Only in Africa

[mmgemini]

We travelled from Nata Lodge to Kasane.It's a 300KM trip with a vet fence between.

For those that don't know a vet or buffalo fence is there to stop the buffalo spreading foot and mouth across Botswana. OK ???

We stopped at the vet fence.Had a chat with the copper on duty after he'd looked at my IDP.I still have a UK paper driving licence so I need the IDP with my pic on it.

I keep my IDP in the back of the Land Rover.So after I'd put the licence away I was coverering the door lock with tape.
Copper said "Good idea the tape,keeps dust out. Mind you no meat when you come back OK !!!"

Now I thougt this unusual as you can normally transport meat south but not north.However it all was forgotten about.

About another 100KM up the road we came to a temporary road block.
A mound of earth blocking half the road and a red and white gate type barrier on top of the mound.

I stopped for the copper.
"Morning" He said.Are you enjoying yourself in our country,morning Madam are you happy"
Me thinking what's he after. Then it came.
"would you both be so kind as to step out of the car and paddle your feet in the ...he paused and thought tin bath while we spray the wheels. We have foot and mouth in the village.

We both got out and paddled out feet and I watched his helper spray the wheels.

When I got back in the cab I realised that the spare on the bonnet had been sprayed with disinfectant.As had the windscreen, bonnet and both wing tops.

I cleaned the screen with washers and wipers and carried on to Toro Lodge where we were to camp.We booked and went to our site.

When I went to open the back door...................
The door was covered in disinfectant - As was the spare wheel COVER.The spare wheel hadn't been touched.


Only in Africa.

[si_guru]

Not only in Africa...


On a trip to Ireland in 2001, during the foot and mouth outbreak in the britain (which was terrible for the farmers), I was stopped as drove off the ferry on Dublin. The car was sprayed and a very nice Gardi asked if we had any dairy produce on us... ..we did!

We had a cartoon of French made yoghurt.. ... yup - he took it.

[mmgemini]

We stayed at Toro Lodge Kasane.We booked for three days stayed ten,

So we booked a sundowner river trip.
It was superb being only two of us on the boat.

Now there's rapids between Toro Lodge and the river that's used for the trip.Because of this Toro Lodge keep their boat at Chobe Marine Lodge.We were taken there in the game drive vehicle.

The trip over we came back into the lodge.I dropped all the camera gear on the floor and said to Margaret "I'm finding the gents"

For those who haven't seen most lodges are built in a similar manner.
An imposing front with a wing off each way for dining room or bar.The back of the lodge is open to the river or waterhole.
I went to my right for the gents.I couldn't see one so I then went left.I still didn't see one so I asked a cleaning lady"Toilets please" then I saw two doors together."Is that them I asked"
She didn't reply but took my hand and led me to the two doors.
When we arrived she pointed to the little brass plaque of a little girl sitting on a potty.
Then one of a boy standing peeing into a pot.
"this one"she said,
"Thank you" I replied.
Still holding my hand she opened the door and took me inside.

We were in a longish white painted corridor with a varnished door at the end.We walked to the door and she opened the door.There was a WC.What she said I haven't a clue....

She then turned round and opened a door at the side of the first door.This was the urinal.
Again I don't know what she said. - really I was past listening.

"I've done it before - I can manage" I said waiting for her to leave.Which she did.

It was the look and smile as I walked past her on my way out that I'll remember.

Only in Africa.