Travelling towards Maun

This morning after breakfast we prepared our car and left, we made a last turn in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve and then we took the road leading to the Matswere Gate, the same from where we entered two days ago.

We have to get to the gate to sign the exit by 11:00 am, regardless of the time when one came on arrival.

We arrive in perfect time, sign the register and put the pin on the sighting table; yesterday at the Motopi we saw a bunch of lions: a male and a female flocking and, far beyond, there were two other females with two wonderful puppies.

We go back to the car and leave, we drive through the 40 km of dirt road leading us to Rakops, once we reach the asphalt we pump up the tires, that we had previously deflated to better ride on the sand, and head North.

We go back to the road that we have traveled on the way in, with the same cows, goats, donkeys and horses that roam on the road and, sometimes, suddenly and inexplicably, cross; so you have to be very careful.

Once we reach the village of Motopi we get on the A3 in direction of Maun, the asphalt is in poor condition, it was almost better if the road was unpaved, there are several very deep holes that are dangerous, so let's proceed slowly.

Once we reach Maun, we follow the main road that enters the city to tell the truth. Maun is not really a city, but rather an agglomeration of buildings and services that revolve around tourism, especially safaris; here is the airport, the office of several safari and lodge companies in the Okavango Delta, some shops to buy goods, a couple of shopping malls, gas stations, banks, exchange offices and the Department of Wildlife & National Parks office where you can pay the entry to the Moremi Game Reserve.

First of all, we get fuel for our off-road vehicle even though a tank is still full; when traveling to countries like Botswana it is always better to get fuel whenever you have the opportunity; gasoline stations are few and sometimes it takes hundreds of miles without even seeing one.

Then we go to the exchange office, in a few days we go to Namibia and we do not have Namibian dollars, so let's get them here; not far away is the Spar and we are going to take some water, our reserves begin to fall short.

Finally we cross the bridge over the river from where you have a spectacular view of the water, the papyrus and the palm trees that border the river bank and go to our campsite: the Audi Camp.

We sit at our pitch and relax a little before dinner and have an aperitif at sunset; tonight we go to the camping restaurant along the river, we want to treat ourselves well after the days spent in the Central Kalahari Game Reserve.