The Libertà hive is again taking Christmas and New Year off. The next “proper” blog will appear on Sunday 11th January, 2026.
However, we don’t want to leave you with nothing so, for those who haven’t seen it before (and for anyone who’d like to see it again), we are repeating Joanna’s 12 Days of Christmas, Botswana style. It was a great favourite of our late friend, Elizabeth Bailey, who loved to sing it at Christmas with her family. We miss you, Liz.
Twelve Days of Christmas, Botswana-style:
you may wish to sing along as you read 😉
On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
a raptor in a bare tree.
On the second day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
two stalking storks
and a raptor in a bare tree.
On the third day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
three tall giraffes
two stalking storks
and a raptor in a bare tree.
On the fourth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
four lion cubs
three tall giraffes
two stalking storks
and a raptor in a bare tree.
On the fifth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
five buffalo-o-o-o
four lion cubs
three giraffes
two stalking storks
and a raptor in a bare tree.
On the sixth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
six crocs a-cruising
five buffalo-o-o-o
four lion cubs
three giraffes
two stalking storks
and a raptor in a bare tree.
On the seventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
seven vultures vaiting
six crocs a-cruising
five buffalo-o-o-o
four lion cubs
three giraffes
two stalking storks
and a raptor in a bare tree.
On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
eight zebras zigging
seven vultures vaiting
six crocs a-cruising
five buffalo-o-o-o
four lion cubs
three giraffes
two stalking storks
and a raptor in a bare tree.
On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
nine hippos basking
eight zebras zigging
seven vultures vaiting
six crocs a-cruising
five buffalo-o-o-o
four lion cubs
three giraffes
two stalking storks
and a raptor in a bare tree.
On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
ten impala posing
nine hippos basking
eight zebras zigging
seven vultures vaiting
six crocs a-cruising
five buffalo-o-o-o
four lion cubs
three giraffes
two stalking storks
and a raptor in a bare tree.
On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
eleven gnus g-nawing
ten impala posing
nine hippos basking
eight zebras zigging
seven vultures vaiting
six crocs a-cruising
five buffalo-o-o-o
four lion cubs
three giraffes
two stalking storks
and a raptor in a bare tree.
On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me:
twelve ellies tramping
eleven gnus g-nawing
ten impala posing
nine hippos basking
eight zebras zigging
seven vultures vaiting
six crocs a-cruising
five buffalo-o-o-o
four lion cubs
three giraffes
two stalking storks
and a raptor in a bare tree.
Confessions?
Some of the numbers are, er, a bit approximate, in case you were counting There is, you may have noticed, a stray stork in the tree along with the seven vultures vaiting, and rather more than eleven g-nawing g-nus, but hey…
We hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are looking forward to
seeing in the New Year in a few days’ time.
With love and best wishes from all in the Libertà hive.
Joanna, Sophie, Liz, Sarah
PS for those who’ve made it this far, we’ve included below, as a bonus for lion lovers, a short video of those Botswana lion cubs with their mum. Enjoy!