We took a quick shuttle out to the airstrip and climbed in for a 25 minute ride to the Khawi River Lodge. Flying in these small planes gives us yet another view of this wonderful country. When we landed there was no smiling Belmond employee there to greet us. A guide from another lodge pointed to the Belmond vehicle and Leslie and I lugged our bags over there. The guide at the vehicle was surprised to see us as he was not expecting us. It was then our turn to be surprised because our shuttle was not going to be via car, instead it was going to be by helicopter! A tiny helicopter that I barely fit into is better than no helicopter at all. The reason for this is that the airstrip right next tot hew lodge was getting repaired and the airstrip that we landed at was a 45 minute drive from the lodge. it was a big win for us. Seeing everything from the helicopter was yet another great way to see Botswana. We got to the landing strip and again there was no one there! I had a moment of panic, but Kenny, our guide for the next two days, drove up and greeted us. We love the Belmond. Off we were whisked to our room where I saw so amny bired even before we could finish lunch.
Our MackAir plane
The landscape changed on our small plane getting greener along the way
And getting much hotter in parts
Welcome to your Helicopter
Leslie is getting her flying lesson
Flying much lower
We could see the details, Leslie saw zebra
We could see other lodges also
The elephant tracks make the ground look like elephant skin
Our welcome message on the beds
Looking to the outside
Nice bathroom
The shower
Our beds with the mosquito netting
Still flaps in the walls
A nice desk
Looking out from our deck to the river
We could always look out and see some animals: elephants, antelope, hippos and warthogs too
I saw so many cool birds right outside our room.
Meve's Starling
Kudu from our deck
African Marsh Eagle
A Green wood hoopoe
The hoopoe had a crazy beak
Greater blue eared starling
The greater wig wearing hippo
White breasted cormorant
Lots of elephants in the marsh
African fish eagle
Now two fish eagle
A dragon fly
Time for lunch. It is a Kudu stew
It has been 126 days since we began our Migration
