Magical Mystery Tour; An ode to my friends, South Africa, Botswana, Africa

Well, what an adventure we had. Still having.

Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Pickings @Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

I don’t even know where to start.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Rest @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

Today is the first day that we don’t have to drive anywhere. Do anything. Anywhere but here.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Watch the world go by @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

Here at Mopani Farm in the Tuli Block, south-eastern Botswana.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Cousins @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

Zimba needs a well deserved rest and so do we.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Watching us @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

We will just sit here by the dam and watch the wildlife walk by, watching us.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Thirsty @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

A clean source of water is a major draw card.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Gentle @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

Calm mirroring waters reflecting what life is all about.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Jacana @Highs @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

I haven’t had much time to do anything but enjoying and experiencing an unforgettable journey of highs and blows, which turned into more excitement and new adventures.

Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Worldly @Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

This wheel of fortune is part of my travelswithben and I wouldn’t want it any other way.

Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

Some of my friends may have been worried. Others may have felt neglected.

Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Peacefully lilly @Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

I apologise to those who may need it.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Zorro @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

But these last three weeks had been next level.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Cutest @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

Memories stuck in my brain.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Overexposed Kudu @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

Experiences hard to explain.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Gathering @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

Events of pure humbleness and helpfulness.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Impala @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

Events of faith and trust.

Boteti River, Maghadighadi, Botswana, Africa
Peaceful @Boteti River, Maghadighadi, Botswana, Africa

Events of experiencing Mother Nature at its best.

Maun, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Sharing memories @Maun, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

Events of human nature at its best.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Round it goes @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

What comes around goes around is usually used in a negative line of thinking.

Motloutse River, Pikwe, Botswana, Africa
Part of it @Motloutse River, Pikwe, Botswana, Africa

I would like to think it is quite the opposite. When bad things happen, something amazing and mind blowing will transpire.

Maun, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Vix our diesel mechanic @Maun, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

It was almost as if we purposely had bad luck to find and experience the best that human and natural nature has to offer.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Osmo trap @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

We had an adventure of some sort, unexpected and even better than the one from the previous day.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Exciting @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

Every time we reached the climax, or so we thought, some unpredictable occasion topped the previous event.

Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Khwai Community Outstanding @Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

It’s hard to explain and I won’t even bother putting those experiences on paper.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
One of the best @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

One needed to be there to fully understand the beauty, the happiness, the peacefulness, the laughter, the compassion, the thrill and the unpretentiousness of what Africa has to offer.

Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Khwai Community Lunch break @Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

My very good friend Belinda from Australia came over for a visit to Africa. She has never been.

Motloutse River, Pikwe, Botswana, Africa
Accacia Thorns @Motloutse River, Pikwe, Botswana, Africa

Africa is not for the faint hearted but I offered an adventure Mr. Ben style.

Adendorff Farm, Ingogo, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, Africa
Adendorff Farm, Happy gathering @Ingogo, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, Africa

After a week at my very good friends, Mariette, Pieter and Roo-Roo Adendorff, who have been outstanding hosts again, it was time to hit the dust tracks.

Maun, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Dusted @Maun, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

The Okavango Delta in Botswana was our destination.

Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Ground Hornbill Walk @Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

It’s a 1000 km one way track, as the crow flies. Along the route, we will experience what Africa has to offer.

Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Camping fire @Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

We camped in very remote places, often with no one else anywhere near. No need to lock the doors.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

A million stars above and only the sounds of nature to be heard.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Fullmoon @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

We listened to the lions roar.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Early morning @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

We seen reflecting eyes of a barking leopard and heard hyena calling the clan.

Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Hi @Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

Hippos grunted as they grazed the shallow flats of the Boteti River.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Female Herd @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

Elephants walked by only a few meters away.

Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Boerewors and ciabatta @Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

Sitting around the fire and cooking scrumptious food.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Sunrise @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

Sunrises and sunsets over reflecting waters.

Maghadghadi, Botswana, Africa
Dawnbreak Coffee @Maghadghadi, Botswana, Africa

Fresh early mornings to zip another cup of coffee.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Limpopo River @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

Stunning calm sunny days shadowed our adventures.

Mathatathene, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Joining the locals @Mathatathene, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

We met a realm of outstanding human beings. Thommy and Stable got us back on track when Zimba’s left front hub gave way.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Amazing place, amazing people @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

Brandon and Lee offered shelter and nature on their farm in the Tuli Block, Botswana’s hidden jewel in the south-east corner.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Tourists @Read the sign @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

Well worth a visit to anyone.

Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Proctor with us @Khwai Community Floodplains @Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

Proctor and his team at the Khwai River Community Camp dealt with record breaking floods in the Okavango Delta.

Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Tourists @Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

They dealt with laughter and modesty with floods of hundreds of tourists.

Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Proctor with us @travelswithbenfurstenauKhwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

And they dealt with us with pleasure and kindness.

Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Rhino @Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

‘Rhino’ was most patient as I asked him for help with my disappearing passenger window.

Maun, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Shitshow Cast @Maun, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

We created our own shitshow in Maun.

Maun, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Phillie, Joseph and Vix with Zimba @Maun, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

Vix, Phillie and Joseph helped us to replace an old leaking seal on Zimba’s power steering pump. It took three days and I now know Maun better than my home city.

Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa
Laughter and joy @Mopani Farm, Tuli Block, Botswana, Africa

All throughout or journey, we laughed and we cried.

Maghadghadi, Botswana, Africa
Cracking Diner @Maghadghadi, Botswana, Africa

We ate some outstanding food and drank too much.

Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Mokoro on the river Khwai @Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

A very, very, very big thank you goes out to everybody who was part of this adventure.

Adendorff Farm, Ingogo, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, Africa
Adendorff Farm Coffee Kisses@Ingogo, Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa, Africa

It would not have been the same without your help, your kindness and your modesty.

Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa
Monkey Business @Khwai Community Camp, Khwai, Okavango Delta, Botswana, Africa

But then again, who knows what sliding doors may have opened instead. That’s what (my) life is all about.

Maghadghadi, Botswana
When Africa meets Australia @Maghadghadi, Botswana, Africa

The biggest thank you goes out to ‘Listen Lindi’ for being such a great friend and travel companion. Anything Africa threw at us she returned with a smile and kindness.

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