​Weathering the Storm with the WP#147

Yesterday, I returned from an amazing adventure and business trip to Botswana. As I mentioned, last week, when I was immersed in nature, this is a destination I am glad to have experienced. The travel back was as excruciating as the flights over and due to a potential flight delay on the 3rd leg of the trip, the flight from Paris to New York, I was able to change my last leg, which extended the travel time, but as I write this post, I am back in New England, unpacked and in less than a week, off again to be shared next week on my next great adventure to two more new countries. ​

I want to share that I believe Botswana, should be experienced and I expect to return, as I barely skimmed the surface of this amazing country in southern Africa. I did not have time to experience the Okavango Delta which, if you know anything about Botswana, that is an everchanging highlight depending on when during the year you visit, and this country is an all-year destination. I did, however, have time in the Chobe National Park and saw a lioness and other animals and did a small cruise on the river to encounter the crocs, the rhinos, and other animals and there are many way to experience this. ​

Of course, if I had planned this trip and had not been arranged by Botswana Tourism, remember, this was truly a business trip, I would have given myself more time, did a stopover in South Africa (don’t worry folks, transiting twice, but not having left the airport, and having the stamps to prove it, I won’t count it.) and spent extra time after my conference in the Delta area, and also crossed the border to experience Vic Falls, but that is for another time. I was on their schedule, hosted by them and had to abide by the rules of the organization, and I hope they take the suggestions I provided to heart. It is interesting that when I met the organizer, by accident, not knowing who she was, asked for a map of the meetings area. She said there was not one, but could get me one, but the system was easy, and all companies were in alphabetical order, but unfortunately, it was not as easy as it seems. ​

In the end, I was being hosted and even though it was very disorganized in my opinion and the resort where we were being put up, albeit it nice, was not a conference hotel and as such, I felt that even though they have been doing this for 10 years, the system was old and needed many changes. I have been to many conferences, hosted or not, I felt that communication was lacking and very inefficient. I met some very good potential partners and as a destination, with the travel time notwithstanding, what Botswana has to offer is wonderful. Not just the animals, but the people. They are very friendly and inviting. I never felt unsafe and like other countries that are still coming into their own, Botswana has growing pains. Their infrastructure is still lacking, the roads will test your mettle, but the result is an amazing destination of amazing landscapes, the Big 5 of wildlife and more, and wonderful friendly people, and a destination to consider, leapfrogging a trip to Kenya as the first place to see in Africa. Just a thought, but wherever you want to go, the Wandering Puffin can get you there. ​

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It is also a stable country overall and we can probably get your there in 3 flights, versus 4 flights and even throw in a few days in a place like Capetown, South Africa. Hey, if you are going to travel that far, why not get a two for one in countries and we can even figure out a way to cross the border into places like Zambia, Zimbabwe, or Namibia. There is even a place where these three countries and Botswana meet, and yes, like Four Corners National Monument here in the US where you can be in 4 states at once, you can be in 4 countries at once. I do hope to get back to Botswana, perhaps, without the attachment of a conference, but other places are on the horizon and a future with a lovely lady getting ever closer.  Jetlag is setting in, so I must use this upcoming week efficiently. As I said, this time next week, I am off again for one more adventure, unattached to meetings or conferences before year’s end. ​

As always, I look forward to your comments, questions, concerns and continuing the discourse through whichever means you read my posts and if you want to chime in on my earlier post this week, count the country or not, I would love to hear back from you. Thank you as always.