MERRY CHRISTMAS

It has been a really busy time the last few weeks since we came back from Kasanka and Shoebill Island. The schools finish at the beginning of December for Christmas but we still had the car to sort and many other things to do. Something to get the heart pumping was the day when we located a large snake under some concrete over a rainwater drainage channel. We had no idea initially what it was but took a guess at a Puff Adder by the way it was hissing. Once we got some of the concrete sections up it was confirmed at a "puffy" and certainly the biggest one seen around here for some time. A couple of the farm guys and I managed to get it out, crated it and moved it to a more remote part of the farm. Before it was fully released I managed some photos and quite a nice film up close, if you like snakes. The Puff Adder is one of the most dangerous snakes around here and would do you a lot of harm if it managed to get you. 

 Have a look at the short video here

For us Christmas will be very different as we will be out in the bush and living in a tent on top of our car. This week, after months of frustrations, we eventually managed to get all the proper import documents sorted, penalty fines removed and it now is not a South African car but a Zambian one with new registration plates. This means we can actually start using it properly as a “Home from Home” and get out to see more of Africa.

We leave our home here in Ndola on early tomorrow morning (Friday), drive south through Zambia for a few days in Livingstone again before crossing over into Botswana where we will be in Chobe for Christmas Day. No idea yet what we will be doing but probably sitting with a glass or two of wine watching Elephant and many other animals. For us though it is Boxing Day that is much more important and when Christmas will really happens as Andrew, Karen and Andrew’s girlfriend Louise join us in Chobe and we can then start a couple of weeks driving and enjoying such places as Moremi, Savuti, and The Okavango Delta before heading of through Maun and onto the Madgadikadi Pans before returning to Chobe and a day in Zimbabwe at the world renowned Victoria Falls. Although Jan and I have been to Botswana a few times before including back in July this year, it will be our first time in the “green” and wet season so it will be a very different experience.

This week we had a small party here for all the staff that work on the farm and help us here in our home. It was a great afternoon.

The Ladies enjoying the party

All the staff here at the farm plus Brutus and Moose, our two guard dogs

That is probably it from us for 2015 unless we can find a good internet connection on our travels

It now just remains to say to all our friends around the world

Have a really good Christmas and a very happy New Year

Mike & Jan