Having driven like crazy to get to the airstrip on time, we then had to wait and wait and wait. After about 30 mins Jonah checked in with camp and we were told it was on its way, but still we waited. At one point a black helicopter arrived and for a split second I thought Ian might have arranged it as a surprise for me, knowing how much I love helicopters.
But no, it just sat noisily at the end of the runway with its rotors spinning.
Eventually our plane arrived and it was actually the same one I photographed sitting on the tarmac at Maun the other day.
As before the propellers continued to turn making it hard to climb the steps which wobbled from side to side, so obviously this airline's modus operandi is to remove the integral staircase and have a push up one on wheels at each stop.
As usual we sat behind the pilots but I'm a little hazy as to whether we were the only passengers, certainly no one got off with us 5 minutes later. I'm sure Ian and I could get our pilot's licence quite easily now given the number of these times we've studied these knobs and dials.
Looking down the runway
A few more rather uninspiring views of the delta.
Ian said we flew over Okuti Camp but I wasn't in a position to see/take a picture - but this could well be Dead Tree Island.
These 3 elephants are the only wildlife we saw.
Our, very short, landing strip.
Shinde Camp hidden in the trees
Our expectations as to what experiences Shinde might offer us were pretty tall at this point, as we know from experience that Michele (Safari Consultants) always aims to finish the holiday on a high (although for me Okuti's accommodation was unbeatable).
The landscape his very different to the Moremi Game Reserve, much more open with huge swathes of grasses or reeds.
We were met by our guide, a rather quiet and unengaging chap, who had worked at the camp for 10+ years and whose favourite pastime was leading walking safaris - well that's us right out then! The camp is literally only 5 mins from the airstrip and our arrival was greeted in song - nice start (sorry for the very wobble video but we were rather bouncing around - our guide Chachos is the one who joins in on the right mid way through).
We were too late to join the main lunch but a delicious buffet had been left for us. The only trouble was the manager, who'd only been there 4 days, wanted to stand over us and talk whilst we wanted a bit of peace and quiet to enjoy our lunch.
