Ladies Circle

Our trip started in Johannesburg with being welcomed by the wonderful Baba who was to be our chauffeur for the 4 hour drive down to Botswana.  He gave us a commentary of the culture and traditions along the way and even treated us to a KFC for lunch!  It seemed everyone in Botswana and Johannesburg knew Baba especially the Customs Officer’s which proved very handy for smuggling the Gin and Tonic’s in!

Once in Botswana we met up with Fuzlin and Sumaya and were shown to our accommodation.  A  house complete with swimming pool and 2 maids. (The owners were away for the weekend!).

The first night Fuzlin and Charlene took us to the local Italian restaurant where we met up with our fellow travellers from Finland, Norway, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands.  New friendships started and were sealed with a few Cosmopolitan Cocktails by some of the Urban Partiers!! Amusement was also shown for the “Ladies and Willeys” toilet sign!! 

A night cap followed at Charlene’s house where the Belgians were so deprived of chocolate they took a sharp knife to a box of Ferrero Rochers to open it!  I was also given the opportunity of rising to the GB&I President’s challenge of doing something different by driving Fuzlin’s car when she discovered I was a non drinker!

During the first evening we discovered Fuzlin’s talents for being a personal fitness instructor so we persuaded her to run an LCI aerobics session the next morning which we all arrived prompt for!  Our good behaviour was rewarded with being taken for a traditional Botswanan lunch in a local craft shop – so an added bonus of shopping too!

Our welcome party on the Friday evening saw us being welcomed to Jacqui’s garden where a marquee had been set up with a disco, a wonderful singer and an Indian supper – aswell as a few drinks!  I found it absolutely amazing to see how Abba and Dancing Queen is the same in any language as 70 odd women all dived onto the dance floor!  The evening continued with us learning Botwana’s version of the slosh!

8am the next day was the appointed time for the Mid Term meeting but a few technical problems delayed the start but a very successful meeting ensued with some lively discussions taking place.  It was lovely to also witness two new Zambian circlers being inducted into circle and them being presented with the Candle of Friendship.  Niki also took the opportunity of donating a number of flip flops to Indiana’s orphanage where they can look after up to 360 children aged between 2 – 18.  A full team photo out in the lovely sunshine and then off for lunch!

A couple of hours rest before being picked up for our trip on the Game Drive!  Niki and I were delayed slightly for the bus due to being stopped by a monkey on the Hotel stairs!  I couldn’t wait to get going and we weren’t disappointed!  The girls met us at the Game Reserve with a Champagne reception!  Once on the buses we were off to see the Elephants, Leopards, Jackals, Warthogs, Uhru’s, Impala’s, Wilderbeast and Ostrichs!  We also got to see the Worlds End – view point that is!

One tip for anyone going on one of these game drives is to wear a sports bra!!  It wasn’t exactly the smoothest ride!  I was also lucky enough to have been shown the hand of friendship from the South African girls who protected me from the attacking overgrown trees – Thank you!

Just as we thought our trip was over we were taken into the bush for a Bush Braai!! (BBQ) where we were lucky enough to see a traditional African sunset and be entertained by traditional dancers wearing loin cloths!  Each country was then subjected to Sergeant at Arms fines for anything the girls from Botswana had picked up on during the weekend.  GB&I were charged for abandoning their Godchildren for the last 7 years!

A sing along on the bus back to the cars finished off our excursion along with probably scaring away any animals!  As I looked out of the window and saw the moon and 2 very bright stars in the very clear night sky I have never before felt so much at peace!

However the night did not finish there!  As we got back to the hotel, Niki decided that following our meeting of the monkey on the stairs, we would take the lift to our room along with 3 Zambians and 1 Norwegian Circler/s.  One problem, as the doors closed the lift sunk and stuck! Not good when one of you is claustrophobic!  Not to worry our International President, Kjersti came to the rescue – more so when she established we were stuck in there without any alcohol!

Sunday saw us saying farewell to most of our fellow travellers.  For those of us left behind for another day? We continued relaxing in the laid back Botswanan lifestyle and were taken on a cultural visit to see some 2000 year old cave paintings, David Livingstone’s tree, grave, house, church and memorial.  We had a picnic under the shade of a tree and then finished our visit with a trip to the local Indian restaurant!

We left Botswana the following day, hearing that Botswana would soon be opening their 3rd circle in Feb/ March time which means they will soon become a full member country which is absolutely fantastic and we wish them all the very best of luck!

My colleagues at work thought I was mad!  The conversation going – “What are you doing this weekend, anything interesting? “  “ Yes, I’m going to Botswana”  “Botswana?  As in South Africa?  For the Weekend! Really?!”

What other organisation would give this kind of fabulous opportunity?

It certainly proved to me that “You’ll never walk alone” during your life in Circle and I can’t wait to experience more!

Yours in Friendship

Naomi Hickey
GB&I Vice President