Siyafunda week 2

Sun (Cont'd)
OK, I've been through another few thousand pictures and came up with another 100 or so that I thought were worth sharing. These are from my second week at Siyafunda, and the last few pictures (starting with the Black Rhino) are from an animal rescue place we visited.
Hope you enjoy them!
Robyn

Kruger 1

Sun-
Hello all!
Here are some of the pictures from my first trip to Kruger National Park. I went on the first Sun that I was in SA with three other volunteers and one of our rangers. It was a great day with lots of great animal sightings.
Enjoy!
Princess (no longer wearing hiking boots)

Siyafunda week 1

Here are some pictures from my first week at Siyafunda.

How can you tell the difference between a male and female Giraffe? The male is bald on the top of his horns because he uses them for fighting (see, women are better, they use their words!).

The pictures of the Lions show them on the hunt (who knew? they just looked like they were hanging out), then the next set of shots is of them devouring an impala. They're so well camouflaged that even though they were only a few feet from the vehicle (I left it in one of the shots just to show how close they were) they're still hard to see behind all the bush. They also have very poor maternal instincts. After it got dark the cubs came out and wanted to eat, but the female lions just growled out them and took their kill away so they could continue eating.

Hope you enjoy these. There are more to come!
Robyn

Nankuse 2- Fun with Baboons!

Fun with Baboons

Wed-

Well, two days into my new job and all is well :) (This is much better then the first two days of my last job when I knew it was not a match and was already looking for another one!) This agency is very "LA" with several connections to the "industry". We have a building donated by Santana, and one of our volunteers is a famous actress (think Brothers and Sisters and dancing uga-chucka babies).

Here are a few pictures from my last few days at Nankuse. As you can tell, I really enjoyed playing with the baby baboons, and was able to squeeze in some cheetah time :)
https://picasaweb.google.com/redbyrds/Nankuse2?authuser=0&feat=directlink
My next project will be to go through the 7000 pictures that I took in South Africa!
Enjoy,
Robyn

Etosha- Namibia's National Park

My next trip

For my next trip I'd really like to go to Uganda and see the Gorillas, but this would be a good runner up:

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The Maasai Warrior Challenge

Isiolo, Kenya

Ends in 2 weeks, 1 hour

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  On this six-day trip by Bush Adventures, you'll be one of a tribe of Maasai warriors.
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• You'll learn about Maasai warrior skills, like tracking animals, and their culture and history.
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• After you're outfitted with the traditional red shuka, you'll learn to use their weapons.
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• In the evenings, you'll return to the Bush Adventures camp in the Il Ngwesi.
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• On day two, get ready to throw down Maasai-style in a traditional wrestling match.
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• Day five is all about survival skills — you'll learn to approach the animals and make fire.
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• Meals are eaten together and consist of a mostly Mediterranean menu.
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• Taking part in the Maasai's lifestyle makes for an unforgettable Kenyan vacation.
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• Overview
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About your stay

By Daniel Howden, Jetsetter Correspondent

This hotel is Jetsetter verified

Our editors have been here and it has met our standards

Roam the red earth of the Laikipia Plateau, in the shadow of Mount Kenya, with your own party of Maasai warriors. On this six-day Bush Adventures outing, you’ll learn the ways of Africa’s noble nomads and master Kenya’s great outdoors in the company of its original experts. Wake up to the call of eagles, spend your days tracking big game, and go to sleep under a blanket of stars with the chatter of hyenas in the distance, knowing you’re one of the tribe.

What we love

• 2011 Jetsetter Hot Spots winner
• Rate includes five nights accommodation, all meals and snacks, some alcoholic beverages, activities outlined on the itinerary, the red Maasai shuka required during all activities, and conservancy fees
• This trip was created exclusively for Jetsetter
• Getting to know the Maasai in their world
• Rugged Maasai experience, but with a Mediterranean menu and a glass of wine come dinner time
• Unforgettable unscripted moments, like learning to play marbles Maasai-style with herder boys
• Interactions with the Maasai warriors — they’re a ton of fun, and they’re just as curious about your world as you are about theirs
• Maximum group size is eight, so you’ll get plenty of one-on-one warrior time
• All tours are conducted in English

What to know

• Rate does not include airfare, ground transportation to the camp or gratuities for guides
• Participants must be 18 and over
• You should be in reasonably good shape
• Accommodations are in a 13-by-10-foot tent (with a bathroom and hot shower, but no electricity) in Il Ngwesi Community Conservancy
• Vegetarian or special diets can be accommodated with advance notice, but note that this is a fully immersive trip and the warriors will hunt and kill a goat for one group dinner
• Trip insurance is required — you can purchase it upon checkout from Jetsetter
• Talk to your doctor prior to your trip about vaccinations and a prescription antimalaria drug
• Americans need to have a passport that has at least 1 blank page and is valid for six months after the completion of the trip. A tourist visa is required; you can obtain it at any U.S. consulate or at the border

Why to go

• Adventure
• Off the Beaten Path
• Rustic

Jetsetter review

On this six-day/five-night Bush Adventures experience, you’ll learn warrior skills from Africa’s most famed tribe of nomads, the Maasai, from tracking game and using traditional weapons to competitive hill hiking.

This adventure takes you into the Maasai world and closer to the true splendor of Africa — deep into the epic Kenyan landscape — than a safari ever could. In the evenings you’ll dine by a campfire wrapped in a flame-red blanket under stars shining impossibly bright.
After you're outfitted with the traditional red shuka, you'll learn to use their weapons.

Your training begins with the trusty esiere, or throwing club, which is fashioned from the polished root of the desert olive tree and is the constant companion of the Maasai moran (warrior). Your trainers will teach you to throw it with unerring accuracy.

Once you’ve got the basics down, the riverbanks and acacia groves become a playground of wrestling and spear throwing. Over the next few days, lessons in tracking and identifying animal calls bring the bush and its millions of stories to life. Honey birds call to you to follow them to the bees, and hyena trails lead you to the white skeleton of last night’s prey.

The exertion of the day is balanced by the comforts of evening in camp, where Italian wine or a chilled Kenyan beer is accompanied by food that’s as much Mediterranean as Maasai. The warriors like to talk just as much as they like to fight, and storytime over a meal can be as compelling as exploring the bush. You’ll spend most nights in a private tent outfitted with a four-poster bed, a bathroom and a hot shower in the Il Ngwesi Community Conservancy. Each morning you’ll don your traditional red Maasai shuka (provided when you arrive) and stand side by side with warriors who do this every day. There’s a real wisdom in this simple way of life. By the end of my time with the Maasai, their daily rhythm felt like something I had known once but had somehow forgotten.

Maasai Warrior Survival Training

Duration: 6 days, 5 nights

Day 1: Arrival at Bush Adventures Camp
Take a fascinating drive from the frontier town of Isiolo into the wilderness of Kenya’s fertile Laikipia Plateau and arrive at the camp, your home for most of this trip. Enjoy a light lunch overlooking the riverbank and meet your new warrior friends. Get your first taste of the wild with a short trek into the hills as the sun sets.
Overnight at the Bush Adventures camp in the Il Ngwesi Community Conservancy; lunch and dinner included

Day 2: Traditional Weapons and Fighting Training
Get to grips with the esiere (the throwing club), the long bow and the spear (an age-old Maasai favorite). Then get ready to throw down Maasai-style in a traditional wrestling match.
Overnight at the Bush Adventures camp in the Il Ngwesi Community Conservancy; breakfast, lunch and dinner included
In the evenings, you'll return to the Bush Adventures camp in the Il Ngwesi.

Day 3: A Mountain Hike and Afternoon Swim
Today involves a hike (and scramble) up one of the steepest hills in the area — used by the warriors as a test of strength and fitness. Your reward is a picnic lunch with a view, and a swim in some beautiful natural pools. The evening is for relaxing and storytelling around the fire.
Overnight at the Bush Adventures camp in the Il Ngwesi Community Conservancy; breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Day 4: Animal Tracking and Night in the Bush
Unlock the art of tracking as you learn the telltale signs of animal movement. Then pit your new skills against the wild as you try to trail a goat that the warriors will kill and roast for your dinner. Like a true nomad, tonight you will hike to a nearby hill and camp under the stars (mosquito nets and sleeping mats are optional).
Overnight at a Maasai camp in the bush; breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Day 5: Survival Skills: Approaching Wild Animals Safely; Making Fire
After the hike back to camp, during which you'll explore the dramatic scenery of the plateau, the warriors will teach you how to safely approach wild animals (if conditions allow), and then mankind’s oldest magic: making fire from sticks and elephant dung. The final evening calls for a farewell party Maasai-style, with lots of jumping, dancing and singing.
Overnight at the Bush Adventures camp in the Il Ngwesi Community Conservancy; breakfast, lunch and dinner included

Day 6: Weapon Practice and Departure
If time allows, practice using your favorite weapons before you depart from the camp.
Breakfast included

More pictures!

Mon-
OK, I'm settling back into "real life".  Tomorrow it's about to get "realer" as I go back to work.  I think it will be a shock to my system, as I've been living the life of leisure (sort of) since Oct.  OK, Oct/Nov, definitely NOT the life of leisure, but still, I haven't worked in a long time.  People have asked me if I'm glad to be back.  My response is that I'd prefer to perpetually be on vacation, but until I win the lottery that won't happen, so ok, I guess I'm glad to be back :)

Since Friday I've been working hard at no longer being a Glamour "don't" and I"ve been worked over from head to toe (haircut, facial, massage, mani/pedi) and I think I'm starting to look like my old self again.  Kim, my hairstylist was glad to see me today and was relieved that she hadn't permanently been replaced by a baboon (although she did offer to pick out ticks for me, but thankfully, that wasn't necessary!).

Here are the next 100 pics in my installment.  These are from my 3 day excursion to Etosha, Namibia's national park.  Hope you enjoy them. 

https://picasaweb.google.com/redbyrds/EtoshaNamibiaSNationalPark?authuser=0&feat=directlink
and here's a link to last weeks' pics:
https://picasaweb.google.com/redbyrds/NankuseAfricaTheFirst100?authuser=0&feat=directlink
Stay tuned for more to come!
Robyn

Nankuse- Africa the first 100

Photos- take 2

OK, I"m resending the link, so someone please try it and let me know if you're able to view it now. 

 

https://picasaweb.google.com/redbyrds/NankuseAfricaTheFirst100?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCJGf25PswvjWPQ&feat=directlink

 

Thanks!

Robyn

Back in the Big Orange

Thurs
Well, after 24 hours of flying time, and 36 hours of actual travel time, I made it back to LA!

Total miles flown: 23,418
Total pictures taken: 9000
Experience: Priceless

No, you won't have to sift through all 9000 pictures!  I've gone through the first 1000 so far, and uploaded them to Picasaweb: https://picasaweb.google.com/redbyrds/NankuseAfricaTheFirst100#
These are all the "unedited" versions, and eventually I'll run them through photoshop to correct for over/under exposure, etc.. but that will take some time.  So for those of you who've waited patiently, here are the first 100.  Enjoy!   (and join me in being thankful that I don't have to pay to develop 9000 pics!)

Stay tuned for more to come!
Robyn

Kruger, take 2

Sun-Mon
I was able to arrange a private tour to Kruger for Sun and Mon, and it turned out to be great! I had a lovely guide, also named Robyn (note the correct spelling of the name) who drove me around. She was able to talk about the animals and trees (I think to her disappointment, I wasn't so into the trees, but they're nice to look at, and some have interesting medicinal properties). One tree is called a knob tree for it's knob shaped things that stick out of it. The knobs are pointy, so local tribal legend is that if you make a paste from them and rub them on your chest, it will get bigger. Seeing as I live in LA, the plastic surgery capitol of the world (I imagine), I think I should come back on a business trip, collect the knoby things, make a paste, and have a new career marketing an all natural figure enhancer back in the states. If I happen to see some animals along the way, so be it! :)

We were able to see Lions twice. Once there were three lionesses and a male lion running after an impalla, but they ran too far into the bush for us to see the kill. The next day we came across another group of lions (4 young males) who had just killed/eaten a buffalo and were now taking their after-lunch siesta. I got some great shots (I hope) of one when he lifted his head to see what all the commotion was about. (There were several vehicles there watching them.) We also saw a ton of giraffe and "ellies" (as Robyn calls them) which was nice.

For my last night I spent the night at a cute B&B called Blue Cottages. They have small Rondollas (little round huts) resembling the traditional African hut, but I knew I was back in civilization when I saw a TV (although I watch a ton of it at home, I haven't missed it at all in the last 6 weeks).

Now a note about showers. I will be very glad to get home and take a shower in a bathroom where I don't feel the need to wear flip flops, freeze to death, or this is the latest, bend over backwards to wash my hair. The shower here has the shower head sticking out from the side of the wall. Unless you're under 4 ft tall, you literally have to bend over backwards to wash your hair. What is up with that?!

Well, on that note, I think I"ll leave you all and finish up here as I get ready for my 48 hour journey home.

It's been a great experience overall!

Stay tuned for a link to pictures, and maybe even updates about my return to civilization and the start of a new job!

Cheers,
Robyn

Not exactly Dr. Doolittle...yet!

Sat-
Well, this shabbos was a quiet one (as usual out here), so I took to talking to the animals.  I was sitting in the "braie bauma" the bbq pit (why, you may ask was I sitting in the bbq pit- well, it's always sunny there, so I don't have to chase the sun with my chair) and the warthogs came to have lunch.  As there was no one else around to talk to, I greeted them with "hello little warthog", to which she (I know it was a she, as she was with her piglets) responded with a snort and ran off.  The Nyalas (another antelope-like creature) also came to visit, but they weren't very talkative either.  Yesterday, before shabbos, I was sunning myself in there as well and the baboons came into the tree just beyond the fence line.  I watched them for a while, and decided that since they seemed to just be hanging out, and were in a good picture range, I'd go and get my camera.  When I came back with it, they noticed me and decided to run off as soon as I raised it to get their pic, as if they were tired of posing :(

OK, here's the final count food-wise for those of you who were worried about my food.  I had quite a few leftovers, so it is possible to over pack, food wise, even for 5 weeks.  I have 9 out of the 10 packet of tuna/salmon in foil packs.  Again, I can't imagine anyone voluntarily eat them unless they had a fear of starving to death! (Thankfully, I had cheese and eggs as protein).  Two packs of dehydrated refried beans (they weren't bad, but the black beans were better, and I didn't really care for the taco filling).  I still have 3 packs of dried salami (I really only ate them for shabbos, and if a pack was still open on sun, then I'd finish it then) which are coming home with me.  I have 24 Cliff bars left (a whole box size from Costco!)  I had counted on needing to eat one a day, but clearly I didn't.  Five packets of couscous (I won't miss eating that for a while!), and a whole pack of mini-matzohs that I brought just in case the full size ones broke and I couldn't use them on shabbos.  The grape juice made it, yay!  Oh yes, and a whole jar of peanut butter (as well as half a tube of jelly).  I still have a few days to go, but am just going to eat the cheese and salami (with some crackers and bread), and some hard boiled eggs.  I do have some instant oatmeal left, but I think I'm going to save that for my Tues-Weds travel, as that's easy to just get hot water for and then I have a "cooked" meal to eat- yum.  I've never looked forward to airplane food, but this might be a first!

OK, off to finish packing for my last two days in Kruger (fun fact- the park, which spans three countries- SA, Mozambique, and Zimbabwe- is the size of Belgium- minus the diamonds and chocolate :)  ).
Cheers,
Robyn
PS- It appears that there is only one good student out there, and yes, I had the pleasure of supervising her!  (I hope she didn't answer my quiz only bec she might need another reference some day!)

My final game drive at Siyafunda

Thurs-
Well, today was my final day for game drives here, and they were terrific!

This morning we saw the usual- Zebra, Giraffe, Wildebeest, Impala, then....Cheetahs!  Two of them were just laying there on the road, right next to the car.  They're awesome to see!

This afternoon's game drive was also great.  We started by seeing Hippos (yay, finally one here that didn't look like a rock!), as well as a crocodile (which I hadn't seen yet at all).  Then onto a heard of Elephants.  There were more then 30, and they were right by the car, including a tiny baby!  They're also amazing to see up close.  We left the Elephants and were able to get to see the Lions, who had just killed/eaten a Wildebeest (it was too dark at that point to get a good shot of them), but that makes 8 Lions that I've seen- yay!  But we weren't done yet.  We left the Lions and were able to get to the Hyenas who were eating the Lions' leftovers.  They were sharing their kill with the Jackals, and we saw some really little ones.  Once their feast was over, we left, and on the way home we saw a Porcupine!  I hadn't seen one yet, although I was able to collect a quill that was left on the road the other day.

It was a great way to finish up my time here.

I'll actually be here til Sun morning, but tomorrow morning is road clearing, and suddenly I think I feel a 24 hr bug coming on.  I always skip the Fri afternoon drives, as they get back too late for shabbos. 

Then Sat will just be a day of chilling out and reading another book.

Sun, I'm off to Kruger National Park (I arranged a private excursion with a guide who has a great name- Robyn!) and we're spending the night, and doing the park again on Mon.

Mon night I"ll be in Hoedspruit, and Tues it's a wrap as I head back (on a longgggg trip) to LA :(

So far it's been great, and I'm looking forward to the trip to Kruger as well.

G'night!
Robyn

Animals, animals everywhere....

Tues-Weds-

Yesterday morning's game drive was full of the "typical" animals- Giraffe, Zebra, Impala, nothing special.  It's amazing how quickly you acclimate, and these amazing animals become typical- oh yea, another zebra, yawn :)

But in the afternoon we found one of the Cheetahs.  This is a collared Cheetah, but I think they said the collar is not working anymore and the BBC was supposed to film them replacing it, but it was postponed.

This morning we went in search of Renee, their collared Hyena.  They monitor her movements and are trying to see how much she hunts vs. scavenges, but given that you can only monitor her with this telemetry contraption, and all it does is give off a beeping sound, in order to track her movements, you actually have to hunt around for her, then wait around to see what she does.  They said they did that for 12 hours one night.  How fun?!  Today they heard her run off in the bush, but were not able to actually see her.  They're going back out again tonight, and again tomorrow morning at 4am (notice the use of the word THEY, as to not include me!).  We were able to see some Elephants though, which I haven't seen in a few days, and that's always exciting. On the way there/back we saw the ever present Zebra, Giraffe, and Impala, along with the Warthogs (they're so ugly they're cute!  one of my favorites here!), a Bush buck, some Kudu (both related to the antelope), along with Wildebeest and tons of birds.  Africa has tons of birds, and the new family that came on Mon is very into them, wanting to stop for everyone, so it gets a little tedious for those of us who are not necessarily interested in them!

Speaking of the new family- I've come up with a theory.  I believe that Africa gives free tickets to Germans to come and visit.  Either that, or Germany is passively trying to take over the world again, and this time they are doing it by sending their people to conquer other countries through travel, and they're starting with Africa.  Otherwise, I cannot figure out the over-representation of Germans here (given the size of their country compared to the rest of the world).  There are about as many Germans here as there are Impala (remember, Kruger has 100,000!).

Sala Kahle,
Robyn

Sawubona- Hello in Zulu

Sanibona- Hello to all in Zulu

OK, here's your Zulu lesson-

Unajani- how are you?
Ngikhona, wena unjani- I'm fine, how are you?
Ngikhona- I'm fine
Sala Kahle- stay well/good bye
Hamba Kahle- go well (also a type of good bye)

Ngiyabonga- Thank you
Ngiyacela- Please
Yebo- Yes
Cha/Qha- No
Uxolo- Sorry/excuse me
Malini Loku- How much is this?

Hamba- go
Lala- sleep
Hlala-sit
Gijima- run
Pheka-cook
Hleka- smile
Woza-come
Latela- listen

Ngiyahamba- I'm going
Hamba uyolala- go to sleep
Halala phansi- sit down
Gijima ngokoshesha- run faster
Nyiyu pheka- I am cooking
Thual- shut up!
Walala wasala- you snooze you loose (no kidding!)

Indolvu- Elephant
Ibhusesi- Lion
Ingwe- Leopard
Ihlosi- Cheetah
Ulshejana- Rhino
Impisi- Hyena
Imvubu- Hippo
Inja- Dog
Ikathi- Cat
Imbongolo-Donkey
Ihasi- Horse
Inkukhu- Chicken

OK, now we're ready to have a conversation:

Tonight Ngiyu pheka couscous and vegie crumbles (as usual).  Then I am going to hamba uyolala. 

How closely were you paying attention?  Do you know what I"m doing tonight?  Make sure to email me your answers!
Sala Kahle,
Robyn

PS----

Mon (#2)

OK, this veggie diet appears to be working.  I'm going to market a new fad diet called "travel kosher- lose weight!".  It means you can only eat what you can pack, and except for dried salami, not have any meat (bec. you can't get kosher meat in the African bush).  In the first week, the skirts I ordered for this trip (didn't want to ruin my nice denim skirts, so I ordered 2 online, and unsure of the size, the ones I got were on the looser side, but they fit) I had to get a belt for the skirts (and since they don't have belt loops, I've reinstated the 80's "paper bag waist" look, but only under my shirts).  After the 3rd week, I was able to move the belt down one notch.  Now heading into the beginning of the 5th week, I'm down to the third hole in the belt.  Yippee!

OK, who's up for a steak dinner at Shilo's when I get home???? 

Also, I"m in desperate need of a mani-pedi, so those two things are top of the list upon landing in LA (ok, maybe I'll go home and sleep first- here's my travel schedule starting on 7/19 leave Hoedsrpuit on a 2 hour flight to Joberg, at least a 5 hour layover on Joberg, then a 15 hour flight, which, coming home may be actually 18 hours, then a 6 hour layover in NY, then a 6 hour flight back to LA, which brings me home at 5pm on the 20th.  I'm sure I won't know which way is up by then, but as soon as I do, like maybe Sun, it's a mani/pedi dinner at Shilo's day!  Who's joining me????

Ahhh....

Mon-

Today was a spa day (yipee!).  There's a 5 star lodge here called Makalali and I went up there today for a massage.  THIS is the way to have a massage.  Start out in a open air hut (but it was too cold, so she moved the table onto the deck directly in the sun), warm lavender scented oil, the sun shining directly on you, birds singing, monkeys playing in the trees, and the river bubbling down below.  It was GREAT! 

I started off the morning by relaxing on the deck with a cup of coffee (surprisingly a rarity since I've been here.  Both volunteer sites on have instant- what is the point, except for shabbos when you have no choice?  And was able to see vervet monkeys in the trees, and a bush buck walk by.  One of the staff told me that the meat on the bush buck is really good (I'll take her word for it), but that if a policeman finds you with it, it's 10 years in jail- I guess they're protected animals.

Then the msg (read above).

Then back to the deck by the pool to relax on a lounge chair for 2 hours til I was picked up again.

While waiting to be picked up, I had my bag of snacks out on the table.  I got up to take pics of the monkeys, and they got into my bag and stole a package of crackers.  It was so funny!  One of them ran off with the whole pack, and up into a tree.  I was able to get some pics of him eating them, turning the bag over, etc.  It was so cute!  Then, while I was busy taking pics of him, another one came down and stole the ice out of my drink, then another one stole the remaining ice cube, then a third came down and actually drank from the ice tea.  Unfortunately, my long lens was too big to capture the ice/drink escapades, but it was great to watch!

In my next life, I'd like to only travel via 5 stars, but I figured out that for my 5 weeks here in Africa on the roughing it plan, I could only do 6 nights at the 5 star.  I guess it's worth the extra month, even if I'm slumming it! :)

Up next- a lesson in Zulu ( I have to go find the paper I wrote it on, keep forgetting to bring it when I'm at the computer).

Cheers,
Robyn

Moholoholo (not that's not Hawaiian for how are you?)

Sun-
Today the site I'm at took us for an outing to an animal rescue/rehab center near Hoedspruit called Maholoholo (forgot to ask what it meant).  It was much smaller then the place I was at in Namibia, and much more touristy.  I got to pet an 18 month old Black Rhino (fun fact- White Rhinos and Black Rhinos are actually both grey.  The White Rhino got its name from a Dutch or Afrikaans word that means wide, but sounds like White, so they called the other one Black.  The White Rhino has a wider mouth, that's why the Dutch were calling it wide.)  They also had some Honey Badgers, which are apparently around here too, but are mostly nocturnal, and while I"ve heard them trying to get into the trash cans at night, I've not actually seen them. They also had a Servel, which we have here too, but I also hadn't seen it.  It's a very pretty cat.  They had lots of birds, mostly in cages, but the Mariboo Storks were walking around (I always thought mariboo was the fur that was used to trip nightgowns and slippers, and make boas with).

The weather was cold, and at the moment it's pouring rain.  I'm so glad I'm back at the main site tonight, and in a bed, too!  The last two nights I've had what I imagine to be a youth hostel experience.  Since I refused to stay at the bushcamp, and the main camp was full, I camped out in the common area.  Fri night John and Ruth and I all slept in here, and last night I had it to myself.  I didn't even do youth hostels when I was young, how did I wind up doing one now?!  If they don't let me stay in a room here at the main site for the rest of this week, I will seriously try to book myself in elsewhere, as I'm not going back to bushcamp to freeze and be in open air vehicles in the rain!  How can I explain to them that I don't do weather????  There is a 5 star lodge here, and I've booked a massage for tomorrow- yay, this princess has found her home- it's like having an internal homing pigeon- but at $600 US a night, I won't be staying there :(

Ciao for now,
Robyn

Lions! (but not Tigers and Bears, oh my!)

Thurs-Fri-

Roar!  The last two days have been Lion filled!  Thurs morning we went on a game drive and were able to find a male and female lion just lounging around in the bush.  They were quite close to the vehicle- what an amazing experience!

The afternoon was a bit of a bust.  We went in search of the buffalo, and they shouldn't be that hard to find since they're in an enclosure (quite a large one, but still, it's fenced in), but we didn't find them.  I did get the shock of my life though- I went to open the gate, which is attached to an electrified fence (they had that in Namibia, too), and the chain to the lock must have landed on the electrified part because I got quite a shock!  It left me with a headache, but I think my memory is still intact (they use electric shock to treat depression, and they say it wipes your short term memory).  Our guide got out to look for the buffalo and was gone so long, and it was already 5pm (it gets dark by 6pm), I thought I'd have to get on the radio to call someone in to find us and get us out, but luckily he came back (even Zulu guides get lost apparently!).    We did come across some Hyenas on the way home.  That was cool, that was the first time I'd seen them, though I've heard them multiple times.  Then I suffered through one more night at bushcamp.  Tonight I'm back at the main camp in the communal room.  I"m hoping they let me stay for the duration (one more week plus a few days) because I'm tired of being cold!!!!!!!

This morning was also a great drive.  We heard there were two lions who had just made a kill, so we drove up to where they were.  As we were driving through the bush to get to where we thought they were, we accidentally drove up onto the exact spot where the female was breakfasting on an imapala.  She was right next to the car, and seemed to be annoyed that she was interrupted, so she took her meal and moved further into the bush.  We watched for a while, then found the male lion.  After a few minutes they were done and got up to go to a new spot, and we were able to follow them for quite a while.  What a great morning!

This afternoon we'll be having a Zulu lesson, then I'm going to get ready for shabbos.  (I hope I get a hot shower!)

Good shabbos, have a great weekend everyone!
Robyn

Bushcamp

Tues-
OK, my Princessness has been pushed to the limit! 
Note to self- be specific!  Don't just ask if there is running water, make sure you ask if the running water is both hot and cold!  In order to get a hot shower, you have to boil water in the kettle, then pour it into this bag contraption, add some cold so you don't burn yourself, then hoist it up and turn on the tap and stand (bent, bec it's not tall enough) to take a shower.  And the shower is somewhat outdoors.  There is like a tent thing around it, but it's not completely enclosed- meaning the cold air from outside is what you're standing in while the water is off (bec there's not enough to keep it running while you soap up).  Interesting.  I thought I'd try to go several days without a shower, then this morning we did another "walk" (really, this was a major hike) through the bush, so a shower was called for when we got back.  I'm happy to report that I survived!  Me and my hair are clean :)

On the subject of bush-walks.  I'm done with them.  All we saw was dung, dung, and more dung.  We never saw the animals that left them :(

So my new friend Ruth (who, thank GD, is as princess-y as me- keep in mind, she's only 15, so she might not be fully princessed out yet, but she's got time) talked to the manager and arranged that we will not be doing walks anymore (esp considering the people on the game drive today- all the 15 year olds) saw Leopards today!

There's no electricity, but thankfully there is a gas stove, so so far I haven't had to cook on the open fire (not quite sure how people balance pots on the fire wood), but I will put the marshmallows I brought to good use!

Here's to surviving in the bush!
Robyn

Hoedspruit

Mon-
Today we took a trip into town to drop off two volunteers who were leaving, and picking up some new ones.  (there's a couple that came today that was with me in Namibia too.  They're American, from Hawaii- not actual Hawaiians).

What, you missed Hoedspruit on your trip to SA?  That's because you blinked as you went through it!  It's not exactly a thriving metropolis, but it does have your requisite gift shop and a supermarket (yay- more cheese!)  I picked up a metal statue of a baboon- to remind me of the fun times with them in Namibia.

I've been hanging out with this lovely father/daughter couple that's here, Ruth and John, from the UK.  She's 15 and here on school break with her dad, a very nice guy.  It's nice to be able to have some adult conversation after being the only "older" person amongst a pack of 18 year olds.  They're both very sweet.  John knows that on shabbat I don't turn off lights (from other Orthodox Jews he knows in the UK) and offered to leave the bathroom light on for me (we were sharing a bathroom), then asked if I'd be offended if they ate bacon in front of me.  So nice!

Off to bushcamp today (there are 13 15year olds coming to the main area today) :(
Cheers,
Robyn

Kruger National Park

Sun-
On Sun I went to Kruger National Park with 3 other volunteers and a ranger.  It's about a 2 hour drive from where we are (we left at 5am and came back at 9pm- a long day!).

It was a great day.  It's a huge park where the animals are free to roam.  There were a lot by the road.  We were able to see Zebras, Giraffe, and Elephants, and finally some Hippos (yay!).  There are 100,000 Impala there, so of course, we saw them too.  No Lions :(   There was a Leopard, and I saw it's tail, but that was about it.

I took lots of pics, of course.

I hope to go back for at least one more day drive, and possibly an overnight at one of the lodges (I won't go so far as to camp if not absolutely necessary!)


Cheers,
Robyn

Lots of animals, yay!

OK, so today, Friday (morning) we did another game drive and it made up for yesterday's lack of animals.

Today we saw a herd of Buffalo, several Zebras and Giraffes, two Elephants, and one was trying to push over a tree for us (there are tons of uprooted trees all over the place that the elephants have pushed over- it was very cool to see one start to do it, but then he stopped, leaving the tree intact).  We saw a Water Buck and of course, the ever present Impalas.

(oh- yesterday I forgot, we also saw a Mongoose)

Tonight I will miss the Hyena drive, as it's shabbos, and I will also miss the visit to the orphanage on sat :(

Sun is a day off for us, and a small group of us are going to Kruger National Park with one of the rangers here.  Looking forward to that!

Good shabbos/Have a good weekend everyone!
Love,
Robyn

What?! MORE manual labor?!

Thurs-
I thought I was done with paying for the privilege of doing manual labor!  This morning was "road clearing" time.  The road gets overgrown with trees/shrubs and their branches (some of which have nasty thorns) stick out into the road and are a hazard when you're driving (we're in open air safari vehicles), so this morning's task was road clearing.  I pretty much played the girl card and watched mostly, but did clip some errant branches with the clippers.  However, I declined to hack away at the trees with the machete!

This afternoon's game drive was a bust :(
We went looking for Rhinos, but didn't find any :(
We saw some small animals, but mostly at night and it was hard to see.  We saw an Owl, a few "bush babies"- they claim that they are primates, but it looked like a mouse to me, I'll have to look them up on the internet to see what it was I was looking at.  We also saw an African Wild Cat and a Civet (something like the size of a Raccoon).  Others were very excited by these finds, but to me they pale in comparison to a Zebra, Lion, Giraffe, etc....

Oh well, as Scarlet liked to say, tomorrow is another day.
G'night!

This is apparently a bush baby (pic from internet, not me)
and this is a civit (also from the internet, not me)


My pics-                Owl

Bush Baby