All in a day's work...

During the week we had to visit Elephant Sands near Nata, to fiddle with one of our satellite internet sites there. Apart from having to go there for work, it's also a top favourite place to visit - natural, unspoilt, good company, and plenty of elephants!

Here's a photographic update on the waterhole, last seen in October, at the height of the dry season (in this previous blog entry). 

This time, I had to wade through a clutching jungle of knee-high plant growth, in order to locate my log for the traditional photo!  As you can see, there is quite a contrast in the level of the waterhole these days - almost at the end of the rainy season.

Although there is still the odd thunderstorm around, there is most definitely an autumnal feel in the air, and leaves are beginning to fall... Here's one of the rain storms we missed, while on the road.

Earlier, while driving in to the lodge,  I'd been anxiously eyeing our progress through impossible drifts of white sand, when, unexpectedly, a TUSK appeared in my peripheral vision! It felt as if it was about to spike me through the open window, but in all reality, I'm sure it wasn't that bad! The poor elephant seemed just as horrified at this close encounter,  and as I let out a yell of surprise,  he was already doing a frantic U-turn, and we just saw his flapping ears, tail and a cloud of dust as he scuttled back into the bush, no doubt deciding to attempt his track crossing much later!

I love the way "Africa-time" unfolds at Elephant Sands... it's just that kind of place.  Nothing is hurried, and an afternoon on the patio overlooking the waterhole progresses lazily, matching the slow, measured pace of the elephantine arrivals and departures in front of us.

After a bush-cuisine dinner laid on by fabulous chef Lazarus, the done thing is to sit around the open fire, where amazing stories are exchanged, and the Southern Cross shines down from a silvery/white milky way.  I found a place to curl up on a cement pillar, and communed with the skies, while sipping Kahlua-laced coffee, and listening to the conversations floating around me...

Next morning we went to do a quick site survey for our next satellite dish installation, at an exploration camp close to the lodge. It's going to be right here, at their future office: another communications miracle in the middle of nowhere!

These odd looking constructions dotted around in the middle of the bush, are apparently going to become signposts. The upright stones have been placed there to stop the elephants from getting up close enough to push the signs over. I'm not so sure how well this is going to work, but I will keep you notified in due course!

As we left, we followed the giant footsteps of a fellow road-user, before reaching  the tar road and setting off back to civilisation...

Elephant footprints at Elephant Sands