The flight landed at Johannesburg airport 30 minutes early. This was fortunate as I was not issued a boarding pass for the flight from Johannesburg to Maun at Heathrow and had a slight issue at Johannesburg airport. The lady at the Airlink check-in had to call a BA person to get a boarding pass issued. This took half an hour and when she finally received a phone call she jokingly told me it was bad news. I would need to buy a new ticket. I took it on the nose and said I would claim it off insurance. At this point she burst out laughing and said ‘I’m only joking!  Here is your new boarding pass.’ I think she was treading on thin ice if she thought I had a sense of humour after a 12 hour overnight flight!

The flight to Maun was on schedule and it was very organised at Maun airport. They had set up a covered area with two lines of seating where you sat in turn while they checked your Covid passes and entry documentation. This was all very straightforward (or would have been if I had bothered to turn the arrival form over and fill-in back as well as the front). I therefore had to wait till the back of the queue to pass through security. I was met by a representative from Kwando Safaris who escorted me through security and to the light aircraft (an 8 seater) to fly me to my 1st camp at Lebala.

There were two other ladies on the flight with me. It was a 20 minute flight to drop them off and then a longer 50 minute flight to take me to Lagoon airstrip. Unfortunately, Lebala airstrip was closed for repairs so Lagoon was the best option but entailing a 2 hour drive to the camp.

At Lagoon airstrip, I was greeted by my guide Mayezi and my tracker. They gave me a most welcome picnic bag. As it was now 15.30 and I had eaten nothing since breakfast, it was most welcome.

I asked to use the toilet before departure and Mayezi kindly walked behind a bush at the airstrip and clapped his hands to ensure there were no wild beasts to attack me. I then went behind the bushes and spent a penny. Note to self before peeing in the bush check for soldier ants. It is quite disconcerting to literally be caught with your pants down and realise that very large ants are crawling all over your shoes and up your trouser legs. This predicament made so much worse by the fact that I did not realise this until I was in full flow. Nothing for it but to pee quickly and frantically flick exploratory ants from my person. Fortunately none went up the inside of my trouser legs and I didn’t get bitten.

The transfer to Lebala Camp was a full game drive, which included a night drive too and we arrived at the camp at just gone 8 o’clock. The drive was fantastic. The bush was green and lush following the recent rains. Game was harder to spot than usual as the bush was so dense, yet there was a huge selection of birds, insects and game. We saw elephants, giraffes, red lechwe, impala, wildebeest, hippos, zebras, warthogs, ostrich, jackals and so many birds. It was particularly beautiful down by the water. We stopped by a pool for sundowners.

I was greeted by the camp manager Kalafi. As it is late, I am happy to have dinner straight away. I am the only person staying here but Mayezi and Kalafi join me for dinner which is delicious – sweetcorn soup, roast chicken and chocolate pudding. Solid home cooking and very tasty.

I go straight to my room, unpack super quickly and go to sleep. I’m very tired after a long day’s travel. Even the incredibly loud frogs can’t keep me awake for long!