"and now, the end is near and I must face......"

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  Campfire Safaris, South Africa
Sunday, November 25, 2007

Well, hello there! Here I am on Sunday afternoon putting together my last blog in South Africa, I may choose to put some info on when I get home as I pine for the bush and look out of the window hopeful of seeing a giraffe (I know, not very likely but you can dream....)
Our volunteer gang only numbers 3 now plus 3 "proper" guests -Linete, Mareita and Yannika -2 daughters and their mum - the most delightful, crazy Dutchies whose presence brightens your day. We (me n BJ) were joined on Monday by Sheila from England - a woman with whom I seem to share similar tastes in music and books -ace! I'm wearing her Ipod at the mo listening to the Indigo Girls, The Cliks and some KD Laing -it's just great to be introduced to some new artists.
We've been doing odd and sods of work this last week -some more lopping around the camp (it's not helpful to chop and drop Knobthorn onto people John!) We've also painted some bookcases and they now take pride of place in the lecture room -nearly had flippin hernias all round trying to get the darn things upstairs (took note of my pelvic floor tho Angie!) We also been filling in more dongas (erosion holes) with garden detritus which as just as well as on Friday we had a massive storm with impressive thunder and lightning again and this time the lightning struck the ground very close to the building we were in ,to the extent that you saw the sparks kick up -yes I was slightly alarmed...... This storm delivered 70mm of water which is desperately needed and for which I've been waiting for the past few weeks as I really wanted to see the dam with water in and hopefully see the animals that it would attract.

Did you know? (ellie poo)

Returning from visiting Jessica the hippo (again) on Saturday we rounded the bend appraoching the dam and yesss! the dam has water in it -yee ha! I know you're probably thinking I'm getting a little over excited about a bit of water but I've watched the bush on this farm change so much over the past 3 months from pretty lifeless scrub to a lush wonderland of grasses, flowers, insects and birds -it's an amazing transformation to witness and I wish I was here for a few more weeks as the impala will start dropping their young -aahh. We drove past the dam earlier and the noise was deafening -frogs !-I'm not sure how many diferent sorts but the volume was incredible mixed in with the constant buzz of cicadas you certainly know you're in Africa.

You may be amused, surprised, alarmed or otherwise to learn that this week I've developed a real penchant for making bracelets out of beads (and stringing them on giraffe hair) - I know, me! doing something vaguely creative that requires patience -bizarre -it's funny what Africa can do to you....
It's been incredibly hot and humid here the past week and I've really relished spending time in the pool, pootling abut doing a bit of swimming , playing games with Bossie - I am going to so miss that little fella- I love him to pieces. The mossies I have to say I shall not miss, still getting bitten to hell and quite honestly I don't think any repellant is making the slightest difference. I've 5 bites on my face including one in my eyebrow -cheers -attractive!
On our bush walk one morning there were loads of butterflies , a lot of Orange Tips but probably at least 10 other sorts -wonderful.
Monday morning saw me microlighting over the bush (obviously someone else was "driving" just for 20 mins but it was fab-saw zebra, giraffe, ellies , wildebeest and a couple of rhino -really interesting to experience a different perspective and to be up in the air in a craft that is less than substantial!
How lucky am I? I've had so many fantastic experiences whilst here and met some fab people, how do I feel about coming home? I actually felt really sad last Sunday realising I had only a week to go but decided it was a bit pointless spoiling my remaining time here being miserable!
What will I miss? Well, the animals, birds flowers and insects (no really!) clean air, the darkness of the sky and the brightness of the stars, the peace and quiet (save for the bugs, birds and animals) the smells - good, bad and rank (fresh hyena poo and dead impala were 2 I can live without I recall) walking in the bush every day, learning stuff all day.

Me n microlight

Y'know the learning's not all about the bush tho; also about myself and other people. This experience has not been without its challenges but I wouldn't have missed it for the world and I have so many happy, ridiculous, bizarre and downright crazy memories of this place and the times I've had here that I shall never forget it.
Speak to you back in dear old Blighty.
Africa Sal
xx

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Oh + I'll miss these too...

Then we were 6

Water in the dam -yess!

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