New camp, new adventures

I returned to Africa two years later.

Ohhh…. How I’ve missed my Africa.

I was coming to do 8 months of volunteering. The first month was going to be with Great White Sharks. Then the following months were going to be on 2 different reserves. Both amazing!

The first reserve I went to, I picked a ride from a private taxi from Port Elizabeth. It was 2 hours of driving until I arrived at the reserve. The place where I would stay was on the second area of the reserve. Just like the previous reserve, they had the buffalos in a separated area to avoid lions doing damage. The volunteer’s area also had a fence around to prevent the buffalos from coming in. These were volunteers, not future guides, so safety was better than the last time.

I arrived and saw two buildings. One was the kitchen, the living room, the classroom, managers’ office and toilets. The other building was the dorms. Each room with 2 beds and a bathroom.

– A bathroom attached to the room? Now that is luxurious! – I said.

I went inside the office to do my check-in and to know what room I was going to be in. I was told that for the first 2 weeks we would be in another place because there was a school staying in the dorms. I could only imagine how I wish my school would do a field trip to Africa, to do volunteer work in a Game Reserve for 2 weeks!

– So, where are we going to stay? – I asked.

– We have a tented camp – the manager answered – 10-minutes drive from here. It is very remote and beautiful.

Tent number 3

I started to laugh. Back to the tents I go. But to be honest I was kind of happy, I love tents! For me there is no need for walls and windows made of glass. All I need is a bed and a blanket.

A few people started to arrive also by private car, and I realized that they were also the new volunteers. A few moments later, the resident volunteers arrived. Two safari cars with roofs.

– Damn! Cars with rooftops? Fancy… – I said laughing.

The volunteers jumped out of the car and greeted us. Finally, the age difference was of only 2 years, not 20 plus. They were 10 volunteers, if I remember correctly. After finishing lunch, we went down to the tent area. The camp was also close to a riverbed, so the view was beautiful and the bird life plentiful. I went to remove my bags from the trailer and started to remember the first time on the other camp.

– Ok everyone – the volunteer coordinator said – I will show you your tents for the next 2 weeks – she finished.

Grassfield at the main camp

I was the last one leaving the trailer. I knew my tent was going to be the first one, so no need to rush. We were walking and walking, the tents were much further away than the other camp. Finally tent number one.

– Ok first tent – she started – Ana and Leah – she said.

I was surprised it wasn’t my tent. I looked at the tent and saw it had stairs to go up, now that is a fancy tent. A tent higher than the ground level, smart. All tents were like this. I walked past all the tents, I was starting to think that I was not going to have a tent, but then we got to the last one.

– This is yours João – she said – you will share it with Nick – she finished.

Nick was from Germany, a quiet person but very nice. He helped me with the bags. He already had chosen his bed and closet. A closet! I was not ready for so much comfort. He decided to give me a tour of the tent.

– Here is the studying tables – he started – here you have the plugs to charge your phone and computer. Sadly no wifi – he said.

– No Wifi? Do we have electricity? – I asked with a big smile.

– Of course. Here is the switch – he said while walking to turn the lights on – and over there we have the bathroom. On the left, the door leads you to the toilet, and on the right is the shower – he said.

– Wow a shower in the tent – I said – that will make life so easy!

After this, Nick went to show me where the kitchen was for breakfast and dinner, and showed me the community tent, with all the books and a small Tv. We also had a fireplace. I was loving life. I was also listening and seeing new birds, so I went straight to the library to get a birds’ book.

I was so happy. Great accommodation, people seemed great, gorgeous landscapes and new wildlife.

I was back home, I was back in Africa.