Nxai Pan NP - Day 5

One of the baobabs in Nxai Pan

With a long 11 hour drive ahead of us we didn’t want to waste any time, so it was up at the usual 5am and we were out of the campsite just after 5.30am. Not checking out the waterholes - just straight out. The 35 km drive to the main A3 road was largely uneventful although we did see a few gemsbok which we hadn’t caught in the park. And there were more giraffe as well, probably due to there being some nice green acacia trees for them to feed on. 

Nxai Pan NP - Day 4

Baines' baobabs

This is more of the Nxai Pan we were expecting. Not much happening and no sign of cats. The main waterhole was devoid of animals bar a jackal trying to grab a last morsel of meat from the 3 day old carcass. It seemed like a hyena had been there in the night as well as half the skull had been crunched through - plenty of animals had been fed thanks to this kudu.

Nxai Pan NP - Day 3

Time to eat

We didn’t think that the lions would be at the waterhole by morning so we were stunned to drive up and find out that not only were they still there but they had been joined by 3 other lionesses!

Nxai Pan NP - Day 2

Lion at sunset

Despite our early start, we were the last of the 3 campers to be out the campsite and off on the morning drive. There was no question where anyone was going - straight to the waterhole. And we were not disappointed - the 2 lionesses were still at their kudu kill but they were having it for breakfast. We quickly positioned ourselves and started shooting. The lions gave us plenty to photograph, from gnawing at the carcass to pulling it over to get better access.

Nxai Pan NP - Day 1

Arriving at South Gate

Up at 5am and gone by 6am, it would be a long drive to Nxai Pan from Gaborone; about 11 hours according to Google.

Considering many people would have taken Friday off to make it a 5 day long weekend, the road between Gaborone and Palapye - easily Botswana’s busiest road - was surprisingly quiet.

Elections in Nxai Pan

Ready for Nxai Pan

Botswana announced that their elections would be held on 30 October, which would be a public holiday with the following day also being declared a holiday. These holidays would fall on a Wednesday and Thursday so it was a no-brainer for us to take Friday off to have a 5 day long weekend. 

Lake2Cape - South Africa

Finally seeing Table Mountain!

In South Africa, our main target was the Cape Gannet colony in Lamberts Bay which is easily reachable from the border provided you arrive early. Lamberts Bay is a lazy fishing village but needs to deal with the notorious Western Cape weather and we arrived on a bad day - gloomy and rain! 

Lake2Cape - Namibia

Deadvlei - one of Namibia's top attractions

While we had the opportunity to check out Namibia during our time in Botswana, we never got down to it and regretted not getting to Etosha at the very least. With cyclone Freddy bearing down on Zambia and Botswana, Namibia remained the only dry option at this point and we finally entered Namibia through the Caprivi. 

Lake2Cape - Botswana

Senyati waterhole in Botswana

The original plan was to cross to Namibia through Zambia via Katima Malimo but the intel we were picking up was the road on the Zambian side was a disaster. So we only crossed in to Botswana to cross in to Namibia through the Ngoma border which is a well maintained tarmac road. 

Lake2Cape - Zambia

Vic Falls from the air - The Zambia/Zimbabwe border

Due to the effects of cyclone Freddy which has already dumped rain on Zambia and on its way back after gathering strength off the coast, the Zambian leg saw us bypassing South Luangwa and Lower Zambezi, both of which were flooded, and heading straight to Livingstone to check out Victoria Falls. 

Lake2Cape - Malawi

The official start of our trip - Lake Malawi

Our final day in Blantyre was here with the cleaners cleaning out the house as we left for Lilongwe to get the car fridge fitted out at Northside Motors. Fridge fitted and we headed off to Salima so our official start point would be at the Lake. 

Lake2Cape - Our planning... or lack of it... for a trip of a lifetime

Check out the Polarsteps daily entry for a log of our 'Lake2Cape' trip

Overlanding 60 days over five Countries

This was an adventure of a lifetime that all overlanders dream of, a long trip over a month or more. Not many of us get this opportunity due to work and family commitments or simply don't have the gear to last much more than a long weekend of camping. 

Malawi - the warm heart of Africa

The Lake of Stars

Throughout our travels in Southern and East Africa, Malawi had never been on our radar. What little we knew about the country was about it being the home of Lake Malawi (known as the Lake of Stars).