Khama Rhino Sanctuary Botswana

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Stage 1

At 6am on Sunday 7 November 2010 we set off and just north of BelaBela (Warmbaths) we had breakfast on the toll road at the Wimpy. Then we left the highway and took a lovely road to the Groblersbrug/Martin's Drift Border. We arrived at Khama at 14:00.

One of our favourite destinations in Botswana is Khama Rhino Sanctuary. This park is near Serowe - they take no cards - they usually state that the huts are full but the occupants obviously arrive late and leave early - probably shy.

On arrival we were assigned camp site number six. On arrival at the site it was occupied. Camp site five was vacant. Back to reception we went. We were told to take any unoccupied site - so I suggested five as it was vacant. I was told that this was incorrect as it was occupied. OK calmness - campsite nine was ours if it was unoccupied. Eventually we found it unoccupied and immediately staked our claim by erecting our pop up tent.

Camp site nine is lovely - please do not ask for it if you know I am going to Khama as I would like it again - it is an exciting site - sometimes - especially at night.

We had a late lunch of steak with pepper sauce, potato salad and beans.

Then we went for a drive around until about 17:30 to see the park and the animals.

No moon expected that night - could even rain.

We go to bed - it is a dark night.

22:45 and the water tap starts to run. Sylvia hears this and informs me - otherwise I would never have known about it as I sleep at night.

22:46 Sylvia says she is going out to turn off the tap.

22:47 Siggy is a little anxious as we do not know why the tap is open.

22:48 Sylvia shines her torch at the tap nearby and sees a rhino.

It is dark, as previously mentioned, but this is important as we can not see in the dark and do not want to attract the rhino as our pop up tent is small.

23:16 The rhino stops drinking.

23:17 The rhino starts rubbing on the open spare rear wheels of our vehicle. Siggy is concerned that the wheel stops may be damaged.

Siggy helps close the tent flap so we can no longer see the rhino silhouette. (It is better not to see a rhino standing over you while lying in a tent.)

Siggy starts to use the remote to open and close the doors which also activated a beep and flashing tail lights near those spare wheels in the hope that perhaps the rhino will find something else to rub on.

The rhino appears to have disappeared and Siggy bravely gets out and makes for the front of the vehicle - he can not get in - it is full of bits in the way of his feet. Mild swearing. The rhino is nowhere in sight. Siggy bravely goes to the tap and turns it off securely.

Siggy goes back to sleep. It is night. Sleeping time.

Monday 8 November 2010

1:30 (This is am not lunch time in case you were wondering.) The magical tap starts to run again but this time we are able to guess why. Experience shows.

Soon after - this bit is a bit confused - even a bit tense on reflection - the rhino either bumps into the previously mentioned tiny (that is a better word than small in this circumstance) tent or the inflatable mattress and Siggy is hurled into the air. Goodness gracious me he said - Sylvia said he said no such thing and the poor animal fled because of all the unspeakable swearing. (Those of you that know me will know it was probably just "good gracious what was that".)

Sylvia wants to go and turn the tap off again. Siggy is not going out again and tells her that the cost of water is included in the camp fees and suggests that Sylvia imagine it is a bubbling stream and enjoy the ambiance. Eventually Sylvia leaves the tent and turns off the tap.

8:00 there is a large unknown as in never that type seen before spider in the tent and Sylvia informs Siggy of this fact as she leaves the tent. Siggy wakes fully and fixes gaze on arachnid. Sylvia arrives with a steel mug to remove the spider. It is difficult to see what you are doing through a steel mug. The spider is caught and handed to Sylvia who places it in farby bushes.

The tap now does not flow when turned on. Later we are informed that the rhino broke another tap off and that the repairers had turned the water supply off to enable them to effect the repairs.

Siggy went to the neighbours to apologise for the commotion during the night. They were Edu and Sandra and going on the same trip later with Bhejane 4x4 Adventures to Liuwa Plains. We chat with them and decide to accompany them to LeKhubu Island. If it is wet we will be able to assist.

Tuesday 9 November 2010

We take on water and leave for LeKhubu Island.

Our lovely camp site.

Steak, potato salad and beans.

Eland which we did not see again.

A white rhino with lovely horns.

Delicate flower.

Impala ram drinking.

The tap, the tent, the vehicle, a tent occupant. (You might note that the pipe leading to the tap is bent. This pipe had been attached to a wooden pole which was partly hollow. A bird had a nest with a chic in the hollow but we did not photograph it as we did not want to disturb it further. The nights must have been terrifying enough for the poor thing with a rhino bumping about.)