Elephant Sands

What a great place this is! We REALLY like Elephant Sands. It's quiet and calm and very peaceful. The owner - Ben - is very easy going and nothing is too much trouble.

We had trouble on the way though - 15 minutes out of Francistown the rear tyre shredded! The last thing John felt like doing in his condition was change a wheel but between us we managed.
And the last 10 kms before the camp - you couldn't see the road for the potholes - that was fun!

At dusk, Daniele, Tom & I went to search out the elephants. Dani took us to a place where she had seen 20 or more on her last visit - but alas they were hiding. They must have been roosting in the trees or something! On the way back, we saw a herd of zebras and one big bull elephant who stood in the track and would not let us pass! We sparred with him for 30 - 40 minutes before we finally got past. John was pretty tense when we got back as the sun had gone down and you don't stay out in the bush after sundown. But all's well ...

John had built a small braai near our tent and Ben set up a table and brought us plates. Daniele brought big candle holders, we had wine and music, a great meal and talked long into the night.

The next day John & I were up at 6am! It was cool and bright and we went to the boma and got tea and rusks and just sat and watched the birds. I saw a shaft-tailed whydah which I had never seen before and lots of sparrow weavers building nests. When Dani & Tom emerged we had a huge breakfast cooked by Lazarus - the Zambian chef - fabulous! We went out elephant hunting again (metaphorically speaking) at a different pan this time and we saw a couple of beautiful giraffes and a pair of bull elephants. John has great photos which I will post later. For the rest of the day we just relaxed, swam in the pool and rested.

That evening the camp was full of young people on an overland trip to Zambia and several other couples - it was a real party atmosphere. We played Rumikub and Lazarus managed to prepare vegetarian food for me. He looked very quizzical when we told him that I don't eat meat. Why would you not eat meat if you could afford to?

A great place - highly recommended - next time you're in Botswana ... pass Nata on your way to Kasane - 53 kms ... just turn left!