Maun (Day 2)

Our time in Maun was used to figure out what vilalge we would visit first. It was our original goal to head to Khwai and quickly start to work. After meeting with the manager of the Trust it was apparent that Khwai is a bit unstable right now and probably not the best place for us to stay. The board members of the village are reballing and therefore being removed. That left us scrambling. Brain and Eric meet with the manager of Sankoyo, a village near Khwai. He was more than willing to let us enter the village but we had to have the chiefs approval. None of us really understand the governance behind the communities there is a trust, board, and chief. No one can tell us who does what though.

One cool thing of note: Khwai is on the move. Unprecedented floods are causing the village to relocate. Eric and I have been talking over going to look at the relocation and talk to those who make the decision to move. Maybe nexy year when things are more stable there, but it would be cool to het there now.

So it was decided that we would meet with the chief of Sankoyo. Chief Timex. Jessica and I had to go buy traditional wraps in order to meet with him. We will have to continue to wear these throughout our stay in the villages. I need to get a picture with us wearing them, they are really nice looking. Plus, there are comfortable!!! I might have a whole new wardrobe of wraps when I get home.

Meeting with the chied was a but uncomfortable at first. My first glimpse of the village we would temorarily call home was a bit scary. I just kept thinking, we are so lucky and we take that for granted. Brian and I spoke the majority of the time with the chief. Brian on what the project is about, and I talked about climate change in the region. I really have no clue what the chied understood. Several times Brian stopped me to say I was either talking to fast or using to techinical language. I had simplified the presentation but I did not want them to think I was talking down to them. It does not matter much, we got permission and planned to start the surveys the following day. When we were taken to the campsites at Sankoyo, I prayed that we would stay in Maun. It was only 1.5 hours away. But no luck, 2-3 nights behind a building with a tall fence (to protect us from Lions, wish I was joking). It does have a toilet though so I cannot complain too much.

One interesting item of note: They were cleaning an impala at our campsite when we arrived. I may loos a lot of weight in the field.

We headed back to Maun around dusk. I think Eric and Brian were nervous about leaving at that time. The road was dirt but very smooth and all went well. We did see 4 elephants (2 calves that were so cute), but they were far into the Mopane Forest.