Newsletter December 2002 - Daphne’s Botswana Diaries

It's that time of year again to reflect on the happenings of 2002 ! I sit here in our beautiful home in Johannesburg and know that I am fortunate to have the best of both worlds. Botswana will always hold magic beyond measure, with its beauty and true African landscapes.

I have a beautiful home in Botswana too, on the banks of the Thamalakane River. Its only a cottage but a wonderful place to come home to after each safari. The garden is lush with thick vegetation and the birds abundant. When I hear the call of the Sombre Bulbul, I know that they feel secure enough in the undergrowth to make it their habitat. This year we put up a few more perches for the water birds (cormorants, kingfishers, darters, and of course the resident fish eagle.) As soon as the river flooded, it began to come alive again, with water lilies and river sedges. And with that, came the ducks of all kinds, lily trotters and little grebes. A paradise at the bottom of my garden!

I tidy up my office and neaten up files. I put away all the pieces of paper that belong somewhere and see my diary lying on the table. Glancing through the pages I recall the year, with indelible memories of great friendships, old and new, shared over the months of mobile safaris. Sharing the safaris with my brother, Lloyd, was the absolute high light of 2002. The safaris ran smoothly and we experienced wonderful sightings of game interaction, lion prides on the prowl, tracked with cunning and a sixth sense which Lloyd possesses. We lived on the very edge of true nature with smells and sights of the real thing. We listened to the sounds through the night and were aware of our surroundings.

We laughed around the camp fire each evening as we recalled the day's itinerary. Without your friendship and participation, this would not of been possible. Your enthusiasm spurred us on and we got caught up with your enjoyment of being out in the wild in the truest sense. I know that I could not wait for the early dawn, eager to go on the game drive to see what was out there. All these feelings are reflected on the pages of my diary of 2002. I take down the file of my Christmas letters and read paragraphs of news letters written to you since 1990. How long ago that seems!!

In 1990, I wrote the following to you (click to read more...), in 1991 I wrote of driving four wheel motorbikes on the Salt Pans (click to read more...), and in 1992, I wrote of the Salt Pans again. (click to read more...)

A year later, in 1993, I recalled the bush fires that devastated Ngamiland and our beautiful Okavango Delta. Islands, left high and dry for the first time in many years due to the drought we were having, caught fire and burnt black swathes through the flood plains. (click to read more...)

The year of 1994 was not a good year. I wrote that it had seen its fair share of warfare, bloodshed and disaster. It was a busy year for me and before I could write my annual letter, Christmas was upon us. I only wrote to you in January, 1995.!! In February, 1994, my mother was badly beaten over the head by a burglar. For a tiny sleepy little town like Maun, this was hailed by all, especially the local black people, where elders are so respected, as the most awful act anyone could think of doing to a helpless old woman living on her own. They were shocked beyond belief. We called for a mercy flight at 2:30 am and my sister Hazel flew with her in the Lear jet to Johannesburg. She recovered well but aged ten years overnight! (click to read more...)

Feeling proud that I had written my newsletter by November, 1995, I quickly tucked it into a Christmas card and sent you this news. (click to read more...)

The year of 1996 went by so fast and my annual letter was a mere two pages!!! (click to read more...)

In October, 1997, I sat at the waterhole of Pump Pan. Having a hour to myself, I thought that I would begin my Christmas letter to catch the deadline of mail to Europe. (click to read more...)

WIn 1998, my son and I set off on a mokoro (dugout canoe) trip of 16 days with a faithful client of many years. With four mokoros laden to the gunnels we set out early after breakfast. (click to read more...)

Again I missed the Christmas deadline and only caught up with you in 2000! It was a great year - I was busy most of the time, traveling to many of my favourite haunts. We revisited the Salt pans, always intrigued by their stark beauty. The moon was in our favour, so I took the opportunity of setting a table on the pan with candles and crystal and had a wonderfully different dinner in total peace and quiet.

The saddest year for me was 2001, when I lost my dearest sister, by murder, in Selebe Phikwe. She went missing in November and we only found her body in January the following year. Its a long story, but Christmas came and went and nothing but sadness followed.

This year was a great year. Its had its up and downs as well, but by far and large, it was a good year. Lloyd and I accomplished a lot, made wonderful new friends and now relax with our families. Lloyd is happily building at Shakawe, where he has the most beautiful forest on a back water off the main channel of the wide Okavango River. He and indeed, all of us, derive great pleasure just being there and listening to the birds that fly amongst the lofty branches of the fish eagle's haunt.

Grant my son and his wife Katie live in the big house next door. They have made themselves a wonderful home. On the 10th December, 2002, Katie gave birth to a little girl (my first grand child!) with a mop of black hair. She has such a sweet little angelic face, so perfect in every way. I look forward to watching and indeed, being part of, her growing up. I just know I will always be next door, looking for an excuse to pick her up!!!

I will be thinking of all of you as I go through my address book - remembering all the good times we have shared, now or in the past and wish you all the happiness and good health for 2003. May yu all have the privilege of sharing this Christmas and New Year with your friends and loved ones.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!!!

Lots of love,
Claus and Daphne

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