So here I am, in a hotel, waiting to leave for the Okavango Delta, for 2 weeks of camping in the bush.
I've got such a roller coaster of emotions flying around right now. I am beyond excited, I'm nervous, and if I'm totally honest, a little scared too.
Why am I scared? Well let's see. My safari experiences to date, although have been many, have involved a 4/5 star resort and a relatively small private game reserve.
This is a whole different kettle of fish.
We are camping in the wild.... The team with us set up camp while we are on drives, and they dig us long drop toilets, and put tents up around them.
There are no fences, so some of the group I'm with have spoken about hyenas trotting through camp looking for scraps of food.
So very cool but also (let's have a reality check he) very flipping scary!!!
There are a myriad of things that can (and probably will) bite me.
On the last day we're going on an open-door helicopter to swoop and fly over the Delta to get a birds-eyed view!!
I've never camped before, what if I don't like it!?
What if I get sick?
What if I fall over and make an ass out of myself?
What if my stomach decides to rebel?
What if I don't get on with everyone in the group?
What if I get bitten?
What if I break out in a rash?
What if I have a panic attack in the helicopter as it dives down to swoop across a river?
What if what if what if???
Deep breath.
The whole point of this journey is that it's something I've wanted to do since I was around 10 years old.
It's going to be incredible.
I am going to experience sights, sounds and smells found nowhere else in the world.
If I am really lucky, I am going to get some incredible wildlife sightings- wild dogs, hyena, leopards....
It's coming to the end of the dry season in the Delta, so all the plains game converge on the remaining watering holes.... Predators know this and lie in wait.
All in all, this in going to be an incredible trip, and I know I am going to love it.
I can't spend my life worrying about fears, and what ifs.
Life is for living and I'm grabbing it by the horns and saying "Come on then, let's go!!!"
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