Blackout curtains are a wonderful thing. We woke rested and ready to go, and after breakfast we went for a walk in the nearby park. It’s winter here and the dry season, so the grass is mostly brown and trees leafless. There was still smoke in the air but it was sunny and warm enough to forego jackets. A few people walked their dogs, but the park was nearly empty. On a large pond we saw a South African black duck and an Egyptian goose. In the grass foraging were numerous Hadada Ibis. The Ibis sound like overgrown crows, and start calling at dawn.

We exited the park and walked to a small shopping area down the street. A meat market was advertising biltong, which is the South African version of beef jerky made by marinating the beef in vinegar and spices and then air drying. The butcher offered us samples and it was good, if a little chewy. I bought a small bag of the biltong for snacking and then we headed back to the hotel. It was nap time already.

Dinner was scheduled at the Pot Luck Club adjacent to the hotel, and it proved to be a great experience. We ordered the tasting menu with wine pairing. Food was delicious, wine was delicious and the staff were fantastic. We met the chef, and he was so proud of his restaurant and happy with our enjoyment. Definitely in my top ten restaurant experiences!

Dinner over it’s back to our rooms to pack . Tomorrow we fly to Maun, Botswana and then take a bush plane to our first camp.