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Hi apologies that it has been quite a while since any updates but time has just been whizzing by so quickly and I've not had much chance to get on the internet. So what's been happening - unfortunately my 5 weeks at Venetia have now finished which is really sad as it was the most amazing place and experience. I've now got a few days off before starting at the next reserve, Karongwe, so in making the most of it I'm currently in the Kruger with 3 others in a huge Merc bus having a great time and enjoying not sleeping with 7 others in a hut!! More about Kruger in a mo.
The last few weeks again have been quite full on we were fortunate enough to help out with a bike race through the reserve which was 65 km on mountain bikes passed all the wildlife etc- we were marshalls escorted by guys with rifles.. this year there were no animal incidents but last year the eles played up a bit and disrupted the start quite a bit. It was a great day and raised money for Endangered Wildlife Trust and particularly the wild dogs.
After that we went up into the Lesheba Mountains for a few days which was very relaxing, a bit of conservation work in the form of path clearance and collecting up cut down bushes etc. Also walking on the reserve although not as much as initially hoped as we had a few late nights! Came within 100 metres of white rhino whilst on foot so that was pretty special. In additon had the pleasure of a spitting cobra being outside the rooms!!
Back on Venetia there was more research drives and exciting things like watching the wild dogs hunting, getting stuck on a vehicle stump a bit too close to a pride of lions and having to be pulled out. I've also helped out with some DIY around the camp including learning how to do construct an electrified fence... it's still not finished but perhaps very needed as the wild dogs were in camp the other night and as for the lions well they were on a kudu kill very close to the camp. I could continue with all the exciting things that have been happening but the highlights would be watching a kudu jump into the reserve from the outside (having a bad day) into the path of Blade a very handsome male lion- fortunately the kudu won the pursuit that day: hearing Blade roar at night from about 15 metres away- spine chilling!: seeing a pride of lions including four cubs on a fresh gemsbok kill: amazing sunsets and sunrises and also seeing a lion recovering from a darting to have a collar fitted. The people have been fantastic although three have now left after there 5 weeks.
The next five weeks will be quite different as Karongwe is a smaller reserve about 8000 ha and we all (18 volunteers) live in a farmhouse. There's 14 of us in one room- how cosy? They have collared leopard and cheetah on the reserve and again there is a week in the mountains at some point during the phase. I'm sure it will be enjoyable but having arrived there only for one night before heading into Kruger it was all a little strange, especially as there's 9 new volunteers who all seem soooo young!
Well the Kruger (sorry, Mum Dad, Colin and Tanya as you'll hate me for this), arrived in th park yesterday afternoon and within the time it took to get to our first camp saw 100 plus eles, a massive herd of buffalo crossing the road, two male lions, two white rhino and lots more. Again this morning all before 9 am again 2 more rhino, more eles, another lion and more buffalo. the lepoard is proving elusive but hopefully that will be later today!! It is refreshing to have the freedom to drive around and pick a rest camp to stay in, so I'll be making the most of it before heading back to Karongwe on Tuesday night.
Well that's the brief update for now. I can't believe it's the middle of May already. I hope that everything is going well with everyone in the UK. Take care.
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