LAst morning storks, hippo out of water, said goodbye. we both awake in the night. wait for plane at 8 a.m. came 8.30 Charlotte the pilot flew us to Kasane. lovely book fm Rob and Charlotte about Savute. 1 hour flight Chobe river and to river crossing.  Long queues of huge lorries waiting to cross bridge being built. Herbert met us (now I am your father) sorted out visa into Zambia later got £100 voucher from Trailfinders for their mistake. 50 dollars each and involved TM and changing dollars. I had 80 dollars in hand. Back and forth through hate 4 times! One hour drive in air con car to Avani hotel Victoria Falls. Booked 3 excursions costing a lot. Blood in shower back on Internet. to hotel clinic and ointment and antibiotics go back each day to have leg dressed. Pizza and Castle lager by the pool, monkeys are a nuisance. first floor room. rest in room. shutlte to Livingston and Royal Livinsgtone train. only Norwegian couple and Us retired military in Botswana. Peter Jones a Northern Rhodesian filled us in on history. Well informed and opinionated. wilbur smith, Bomber Harris, Sailor Malan all came from here. Beat All Blacks. only place Lithuanian Jews were allowed to settle founded Woolworths and De Beers. Rhodes scholarship supported by Mandela. Rhodes never saw Victoria Falls. he chose most difficult place for the bridge which was shipped from Darlington via Beira. 1 and half inches out but it shrank to fit. Baboons on line. Got off on bridge 500 ft deep gorge, spectacular views of Falls, bought a hippo. blew whistle steam engine! Excellent 5 course meal with wine. beautifully served Belmond own 10 year old carriages. A real treat. Tired and slept well. ..