Unique Africa
When I announced to my Ukrainian friends and acquaintances that I was leaving for Botswana for a week, they did not understand me, to put it mildly. Not only did I prefer South Africa to all countries for emigration, I also decided to spend New Year's holidays in the "F" of the world ...They asked me: “What is this? Where is it? And most importantly - why THIS? »
I'll start with the last question. I, who was baptized in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church, have nothing to do with Catholic Christmas, and therefore I could hardly imagine myself as an active participant in the mass festivities of the country, which, unlike the Ukrainian New Year holidays of 10 days, celebrates this event for almost a month !! ! From December 15, everything (except for the services and entertainment sectors) closes together and returns to life on January 10-15! Now the question haunts me: why are Russians (Ukrainians, etc. ) considered the most drinking nation? - I'm ready to refute this opinion!
Since the decision to leave the country came spontaneously and a week before Christmas, the only thing that the travel agency could offer me was Botswana and Zimbabwe (Victoria Falls), but the last option fell out by itself due to the cholera epidemic. I chose the route on the advice of the travel agency: 21.12. 08 – 24.12. 08 : Maun, Crocodile Camp (http://www. crocodilecamp. com/ I still don't understand why the hotel was called a camp); 24.12. 08 – 26.12. 08 National Chobe Park, Chobe Marina Lodge (http://www. chobemarinalodge. com/ ).
Now the question is: Where is it? »
My own knowledge, unfortunately, was limited only to the idea of the country's location on the political map of the world...While I was waiting in line at the embassy (citizens of Ukraine need a visa), I opened the brochure...
Republic of Botswana. State in South Africa By area - almost the same as France. At the same time, the number of livestock exceeds the population by 2-2.5 times! The official language is English and Setswana. Regigia - traditional African beliefs and Christianity.
The monetary unit is the pula (it costs 1.5 times more than the rand, the monetary unit of the developed, rich, advanced Republic of South Africa). The capital is Gaborone...
I did not have time to finish reading, as my turn for a visa came up. With this meager information, I went to find out “What is THIS? »
Despite the very early departure, I got on the plane with a smile...I love the state of anticipation of something new While I was thinking, dreaming, I didn’t notice how the morning had come.
Below, everything is infinitely green...The plane was flying over the Okavango Delta. Some points scurried from tree to tree - I looked closely ...Giraffes ...And a minute later several hippos plopped into the water with a run ...The thought flashed through my head: “It is unlikely that a human foot has set foot here. ”
Maun airport. Little. Careful. Clean. While I was passing through passport control, a dung beetle slowly buzzed over my head ...A huge ...
and probably because of the heat, he buzzed so slowly, or maybe on purpose ...But I almost lost consciousness. All three! airport employees and the seller in the souvenir shop smiled ...The girl stamped the passport and I heard a slow-vaguely friendly “Welcome to Botswana! »
It was hot outside...Not in the sense of heat, but HEAT! Locals move slowly, talk slowly, think slowly and smile all the time. At 100m. from the airport - a small cafe. I rolled the cart in his direction, but the policeman stopped me and politely explained that it was impossible to take the cart outside the airport (I didn’t guess that it was the limit and, for some reason, I decided that the cafe was located at the airport), but I can leave her at the entrance - with things, of which there were 2 suitcases plus a handbag of ultra-fashionable suitcase sizes (after all, it is not possible for a Russian person to travel with one suitcase), nothing will happen.
After Johannesburg, where everything that is badly lying or simply lying disappears, it seemed to me a little improbable, but there was nothing to do - a bottle of water seemed more important than all the suitcases put together ..
There were 7 men sitting at several tables on the street and lazily drinking beer. The bartender said they were gamekeepers and guides. No one imposed services, did not climb with an offer to take me to a hotel ...I got straight into a fairy tale! I returned to my things - everything was in place.
The hotel sent a car ...double and with a large body! But the driver was not alone, so me and my family with 2 children had to go with the wind
November-March is the rainy season, so everything is buried in greenery. The population lives primitively, but, unlike the South African huts made of newspapers, garbage and sticks (in poor areas), in neat stone houses ...
Crocodile Camp is located on the banks of the Okavango River.
It consists of the main building (if you can call it a house where keys are given out) and bungalows located far from each other. The only drawback is the clouds of mosquitoes (fortunately this time of year is not dangerous for malaria) and the lack of air conditioning. The nights turned out to be merry, since opening the doors-windows means giving yourself up to be eaten by vampires, and with closed sleep, it is unbearably hot and stuffy ...But all the advantages of civilization fade into the background, as soon as it is possible to look at that life at least from afar, which people are persistently trying to destroy.
3 days flew by...a river cruise, horseback riding, a 6-seat plane flight over the river delta...Every second seemed unique and magical...The very thought of the Internet, mobile phone, TV seemed wild and blasphemous.
Arrived in Chobe in the afternoon.
And again amazing nature, smiles, bugs and greetings from the locals. The bus driver from the hotel - a girl - sang songs from the series all the way: what I see, I sing about. For example: Welcome to Chobe, I will show you a long beautiful road to the hotel through the park and Anastasia with an unpronounceable surname will like her stay with us...: )
The hotel impressed with the level of 5 stars and pricing policy. A junior suite with breakfast cost $65. e.
The safari was successful despite the rain. I saw almost all the animals.
I spent the whole next day in the SPA center ...well, you can please yourself darling
Upon arrival home, I looked at the photographs for a long time (600 pieces - and then because the memory card had exhausted itself) ...I even forgot to eat. The feeling that I was on the set of a National Geographics channel program never left ...
Strange after all, Africa ...With its inconsistency, it falls in love with itself without a shadow of embarrassment.
