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On safari, after lunch is siesta time; very civilized, if you asked me. Of course, one of the principal reasons is that most the animals are active in the early morning and late afternoon/evening, opting to siesta themselves in the heat of the day. So I’ve had my siesta and will now try to catch up on the events of the morning game drive.
Jul 20, 2004 Moremi Game Reserve - 4th Bridge Camp, Botswana
Tom Schueneman2006-03-27 15:34:30
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On safari, after lunch is siesta time; very civilized, if you asked me. Of course, one of the principal reasons is that most the animals are active in the early morning and late afternoon/evening, opting to siesta themselves in the heat of the day. So I’ve had my siesta and will now try to catch up on the events of the morning game drive.
When I awoke just before 6:00 this morning the early morning chill made me want to stay in my nice cozy cot. The thought of going outside to do my morning ablutions was none too appealing. It reminded me of my days as a lad when our boy scout troop would go camping in the dead of winter (which, as a reminder, it is here in southern Africa) and the troop leader would roust all his charges out of bed with a rousing rendition of “Oh, what a beautiful morning” cutting through the stillness of the morning. To make it stop, a young boy had to pull himself out of his sleeping bag.
Fortunately, such is not the case here. We are awakened by the sound of hot water being poured into our canvas washbasins at the front of our tents and a quiet “Good Morning.” We respond in kind, and the day begins. I am told more forceful means are employed if we fail to respond to the good morning salutation, but I’m not particularly interested in finding out what that might be. The whole point is to get us up and moving so we’re out on our morning game drive as early as possible. The goal this morning was to be “saddled up” by 6:45 or so (African Time), though I don’t think we made it for our first camp morning. It was after 7 when we were leaving camp.
We all decided to stay grouped as we were yesterday but to change guides, so Nancy, Dan, Jayne, and I were with Alwyn and the Abbott’s with Stanley. That way we’d all get to know each guide better before mixing and matching the groups.
The two land cruisers stay in touch via CB radio, and don’t necessarily stick together. That way, more ground
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See photographs from:
Botswana Gallery
