Day 204 – Thurs 21 April - 17,296 km, Sepupa, Botswana

Trevor of Nunda Lodge came to my aid again today by generously offering to provide a vehicle escort through Mahango National Game Park, so that I wouldn’t have to break my continuous cycling record. Maximising the opportunity I ran to the Park gates where he met me with the bike and kindly informed me that the Park was so packed with lions they were having to be culled! With these words ringing in my ears we were off and in no time I was passing by a herd of impala, peering after some rapidly disappearing kudu and following fresh elephant tracks. Unfortunately after wading through some floods it was all over far too quickly and I was clean through the empty border posts and into my 19^th country of the trip. If only all my cycling held the threat of lions I’d probably have my feet up in South Africa by now. Enjoying a relaxing first day in Botswana I stopped early at the aptly named Swamp Stop Camp Site, with storms about to hit. Ripped off by the far from friendly owner here, it’s not surprising the camp is empty and the business looks like it’s going under the Okavango in more ways than one. The bar ladies have however just snuck me a bowl of free chips and I couldn’t help noticing the empty chalets are open so ….

Special thanks to Trevor and all those at the wonderful Nunda Lodge for showing a fatigued cyclist such great hospitality, It’s well worth a visit!