Flying from Kasane to Mapula Lodge
Mapula Lodge is in the northern reaches of the Okavango and boasts a rustic wooden camp with a beautiful sunset view over the river. Tomorrow we’re hitting the road with food, tents and supplies in our backpacks – but first a little test run. With our backpacks fully loaded and strapped onto us, myself and our tracker David (both Bukakwe Bushmen) took our positions in front and lead the group on a short 5km walk from the lodge so as to get a feel for the weight we’re carrying and make any adjustments if needed. At first you are very aware of the weight but once you get into a steady rhythm of walking, you forget about it and start taking in the beauty around you. The girls carefully attempted to avoid stepping on the ever-present dung before realising it is a futile pursuit – hopping and jumping over dung on every second step with a heavy load on your back is tiring. Our short walk rewarded us with sightings of ellies, impala and wildebeest – a good sign of things to come!
