Briefing update, 9 April
Well, we've just had our briefing... If we're lucky there will even be cheetah and leopard cubs too, wow. Looks like there will only be 4 of us per tent instead of 7 (phew) and there is 24H security around the ground (patrols). It all sounds good in theory. Still not sure how far the toilets will be from the tent though (a minor but important detail !!!)... and whether I'll have to get fully dressed if 'nature calls' in the middle of the night.
There was an almighty storm earlier... so bad that the BBQ is now cancelled... plus we could not hear ourselves talk, we had to wait 5mns for it to subside a bit, and boy did it pour... I just hope we are not expected to work in 'all weather' as this kind of weather would be a bit tough. Jennie was telling me that there are more storms here than anywhere else in South Africa because of all the mines (they produce the most platinium in the world for instance in just a few square miles) and the quartz in some rocks actually attracts lightning ! There you go...
Our coordinator said that there are 2 tame giraffes on site. Previous volunteers used to give them some fresh vegetables and so now they tend to keep up the habit and come and beg for food. She said that you could be in the kitchen cooking, turn round and find that a giraffe has put her neck through the window and is looking straight at you. Cool or what? That does sound rather exotic, I have to say. I *must* take a photo of *that* and keep my camera handy if I can.
One of the duties will be to play with the cubs to entertain them and I know I'd definitely love that the most... along with bottle feeding them. She added that there is a great mall nearby, 14kms away, with post office and internet access (we'll just need to book a local cab via a company they work with) so hopefully, some evenings, I may be able to get there to keep you guys posted...
From what I've seen, most of the group doesn't drink ! Hooray. We were offered typical South African liquor as a welcome drink (17% alcohol) and pretty much everybody passed saying 'No thanks, I don't drink alcohol'... whereas me, who never touches a drop, gave it a go as it smelt like Baileys and was made from flowers that elephants love (flowers that grow on tree). It tasted more fruity than anything, which was fine. It should help be go to sleep nicely later too! Everybody seemed rather nice, though I've only met 4 fellow volunteers from the lion park project as such. Others will go and work with dolphins, others do lion monitorings, etc.
We were (as always) advised against unprotected sex (in case anyone had a death wish), our coordinator came up with gloom statistics, in Jo'burg alone, 169 person per DAY are newly infected with HIV. And so we are not to touch blood or anything else (double gloves are a must). Though, thankfully, feline HIV would not harm us at all.
I think that's all for today. People are queuing for the internet now so I'd better be good and learn to share - already ! :) We have been told that if for any reason we are not happy in the tent and do not feel feel comfortable in any way, i-to-i will put us back in a hotel in Pretoria and arrange for transport back & forth to the lion park every day. But this will mean having to get up 1 hour earlier each day (duties are 8am till 5pm). So, I might try the adventure first, see how I go. Everybody said we should be fine as we will all look out for each other. Besides, I've never slept in a big tent before, so I guess I should do it once before popping off !!!
To be continued... the cubs are waiting, may this be one of my greatest travel experiences YET. Only time will tell.........
Well, we've just had our briefing... If we're lucky there will even be cheetah and leopard cubs too, wow. Looks like there will only be 4 of us per tent instead of 7 (phew) and there is 24H security around the ground (patrols). It all sounds good in theory. Still not sure how far the toilets will be from the tent though (a minor but important detail !!!)... and whether I'll have to get fully dressed if 'nature calls' in the middle of the night.
There was an almighty storm earlier... so bad that the BBQ is now cancelled... plus we could not hear ourselves talk, we had to wait 5mns for it to subside a bit, and boy did it pour... I just hope we are not expected to work in 'all weather' as this kind of weather would be a bit tough. Jennie was telling me that there are more storms here than anywhere else in South Africa because of all the mines (they produce the most platinium in the world for instance in just a few square miles) and the quartz in some rocks actually attracts lightning ! There you go...
Our coordinator said that there are 2 tame giraffes on site. Previous volunteers used to give them some fresh vegetables and so now they tend to keep up the habit and come and beg for food. She said that you could be in the kitchen cooking, turn round and find that a giraffe has put her neck through the window and is looking straight at you. Cool or what? That does sound rather exotic, I have to say. I *must* take a photo of *that* and keep my camera handy if I can.
One of the duties will be to play with the cubs to entertain them and I know I'd definitely love that the most... along with bottle feeding them. She added that there is a great mall nearby, 14kms away, with post office and internet access (we'll just need to book a local cab via a company they work with) so hopefully, some evenings, I may be able to get there to keep you guys posted...
From what I've seen, most of the group doesn't drink ! Hooray. We were offered typical South African liquor as a welcome drink (17% alcohol) and pretty much everybody passed saying 'No thanks, I don't drink alcohol'... whereas me, who never touches a drop, gave it a go as it smelt like Baileys and was made from flowers that elephants love (flowers that grow on tree). It tasted more fruity than anything, which was fine. It should help be go to sleep nicely later too! Everybody seemed rather nice, though I've only met 4 fellow volunteers from the lion park project as such. Others will go and work with dolphins, others do lion monitorings, etc.
We were (as always) advised against unprotected sex (in case anyone had a death wish), our coordinator came up with gloom statistics, in Jo'burg alone, 169 person per DAY are newly infected with HIV. And so we are not to touch blood or anything else (double gloves are a must). Though, thankfully, feline HIV would not harm us at all.
I think that's all for today. People are queuing for the internet now so I'd better be good and learn to share - already ! :) We have been told that if for any reason we are not happy in the tent and do not feel feel comfortable in any way, i-to-i will put us back in a hotel in Pretoria and arrange for transport back & forth to the lion park every day. But this will mean having to get up 1 hour earlier each day (duties are 8am till 5pm). So, I might try the adventure first, see how I go. Everybody said we should be fine as we will all look out for each other. Besides, I've never slept in a big tent before, so I guess I should do it once before popping off !!!
To be continued... the cubs are waiting, may this be one of my greatest travel experiences YET. Only time will tell.........
posted by Sylvie at 4:49 PM
<< Home