Monkey baby

Today was my last full day at Moholoholo and I got the best treat ever. This is a baby vervet monkey, Neo, that the centre is taking care of until it can be transferred to a vervet monkey sanctuary near by. I got to monkey-sit for a about an hour or so and it was awesome. Admittedly it's not easy to watch a monkey but I did my best to be a comfortable climbing structure and made sure it didn't get trampled by Dela the rhino or jump into the wild dogs camp. I used a sling to keep him in what I called the 'taco' but it was much easier when he finally went for a nap. Tomorrow I head to Hoedspruit and then back home...

Suncatcher's Hot Air Balloon Safari - me on a hot air balloon!!!

Today at 4:10 a.m. a group of us Moholoholo students departed for a balloon ride with Suncatchers Hot Air Balloon Safaris. I have wanted to go hot air ballooning for most of my life so this was a dream come true. To do it in Africa just made it a bit more special. I tried to take pictures of the staff inflating the balloon but it was too dark. But it was exciting to watch, and luckily a pretty colourful balloon (not a REMAX balloon like I see back home, no offence to REMAX I just don't want my first balloon ride to be advertising). We got in, I got to ride in the middle with the pilot, and there were 2 people in each corner. We had the option of tea, coffee, or juice before the ride (I had tea). The balloon took off probably around 5:00 and we were in the air for maybe an hour or hour and a half. The pilot was struggling to find enough wind so we went up & down to the tree tops and back up again. The balloon did not cover much distance but we did have a nice view despite the cloud cover and saw a giraffe and wildebeest in a private game reserve. We also had the rare opportunity to go between the bottom & top cloud layers and see the mountain ridge in the distance and it was absolutely stunning. Apparently one of the younger pilots in training has been working there for a few years and still has not had the chance so we were quite lucky. We ended up landing in a grapefruit orchard and then had some juice, champagne, and dried mango and mixed nuts as a quick snack. The driver that picked us up drove us to the Otter's Den for breakfast, with the rest of the champagne in our glasses for the ride (we couldn't do that in Canada!). The Otter's Den was amazing. You have to walk over this suspension bridge to get there and we were greeted by Shadow the black lab. I couldn't have been any happier. The breakfast was delicious (the standard local fare of eggs, bacon, tomato, fried mushrooms, and toast) and we also got to meet a cat. I of course played with the cat as much as I could, she was a purrer and enjoyed playing just like my cat Hal. Shadow enjoyed fetching sticks, even if they went in the pool, so he got soaked and of course those of us who played with him did too. We drove back, listening to David Guetta, in time for our 9:30 meeting at the clinic. It already felt like a full day, but back to work.

The view of the mountain tops! AWESOME!

Blyde River Canyon

We did an hourish boat tour today at Blyde River Canyon. There was a storm last night and it was very windy until mid-morning and then it started to rain. It's still raining. Despite that the boat tour was really quite amazing. The mountain tops were covered in clouds and mist and it was quite cool but it's just absolutely gorgeous scenery, no matter the weather. Apparently it's the 3rd largest canyon in the world, the Grand Canyon being one of the larger ones, but it's quite lush. It is however their dry season, the rains only just starting to come, so the grass the animals need (Hippos in particular) is far away so they will go to nearby farms to feed until the grass grows back after more rain. There is a waterfall that we saw that goes over a cliff with impressions that look like a face - eyes, nose, and big mouth. There are also some caves and indentations from water lapping against the rocks when the river is at a higher level. It was only $130 Rand so completely worth it.

At Moholoholo

I am having a really good time here. Some of the animals have been hand reared so enjoy being pet or scratched including Mr. Chicken a Bataleur Eagle, Luma the Hyena, Delilah the Leopard, Della the Black Rhino, and Bullet the Cheetah. I have to say that it's pretty awesome being able to get close to these animals, though I did enjoy seeing them in the wild as well of course. The daily rounds here are done in groups though I have been on my own 1 1/2 of the 4 days here so far. It's been good though and I don't mind being on my own, though it's very tiring. Della-sitting duty is the best part of the day. There are 3 1 hour shifts in the afternoon and the students sit with her so she's not lonely. The rest of the day she's pretty much running around as she pleases in the main yard by our lodges.

There are also a lot of bugs, including preying mantis, around and so I have been leaving the lights off at night as much as possible. It's hard to sleep soundly when moths and beetles are flying into your nose and mouth. We walk up to Forrest Camp for breakfast after the morning rounds, lunch is at 12:30, and then dinner is at about 7:00. So far we've had Shepherd's pie, mac & cheese, stew, salad...and the breakfasts are huge. The best thing is that they seem to like avocado but the students don't so I have been eating quite a bit with breakfast. Forrest Camp also serves brewed coffee (not instant like I've had for the past few weeks) and that is such a wonderful indulgence. I walk really quickly to breakfast, quickly for me anyways. The way back to camp is a bit slower and includes a lot of huffing and puffing up the hill. Hopefully I'll get slightly more fit by the end of the 2 weeks.

Young male impalas play fighting

This was in Moremi Game Reserve, the male impalas fighting 'arena' where they spar with their horns. This is play or practice for when they fight to get the female impalas during mating season. There were several pairs that we watching for about 15 minutes.

The connection here is too slow so I don't think I'll try to upload any more photos until I get back...we'll see. I am at Moholoholo now and got to pet a young black rhino, a bataleur eagle and a hyena. And, I got to hold a white backed vulture. So it's been a good day and a half.

Internet access at Kruger National Park

I have finished day 2 of my Kruger ´Quickie´ safari and it was great. Kruger is the complete opposite of my Botswana experience, as far as the conditions go, but I have enjoyed it just as much. Mainly I think because I saw rhinos today, how can that not be completely awesome?

Anyways, Kruger is very ´put together' meaning paved roads, elaborate camping facilities (including a restaurant, Internet cafe, laundry...), fences (so no baboons of hyenas). At first I missed Botswana's  ruggedness, being so close to nature, the scenery, etc. But, Kruger is very beautiful and worth visiting in its own right. Other than the rhinos we saw elephants, giraffe, lions, baboons, vervet monkeys, baby impala...

Tomorrow is our last morning, and the group is hoping to see a leopard at our 4:30 am start. Then I am off to nThambo Tree Camp for a night and then finally Moholoholo for the next 2 weeks. I am really looking forward a set home, going from place to place every night is a bit tiring.

Camping preparedness in the Botswana bush

I just got into Livingstone, Zambia today and am at the Maramba River Lodge which is beautiful. The best part was being able to take a long shower, but there was still a baboon in the area & I heard elephants so it's a good transition from the safari life. We camped for 6 nights - 3 in Moremi, and 3 in Chobe - and it was really amazing. Exhausting, dirty, and hot, but absolutely amazing. I did have some major setbacks though despite the fact that I had thought I prepared for everything. I got a cold (in AFRICA which seems so ridiculous) which I blame on the 11+ hour plane ride breathing recycled disease ridden air and my lack of sleep. So my first 2 days were very difficult, and I used up all my emergency toilet paper blowing my nose. Luckily I had brought that and I took Advil and used my Watkins ointment as a kind of Vick's vapo-rub substitute but it definitely wasn't the same. I think the climate helped because by day 3 I was okay and I only have the occasional cough now. In Canada that would have lasted weeks. I also got hay fever as my cold was getting better. I solved this for the most part by not allowing myself to tough my eye with my hands & I used a cloth & whetted it to clean my eyes with. I also took Advil. It seemed to help. But, assuming I go on Safari again I must remember to bring cough medicine & antihistamine stuff with me as well as everything else.

The other major setback was my memory cards for the camera. The ones I bought were not compatible so when I filled my regular one up on Day 2 I discovered my error. I should have known to check it before I came but I took the sales person at their word & didn't think much about it. I have had to delete tonnes of pictures, just saving the best ones. I have almost 300 pictures and some videos so it's not completely tragic but it would have been nice to document EVERYTHING. However, one of my fellow campers will be sending me their pictures so I can at least have some other perspective on the experience and not rely solely on my poor memory.

Despite these issues though it was the best experience. Seeing elephants and giraffes up close, lions eating (or mostly sleeping), animals I have never seen before - it's just so incredible. Tomorrow I am off to Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe for one night and then back to South Africa. Hopefully I can find a compatible memory card before the Kruger Safari in Jo'burg Airport if not before!

Maun, Botswana

I arrived safely & am now in Maun, Botswana at the Island Safari Lodge (about 2 km from town). I was ecstatic to finally land in Africa and even more so when I finally landed in Botswana. The airport was quite small, and you exit the plane on rickety stairs outside. After going through their customs booth we waited for the luggage, which was all loaded by hand onto this low shelf. The Bushways Safari people were outside waiting for me and a few other people. They got us to change our money at the airport so we could pick up supplies for the safari on the way to the lodge. "Bottle Shop" means a liquor store, water bottle, pop, etc. so we got our water and any other drinks we may want. They recommended we get the larger bottles of 5 L, enough to drink 3 litres per day on the trip. I also treated myself to a 6 pack of Coke Zero. Sometimes I need a little bit of a treat you know?

Anyways, the town is very spread out but seems to have everything needed. Some of the houses are run down looking but most are tidy. There were quite a few stands along the road, most out of the corrugated metal or with a large umbrella, selling various things like candy, gift items, metal bins, and a variety of other things. I tried a dried meat, kind of like jerky but it was curled up rather than flat and hard. It was really good but I can't remember the word for it. One of the safari staff members let me try some because they bought a bag at the 'bottle shop'.

The Island Safari Lodge is really beautiful, very lush because it's along the river. And, I have been able to get post cards and stamps here so they're mailing them for me. They're also letting me use their computer which is nice. It's hard to be away from the Internet and quite a few guests have brought their laptops so I had the Internet itch. The food is good - especially their zucchini fritters and potato fritters dishes. I am also really into this cranberry juice drink they have. One more day here and then off on safari. I hope I see monkeys tomorrow - I heard they were around but I have yet to see them myself. There are so many different kinds of birds here. I wish I knew what they all are. I should get going though so they can close up their shop.