Until next time....

8am

We have breakfast on the deck...

Our last day at Matota, we decide to get the last of the work out of the way. The student rooms look stunning, the team really has done a great job. The staff accomodation needs alot of work still, the team is exited to hear we will fix it up.

1pm

Siesta time! Camp is quiet, there's not much you can do this time of day, it's 40 degrees, the students will also have off between 12 and 3, especially this time of year. Hard to function in this heat.

3pm

The worst of the heat is broken, we decide to quickly go see the new entry channel by boat to the island. The local guys cut this by hand on Makoro's, a makoro is a hand carved cano made from Zambezi Teak, the locals fish from it mostly, the hippo's frequent this channel, you see the paths everywhere, in fact this channel was cut following a hippo path.

The water is dropping so logistically this time of the year will be challenging but we've had so much fun! The water is slightly to high for the vehicles but getting to low for the boat....

This is Dusty on the left, Dusty is our operations guy, he's been operating on this area for I think almost or more than 20 years, we call him Captain Caprivi. He also does all our conservancy meetings and dealings with the local traditional authority, he has certainly earned his respect amongst the local community, I hope one day I will also be called a friend, respect is earned in these communities, not bought or bribed. Values are high and empty promises is taboo, you will soon find yourself infront of the Khuta on promises not kept or disrespect to the community. The Khuta is the trafitional court, it is supported by government. There is alot of procedures to be followed visiting the Kuta, especially as a woman, I will go into this detail on another day.

The traditional wear as a woman is called a shitengi, I have had the privilage of meeting the Chief a few times, I have quite a few shitengi's by now, always one in my suitcase, one in the car and one in my laptop bag just incase I get called to the Khuta for an unexpected meeting, normally just to say hi and check on the progress of the guiding school. If I am going to operate in this area I will do my best not to dissapoint this community.

4:30pm

We take the kids on a boat cruise...Alex is getting skipper lessons from Dusty

Some amazing elephant and hippo sighting..and then the african sunset!

Goodbye Matota...until next time.