Being primarily a ‘travel day’, the long ride from Chobe NP to the village of Gweta was uneventful for the most part. We noticed the color of the termite mounds had changed from brown to beige…mainly due to the sandy desert soil in this very dry part of Botswana. Commonly seen en route were the many unattended donkeys & cows grazing near the roadside….out in the middle of nowhere. Donkeys are the true “work horses” in Southern Africa, hauling heavy loads of firewood or transporting people, and are sometimes raised for their meat as well. However, despite the pervasive poverty in Botswana, domesticated animals generally allowed to roam free along-side all manner of wildlife, including large predators. Shepherds seem to leave their livestock’s welfare to fate!
We arrived to our destination at the Gweta Lodge just in time to board another vehicle headed to the ‘salt pans’ (ancient lake beds) where a family of meerkats is known to dwell. After sitting in our mini-van for the previous 7 hours, I opted–out of this additional 4 hr. excursion in favor of relaxing by the pool and catching-up on email, the iffy internet connection willing. I was also anxious to shower before dark in the outdoor bathroom. Apparently, scorpions, spiders & other creepy crawlers are drawn to these easily accessible facilities, so daytime use is preferred…at least by me! Our evening that night was memorable…not for the meal, but for the unexpected after-dinner entertainment: a spirited song & dance show staged by the lodge staff! To enhance the performance, clattering ankle bracelets made of shells were worn by the dancers. With much clapping, singing & dancing, a good time was had by all- guests & staff alike!
In the morning, a personable villager cum guide led a 2 hour tour of Gweta…which probably could be seen in 10 minutes… but we did make some interesting & worthwhile stops. First, we visited a woman who ekes out a meager living for her family by selling her baskets- hand-woven from native reeds & grasses. We also paid a visit to the local school where we spoke at length with the principal. Although the facilities there are basic, the care & concern shown to the pupils is quite evident, with special assistance with food, clothing & medical care being available to any needy student in the district. Our group also stopped-by to see the weathered-looking village shaman who was willing to “throw the bones” for us…in this instance, using some marked pieces of wood. No great revelations were revealed, but it was another unique “cultural” experience nonetheless!
After the village tour, we hopped into the van for our next destination near to the city of Maun, which is the staging area for making excursions into the Okavango Delta…something that I had dreamed of doing for a long time!
Dab's Travelogue 