Unfortunately events transpired to make that a less than accurate record of what happened. But, it started like this... [Photos follow]
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| This is a Civet cat, slightly blurred |
Then the guide said he'd take us to see the Wild Dogs. These are really hard to see in the wild, even Will hadn't been able to get the shots he wanted on Beetlecam and he was really excited. So we headed there in the morning. Our guide was a little green and of the ilk that thinks clients want to be driven from animal to animal, take a few photos and then leave. When he suggested we leave the Wild Dog pack after about 15 minutes he was told firmly that we were waiting until we and the Burrard-Lucas' were the last car there... Our persistence paid off, we saw them playing together and squeaking to each other, learning about Beetlecam and then taking some tentative goes at the herd of Buffalo and a Monitor Lizard!!!
Perfect. Then we had a quiet and uneventful evening drive looking for Eland. They clearly got the memo saying we were coming and decided to hide! We dressed up and headed for dinner. Just as we got there a few spots of rain started to fall - should they move the table in from outside?? They decided that would be safer and it was a good decision because almost immediately it started to pour with rain. The camp shuts on the 7th of November each year, before the rains come... and therefore it's not set up for the wet. The central bar area has a thatched roof but no walls - which doesn't protect you from horizontal rain! Dinner was a little damp - the plates were damp, people's faces were damp but spirits were high - it wouldn't last long...
When dinner was over the rain showed no sign of abating and the centre of the storm was above us. The thunder was deafening and the sheet lightning was so bright we could see all the way across the river. It was as if the sun was a faulty strip light flashing on and off, it was almost as bright as day! Emergency ponchos were brought to ferry us back in pairs to our rooms. The dry sand I'd walked across to dinner was now covered in at least an inch of water and boggy mud. My feet were filthy.
Back at the tent we make another learning. The last camp we stayed in (I didn't show pics of that one) had two basins - one inside and one outside and only an inside loo. That camp is open into the wet season. This was our bathroom this time...
The loo is on the left behind the door. We look out into the storm to see that the light - an energy saving bulb with a standard bedside table type switch - is flashing ominously like a firefly - clearly not a good idea to try and use that! Hhhmmm. The only way to make it to the loo is to have someone inside shining a torch through the door. And the only way to minimise dampness is to go naked.... or in my case - naked with a shower hat. Geoff did not attempt to hide his amusement at the scene as I ran out holding loo roll tightly in the ball of my hand. Back in bed (two massive single beds with double sheets and a double duvet) we feel very comfortable. Through the tent doors we can see the lightning lighting up the whole river and the hippos. The thunder is so loud it's vibrating our internal organs as if we are at a rock concert. Somehow we fall asleep quite quickly.
When we wake it's still raining - hang about, this isn't what was agreed! The morning activity is cancelled. We make our own fun with the B-Ls (there's Nat and Will and Will's parents) and start playing Balderdash. The bush is quiet apart from the sound of our laughter and the hippos joining in occasionally. Geoff and I have never played before and we were not doing well for a long time. Then suddenly I got lucky. This was both good and bad as they are, perhaps, one of the most competitive families in England. Will was clearly wanting to win very badly.
A turning point came when Mr B-L (aka Steve) said that you knew a fake answer if it was lewd because 'the Balderdash writers are never lewd'. I was dasher next and the question in front of me was about premature ejaculation and the 'solution' provided by a witch doctor - too good to turn down. I waited expectantly for the answers. One read 'stretch it, iron it, pour iced water on it [by now I'm wondering if I'd read the question correctly] and then touch it with a live electrical wire'. I shan't mention who that was for fear of disturbing her retirement. The answer was a sexual act with a hedgehog, obviously. And this pushed me to within reach of the win. In the final round it came down to Will winning if he got the right answer and me winning if he didn't. I think it worked out well for all involved with Will taking the win. I could sleep easy that night :) Only kidding Will.
No cars left camp for 2 days so we entertained ourselves with walks. I shan't write much, the pictures say enough - just be aware that rivers were previously either completely empty or about 2 inches deep, all ground was very very dry. And the current generation of men could learn a lot from successful business men, as Steve very carefully collected a bunch of sausage tree flowers for his wife and carried them through the wet bush. 10/10
For the two nights after the rains, we were bombarded at dinner by flying ants. The table was kept in darkness but still you would find them in your soup or on the butter. These aren't ants like at home that are tiny, nope. The first night they were about 1.5cm long with two sets of big wings so they made an impact on your meal. Will's mum hid under a shawl :). The guides assured us they were only a one night phenomenon so we enjoyed ourselves and tried not be annoyed by them committing suicide in our dinner. After an hour and a half they died down - well, mostly, they died or their wings fell off and then ran across the floor. This attracted massive millipedes and centipedes, as well as spiders and snakes and scorpions. Good good. We went to bed. When they came the second night they were bigger. Actually there were 2 sorts, one an inch long and one about 2.5 inches long. The larger ones were more idiotic and took to flying into people's heads. This did not endear them. Once we were safely installed in bed I thought I'd have some fun with the Doom. Note to self: do not do excessive Doom'ing when lying in bed without a mosquito net when the room is full of bugs - sure enough the bed was soon covered in little bugs.... Oh well, it was fun!
On the Sunday they sent a tractor to save us. It took 4 hours to make what is a 1 hour journey in the dry. There was mud. Lots of mud. When we arrived they said there'd been 150mm of rain in 12 hours - 1/10th the annual average rainfall. Final set of pics should say it all... [Geoff's doing Movember]
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