Baobab – Blogs from Betty's Bay

In a time of psycho-terror induced mass hysteria, it is good to go away for a while – to a place of inner quietness and peace or a place away from the maddening crowds.

The *Makgadikgadi* salt pan, the largest such complex of its kind on earth – a once great lake of 16 000 square kilometres.
Walking barefoot, trying to get in touch with the ancient silence.

Botswana is such a place, about the size of Madagascar, slightly larger than France, shared by less than 2.5 Million people, where 80% of the landmass is covered by the Kalahari desert and two great river systems which seasonally and partially transform the northern landscape into a vast inland river delta, home to abundant wildlife.

After rendezvousing with a group of fellow travellers in Botswana we set out on a ten day adventure – the first destination Kubu island in the Makgadikgadi salt pan.

*Kubu Island* – a granite rock outcrop within an ancient lake which has since dried up; an archeologically explored site; a holy site for the local people, and a national monument. Access with 4×4 during the dry season only is strictly regulated.

Our group – quietly following the sun’s path down over *Kubu Island*.

Driving a 4×4 on a hard surface which can become treacherous during the rainy season; being in a group of 14 fellow travellers only just met, could also be a hazardous undertaking – quite apart from your so-called carbon footprint (about which we must talk a little further on) – you cannot but be in awe of experiencing the immensity of space encircling you and the depth of time gone bye.