June 26, 2013
Mom and I had an almost sleepless night due to some of the lingering baboons. All night they grunted and moaned while crawling on the thatched roof. We wearily made our way to breakfast, and I was struck with the beauty of the sunrise. Perhaps it looked the same as all the others I witnessed in Botswana, but I was fully aware, despite the lack of sleep, that it was the last sunrise I'd see there for a long time. It was then that I vowed to return to this country and experience more of the natural surroundings as well as the beautiful people.
Our morning drive was shorter due to our departure time, and it included a rescue mission to pick up a stuck vehicle. It took awhile of driving and radioing between cars to find their location. The other group was relieved to see us. We quickly raced toward a pride of eleven lions. They were beginning the mid-day nap and we were able to watch them for a bit. Eventually, the whole pride was asleep and it was time for us to return to finalize packing before our trip to the airstrip and then on to Maun.
I honestly had tears in my eyes as I left. This place and the people found a place in my heart within the short time I was there. I joked with a few staff members about staying and several offered a spot in the cabin. Even Simon said he's take my help washing dishes if my passport was "accidentally" lost. While it was a tempting offer, I knew it was time for me to start heading back home. I was overjoyed with the experience and savored those last moments as much as I savored the other moments.We awaited the two small aircraft at the airstrip and transferred to Johannesburg (Jo'burg) through Maun, a larger town in Botswana.
Exhausted, we got to our hotel room at the Westcliff Hotel, had dinner, and fell fast asleep.
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