Do you know the way to Duma Tau?

Elephant - Loxodonta Africana

Clean, sweet water is vital to the existence of elephants.  Gregarious and extremely loyal, elephants live in family groups led by an adult female with her offspring.  The bulls form temporary herds of their own, joining up with the females during mating season.  Peacefully they browse and graze, plucking grasses and leaves with the delicate tip of the trunk, keeping cool by fanning themselves with their enormous ears.  In spite of their size, elephants are capable of standing eerily still, while they test the air for danger with their trunks.  A herd on the move walks steadily in single file creating well worn paths, a feature of elephant country.

Our last drive at Vumbura was a great opportunity to get close-ups of elephants when we came upon a large herd on each side of the trail.  Mothers with babies were not too happy being disturbed, and for a while our vehicle was surrounded on all sides by these magnificent animals.

This was the angry mommy showing her dislike of us but really just protecting her baby.

Leaving Vumbura Plains camp..........................what time did you say our helicopter would arrive?

The Brits saying goodbye to ST (a charming, knowledgeable guide who introduced me to the wonders of his beautiful Botswana), and getting back into Annie's helicopter as the water was rising and the airstrip still flooded, so this was the only way out.

Note:  Received an e-mail from ST this week - fears that Vumbura would be closed, due to the possibility of the camp being flooded, is over - the water level is now dropping and all is well.

By now even dear Babs felt like a 'chopper pro' as we made a dash for it, then flew off to meet up with our next plane at a dry airstrip.

Elan's Cessna Caravan arrived and when I asked if I could sit behind him he invited me to sit beside him!  OMG, me a co-pilot - can't you almost see my knees knocking here as I looked at all those dials.............

.........fortunately his young, healthy heart kept beating for the 45 minute flight and I didn't have to 'save the day' while flying at 7,000 ft. above sea level!

View from the cockpit - you really can't see over the high dash, have to look out the side window which made thoughts of having to take over the controls even more frightening!

But have to admit, once up and away it was an awesome flight in the front seat...........and Elan was a 'dishy' pilot who chatted the whole way sharing valuable information about the spectacular landscape below. 

Flying over the watery Okavango Delta toward our second Wilderness Safari camp, Duma Tau ("Roaring Lion") - still in Botswana. 

Next time - the delights of a slightly more rustic camp.  "Darn, no hairdryers", but a large floor fan worked in a pinch.  More impeccable service, and surprises in the beds!