Botsfan

In March I had my latest trip to Botswana. I had a fantastic trip as usual, and have put a few photos on the Kodak website. I make no claims as a photographer, and I’m always amazed at the wonderful photos some of you put up! This is just me and my Panasonic DCM FZ18 which suits me very well, and which I use on the simplest setting! I love reading other people’s trip reports but will not do one myself. I’ll just say that I visited Little Kwara, Savuti, Kwetsani and Jack’s Camp, and had a brilliant time and met many fascinating people. My favourite camp is Jack’s , where I first went in 1994, and this last one was my 11th visit, and number 12 is coming up in October. I used to travel with my husband, and after he died in 2000, I continued my safaris, mostly alone. In October I shall be travelling with a girlfriend whose husband says that you can watch plenty of animals on T.V. ! His wife says that she’ll never get him on safari so she’s coming with me to see why I’m always disappearing to Africa. I check up on Fodors every day, and this time I actually met another Fodorite, a wonderful, nutty American and her husband who I had loads of laughs with. Another family are on a round-the-world trip, and I can’t get enough of their ‘blog’. It certainly is the people you meet. I was bitten by the ‘Africa Bug’ on my first visit in 1974, and Kwando Lebala will be my 67th camp. It could be many more, but I do tend to re-visit my favourite camps. Here is the link to a few photos:

http://www.kodakgallery.com/I.jsp?c=...localeid=en_US

Jan.

divine54

jna,

i would like to stress that i admire you for your enthusiasm especially your courage to travel on your own after your husband passed away!
it's terrific that you keep doing on your own what you both enjoyed!

WOW 67 camps..........11 times jack's (which by the way is also my favourite place in bot) really a great record.

i wish you many more safaris to come and especially a great time in oct at jack's again!

i am certain four girlfriend will get the "bug" as well and migt become a travel companion ;-)

all the best!

keep welll!

div

ps - i am going to have a loo at your pics now....

in view to photography: it's great to have huge equipment but also tempting to NOT watch without thru a lense which is a pitty!
so you instead of having pics have great memories unfiltred by a lense

rsnyder

Jan, will try this again.

Thanks so much for sharing photos from your recent trip. What a nice after lunch treat! And, you have no need to offer an apology as to quality. They were great in my opinion! Just wish the slide show had been a bit longer.
Wish you many more safaris!
Dick

patlanta

Thanks for posting. You've got some really nice pictures. I especially like the one with you and little fellows standing at attention; how'd they do that with you right there? Don't abandon the Panasonic, you're doing great togehter.

Enjoy your next safari, upcoming so soon. Let us hear from you then too.

divine54

you got always the RIGHT moment to get the big cats! also the meerkats pics are great!
it was wonderful to see super again

no need to talk your pics down! they are fine!

div

divine54

oops - have you been to jack's in late oct 2003?

div

atravelynn

Great slide show. Your bird photos are fantastic--the cattle egret flock, the camouflaged dikkops, all those wattled crane, the pair of pied kingfishers! With a sunset like that, no wonder you like Jack's.

You have a wonderful collection too!

Welcome back. I am sure your husband would be happy that you have continued to travel to a place you love.

llorear

Great continued safaris!! The photos were wonderful.

Linda

Botsfan

Div-
Yes, I was at Jack's in October 2003. I had my birthday there on 30 October. This year I'll be back again for my birthday.

Lynn-
Thanks for your comments. I do take alot of photos and picked out just a few. John was my second husband. My first husband, Henry and I went to South Africa in 1974 on a business trip and spent 2 nights at MalaMala and we were hooked! We returned to Africa every year after that life changing trip. We mostly went to Kenya with the children and did a safari and beach holiday at Christmas and New Year when they were teenagers.
Unfortunately Henry died of cancer at the early age of 50. I met my second husband, John, who was my bank manager in England, only known to me as a signature at the bottom of a letter demanding that I top up my English account as it was in the red! I was then living in Holland. I moved back to England , met John, he proposed and I said ' only if you'll come to Africa with me!!!' Well, of course he said yes.
So, we continued with the African trips, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia, Mozambique, Namibia, and my absolute favourite, Botswana.
Alas, in August 2000 John also died. I knew that I could continue my trips and have done so. Safari camps are very good places for single ladies of mature years but young at heart. I have so many friends in Botswana.
Lynn, I love your reports.

Jan

divine54

botsfan
WE MET there briefly!
you were the lady who comes on a regular basis (we quite frankly find this outragously unfair as we cannot do so ;-) ) and always has got super as your guide! our guide was charly and there were no other guests around at that time. and you left on quads the evening before we left. so we didn't have the chance to meet again!
i was the one which looked like a cherry due to a doxicicline prophylaxis which made my skin extremly vulnurable to sunrays....i walked the path between out tent and messtent with an umbrella and gloves. if you had the pleasure of seeing me you must have gotten a paroxysm of loughter
i recognised you when watching your pics!

isn't it amazing which small world we are living in?!


div

Botsfan

Div-
Were you the honeymoon couple from the U.S.? I didn't notice a red face at all! Or am I wrong?
Yes, Super and I are big pals. We were out on drives with Caroline who used to be a manager at Jack's.
I wasn't a Fodors member then. I only discovered Fodors last summer, and now I'm an addict -- on line every day.

Jan

divine54

jan,
no at that time we were already married for 22 years
my husband has got a 5days-beard and we both are pretty tall.

as i stated it was a brief encounter - you were leaving on quads into the sunset...............(gosh i would love to do that right now!)

anyway - enjoy your travels to full and take care!

all the best!

div

by the way - i discovered fodors in june or so. so i am pretty novice member but enjoy it - most of the time at least ;-)

Botsfan

Div
I'm sorry I got it wrong--- but not really.They didn't speak to anyone and had their meals in their tent. I'll think of you when I'm there in October. You're right, it's good to connect with another Fodorite.

Jan

quimbymoy

Hi Jan! I read your report with great interest as I am planning a Bots safari for 2010. I am envious that you have been there so many times! It's wonderful to find a place you connect with. So very cool!

I could not access your pictures, but will try again soon.

Would love to ask some questions: How did you like those camps at that time of year? Was there alot of rain? Did you see the zebra migration at Jack's Camp?

Thanks for your time, hope I can get to your pictures soon!

quimbymoy

Jan, your pics were up again. Wonderful pictures! The ones with the meerkats were absolutely hilarious!

Thanks for sharing

Botsfan

Quimbymoy,

Thankyou for your kind words. March of course is not such a good time to visit Botswana. It's the green season,and this year there was a lot of rain. But as frequent visitor I don't mind that. It did mean that we couldn't use the quad bikes, but as I've done it loads of times I wasn't worried. Seeing the brown hyena,the zebra migration,many wattled cranes and of course the fascinating meercats,when you just have to sit there and they climb all over you, is enough for me. It's just a magic place, and a very different experience to other camps.
The best time to go is the dry season,which is why I usually when I go. September/October is good, but also very hot, any earlier, then you run into very cold mornings which I don't like.
I really haven't put my best photos of the meerkats on the Kodak site, perhaps I should do that.

Jan