Mid-service Training (5-27)

Wednesday at 3:50 AM I arrived at the Mariental bus stop and met the other WorldTeach volunteers who had arrived shortly earlier. Rachel had sent a driver to meet us, as she couldn’t open the gate to leave the park we were staying at. The driver dropped us off at the gate, we went under it, and then the van took us to our room where we promptly went to sleep.

The meetings were held at two nice places outside Windhoek, which was nice. The first two nights we stayed at Hardap Dam. When I woke up, Wednesday morning, I walked along road enjoying the views of the reservoir before our meetings began. 

In the afternoon, we all walked to the dam. It was nice to have such a lovely place to relax after the holiday along with the meetings.

Thursday we moved to Auas Game Resort, closer to Windhoek, where Rachel’s friend works. There we camped using tents Rachel provided. I had left my blanket and pillow with her before traveling, and before getting on the bus in Upington I purchased a second blanket, which was a good move. I wrapped up in the heavy blanket and used the other to separate me from the cold ground. So, wearing my layers of clothes, I slept well and warmly.

While relaxing at the lodge before dinner, we were visited by a couple ostriches 

and impala that hang around the area and are comfortable near people. 

Later we saw a group of waterbuck, my first time to see these. They are distinguished by the circle around their bum.

Early Friday morning Rachel, Chris, and I joined her friend Richard on a game drive. Richard gave us each a heavy blanket for the trip, as the vehicle was an open jeep and it was cold early in the morning. We rushed to the top of the hill to see the sunrise.

Then we found out that Richard had set up a small breakfast table, which was a real treat, especially the hot tea and coffee.

Since I’d been wondering about private game resorts, I asked how they compare to national parks and learned that, since they are for profit organizations, private reserves usually support a local community as well as protecting the animals. They are fenced in; so some animals are protected and restricted to that area, but others can jump the fences and come and go.

Richard pointed out the candelabra acacia near our breakfast spot. 

Later he pointed out trees that had been trimmed by animals. Some had been trimmed below and then by giraffes on the top, making them fairly flat. 

Wildlife we saw on the drive were waterbucks, springbok, a steenbok, 

and vultures. 

Although we didn’t see much wildlife, it was a lovely drive through the area.

After breakfast at the lodge, there were warthogs outside the patio. We took a walk to look for a giraffe that had been seen nearby, but we didn’t find it. Then it was time to pack up and drive to Windhoek.

After checking into the hostel, we had a few hours of free time in the city before wrapping up our meeting sessions. Then we went out for dinner, compliments of WorldTeach. After eating so much chicken for two weeks, I was happy to have a vegetarian cannelloni.