:). So.. I’ll admit that about half way through the day… I was pretty annoyed. We started off with our last Maun Lodge buffet breakfast with the group. And, once again, the chef misunderstood my omelet order haha. After packing up, we said our goodbyes to everyone except Beth, who is staying another week, and they headed to the airport. Dad and I did some last minute stopping before heading off into the bush. I basically slept until we hit the dirt road… where it’s just a taddd too bumpy to try sleeping very well :). Soon enough, we passed through the park gate (we had already seen giraffes, zebras, and an elephant!.. but I’m pretty sure it just wet our appetite for more hah). The roads, which I thought couldn’t get too much bumpier, created a trampoline out of our chairs. We soon realized that large puddles were the norm and we splashed through them, muddy water covering the wind shield. Turning off the air conditioning to save fuel, I soon got hot and tired of the constant bumping through the trees. We started to see how long it would really take to make it to our camp site. I’ll admit, I may have complained just a tad (i know!.. its just not like me…ha). Finally, we broke out into the plains, were it was much easier to spot animals. Gazelle-like animals called Impala were everywheree. And, once we saw more giraffes (three babies and their mom :)), some warthogs, a little mongoose thing, and lots of birds (including tons of hornbills… which is Zazu from the
lion king :)), I was really enjoying our long ride through the savanna. The huge puddles became to me less of a threat to get stuck, and more fun haha. Eventually, we made it to the camp site, set up the tent (with lots of laughs at dad from our neighbors and me as he tried to figure out how to get it up :)), and had some pasta dinner. Tomorrow we plan to get some good sunset pictures :). Hopefully more later on my dads crazy endeavors. The first half of this trip went absolutely amazing so thank you again for the prayers! Love, MLE (the way the oneway botswana missions team wrote out my name in the sand so that the kids at the school in the bush could understand how to say it :))

p.s. everyone in botswana is sooo friendly! a wave immediately brings on a smile and a wave in return.. no matter where you are.

(from pete: BGAN Sat device working well. Pictures uploaded. GPS coordinates: S19.23887 E23.35665)