Where have the last 4 weeks gone? Campfire has been a totally different experience to Livingstone and I've met some more truly unique and amazing people.
Suegnette, Letitia, Adele and Bea are blessed to live and work in such a wonderful environment.
Thanks to them and Brass, Mark, Rita and her girls, Tanya, Tracey Matt and Rick who have all made my time with them such a memorable experience. Must not forget Sash, Bushveld and little lola (the dogs) who have sat patiently at the food table waiting for a mere scrap - same as Trigger and Buster really. But I won't miss the vervet monkeys who got more and more cheeky about taking food as you opened a cupboard door.
I'll miss Maria's singing and Bushveld chasing the gardeners at 7am
I think I'll be removing thorns from my body for several weeks to come. Hopefully one day I'll return to Campfire and check out how successful the work I shared with the other volunteers has made.
Karen/Yas - Yes this is still me - it's quite liberating not having to dress up or put make up and the high heels on. You should try it. I know Yas would love the moments in time
Am now in Joburg for the night and a touch of luxury before I move on to Sri Lanka.
I'll sign out now and will hopefully be touch soon
Love you Ceri and Dave and my Mam and all my family and friends too!!!!
Take Care. Sue xx
Friday, 30 May 2008
Wednesday, 28 May 2008
Time running out
People of Campfire
Thought I’d put a few lines down about the characters of Campfire.
Suegnette is the mum and has been away on holiday for the last 2 weeks. She is an amazing cook and tonight she made a beef stew and a potato and bean stew with rice and vegetable fritters, followed by apple pie and custard. It was superb. She’s a remarkable lady who’s been trying to hold things together since Tinus died last year.
Adele and Letitia are the 2 daughters and have both been married and have 2 children but now live with their respective partners – Bee and Sam. They have taken over from their dad and as Letitia puts it - She works hard and plays hard.
Maria is the lady who does the cleaning, and washing and she sings all the time – we think she doesn’t even realise she’s doing it. She will be 70 soon and is a real ‘Del-boy’. She’s always having people call to buy ‘things’ from her. She sells anything from cigarettes to air time
Uncle Tinus arrived this week to check that the camp is in good order. He’s of the old school that believes women cannot possibly keep the farm up to date and needs a man to oversee everything. I’ll give him his due though, he had a stroke 2 months ago and is having to cope with having to slow down. He arrived on Sunday and was out on Monday laying concrete on one of the roads. So Rubes there’s a prospective hubby here for you
Tuesday Afternoon with the Reptiles
Didn’t plan on doing this activity but went to the Reptile Park this afternoon and am so glad that I did.
We had a talk about the different types of snakes and their fangs and venom. We were then shown around the park and got the opportunity to:
• Feed some of the lizards
• Hold the bearded dragon lizard
• Held a scorpion and let it walk on my face
• Held a Golden Brown baboon spider which is a very rare one (looks like a tarantula)
• Got close up to a Baum Slung snake which is the most deadly in Africa – one drop of it’s venom can kill 12 people
• Got close to a cobra and puff adder
• Held a small python and then a 15 kg one too.
I’ve put some more photos on skydrive for you to see what I got up to.
Tomorrow I ‘walk with the wild’ so watch this space
Wednesday Morning with the Lions
Up and out by 5.30 today to ‘Walk with the Wild’
We went to a nearby lodge where they have a leopard and lion breeding project. We walked with a lion cub called Achilla and the Labrador dog called Prince who thinks it’s Achilla’s mum. We didn’t see too much game on the walk – only the tame Jackal who hangs around the lodge, and some buffalo but the breakfast we had on our return more than made up for it. There was all kinds of tropical fruit, fresh strawberry muffins, toast porridge, yoghurts and fruit juices followed by bacon and eggs with mushrooms fried with cream plus loads of fresh coffee. I could have stayed there all morning and just ate the muffins.
Afterward we went to see the Leopard and Lion breeding project and saw the lions and their cubs in their natural habitat. We were in the buckie so were able to get up really close and were even lucky enough to see them being fed. Expect more pics on the skydrive.
Only one and half days left here so soon I’ll be off to Sri Lanka for the next leg of the journey. I will still try and keep the blog up to date but may not be able to upload photos as often.
Hopefully I’ll get to do one more blog before I leave but if not I will as soon as I can.
Bye for now - Sue.xx
Thought I’d put a few lines down about the characters of Campfire.
Suegnette is the mum and has been away on holiday for the last 2 weeks. She is an amazing cook and tonight she made a beef stew and a potato and bean stew with rice and vegetable fritters, followed by apple pie and custard. It was superb. She’s a remarkable lady who’s been trying to hold things together since Tinus died last year.
Adele and Letitia are the 2 daughters and have both been married and have 2 children but now live with their respective partners – Bee and Sam. They have taken over from their dad and as Letitia puts it - She works hard and plays hard.
Maria is the lady who does the cleaning, and washing and she sings all the time – we think she doesn’t even realise she’s doing it. She will be 70 soon and is a real ‘Del-boy’. She’s always having people call to buy ‘things’ from her. She sells anything from cigarettes to air time
Uncle Tinus arrived this week to check that the camp is in good order. He’s of the old school that believes women cannot possibly keep the farm up to date and needs a man to oversee everything. I’ll give him his due though, he had a stroke 2 months ago and is having to cope with having to slow down. He arrived on Sunday and was out on Monday laying concrete on one of the roads. So Rubes there’s a prospective hubby here for you
Tuesday Afternoon with the Reptiles
Didn’t plan on doing this activity but went to the Reptile Park this afternoon and am so glad that I did.
We had a talk about the different types of snakes and their fangs and venom. We were then shown around the park and got the opportunity to:
• Feed some of the lizards
• Hold the bearded dragon lizard
• Held a scorpion and let it walk on my face
• Held a Golden Brown baboon spider which is a very rare one (looks like a tarantula)
• Got close up to a Baum Slung snake which is the most deadly in Africa – one drop of it’s venom can kill 12 people
• Got close to a cobra and puff adder
• Held a small python and then a 15 kg one too.
I’ve put some more photos on skydrive for you to see what I got up to.
Tomorrow I ‘walk with the wild’ so watch this space
Wednesday Morning with the Lions
Up and out by 5.30 today to ‘Walk with the Wild’
We went to a nearby lodge where they have a leopard and lion breeding project. We walked with a lion cub called Achilla and the Labrador dog called Prince who thinks it’s Achilla’s mum. We didn’t see too much game on the walk – only the tame Jackal who hangs around the lodge, and some buffalo but the breakfast we had on our return more than made up for it. There was all kinds of tropical fruit, fresh strawberry muffins, toast porridge, yoghurts and fruit juices followed by bacon and eggs with mushrooms fried with cream plus loads of fresh coffee. I could have stayed there all morning and just ate the muffins.
Afterward we went to see the Leopard and Lion breeding project and saw the lions and their cubs in their natural habitat. We were in the buckie so were able to get up really close and were even lucky enough to see them being fed. Expect more pics on the skydrive.
Only one and half days left here so soon I’ll be off to Sri Lanka for the next leg of the journey. I will still try and keep the blog up to date but may not be able to upload photos as often.
Hopefully I’ll get to do one more blog before I leave but if not I will as soon as I can.
Bye for now - Sue.xx
Monday, 26 May 2008
Thanks for all the comments
Hi All
Just wanted to say thank you for all your comments (you too Trish - I got yours too. It's great knowing that my blog is being read.
Today we saw over 10 giraffes at the waterhole - I said I wasn't going to take any more pics of giraffes but seeing them drink is amazing - they have to position themselves so carefully and it's when they are at their most vulnerable. We also saw 3 zebras and 3 Kudu too. It's the most we've seen at any one time
Tomorrow I may be going to a reptile course where we can handle snakes and spiders - not convinced myself to go yet - we'll see.
Will write more tomorrow if the internet is still working. Love you. xx
Just wanted to say thank you for all your comments (you too Trish - I got yours too. It's great knowing that my blog is being read.
Today we saw over 10 giraffes at the waterhole - I said I wasn't going to take any more pics of giraffes but seeing them drink is amazing - they have to position themselves so carefully and it's when they are at their most vulnerable. We also saw 3 zebras and 3 Kudu too. It's the most we've seen at any one time
Tomorrow I may be going to a reptile course where we can handle snakes and spiders - not convinced myself to go yet - we'll see.
Will write more tomorrow if the internet is still working. Love you. xx
Saturday, 24 May 2008
2 Days in Kruger
On Tuesday we did our usual bush walk but I forgot to mention that we did the Campfire Safari competition of who can spit the Impala dung the furthest!!. I can hear my mam saying ‘What are you doing putting animal pooh in your mouth??’ It’s apparently very safe as they only eat grass – so I’m told.
Wednesday we were digging sand at the dam and looked up to find the 2 house dogs – Lola and Bushveld just wandering across the bush without a care in the world. AT least it was a good excuse to pack up and take them home.
We went into Hoedspruit in the afternoon I lost my hat that I’d bought at the elephant ride which really annoyed me. On the way home we were commenting on what a quiet day it had been and how the bush seemed pretty quiet too. As we turned into the road that leads to camp there were 5 lionesses just strolling across the road in the sunset. They were huge beasts and we tried tracking them in the buckie but they wandered too far into the denser growth. Always a surprise in the bush!
I’ve just spent the last 2 days in Kruger and following the panoramic route home. We saw complete herds of elephants with their babies crossing the road in front of us. There were groups of giraffes and their babies too which couldn’t have been more than a few weeks old. At one of the watering holes were a family of baboons and day old babies and then an elephant arrived to drink and have a bath. There were Water buck, kudu, mongeese, njala and hippos. We even went to hug a tree which was over 1000 years old. It was certainly a memorable day – we would be just driving and suddenly Adele or Bee would say ‘LOOK!’ and there would be another amazing sight. We lunched at a nice lodge where the birds just came and sat on the tables waiting for you to finish. We stayed at another lodge overnight where we were greeted by the geese in the evening and woken by them in the morning. We had a BRAII (BBQ) and drank lots of wine.
On Friday we took the Panoramic route home through the Draagensberg mountains. They apparently stretch from Cape Town to Turkey!!. We stopped at several places where the views were stunning. There was a waterfall, then potholes, we stopped at the ‘BIG SWING’ where if we really felt mad enough we could have taken a 75 metre drop swing into a massive gorge or done it in tandem of done a zip slide. I was tempted but thought better of it. We climbed to God’s window and looked at the rainforest and then finally we drove up to overlook the 3 rondavels – I have never seen such spectacular landscape. I’ve taken photos but I know they won’t do justice.
Back at camp now and Saturday is always quiet unless we go into town on the Friday and stay over. Last night there was just me Tracy and Tanya left at camp and we were scaring ourselves with the noises we could hear in the bush and if you shone the torch out into the bush you could see eyes!!.. I laughed as none of us were brave enough to really find out what was out there. Good fun.
That’s all for now.
Glad to hear you’ve been out and about on your own mam!!. Just make sure you don’t overdo it – the dancing can wait a little longer. Love you!! Take care
Sue.xxx
Wednesday we were digging sand at the dam and looked up to find the 2 house dogs – Lola and Bushveld just wandering across the bush without a care in the world. AT least it was a good excuse to pack up and take them home.
We went into Hoedspruit in the afternoon I lost my hat that I’d bought at the elephant ride which really annoyed me. On the way home we were commenting on what a quiet day it had been and how the bush seemed pretty quiet too. As we turned into the road that leads to camp there were 5 lionesses just strolling across the road in the sunset. They were huge beasts and we tried tracking them in the buckie but they wandered too far into the denser growth. Always a surprise in the bush!
I’ve just spent the last 2 days in Kruger and following the panoramic route home. We saw complete herds of elephants with their babies crossing the road in front of us. There were groups of giraffes and their babies too which couldn’t have been more than a few weeks old. At one of the watering holes were a family of baboons and day old babies and then an elephant arrived to drink and have a bath. There were Water buck, kudu, mongeese, njala and hippos. We even went to hug a tree which was over 1000 years old. It was certainly a memorable day – we would be just driving and suddenly Adele or Bee would say ‘LOOK!’ and there would be another amazing sight. We lunched at a nice lodge where the birds just came and sat on the tables waiting for you to finish. We stayed at another lodge overnight where we were greeted by the geese in the evening and woken by them in the morning. We had a BRAII (BBQ) and drank lots of wine.
On Friday we took the Panoramic route home through the Draagensberg mountains. They apparently stretch from Cape Town to Turkey!!. We stopped at several places where the views were stunning. There was a waterfall, then potholes, we stopped at the ‘BIG SWING’ where if we really felt mad enough we could have taken a 75 metre drop swing into a massive gorge or done it in tandem of done a zip slide. I was tempted but thought better of it. We climbed to God’s window and looked at the rainforest and then finally we drove up to overlook the 3 rondavels – I have never seen such spectacular landscape. I’ve taken photos but I know they won’t do justice.
Back at camp now and Saturday is always quiet unless we go into town on the Friday and stay over. Last night there was just me Tracy and Tanya left at camp and we were scaring ourselves with the noises we could hear in the bush and if you shone the torch out into the bush you could see eyes!!.. I laughed as none of us were brave enough to really find out what was out there. Good fun.
That’s all for now.
Glad to hear you’ve been out and about on your own mam!!. Just make sure you don’t overdo it – the dancing can wait a little longer. Love you!! Take care
Sue.xxx
Wednesday, 21 May 2008
All quiet on the African front
Well it's Wednesday and this week has been pretty routine.
Monday was the usual - dropping off and picking up from the airport. Rita and her daughter left and Tracy, Simon and Gail all arrived. Then shopping at Spar and home for tea.
Yesterday we worked on branches again and I've managed to do this without completely slicing my arms and the talk yesterday was on Elephant culling in South Africa. Apparently the Kruger currently has 17000 elephants in a space that is only suitable for 7000 but culling any of them has to be sanctioned by the government and reports across the world could incur sanctions against the country if they go ahead. Again I never thought I'd see the day when I understood the need for culling - the outside world appears to have no idea about the state of things within South Africa. Letitia has a real passion and gift on presenting the lectures and I've learned so much
Today was a lecture on Reptiles so whilst I now understand the deadliness of some of the snakes I now know how to 'handle' them.
I've off to Kruger for 2 days tomorrow so will have more news over the weekend.
Rube's went to see 'Singing in the Rain' last night and Jeanette said she enjoyed it and managed her night out really well.
Ceri took Mark to Paris to the Moulin Rouge and I understand his mouth has not closed since.
All for now !! Love you mum (and everyone else too!! ) Take Care Sue
Monday was the usual - dropping off and picking up from the airport. Rita and her daughter left and Tracy, Simon and Gail all arrived. Then shopping at Spar and home for tea.
Yesterday we worked on branches again and I've managed to do this without completely slicing my arms and the talk yesterday was on Elephant culling in South Africa. Apparently the Kruger currently has 17000 elephants in a space that is only suitable for 7000 but culling any of them has to be sanctioned by the government and reports across the world could incur sanctions against the country if they go ahead. Again I never thought I'd see the day when I understood the need for culling - the outside world appears to have no idea about the state of things within South Africa. Letitia has a real passion and gift on presenting the lectures and I've learned so much
Today was a lecture on Reptiles so whilst I now understand the deadliness of some of the snakes I now know how to 'handle' them.
I've off to Kruger for 2 days tomorrow so will have more news over the weekend.
Rube's went to see 'Singing in the Rain' last night and Jeanette said she enjoyed it and managed her night out really well.
Ceri took Mark to Paris to the Moulin Rouge and I understand his mouth has not closed since.
All for now !! Love you mum (and everyone else too!! ) Take Care Sue
Sunday, 18 May 2008
Catch up on News
Thursday – Power cut between 8 and 4 so like being in Zambia with ‘notice’
Today we worked on the erosion at the dam but were moving branches into the trucks and carrying them to the places needed. Yesterday I felt like a pin-cushion from the thorns, today I feel like I’ve tried to slash my wrists. Most of the bush trees are covered in heavy duty thorns and I’ve no idea how any animal survives being hacked to death. But at least it’s in the good course of conservation and very soon I’ll have strong muscles and a builder’s bum. Back then for bacon and eggs – yes we have gas so the electric cut had minimal impact followed by a lecture on Ecology from Adele.
In the evening we went to a talk on Astrology which turned out to be in a school where there were loads of kids. We went into a dome – but the kids kept kicking the dome and driving us nuts. We made an early exit and went to the pub
Friday – We were supposed to go to Swandini to play paintball but they apparently had no gas for the canisters so we went there still but just for a scenic drive and then a picnic and an afternoon in the swimming pools and sunbathing.
Back then to get ready for Friday evening out in town – Meal and drinks at ‘Sleepers’ and then on to ‘The Fort’ which is where the locals go on a Friday night – local bar/disco with pool tables and a dance floor. The dancing is a cross between /salsa/jive and ballroom. Bee took me for a dance and it was great fun. By the way I forgot to mention that a large proportion of the females here are ‘gay’. It was a great evening and we stayed over at ‘Backpackers’ for the night as there is no bus of taxi service back to the bush.
Saturday – Had breakfast at the deli as backpackers didn’t have any food let alone milk and then I had to hang around till 1pm (Africa time!!) for everyone to get up – go and have breakfast and get ready to go to Jeyjani. Brass had arranged for us all to go to a nearby lodge as she had to baby-sit the 5 dogs for the weekend – A black German Shepard, 2 Labradors and a puppy and a Great Dane. When we arrived there was no water and no toilet paper but we resolved these details eventually. She also arranged for us to go on a night drive with one of the local guides. Well what a night that was – Francois was good entertainment and like a drop of brandy, so it was drive – spot – stop – drink- chat- debate a point with a couple of other south Africans, then drive again. 4 and half hours later we arrived back! But in his defence we did get to see animals close up – 4 cheetahs, 3 lionesses, a BIG herd of buffalo, zebras, impalas, giraffes, wart hogs, duiker, bush babies, kudu and jackals.
Sunday - I slept well but am told that I snore!!! Who Me??
This morning 2 of the dogs decided to fight and took a couple of chunks out of each other so we had to leave them in 2 separate rooms until their owners returned.
Back this afternoon for Camouflage. Adele and Bee went to a spot in the bush and we had to see how close we got to them without being spotted. We all covered our arms and face with mud and stuck grass and twigs to our backs and head. We crawled along the ground and got caught on tree thorns etc, but good fun. I was the 5th to be caught – pathetic effort.
Anyway that’s all for now from Campfire. Catch you all soon. Love Sue.xx
Today we worked on the erosion at the dam but were moving branches into the trucks and carrying them to the places needed. Yesterday I felt like a pin-cushion from the thorns, today I feel like I’ve tried to slash my wrists. Most of the bush trees are covered in heavy duty thorns and I’ve no idea how any animal survives being hacked to death. But at least it’s in the good course of conservation and very soon I’ll have strong muscles and a builder’s bum. Back then for bacon and eggs – yes we have gas so the electric cut had minimal impact followed by a lecture on Ecology from Adele.
In the evening we went to a talk on Astrology which turned out to be in a school where there were loads of kids. We went into a dome – but the kids kept kicking the dome and driving us nuts. We made an early exit and went to the pub
Friday – We were supposed to go to Swandini to play paintball but they apparently had no gas for the canisters so we went there still but just for a scenic drive and then a picnic and an afternoon in the swimming pools and sunbathing.
Back then to get ready for Friday evening out in town – Meal and drinks at ‘Sleepers’ and then on to ‘The Fort’ which is where the locals go on a Friday night – local bar/disco with pool tables and a dance floor. The dancing is a cross between /salsa/jive and ballroom. Bee took me for a dance and it was great fun. By the way I forgot to mention that a large proportion of the females here are ‘gay’. It was a great evening and we stayed over at ‘Backpackers’ for the night as there is no bus of taxi service back to the bush.
Saturday – Had breakfast at the deli as backpackers didn’t have any food let alone milk and then I had to hang around till 1pm (Africa time!!) for everyone to get up – go and have breakfast and get ready to go to Jeyjani. Brass had arranged for us all to go to a nearby lodge as she had to baby-sit the 5 dogs for the weekend – A black German Shepard, 2 Labradors and a puppy and a Great Dane. When we arrived there was no water and no toilet paper but we resolved these details eventually. She also arranged for us to go on a night drive with one of the local guides. Well what a night that was – Francois was good entertainment and like a drop of brandy, so it was drive – spot – stop – drink- chat- debate a point with a couple of other south Africans, then drive again. 4 and half hours later we arrived back! But in his defence we did get to see animals close up – 4 cheetahs, 3 lionesses, a BIG herd of buffalo, zebras, impalas, giraffes, wart hogs, duiker, bush babies, kudu and jackals.
Sunday - I slept well but am told that I snore!!! Who Me??
This morning 2 of the dogs decided to fight and took a couple of chunks out of each other so we had to leave them in 2 separate rooms until their owners returned.
Back this afternoon for Camouflage. Adele and Bee went to a spot in the bush and we had to see how close we got to them without being spotted. We all covered our arms and face with mud and stuck grass and twigs to our backs and head. We crawled along the ground and got caught on tree thorns etc, but good fun. I was the 5th to be caught – pathetic effort.
Anyway that’s all for now from Campfire. Catch you all soon. Love Sue.xx
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Wildlife Rehabilitation and Alien Plants
Tuesday – 3.15 am. I woke and sat bolt upright in bed as I heard a loud sound – I thought it was an elephant outside my door. Bravely I got out of bed and peered outside but nothing there. The next day I discovered that Brass had heard it too but it was lions near the camp in the bush.
Tuesday we worked on the erosion in the bush – we took lots of palm branches and dead leaves and laid them in the troughs so that when the rain come it won’t cause more erosion. We then went and collected sand from the Dam and transported it to the ‘roads’ – build like sleeping policeman.
We then had a lecture on the integration of blacks and whites after apartheid in 1994/5. It was really interesting to see how the laws have changed to try and protect the interests of the black population but what’s not been realised is the impact on the conservation areas. There is something called land reclaim which means that property can be reclaimed by the original owners even if it was purchased legally. At the moment there are 73 outstanding claims in the Kruger National Park which if they are upheld means the Kruger may not exist by 2011!!
In the afternoon we went to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre where they look after injured animals and birds or where they are no longer wanted by their owners. We saw loads of birds of prey and the big cats. It was good to be able to see the lions up close. On the way back home we saw a heard of zebras just inside the gates of the camp but it was dusk so I couldn’t take a photo.
Wednesday – today we went out into the bush to get rid of the ‘Alien plants’ which are mainly cacti that don’t belong here and take all the moisture from the soil which is killing the indigenous plants. Very satisfying work but the number of thorns in my hands legs and bum was staggering.
Today we had a lecture on Hunting and anti poaching. Again it is so interesting to see the story from inside the country and the necessity for such an activity. Hunting here is extremely controlled, necessary and legal (I never thought I'd see the day when I would agree) When I get back I'll tell you about it. What the outside world is not aware of is how much poaching is done is South Africa and how cruel it is - again I'll share it when I get back
Spoke to our Rubes last night and she’s still making progress and Ceri has printed off some of my photos to show her – so she’s pleased about that.
Off to have a shower now – will have more to say later
Tuesday we worked on the erosion in the bush – we took lots of palm branches and dead leaves and laid them in the troughs so that when the rain come it won’t cause more erosion. We then went and collected sand from the Dam and transported it to the ‘roads’ – build like sleeping policeman.
We then had a lecture on the integration of blacks and whites after apartheid in 1994/5. It was really interesting to see how the laws have changed to try and protect the interests of the black population but what’s not been realised is the impact on the conservation areas. There is something called land reclaim which means that property can be reclaimed by the original owners even if it was purchased legally. At the moment there are 73 outstanding claims in the Kruger National Park which if they are upheld means the Kruger may not exist by 2011!!
In the afternoon we went to the Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre where they look after injured animals and birds or where they are no longer wanted by their owners. We saw loads of birds of prey and the big cats. It was good to be able to see the lions up close. On the way back home we saw a heard of zebras just inside the gates of the camp but it was dusk so I couldn’t take a photo.
Wednesday – today we went out into the bush to get rid of the ‘Alien plants’ which are mainly cacti that don’t belong here and take all the moisture from the soil which is killing the indigenous plants. Very satisfying work but the number of thorns in my hands legs and bum was staggering.
Today we had a lecture on Hunting and anti poaching. Again it is so interesting to see the story from inside the country and the necessity for such an activity. Hunting here is extremely controlled, necessary and legal (I never thought I'd see the day when I would agree) When I get back I'll tell you about it. What the outside world is not aware of is how much poaching is done is South Africa and how cruel it is - again I'll share it when I get back
Spoke to our Rubes last night and she’s still making progress and Ceri has printed off some of my photos to show her – so she’s pleased about that.
Off to have a shower now – will have more to say later
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
