Profile
Blog
Photos
Videos
Day 8 - 15/07/11 - Friday - Lectures
Today was lectures again, however today was far more interesting as we learnt all about reptiles. They are pretty awesome, and there are no spiders involved in that module so I liked it very much! There was however the bloody jumping spider back in the classroom today so I was a bit scared during the DVD and sat with my legs off the floor while Anthony tried freaking me out, pretending it was crawling up my back. I'm not sure what I'm going to do when summer comes along!
This afternoon after our first Bushwise group photo I sat in the classroom and wrote up all my reptile notes, then joined everyone out in the sun for a game of volleyball. Maya, Andy's dog, was a sweety and kept running up trying to play. Makes me miss grace a little less when there is a dog running around to give a belly rub! Anyway, volleyball was good, my serve is now pretty awesome and I actually managed to get it over the net a couple of times so things are starting to look up!
Oh yeah, its my graduation today back home, so happy graduation everyone! Hope you all had a good day and all that shiz! Missing you loads!
Day 9 - 16/ 07/11 - Saturday - Game Drive
Ok so today was pretty cool, we went on a Game Drive at about 6.30 this morning, didn't see an awful lot, just a lot of very cool birds. There were some Ground hornbills sitting in a tree, and a Buzard which we saw taking a chick from a nest and the eating it! There were also some adorable squirrels in a tree which we sat and watched for ages, because they kept stretching and sunning themselves. Anyways that was the game drive, and in the afternoon a few of us decided to go into town to pick up a few bits and change some uniform, but khaki fever was closed, so just ended up buying alcohol really…
After we got back from town I went and sat down in the bird hide to read. Anthony joined me and we sat there so quietly reading our books, that these two bushbuck came right up to us and started drinking at the water hole. It was adorable. There was a mother and baby, which had both seen us, but because we kept really still, they seemed to not mind too much and came over to drink. The mother managed to get to the water ok, but the poor baby kept slipping on the rock with its little hooves. It took literally all my willpower to not burst out laughing. I nearly did a couple times, but they eventually moved off and then I laughed. It was amazing to just be sitting basically in your back garden and have such beautiful animals right there in front of us.
This evening we had a proper South African Brai, with Pap and stuff, which we were only allowed to eat with our hands, it was messy but very tasty. Then afterwards we got out the cake we had bought in town and celebrated Jacques birthday. He appreciated muchly, and we spent the rest of the evening drinking around the campfire. I did have a run in with a wolf spider in the loo and so I was a wee bit freaked out and screaming ever so slightly, but the boys got rid of it and Jacques and Anthony gave me a little pep talk while I got a very strong drink. About 1.30am everyone started to head off to bed. Ben, Malcolm, Anthony and I stayed up late though because we could hear the lions not far off. It sounded like they were in the drainage line which runs across the bottom of the camp, but could not be sure. At the same time though the Hyenas started calling and the Baboons started to kick up a fuss. By about 3.15am the lions had moved round to the airstrip and the noise started to die down so we decided to go to bed. It was a shame they didn't walk straight past us but never mind!
Day 10 - 17/07/11 - Sunday - The hangover
This morning I didn't get up till like 9am. I was soooo tired after staying up and watching those lions. I got up and showered though and watched from the table as the boys gradually got out of bed nursing hangovers. Evan was hilarious he looked like some little skittish bushbuck that would scare off as soon as he heard a loud noise. Then Malcolm showed us his pictures and videos from us being complete idiots last night. I could not stop laughing, the evidence was quite hilarious if not a little embarrassing!
I then headed out to the pool and sat and studied for my Driving theory test. I didn't realsie I was singing along to my ipod quite as loud as I was though! Nicky came over after a wee while and said she overheard from the other end of the camp, so I immediately stopped and Nicky, Candace and I sat by the pool in our bikinis instead, trying to catch a few rays and having girly chit chat while the others played volleyball. I also read my book for a fair while, so even though it hasn't been the most productive day, I still did a lot of reading!
Day 11 - 18/07/11 - Monday - Driving Licenses
Ok so today the 6 of us who have to do our driving licenses popped into town and we registered for our temporary drivers license and also got booked in for our theory test for Thursday! Ah! It was good in town, we managed to get our uniform changed and pick up the last couple bits we needed after Saturday. I also got a lakka pair of binoculars, I can see all the birds now! Woop!
This afternoon we got back and did a wee bit of studying before a few of us went on a late afternoon game drive. It was awesome! I saw my first Elephant of the year! He was lovely, but did come towards us so we quickly reversed and then drove back down the road out of its way before he could attempt to charge us. We drove around for a bit and then on the way back Sebastiaan put a little rock in a tree at one of the junctions so he knew his way back next time, we joked around that a lion would eat him, and tourists would ask guides what kind of animal behaviour involved putting rocks in trees. I said we could tell the guests it was rhino interior decorating, but maybe they aren't that gullible. Then after a few more km Sebastiaan stopped again to put another rock in a tree, then lo and behold a giant bloody lioness walks out of the bush right past us. Nicky was like ' um Sebastiaan get back in the car before the lion eats you' but everyone thought we were joking again until eventually they saw its bum disappearing into the bush. We turned round and followed it for a bit, she was such a beauty. She also looked like she had just had cubs, as her belly was a little round and saggy, plus her teats were bulging with milk. We tried to see if she would lead us to the cubs, but then some Wildebeest appeared and we lost sight of her. Never mind though, it was awesome anyway!
The evening wasn't very eventful after that, we just got back and those of us doing our drivers test sat and did some practice theory papers. I got 92% so don't think I need to panic too much, but still got lots of revising to do for it. It is quite handy that the South Africans drive on the same side of the road as the British and lots of the signs etc are the same, hopefully it wont be too hard!
Day 12 - 19/07/11 - Tuesday - Running time
Today was a bit ordinary, we had lectures this morning on communication to guests. This afternoon everyone but those of us doing our theory did their reptile presentations (I.e. me, Candace, Ben, Dan, Ulla and Stefan).they were all really good. Katy's was epic though, she had drawn loads of cute cartoons and pictures, and then did a little quiz at the end so we could win prize sweets. I literally know everything about the Leopard tortoise now!
After lectures I did the other practice test and got 91% in it so I figured that was enough theory revision for today and went for a run with a bunch of the others just outside the reserve gates. We ran for about half hour, or about 3km for me, then came back and had a game of Volleyball. I'm not getting a whole lot better, just making a lot more noises whenever I hit the ball…it doesn't really tend to go in the direction of the net, but at least I'm hitting it more often! I also accidentally broke the shower…kind of…I put my foot up a bit on the wall to wash my feet after volleyball, and then about 8 tiles fell off the wall. I ran back in to apologise to Sebastiaan that I broke it and everyone ended up just laughing instead. Seriously need to stop breaking things, or they will throw me off the course!
Day 13 - 20/07/11 - Wednesday - Vehicles
Today was mostly spent learning about the vehicles and how to drive them as well as fill up all the bits and pieces, and change tyres etc. Most of it was pretty much the same as a normal car though, and thanks to dad I knew how to change a tyre…though it was a frick load heavier than a normal car!
This afternoon a few of us theory test people did another practice exam, I got 96% so thought I could call it a day and went off to play volleyball again. I don't even remember why but I started laughing just before I went to serve the ball, and ended up laughing so much that I tripped up over myself and ended up in a thorn bush crying with laughter. I also this morning head butted myself on the bathroom door as I went to leave and then I ricocheted off of it and hit the back of my head on the wall. So basically everyone knows me as everyone probably remembers me at home…the clumsy girl who laughs at everything. Hmm.
Day 14 - 21/07/11 - Thursday - Driving Exam!
I have been here two weeks already! I cannot believe it, it actually seems like a lot longer. Today the 6 of us got up early and went off to our driving theory test. The rest of them went out early as the lions had gone by the house and so they went off to find them…lucky b*****s. Anyway we went and did our theory exam, and I passed! Woop! Very happy, I don't have to do anymore driving revision!!!
After we got back from town we went on a game drive at around 3.30, and I got to sit on the weat at the front of the vehicle and be the tracker. We decided to go looking for the lions from earlier and when we stopped for sundowners at 5.30pm we still hadn't seen them. I swapped with Jacques and sat in the back to keep warm, and then about 3 minutes after leaving our drink spot, we came across three lionesses, 3 cubs and a magnificent male lion. They were absolutely stunning! Literally no words can describe how amazing they were! And by then the sun had pretty much set, so unfortunately there are no good pictures, but I will remember that sighting for years, it was so amazing!
Well after the drive a bunch of us decided to relax and we went into the classroom and watched role models on the projector, it was pretty fun to all sit there with a drink and have a nice evening off, so hopefully we will do it again, obviously when we don't have so much work to do though!
Anyway now its been the first two weeks of the course, I am now only going to write blogs when something particularly cool has happened, so I don't know when that will be, but at least next time you read all this waffle, it will at least be a little more entertaining! Right I'm off. Will write soon!
- comments
Nan I dont care how much you waffle I am looking forward already to your next entry stay safe Love you from Nan
Maria Love your blog, i feel like i am there as you describe it so well. Love Mum X
Dad Great blog and just checked out the photos...sorry I missed your call today. Good to see the tyre changing lesson came in handy again !! Love ya loads, keep safe, dad xx
Uncle Daniel Hiya Abi, really enjoyed reading your blog and looking at the photos. I am quite envious my dear. I hope you enjoy every minute that you are there. My own menagerie is growing, although not quite as impressive as your lions. I particularly liked the photos of the cheetah, my favourite big cat. Take care poppet Uncle Daniel