On June 4 the first of several visitors arrived to use our house as a base to explore the Okavango Delta. Melody Darnell, the American Peace Corps volunteer currently stationed in Nata, came for a three-day stay before she returns to the U.S. for a month. She has completed the standard two-year commitment, but has extended for a third year, and will go back to Nata in late July. We had spoken to Melody by phone several times since our arrival in Africa; since she serves in the village of Jeff's Peace Corps assignment, we were interested in spending time with her, but our schedules did not coincide until recently.

Melody left on June 7, and was followed on June 10 by our friend Pat Nurse from Knysna, Republic of South Africa. Pat is an avid birder. She was accompanied by two birding friends, Mary and Sandy. They spent the week with us, driving out every day in search of avian life in and around Shakawe. Each early morning and evening they sat in our front yard, bordering a marsh, with binoculars, notebooks and reference books in hand. After only two days Pat had a list of 43 birds seen or heard in the yard and immediate environs; we were surprised and impressed.

Pat and company departed Friday morning, June 15, for Popa Falls in Namibia, just across the border. On an impulse we packed camping gear, prepared some portable food, and departed that afternoon for the village of Qangwa, en route to the Gcwihaba Caverns (also known as Drotsky's Caves). Jeff has intended for 17 years to see the caverns, and this was our last opportunity, at least during this stay in Botswana. More on this in the next entry...