Camp Itumela

On the eastern edge of the Kalahari lies a bush camp that has been a frequent stop over for us when we wend our way by vehicle north to Chobe National Park and across the Zambezi River to Livingstone and southern Zambia. The occasion for this trip was an administrative visit to MCC programmes and projects in Zambia.  Good friends of ours from Ontario had joined us and we decided to drive through Botswana so they could see experince some of the vastness and beauty of that country. The drive from where we live in Johnnesburg to the border post of Martin's Drift is about 4 1/2 hours non-stop driving. Then it can take about an hour to do immigration and customs on both sides and then another hour to Camp Itumela. As it was we decided to break that up abit but eventually made it to the Botswana town of Palapye around mid-day.

 

One would think following road signs would be rather straightforward - until that is, one gets closer to the camp. After several of these convoluted directions we turned in to the gate. By this time our Ontario visitors were really wondering where we were heading as the access goes through a rather dilapidated industrial area and behind a railroad shuttling yard before arriving at a sandy campsite. Accommodations here are basic but the food is plentiful and very tasty. This time around we stayed at the far end of the camp by the 'Campers Kitchen'.

 

Our arrival mid-day was timed so that I (Bruno) could participate in a global WebEx conference. Regularly throughout the year the international program leadership of MCC meets via the web to coordinate work, share experiences and ensure effective collaboration in our work for peace and justice. So here I sat, in the 'campers outdoor kitchen' in a bush camp, connected to folks in Indonesia, Europe, other parts of Africa, Latin and South America as well the United States and Canada - stretching over 12 time zones. Voices and images were clear and we engaged in two hours of animated and dynamic dialogue on the work of MCC.

 

                                                                          The next day we headed north to Chobe and the Zambezi River on a seven hour drive. The tarred road was excellent and afforded us some early images of the natural denizens of the bush. Our destination was Chobe National Park and thenVictoria Falls - a quick stop to enjoy these natural wonders of the world before delving into our work on the Zambian side of the border.