25th May 2017
We left Camp Itumela at 9am after a leisurely breakfast. Breaking camp is simple and a routine is starting to develop. First police check point our hearts in our throats – do we have the correct Pooch Passport? Waved through without a care but visitors to Botwana must remember to stop at the stop sign and wait for the police to wave you forward.
A glorious day, winter has been left behind in South Africa. The road winds through a flat, tree filled landscape with the occasional bolder strewn outcrop. The old road, which runs adjacent to the new one, is used as a bicycle lane by the locals. Gangs with slashers are clearing a strip approximately 30meters on either side of the road, presumably to increase visibility of animals coming out of the thick bush. If you look carefully you see the occasional homestead or fence hidden behind a screen of bush making us wonder if there is more development than meets the eye a carefully calculated distance away from the road.
There are an increasing number of trucks on the road but yesterday was a holiday and we understand that there are clear rules that apply to trucks, restricting their use over weekends and holidays. There are still fences on the side of the roads so there are no animals grazing on the verges. The approach to the small town of Tonata was heralded by streets lined with innovative solar street lights.
We arrived at Woodlands to find a green lawn and a stunning camp with ablutions that are spacious and well maintained. Electricity is an extra P35.00 per day so we elected to remain off the grid (the van lights run off the battery and the fridge freezer has been off since we left SA. You can only take limited meat and no fresh fruit and vegetables across the border so we decided to take no perishables and have purchased simple lunches, milk and bread as we go. Dinner has been purchased at the camps) We discovered that there are bush stands available that have no services but offer camping at a reduced rate we should have stayed there! Woodlands had great frozen meals on offer and the staff delivered them to the van piping hot. Very tasty and great value for money.
Itchy Feet! 