Africa 22

#GVIfans   13/01   Game drives vary from seeing not much to seeing many things from colourful birds,  bugs, giraffe, hyenas or lions. Many drives have been very quiet but the scenery is superb, it changes from dense shrubland and becomes open to slightly forestry with a section having a small amount of Canopy. On this particular day the drive was full of adventure. We started off with some mild weather and learnt the process of collecting camera traps.   Camera trap process Writing the camera trap site number down Removing the 8 batteries and placing in fresh ones Recording the SD card number we are removing Recording the new SD card number Resetting the camera so it is armed and active to start taking photos again the batteries last about two weeks   Camera traps are activated by movement during the day or night. It is normally activated by animals passing by, the creatures do not even know the ...

    #GVIfans   So we started the week with a lecture on mammals which covered the basics of class, and then went into diet and bone structures.   Later that week we covered a full CPR course starting off with chest compressions on a dummy and then moved onto a mock scenario within our groups. In these scenarios we practised log rolls with keeping the head supported properly in case of a spinal injury. We also practised a full scene of walking into the situation introducing who you are, checking if the person on the ground is breathing, calling for emergency help, rolling them if they are front down and completing CPR until the emergency team arrive.   We then had a break and finished up the day with virtual scenario with staff members on base acting. 3 of us walked outside and there was chaos. We had a couple of tipsy people that had been having a good weekend and 1 had a snake bite. I was asked to focus on the snake bite by my group partners. We also came acros...

  #GVIfans Our 1st game drive was on the 9th of Jan starting at 3pm. We were shown how to check the tyre pressures, oil, brake fluid, coolant and transmission, we then headed out on safari. Our game drive was quiet in the sense we didn't see any big carnivores but we did spot a Dassie (rockhyrax). This creature looks similar to a Caperberry but has the closest relationship to the elephant. We saw a male and female Giraffe, the way you can tell the difference if through the turrets the females have hair on like pompoms while the males are bald. We also saw Zebra, Wilderbeast, Impala medium sized antelope. Kudu or ghost antelope as they dissapear into the scrb very easily even though they are soo big. The Kudu largest antelope they have amazing massive ears with a red tinge. As the afternoon turned evening we saw a jackal it was cute and looked quite fluffy.   

  #GVIfans   It was a really simple process with   GVI member picking a few of us up in town. We left Hoedspruit bout 1pm and drove for about 1hr to get to Base at Karongwe Private Reserve, Limpopo. IT is a nice simple base with concrete walls and wide open windows to view the game as it passes by through the day and night. The bedrooms are simple set up as dorm style bunks with mosquito nets and ceiling fans. There is a long dining chill area with multiple tables and lounge style chairs at varying heights off the ground. The kitchen is open and set up with gas stovetops lit with a match. Outside we have hammocks a swing chair all attached to the giant Mahogany tree. The Mahogany tree gives us much need shade at the heat of the day.   The days have started simple with class session not starting until 7:30 I generally wake up around 5:30am and out of bed about 6am anyway so it's pretty easy going. Our 1st few days have just been introductions session that las...

  Above:-Braai    Below:- Hunters rest, Hoedspruit   #GVIfans It’s a quiet country town with a community centre filled with everything you could think of. There was good tasty fresh food. The western pizzas are surprisingly good. I went to a place called sleepers it is an old railway station restaurant. The pizza was thin crusted with a small amount of toppings so was actually nice and light. It wasn't even oily. Delicious with pulled pork, capsicum/peppers, and pineapple with a tomato base and mozzarella cheese. Yes, pineapple does go on pizza.   The Komegelo community centre that has all the shops you need some cafes with good priced food, casual cheap clothes shops and souvenir shops to gather all those thigs you forgot to get for family and friends back home. It is has been created with old mudbricks and situated in a semi-circle shape.   Behind the centre are many Hostels I stayed at one called Hunters Rest. It was simple and quaint with a...

  #GVIfans  So I started on the 4th of January 22 and went off to the airport a smooth run thankfully but a 3hr wait for a PCR test. By the way if you are traveling overseas you will be charged for a PCR; pricing at the airport $80AUD or $150AUD at the clinics.   My route the boring stuff   Melbourne -> Singapore 8hrs I had a row to myself so a crashed out and slept many hours of the journey. The meal was butter chicken and rice, it actually tasted good   Singapore airport (10hrs)   It was really boring nothing was open due to COVID so missed the amazing butterfly house, not happy   Singapore -> Johannesburg 10hrs   I also had a row to myself again yippee The food was annoying it was a fillet of chicken not in small pieces with little pasta pieces, so a pain to eat on a plane with slight turbulence.   Both flights were very smooth.