BOTSWANA

THE OKAVANGO DELTA IN BOTSWANA IS A WORLD HERITAGE SITE THAT FLOODS SEASONALLY AND IS HOME TO ONE OF THE LARGEST CONCENTRATED WILDLIFE POPULATIONS IN AFRICA.

WE WERE ABLE TO TEST THE BASELAYERS DURING THE EVENINGS AROUND THE CAMPFIRE AND IN THE TENTS. THE ALL ROUNDER SPORTS CLOAKS WERE PERFECT FOR STAYING WARM DURING THE 5AM STARTS, EITHER iN BOATS OR VEHICLES, PARTICULARLY great was THE LENGTH OF THE CLOAK COVERING COLD LEGS BEFORE THE SUN CAME UP. WE ALSO EXPERIENCED A FEW SHORT BUT HEAVY RAINSTORMS. WE HAD SPECIAL PERMISSION FROM THE botswana Defence Force TO GET OFF road.

WE BUMPED INTO A SUBMERGED HIPPO WHILE NAVIGATING SLOWLY THROUGH REEDS ( NO HARM WAS DONE TO THE HIPPO AT ALL) BUT WE TIPPED UP SIDEWAYS ALMOST TO THE POINT OF CAPSIZING THE ALUMINUM DINGHY. THIS WOULD HAVE LANDED US IN HIPPO AND CROC INFESTED WATERS. BROOKE WAS ALSO A LITTLE TOO ADVENTUROUS WITH HER PHOTOGRAPHY AT ONE POINT AND WHEN THE WIND CHANGED SUDDENLY SHE FOUND HERSELF DOWNWIND FROM A RHINO WITH CALF. THE RHINO FAKE CHARGED HER STOPPING ABOUT 3M SHORT AND ENGULFING HER IN A CLOUD OF DUST.

WE HAD PLENTY OF OPPORTUNITY TO TEST THE WATERPROOFING OF THE BACKPACK WITH ALL THE BOATING AND FLOODED VEHICLE CROSSINGS. SPECTACULAR PLACE.