Then off to the Makgadikgadi pans and a tented camp set on a cliff overlooking a river where we watched the zebra and elephants coming to drink.At times herds of up to 200 zebra gathered at the riverbank waiting their turn to get to the water, there seems to be a strict pecking order with a continual switch over of animals taking a much needed drink. Their excitement was evident as they galloped to the water at their turn.

The next day we visited the national park and apart from the usual game there were a number of lions. It was explained to us that we could get close to them as they only saw the vehicle and neither saw nor smelt people inside. Also in our 2 nights here we had a sunset river cruise with a couple of g and t's which is becoming habitual, here they call it a sun-downer.

From there we headed north to the Zambian border. We spent our last night in Botswana near Nata at a place called elephant sands and was it aptly named. A very sandy area where elephants in the vicinity came to drink the brackish water from a reduced waterhole.We felt sorry for them as there were always 20 to 30 around trying to glean some water.They were naturally upset and fractious. As the camp site was next to the water and full of elephants we thought we would book into one of the lodges. Not too salubrious and then in the night we heard the elephant against the lodge breaking the water pipe to get a drink. Poor things,

Crossed into Zambia the next day at a chaotic crossing. A main crossing with lots of cars and lorries with only a pontoon taking one car and one lorry at a time. The lodge we are staying in for 3 nights here though is wonderful. There are 4 managers and 42 staff for 7 double occupancy cabins of which only 3 are full. Hence the service and standards are exceptional. The continuation of the sunset river launches but on the Zambezi. Crocodiles and hippos in the river but it is only the latter the guides are very wary of and give a wide berth to.
Have also had the land rover serviced mid trip so all seems good to go on from here.

As we are near to Livingstone we went to the Victoria falls which were fairly empty of water on the Zambian side as it is the last month of the dry season here. So decided we would cross the border into Zimbabwe as the falls are always more dramatic there. They certainly were and it is the only time we have crossed a border and been in no man's land on foot. As we were in Zim decided to visit the old colonial Victoria Falls hotel for afternoon tea. The tea was fine but the cocktail was better.

As you can see I did not take this picture so take no responsibility for it being so bad..

Today explored Livingstone and its excellent railway museum. Loads of old steam engines made in the UK for Rhodesian Railways, some absolutely huge to cope with the distances here. Finished the day with another sundowner on the Zambezi as our last R and R day before hitting the road north.