Arrived in Swaziland

Trip Start May 08, 2007
1
6
Trip End Aug 11, 2008


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Where I stayed
Lidwala Backpackers Lodge
(Pigg's Peak hotels)

Flag of Swaziland  ,
Wednesday, July 2, 2008

Arrived in Swaziland - Arrived safe and sound Monday 16th June 2008 late in the afternoon but not too tired.  We were picked up at Manzini airport by Mduduzi and taken to Lidwala Backpackers Lodge.  The lodge is very nice and not all basic.  Had our orientation talk as we were to go to Hlane Royal Game Park early Tuesday morning.  When we got to Hlane we found that the tents were already up and the camp facilities are very good, but no electric or little mobile phone coverage.  This is to be our main base for the next few weeks whilst in Swaziland, returning every two weeks for a weekend at Lidwala.  Our job here is to collect information on the maribou storks, their nest sites, how many nests and eggs, hopefully catching them and monitoring movement (all for All Out Africa organisation).  Mduduzi and Jason are our guides and co-workers.  We may also be monitoring vultures, microchipping snakes and helping Zac to create his pit traps for small mammals etc.  Plenty of things have happened in the first two weeks we've been here - game drive, conservation work, shopping, cooking around the braii, snake identification and handling course,staying in a traditional swazi hut, traditional dance competition - to name a few.  As well as seeing loads of your typical african animals and birds.  Walking in the bush is interesting and sometimes hardgoing with the thornbushes, but well worth it.  The swazi people we've met are friendly and helpful and the other volunteers are great fun too.
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