Can’t believe how fast time has gone since my last post, but two weeks from today I will be walking on US soil for the first time in 9 months!
The past two weeks have been, by turns, both excruciating and delightful. It started the Friday before Easter when the power cable for my computer suddenly died. I had (stupidly) run down the battery, so I had to wait 10 days for a new cable to arrive from the US without any access to my computer files. I realized it’s the first time in 8 years that I’ve been without a computer for any serious length of time, and it was more difficult than I thought! My whole life is on my computer, so at least a dozen times a day I would think of something I had to do only to realize I couldn’t because it was on my computer.
Happily, while I was waiting I went on a spectacular 2-night safari with Pallavi and Kat at Dinaka Safari Lodge in the Central Kalahari. We saw a pair of lionesses take down a full-grown, pregnant kudu! I promise to post a story and photos soon.
And the best news of all is that I sold my truck! I hadn’t had much interest despite plastering Maun with flyers and running ads in the newspaper, but then yesterday morning I got a call that someone wanted to come see it. And less than 4 hours later we were shaking hands and congratulating each other! I am so relieved that have taken care of that – my greatest fear was that I wouldn’t sell it and would return to the US with the car still in my name. But now I can relax and enjoy my last 10 days here.
And a busy 10 days they will be. I have to finish up the data collection for my project (just 10 more surveys to go!) and meet with Lesley to discuss an outline for the paper I’ll be writing this summer. Tonight I am going to an award ceremony for the Botswana Wildlife Photographer of the Year, which should be fun. Next week I will be moving some furniture to a friend’s house and starting to pack up my stuff. Next weekend I’m going to try to visit a Bushman craft shop about 2 hours from here that sells beautiful paintings and handicrafts. And Simone and I were thinking it would be a great farewell to rent a boat and spend next Sunday on the river, since I’ve never done a river cruise here. Whew!
My travel plans for my return to the US had to change slightly but the good news is I won’t be rushing to make my connection in Johannesburg, which is always a struggle. Air Botswana has been delaying all their Maun-Jo’burg flights by several hours at a time and re-routing them through other cities because they are in the midst of a budget crisis and can only afford to fly 2 planes. So my 4:30 pm arrival in Jo’burg prior to my 7:30 departure to the US looked dicey. After chatting with Dad about it, I decided to fly to Jo’burg the day before and spend the night there. And since my flight isn’t until the evening on the 3rd, I have enough time to take the train into downtown Jo’burg and explore the shopping area 
Then I’ll fly to Atlanta, have a brief layover and then head on to DC to arrive at 11:40 am on May 4th.
Can’t come soon enough!
COUNTDOWN: 12 days
I can hardly believe! The first thing I thought of when I opened my eyes this morning, “Kelly is coming home soon!” Sounds like your last two weeks are going to fly by!! I hope they do for me too. Good news–CAPS won last night, 2-1. Now the series is tied 2-2!!
Hi! I will travel to Botswana in September 2012 and i think your blog is great! I have some questions and I Hope you can answer them
1. where did you camp at Tsodilo Hills? And what did it cost?
2. Which price have the fuel/petrol in Botswana?
3. What is the average price on food in Botswana?
I would be very greatful for an answer!
// Lovisa Blomqvist