First of all, we desperately needed the break. Tendering for projects at work has been driving us up the walls over the last few weeks. We want the jobs, but we don't like bidding for them. Too many reports to write, too many quotations from subbies to get, and too many hectic hours behind the computer.
So we let loose for all it was worth with 2 days off over the easter break. Good Friday and Easter Monday are both public holidays here.
Friday was spent sleeping late, going for a scenic drive at the Gaborone park & picnic grounds (designed for humans but completely overrun by monkeys). 
Other random spottings included these 3 little babies (Impala x 3), as well as some Eland and loads of wandering ostrich.
Had a lovely lunch at the Bull+Bush outside in their beer garden and ordered (gasp!) something other than their dreamy steaks. Peri-Peri Chicken and Schwarma instead.
Went for our usual Friday-sundowners at our favourite bar in the neighbourhood and finished the day off with a movie on TV.
Saturday was a day of rest as well, naturally. This time supplemented with some work around the house and a trip to the BSPCA to pick up our first Botswana charity cases... 2 small kittens in need of a foster home while they're too young for neutering and immunizations prior to going up for adoption. They're a lot of fun, and give the dogs some serious entertainment.
Sunday was extremely special as far as easters go. We were up at a ridiculously early hour to go rhino tracking with the stealthy Mpho and Tshepo from Mokolodi.
(Mpho's gun there, is actually there in case of any potential leopard "incident", not rhino)
This was a really special opportunity. They drove us out into the bush and we hopped out of the truck and Mpho used his uncanny ability to track these massive creatures and off we went on foot. It was incredible how close you can get to these monsters. Makes for great photographic opportunities, and really much more impressive than viewing game from the safety of a bakkie or a car, which we've done too many times now to really get a big rush from, unfortunately.
How does one track a rhino?
Simple....
*
spoor (big poop),
* bonus points here for photo of dung beetles...not doing what they do best (rolling their perfect little balls of poo), but rather: Fighting!
foot prints,
smell,
grass chewings,
sound (of massive feet pounding on the ground)
and...
it also helps if you can see their big butts poking out from behind the thorn trees.
We saw 8 out of the reported 10 in the area. The area, by the way, happens to be less than 3 kilometres from our house!
We finished the trek off with a picnic on the lake, where three hippos and a baby croc also happened to be hanging out. It was really relaxing and worth the hours of walking and whispering and spotting false alarms (monkeys? kudu? impala?).
Let's see... .what else....?
Monday night we enjoyed dinner at Spur and there was a marimba/xylophone duo there to do the dining music. Sweet! Then saw "The Last King of Scotland", which we both highly recommend for anyone interested in Africa or specifically Uganda in the '70s. Or if you just like scottish people for no apparent reason, of course.
Otherwise, we're busy cheering on the South Africans in the Cricket World Cup, but they appear to be letting us down significantly in these late stages. As soon as they bail out, I'm supporting New Zealand. Hannes is going to go for England. Laugh if you will.
In other news, babies are everywhere. The local baboons from our neighbourhood have given birth and we see the most adorable little kitten-sized guys running and jumping and climbing and generally creating nuiscance all along the main road to our house. They're funny now, and it's interesting to see them growing bigger every week. Lots of baby antelope in the parks as well, and one of the rhinos we were tracking on sunday is actually pregnant-- they gestate for 16 months. Ouch.
She's a BIG ol' girl.
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