Hello to all readers,
Just a quick one to apologise about not having posted in ages, but I'm now in uganda and my Internet access is very limited. I don't think I'll be able to finish this blog until I get back home but I am going to try start a new blog for Uganda.
Thanks :D
Sunday, 25 November 2012
Sunday, 28 October 2012
Lions, where are you??????
09/10
First cloudy day!!! up at 5:30 (the sun was already up!) to go lion tracking with Dave and this time it was my turn. I found a signal for Bently but she was too far in the bush for us to see her and Milo. It took quite a while to get a signal though and you always feel like you're doing something wrong. But it's nearly always the lions fault. They seem to be masters in how not to get caught on telemetry. At least I got a signal.
On the way back, we saw a gemsbok and baby, soooo cute, but it kinda freaked out and jumped through the fence without it's mum. Dave recons it'll be alright though. Gave up on the lions and got back to camp for about 10. Time to kill. Thankfully some elephants came to visit us at our water hole which put people in a better mood.
We went afternoon tracking with Dave and put Katie on telemetry as it was really important to find Thika. Thika's sun Thuli is now old enough to start leaving his mum and a vet was going to come up in the week to dart and tag him, which is why it was important to work out roughly where they were. There must have been something odd in the air that day as we were getting some weird signals. It was making Mark crazy and we ended up going through these really small paths and getting whipped a lot by overgrowing trees. Still no luck. On the way back we set up a camera trap with some bait.
10/10
3rd day lion tracking. Left at 6:30 with Dave. Toni's turn on telemetry. Was still cloudy and really cold in the truck. We checked the camera trap and saw that a brow hyena had had a go at the bait, and the elephants had had a go at the camera trap (hence the concrete box). After about 4 hours, we finally got a signal for Thika!!! Circled around a bit, met up with Jamie, and then we found them. The vet's visitors were also there. So that was the first time I saw real wild lions, Thika, Thuli and Tahni: AWESOME.
In the afternoon we went out with Mark in search for Milo and Bentley. Missy got a signal but yet again they were too far in the bush to see. We picked up some meat from the hunters to keep the 2 girls in the same area. It smelled horrible and once I found out that it was elephant meat I didn't feel too good.
Back at camp we had another braai as it was Jane's (Dave's mum) birthday, and stayed up playing drinking games with Mark, Justin and Katie. Went star gazing for a while on the observation deck (almost fell asleep) and ended up going to bed at about 2:30. But luckily we didn't have an early start.
First cloudy day!!! up at 5:30 (the sun was already up!) to go lion tracking with Dave and this time it was my turn. I found a signal for Bently but she was too far in the bush for us to see her and Milo. It took quite a while to get a signal though and you always feel like you're doing something wrong. But it's nearly always the lions fault. They seem to be masters in how not to get caught on telemetry. At least I got a signal.
On the way back, we saw a gemsbok and baby, soooo cute, but it kinda freaked out and jumped through the fence without it's mum. Dave recons it'll be alright though. Gave up on the lions and got back to camp for about 10. Time to kill. Thankfully some elephants came to visit us at our water hole which put people in a better mood.
10/10
3rd day lion tracking. Left at 6:30 with Dave. Toni's turn on telemetry. Was still cloudy and really cold in the truck. We checked the camera trap and saw that a brow hyena had had a go at the bait, and the elephants had had a go at the camera trap (hence the concrete box). After about 4 hours, we finally got a signal for Thika!!! Circled around a bit, met up with Jamie, and then we found them. The vet's visitors were also there. So that was the first time I saw real wild lions, Thika, Thuli and Tahni: AWESOME.
Thika and Thuli
Thuli
Back at camp we had another braai as it was Jane's (Dave's mum) birthday, and stayed up playing drinking games with Mark, Justin and Katie. Went star gazing for a while on the observation deck (almost fell asleep) and ended up going to bed at about 2:30. But luckily we didn't have an early start.
Back to Skelm, bird hide
06/10
We actually had quite a late star, 8:15 am, sleep in! Before going to Skelm, we needed to stop off at Luna to get the keys for another camp called Safari camp where all the mopane wood was being stored, but as Jamie, the site manager, wasn't there we just had to cross our fingers that it would be open. Luckily it was. At Skelm, Toni and I started on one part of the roof, wiring mopanes together and everyone kept themselves pretty much busy. We eventually had to stop because we ran out of long pieces of wood.
On the way back we spotted one of my favourite animals here, a gemsbok, or more commonly known as an oryx.
07/10
Sunday is our day off so pretty much flopped all day and went down for sun downers on one of the dams.
08/10
Back to Skelm with Dave and his parents. I had to finish my part of the roof by myself as Toni was on camp duty but it didn't take too long. Once the roof was finished, we started attaching bits of old canvas to the inside, so that the animals see less of us and so that we see less of the sun. When we got to the roof, we only had one huge canvas left so Dave decided it would be easier just to chuck it over the whole thing.Not as easy as you would think on a windy day even though there were about ten of us. On the way back to camp, we stopped at Luna to pick up some fire wood and make a camera trap protection box. Basically a concrete box with a hole in it but according to Dave it's a unique design (video on how to make a GWC camera trap protection box on its way).
Being a Monday, there were 2 knew people at camp, Erica and Missy. The amerikiwis. And as I did, they pretty much slept the whole time.
We actually had quite a late star, 8:15 am, sleep in! Before going to Skelm, we needed to stop off at Luna to get the keys for another camp called Safari camp where all the mopane wood was being stored, but as Jamie, the site manager, wasn't there we just had to cross our fingers that it would be open. Luckily it was. At Skelm, Toni and I started on one part of the roof, wiring mopanes together and everyone kept themselves pretty much busy. We eventually had to stop because we ran out of long pieces of wood.
On the way back we spotted one of my favourite animals here, a gemsbok, or more commonly known as an oryx.
At camp, rugby and braai time, South Africa against the all blacks. A few guys from the mine came to watch and strangely enough they seemed to slowly disappear out of the room as the game went on.
07/10
Sunday is our day off so pretty much flopped all day and went down for sun downers on one of the dams.
08/10
Back to Skelm with Dave and his parents. I had to finish my part of the roof by myself as Toni was on camp duty but it didn't take too long. Once the roof was finished, we started attaching bits of old canvas to the inside, so that the animals see less of us and so that we see less of the sun. When we got to the roof, we only had one huge canvas left so Dave decided it would be easier just to chuck it over the whole thing.Not as easy as you would think on a windy day even though there were about ten of us. On the way back to camp, we stopped at Luna to pick up some fire wood and make a camera trap protection box. Basically a concrete box with a hole in it but according to Dave it's a unique design (video on how to make a GWC camera trap protection box on its way).
Being a Monday, there were 2 knew people at camp, Erica and Missy. The amerikiwis. And as I did, they pretty much slept the whole time.
and the Lion tracking begins
05/10
It's our first day lion tracking, 6:30 start, with Mark and as Hanne hadn't done any spotlighting we thought it fair that she be the first to track. Here, to find the lion,s they use telemetry. Basically, a collar is put on a lion that gives off radio signals (different frequency for each lion) and we have an antennae, a cable and a little black box. Obviously the higher you are at the beginning the better as the lions seem to have a tendency of lying in ditches, so we always start on a hill. Once you can hear a beep you can then fiddle with the gain and the precision to work out exactly what direction and how far away it is.
Anyway, the morning wasn't particularly successful, although Natasha and Mark are dead certain they saw Bently and Milo, 2 lionesses, sprint in front of the car as we reached one of the water holes, which is a good thing as a failed darting has left them completely freaked out about humans. So at least we know they're doing ok. But we mainly wanted to find Thika, a 12 year old lioness with her 2 "cubs", Tuli and Tahni, who are about 2 and a half. It was important to find them and know their rough location as Tuli is getting old enough to leave his mum soon and will need a collar of his own. Mark found a signal for Bentley and Thika at the top of Repeater, a huge rocky hill that we're not allowed to go up, so we set off to find Thika. Once a signal is found, and is close enough, we start mobile tracking, so Hanne had to telemeter whilst Mark crashed through all the mopani trees. Unfortunately Thika was too far in the bush for us to get to her. No lions today. But we did see some hippos and a jackal (as well as the usual antelopes...)
It's our first day lion tracking, 6:30 start, with Mark and as Hanne hadn't done any spotlighting we thought it fair that she be the first to track. Here, to find the lion,s they use telemetry. Basically, a collar is put on a lion that gives off radio signals (different frequency for each lion) and we have an antennae, a cable and a little black box. Obviously the higher you are at the beginning the better as the lions seem to have a tendency of lying in ditches, so we always start on a hill. Once you can hear a beep you can then fiddle with the gain and the precision to work out exactly what direction and how far away it is.
Anyway, the morning wasn't particularly successful, although Natasha and Mark are dead certain they saw Bently and Milo, 2 lionesses, sprint in front of the car as we reached one of the water holes, which is a good thing as a failed darting has left them completely freaked out about humans. So at least we know they're doing ok. But we mainly wanted to find Thika, a 12 year old lioness with her 2 "cubs", Tuli and Tahni, who are about 2 and a half. It was important to find them and know their rough location as Tuli is getting old enough to leave his mum soon and will need a collar of his own. Mark found a signal for Bentley and Thika at the top of Repeater, a huge rocky hill that we're not allowed to go up, so we set off to find Thika. Once a signal is found, and is close enough, we start mobile tracking, so Hanne had to telemeter whilst Mark crashed through all the mopani trees. Unfortunately Thika was too far in the bush for us to get to her. No lions today. But we did see some hippos and a jackal (as well as the usual antelopes...)
Back at camp, it was time for a major clean up (which is usually done on Saturday), as Mr and Mrs Dave were arriving later that day.
Braai for dinner ( South African barbecue) which was sooooooo good, with home made sangria and some awesome people to sit round the fire with.
Friday, 26 October 2012
04/10 National Park!
Up at 6, and ready to leave for Mapungabwe National Park at 7am. Off to do some observation in one of the bird shelters near a water hole. I think it took us about an hour to get there ( really lost the concept of time) and bumped into a few animals on the way, kudu, giraffe, klipspringer and a ridiculously cute steenbok whose ears are way to big for it's head.
Once we entered the park we were literally surrounded by animals, baboons, vervet monkeys, impalas and bushbucks. We drove right next to the Limpopo river which is the boarder between South Africa and Botswana.
At the hide we had to wait a while before seeing anything but Impala, birds and squirrels (oh and terrapins in the water) but finally, appearing out of nowhere, a herd of elephants with BABIES! It's surprising how something that big can blend in so well with the bush. Even though they don't move particularly fast, they move with so much power. Sounds corny but you could almost feel the ground vibrate with every step. I think they stayed in view for about half an hour and at one point some of them were only about a metre away from the hide. Stretch your arm out of the window and you could have touched them, but obviously not allowed to do that.
So cute!
Apart from them, a few warthogs splashed around in the mud and 3 zebras cautiously walked up to the edge of the water hole and ran off pretty quickly, but still AWESOME morning!
Got back to camp at 12:30, and luckily Dave had prepared lunch, fluorescent pink hot dogs :S I'm sure they were slightly radioactive but still tasty. Spent most of the afternoon cooling down as it was about 40° C in the shade! a perfect mixture of swimming pool, reading and nap.
5:30, set off for our night drive with a quick stop at Luna (another camp on the reserve) and met an elephant at their waterhole; nice.
Driving through a reedy patch, Katie suddenly shouts at Dave to stop and reverse, obviously had seen something good.But this wasn't any normal good, this was a rare one: a caracal. I only saw it run off into the tall grass (still saw it though) but apparently it had just been lying in a dip right next to the road. Soooooo cool, they're basically big cats with massively tufted ears. Quite a calm night after that, with a couple of surprises. I was on spotlight duty with Toni, saw some bushbabies, and scrub hares of course, randomly spotted an elephant about 30 m from the car so we had to turn off all the lights cause they get cranky at night. Toni spotted a wild cat and Justin caught a porcupine out of the corner of his eye, which was pretty amazing.
Sunday, 7 October 2012
getting used to the heat
We were allowed a lie in today, got up at about 9:30, being warned that we wouldn't get much of these. I started trying to sort out my room as all I had done so far was chuck things on my bed, in the locker and on the floor. Poor Natasha was used to the room by herself but she's really friendly and we get on well. We set off at 2:30 to Skelm, where the shelter is being built next to a water hole (completely dried up at the moment though). Toni, Hanne and I weren't really sure how to help as Dave, Mark, Justin, Katie and Natasha were all finishing jobs they had started before or already knew what had to be done but we helped when we could, cutting and fetching wood while the others were fixing it to the front of the shelter. This is when I realised just how hard it was going to be to work in the heat. It didn't help that my dust allergies were having a go at me. It looked like I had a really bad cold, puffed up eyes, runny nose, blocked ear and I kept loosing my voice.
We got back to camp at around 6pm, so we had basically been out for the hottest part of the day, to head out for the night drive at 6:30. We didn't really see many things but I was excited as I was allowed to hold one of the spot lights and search for eyes! Sop more impala, night jars, wild cats, an elephant and I spotted 4 giraffes. went back to camp for an awesome veggie curry :)
We got back to camp at around 6pm, so we had basically been out for the hottest part of the day, to head out for the night drive at 6:30. We didn't really see many things but I was excited as I was allowed to hold one of the spot lights and search for eyes! Sop more impala, night jars, wild cats, an elephant and I spotted 4 giraffes. went back to camp for an awesome veggie curry :)
Day 1 on camp
Natasha got up at 6:30 as she and the others who were already here had to get up early and work on the observation shelter. Opened my eyes and thought it must be midday, the sun was up and it was already quite hot. I got up at about 8 and had a shower, which by the way is like one of the best inventions EVER and we definitely take it for granted.
All us new volunteers had a tour of the camp with Dave and a couple of lectures about animal ID. He also explain how camp duties work. Just had lunch and now chilling in my room (as it's about 37° in the shade). Think I shall spend the afternoon in the pool.
All us new volunteers had a tour of the camp with Dave and a couple of lectures about animal ID. He also explain how camp duties work. Just had lunch and now chilling in my room (as it's about 37° in the shade). Think I shall spend the afternoon in the pool.
8:30 pm we left for our first night drive, looking for nocturnal animals from bush babies to different types of cats to hyenas. It was one of the most relaxing, almost liberating things I have ever done. Perfect temperature with a slight chill when driving fast but after a super hot day it's pretty awesome. The sky is completely clear with soooooooo many stars and a really bright full moon. We actually drove for 3 hours but it didn't seem that long as you've got to keep your eyes peeled at all time in case you spot any eye shine (reflexion off of some animals eyes, we have a huge spot light). We saw quite a few bush babies hopping from branch to branch like huge fury frogs, a wild cat, 2 civets, about 50 pairs of crocodile eyes at the waterhole (luckily we were quite far away), Mozambican night jars (and other birds but I can't remember all the names yet), lots of impala and other types of antelope and my first elephant ( to be fair it was so dark I could only see the outline but it was still there). Got back to camp and fell asleep almost straight away.
Tuesday, 2 October 2012
I've arrived!!!!! 1st/2nd day
After a long wait of about 6 months when I decided to go on a gap year, I am finally HERE!!!!!! in South Africa.
First part of the trip was pretty good, got the plane from Paris to Cairo, was calm, had good movies to watch (screans behind the seat infront) and I got 2 seats to myself.
Stopped off in Cairo and very almost got lost there, the signs seem to be even worse than in France, but luckily a book-in officer took me to where I needed to be and skipped the whole queue. And then I got onto what seemed at the time like a living nightmare. Not the same plane as the first one. It was terrible, really tacky looking and not that clean, looked like it was going to fall apart when we hit some terbulence, Oh and we left about an hour late because one of the crew was really ill. Even had that airplane moment when one of the air hostesses said through the speaker, " Is anyone a doctor?" !!!!! Grrrrrrrr. Anyways they only had TV s on the walls, really bad quality and crap films, the lights kept on switching on and off and the man next to me had chicken wing arms and kept chewing with his mouth open (not forgetting the terrible food!). Slept about an hour.
So I got to Johannesburg late and felt completely lost, asked one of the staff where to go and once he saw how late I was we sprinted to the check -in but didn'nt have enough time to get to an ATM. So Hannah has no money on her at the moment. I got my boots cleaned whilst waiting to board the plane , free luckily, and and then this really annoying beep started well beeping, and it didn't stop for the whole 50 mins!!!!!! Poor ears :(
The plane to Polokwane was teeny, I could easily fit it in my house and was really noisy but was a quick flight.
Was picked up at the airport by Dave (GWC) and Natasha ( a volunteer staying here for 6 months!) with Toni who had stayed in the city over night and Hanne who was on the same flight as me. Went to the shop to stock up on supplies, the place is HUGE!!!! shelves going up to the sealing and you always have to show the receipt as you walk out of the door. It took 3 hours to get to the camp, slept a bit but now got a few bruises on my head cause the roads are really bumpy. Saw lots of cows and goats on the way, and a few antelope but I can't remember which type.
When we got to camp the others were still out building a shelter. Staying in the same room as Natasha (oh yeah she's french and Toni and Hanne are danish), and in less than 20 mins fell asleep for a couple of hours.
Woke up and met Mark (GWC), Katie and Justin (who are both australian!). Talked a bit, played darts then sat down to yummy veggie meal ( luckily Marks a veggie). most people wondered off to bed but I stayed up and had a laugh witgh Katie, Justin and Mark playnig "pool".
Went to bed at about 10 pm and remembered just how nice it is to sleep in a bed. Slept pretty well but my mosquito net fell on me in the middle of the night!
First part of the trip was pretty good, got the plane from Paris to Cairo, was calm, had good movies to watch (screans behind the seat infront) and I got 2 seats to myself.
Stopped off in Cairo and very almost got lost there, the signs seem to be even worse than in France, but luckily a book-in officer took me to where I needed to be and skipped the whole queue. And then I got onto what seemed at the time like a living nightmare. Not the same plane as the first one. It was terrible, really tacky looking and not that clean, looked like it was going to fall apart when we hit some terbulence, Oh and we left about an hour late because one of the crew was really ill. Even had that airplane moment when one of the air hostesses said through the speaker, " Is anyone a doctor?" !!!!! Grrrrrrrr. Anyways they only had TV s on the walls, really bad quality and crap films, the lights kept on switching on and off and the man next to me had chicken wing arms and kept chewing with his mouth open (not forgetting the terrible food!). Slept about an hour.
So I got to Johannesburg late and felt completely lost, asked one of the staff where to go and once he saw how late I was we sprinted to the check -in but didn'nt have enough time to get to an ATM. So Hannah has no money on her at the moment. I got my boots cleaned whilst waiting to board the plane , free luckily, and and then this really annoying beep started well beeping, and it didn't stop for the whole 50 mins!!!!!! Poor ears :(
The plane to Polokwane was teeny, I could easily fit it in my house and was really noisy but was a quick flight.
Was picked up at the airport by Dave (GWC) and Natasha ( a volunteer staying here for 6 months!) with Toni who had stayed in the city over night and Hanne who was on the same flight as me. Went to the shop to stock up on supplies, the place is HUGE!!!! shelves going up to the sealing and you always have to show the receipt as you walk out of the door. It took 3 hours to get to the camp, slept a bit but now got a few bruises on my head cause the roads are really bumpy. Saw lots of cows and goats on the way, and a few antelope but I can't remember which type.
When we got to camp the others were still out building a shelter. Staying in the same room as Natasha (oh yeah she's french and Toni and Hanne are danish), and in less than 20 mins fell asleep for a couple of hours.
Woke up and met Mark (GWC), Katie and Justin (who are both australian!). Talked a bit, played darts then sat down to yummy veggie meal ( luckily Marks a veggie). most people wondered off to bed but I stayed up and had a laugh witgh Katie, Justin and Mark playnig "pool".
Went to bed at about 10 pm and remembered just how nice it is to sleep in a bed. Slept pretty well but my mosquito net fell on me in the middle of the night!
Saturday, 29 September 2012
Last day in France
It's finally my last day in France before flying to Johannesburg! and of course me being me I've left loads of last minute bits and pieces to do, including packing my bag to make sure it isn't too heavy, making sure my bedroom is 100 % perfectly clean, and checking up on my horses.
Anyways I've got to leave tomorrow by 8am to get to Paris on time, quick stop in Cairo and then end up in Johannesburg. So I will bid you all good night and to my family and friends I will miss you all loads.
P.S. I don't know how often I'll be able to update but I'll do my best to keep on top of things x
Anyways I've got to leave tomorrow by 8am to get to Paris on time, quick stop in Cairo and then end up in Johannesburg. So I will bid you all good night and to my family and friends I will miss you all loads.
P.S. I don't know how often I'll be able to update but I'll do my best to keep on top of things x
Monday, 3 September 2012
Sunday, 2 September 2012
what the plan is
So yep, in 24 days I'm off to Africa for about 9 months for my gap year; South Africa for a month and then Uganda for at least 6 months.
After 8 years of hard work in France I finally passed the french scientific baccalauréat and decided that I really needed a break in my studies. I really wanted to do volunteer work and after hours of research I finally found the perfect place in Uganda, working in a school. However, I'm also a huge animal lover and I managed to find a south african organisation that take on volunteers in one of their huge game reserves and although it's more like a working holiday I couldn't miss the chance.
And that is the plan so far x
After 8 years of hard work in France I finally passed the french scientific baccalauréat and decided that I really needed a break in my studies. I really wanted to do volunteer work and after hours of research I finally found the perfect place in Uganda, working in a school. However, I'm also a huge animal lover and I managed to find a south african organisation that take on volunteers in one of their huge game reserves and although it's more like a working holiday I couldn't miss the chance.
And that is the plan so far x
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