We’re all very excited about the houseboats. Although billed as an ‘optional’ there is really no alternative and everyone has taken the option which is good news, as at this point we are not a big group. Fortunately, it’s not far from our campsite to the jetty and, as we are the only people on the site we have left the tents up ready for our return, making sure to pack any valuables in the truck.
We all have our fancy dress outfits for the onboard party, bought at a local market a couple of days earlier and, in the village supermarket, we stock up with the food (and drink) we have planned for the next couple of nights. Although we will have cooks on board to prepare the food, we have to decide what we want and how we want it cooked. Then it’s off to the harbour to catch our first sight of our new abode. In the harbour, there are all manner of boats but the houseboats are the biggest and most impressive, like floating hotels. Some even have balconies for the rooms and on board swimming pools. We eagerly search for ours, failing to see what is right in front of our eyes! Our floating raft is compact with almost enough rooms for all of us (someone will have to sleep al fresco on the upper deck). On the lower deck are the bedrooms, (open to the outside and with a ‘modesty’ curtain to the inside), the kitchen, toilets and 2 showers. At the back is the swimming ‘cage’ and an extra ‘game drive’ boat. Upstairs there is a large covered communal area with a bar and comfy seats and there are even some sunbeds and a ‘jacuzzi’ which seems to be empty.
As soon as we have loaded all our stuff , it’s time to cast away and make our way across the lake. The sun is high, the water is calm and there’s a slight breeze to stop us overheating. It’s time to grab a sunbed (or failing that, a spare mattress), a good book and a cool drink. It’s a tough life, all this relaxing.
It’s not long before we arrive at our first night’s cove. The water looks clear enough to take a swim but as we gaze at the fish swimming around the boat there’s a movement over by the shoreline. We can just make out the nose and eyes above the surface as a croc follows the shore in the water. Don’t shout too loud. Some of our group are enjoying a quick dip in the water by the boat. We don’t want to panic them. Fortunately they are in the swimming cage so quite protected.
By late afternoon, we are looking for some activity. Most people decide to go on the game drive but I am keen to try something new and join those going fishing with a view to catching something for supper, maybe even a tiger fish. Pretty soon, we are out on the water in a small canoe and I am grappling with worms trying to escape the inevitable whilst constantly checking the water for a marauding croc. Now this fishing lark all seems very simple when you’re watching ‘Gone Fishing’ on the telly (personally, I prefer ‘Extreme Fishing’ with hunky Robson Greene but that doesn’t look too easy). Get a worm. Wind it round the hook. Chuck hook in water. Wind fish in. Simples. Oh no it isn’t.
1. Get a worm. Pick it up. Drop it. Pick it up again. Watch it slither off your hand. Pick it up again. Watch it wriggle free. Pick it up again. Splice it in two as you try to grip it more tightly. Pick it up again, etc, etc, etc.
2. Wind it round hook... refer to point 1 above, inserting ‘wind round hook’ after each ‘pick it up ‘ Actually, the real trick, I learn 45 mins into the above exercise, is to slide the hook inside the length of the worm so the fish doesn’t spot the hook. Now THAT takes skill.
3. Chuck hook in water. What they don’t tell you is that, in order to ‘chuck hook in water’, you have to move the reel (that’s the metal thing that holds the line) in a certain way, whilst simultaneously holding the line out AND flicking the rod from behind you, out from the boat, WITHOUT falling in the water, and WITHOUT catching your hook in anyone else’s neck or line. Complicated, huh? Let’s just say it took me a while and that no fish or animals were hurt in the making of this blog (except the worms- do worms have feelings?). This negates point 4: Reel fish in. It never happened.
Long before I’ve mastered any of the process, it’s time to return to the houseboat and get ready for tonight’s big event. The fancy dress party and quiz night.
First things first. We need to prepare the punch and add the secret ingredients (i.e. any leftover spirits that have been acquired en route) to let the fruit soak them up. Then, it’s time to make ourselves gorgeous and for once, the guys beat the gals.
Dinner is served and it’s time to serve the punch and start the quiz, carefully compiled and compeered by Kanyo. Every question is (allegedly) related to something we’ve learnt or seen on the trip. Each team has someone who has completed the whole trip to date (is that supposed to help?). Each question causes much debate and hilarity as we try to cast our minds back through all the amazing things we have seen, done and heard and discuss without revealing our answers to the competition. Each round is punctuated with a refill of punch. I’d like to say my team won, but at least we didn’t come last.
Next morning, there are a few sore heads and strange things floating on the surface of the water around the boat....
We all have our fancy dress outfits for the onboard party, bought at a local market a couple of days earlier and, in the village supermarket, we stock up with the food (and drink) we have planned for the next couple of nights. Although we will have cooks on board to prepare the food, we have to decide what we want and how we want it cooked. Then it’s off to the harbour to catch our first sight of our new abode. In the harbour, there are all manner of boats but the houseboats are the biggest and most impressive, like floating hotels. Some even have balconies for the rooms and on board swimming pools. We eagerly search for ours, failing to see what is right in front of our eyes! Our floating raft is compact with almost enough rooms for all of us (someone will have to sleep al fresco on the upper deck). On the lower deck are the bedrooms, (open to the outside and with a ‘modesty’ curtain to the inside), the kitchen, toilets and 2 showers. At the back is the swimming ‘cage’ and an extra ‘game drive’ boat. Upstairs there is a large covered communal area with a bar and comfy seats and there are even some sunbeds and a ‘jacuzzi’ which seems to be empty.
As soon as we have loaded all our stuff , it’s time to cast away and make our way across the lake. The sun is high, the water is calm and there’s a slight breeze to stop us overheating. It’s time to grab a sunbed (or failing that, a spare mattress), a good book and a cool drink. It’s a tough life, all this relaxing.
It’s not long before we arrive at our first night’s cove. The water looks clear enough to take a swim but as we gaze at the fish swimming around the boat there’s a movement over by the shoreline. We can just make out the nose and eyes above the surface as a croc follows the shore in the water. Don’t shout too loud. Some of our group are enjoying a quick dip in the water by the boat. We don’t want to panic them. Fortunately they are in the swimming cage so quite protected.
By late afternoon, we are looking for some activity. Most people decide to go on the game drive but I am keen to try something new and join those going fishing with a view to catching something for supper, maybe even a tiger fish. Pretty soon, we are out on the water in a small canoe and I am grappling with worms trying to escape the inevitable whilst constantly checking the water for a marauding croc. Now this fishing lark all seems very simple when you’re watching ‘Gone Fishing’ on the telly (personally, I prefer ‘Extreme Fishing’ with hunky Robson Greene but that doesn’t look too easy). Get a worm. Wind it round the hook. Chuck hook in water. Wind fish in. Simples. Oh no it isn’t.
1. Get a worm. Pick it up. Drop it. Pick it up again. Watch it slither off your hand. Pick it up again. Watch it wriggle free. Pick it up again. Splice it in two as you try to grip it more tightly. Pick it up again, etc, etc, etc.
2. Wind it round hook... refer to point 1 above, inserting ‘wind round hook’ after each ‘pick it up ‘ Actually, the real trick, I learn 45 mins into the above exercise, is to slide the hook inside the length of the worm so the fish doesn’t spot the hook. Now THAT takes skill.
3. Chuck hook in water. What they don’t tell you is that, in order to ‘chuck hook in water’, you have to move the reel (that’s the metal thing that holds the line) in a certain way, whilst simultaneously holding the line out AND flicking the rod from behind you, out from the boat, WITHOUT falling in the water, and WITHOUT catching your hook in anyone else’s neck or line. Complicated, huh? Let’s just say it took me a while and that no fish or animals were hurt in the making of this blog (except the worms- do worms have feelings?). This negates point 4: Reel fish in. It never happened.
Long before I’ve mastered any of the process, it’s time to return to the houseboat and get ready for tonight’s big event. The fancy dress party and quiz night.
First things first. We need to prepare the punch and add the secret ingredients (i.e. any leftover spirits that have been acquired en route) to let the fruit soak them up. Then, it’s time to make ourselves gorgeous and for once, the guys beat the gals.
Dinner is served and it’s time to serve the punch and start the quiz, carefully compiled and compeered by Kanyo. Every question is (allegedly) related to something we’ve learnt or seen on the trip. Each team has someone who has completed the whole trip to date (is that supposed to help?). Each question causes much debate and hilarity as we try to cast our minds back through all the amazing things we have seen, done and heard and discuss without revealing our answers to the competition. Each round is punctuated with a refill of punch. I’d like to say my team won, but at least we didn’t come last.
Next morning, there are a few sore heads and strange things floating on the surface of the water around the boat....
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