"I'm coming home ... "

I apologize, I've had Daughtry in my head, ever since I heard it at the baggage claim the first time through Johannesburg. Finally, it's applicable, it's time to make our way home.
We've been on a lot of flights but this final stretch is going to be the longest, let's do this part like a running diary, we'll even use Pacific standard time, let's start the clock:

Saturday morning, 12:01AM (running clock):
Hop on our Cessna bush flight from Pom Pom Camp to Kasane Airport (flight time, about 90 minutes, about 30 minutes too long for someone in particular)

Saturday, 3:00AM (3 hrs):
After a brief delay waiting for someone in particular, we're transfered from Kasane Airport to the Kazungula border, go through Botswana customs, cross the river by boat, go through Zambia customs, pay outrageous transit visa fee ($100), continue on by bus to Livingtone

Saturday, approx. 6:00AM (6 hrs):
Arrive at Livingstone airport for our flight, depart for Johannesburg

Saturday, approx. 8:00AM (8 hrs):
Arrive in Johannesburg where we have about a 5-6 hour layover before leaving for London

Picture taken about an hour before leaving Johannesburg, it's been a long day already, I think we're looking pretty good, not too tired.

Saturday, 11:00AM (11 hrs):
Depart Johannesburg for London

Well, I thought we weren't too tired:

somewhere over Africa

Saturday, 10:00PM (22 hrs):

Yes, we really do have another flight

Arrive in London, it's early morning in London, Heathrow is packed, about a 3-4 hour layover, not enough time to go into London this time, no pints or pasties.

Sunday morning, 2:30AM (26.5 hrs):
We leave London, next stop, Los Angeles, CA.

Looks like someone's still tired:

hibernating with the rest of his pack

Meanwhile, Katy and I are having a movie marathon:


FINAL STOP, Sunday, 1:00PM (37 hrs):
Arrive in Los Angles, CA

FINAL STOP(a), Sunday, 5:00PM (41 hrs):
Arrive in San Francisco, CA

That's right, 37 hours after leaving Pom Pom Camp, we finally arrive in the U.S.

Okavango Delta and Makuro

Our final two days were spent at the Okavango Delta, two more game drives and a float in makuros through the Delta. For full galleries of each, see below:

Game Drive #1

Makuro

Game Drive #2

Not nearly the same amount of wildlife for viewing but an entirely different type of safari experience. Lead by Shakes (in photo below), here are some of the sights:

Our final Sundowner

Pom Pom

Camp #2 was at Pom Pom Camp in the Okavango Delta, only accessible by small plane as noted in the previous post. As a result, we were very much secluded from the entire world and were joined by only two Canadian couples and Cecil, camp host and one of the most interesting people you could ever meet. Days were spent cruising around looking for the leopard, enjoying sundowners. Nights started with fabulous food and cocktails around the campfire.

Full set of picture of Pom Pom Camp may be accessed here:

Here's our "tent":



and our view of the Delta:

Bush Flight - Kasane to Pom Pom airstrip

We left the Elephant Valley Lodge around 11:00 a.m. or so and went directly to the airport in Kasane. We were met by a guy who took our bags, went to find our pilot, took us through the x-ray screening, and then into the "departure lounge." (JP: where we stayed for all of 30 seconds) I kind of muffed the tip exchange. I think he was pissed. (JP: We put Ryan in charge of all the tipping, we thought it would be a good idea.)

So we walked onto the tarmac and were greeted by our pilot. He was a laid back Canadian dude named Richard who had been flying in Botswana for about 6 months.


Here's the plane: a Cessna 210.







Here's Katy and me inside right before takeoff. Katy's nervous.

JP: And this is even before I took the controls. I was telling both of them the entire week that I wanted to fly the plane, they said there was no way ...







Takeoff


Here's Jon Pan holding down the controls (JP: I didn't even need to ask, I think he saw me eyeballing the controls):




















Panelia Earhart







As we neared the Pom Pom Camp, the pilot dipped down to look for game. We dove to the left and to the right and saw a few things. Here's the view.
















After taking these shots, I started to feel really queasy. The landing came just in time.





Here it is:

Lion hunt

Chobe National Park

Full pictorial coverage of the game found at Chobe may be found below:

Chobe Game Drive #1

Chobe Game Drive #2

Here's a sampling:

Eugene, incredible vision. Able to drive in darkness.

Elephants, they eat dirt for the minerals to make their tusks strong

Giraffes, they're tall (my personal favorite)

Warthogs, they're just ugly

Impalas, buddies with the baboons

Nile Croc, super jaw strength, surprisingly spry (no zoom used)

Hippos, they make their presence know. They like mud too.

Cape Buffalo, one of the "Big 5"

and Lions, fierce

Elephant Valley Lodge

A sample from Elephant Valley Lodge by Chobe National Park. For the full gallery, click here:

Elephants at adjacent watering hole

Our accommodations

Milo, the zebra mongoose

With Charles