In the beginning

Growing up in Kwazulu-Natal, surrounded by my country’s raw beauty, definitely played a role in awakening the environmentalist in me. When I was younger, I always dreamed about becoming a vet so that I could drive around with a minivan to pick up stray animals along the road so that I could care for them back home in my huge back yard. I would never be able to bring myself to euthanize an animal, so needless to say, that dream didn’t pan out. 

 Instead I studied BSc Conservation Ecology at the University of Stellenbosch. I still remember going to the University’s open day, walking around and spotting the conservation stand awkwardly alone in the corner as everyone was interested in the other stands but that one. I was instantly drawn to it.

While at University, doing my Master’s seemed to be the logical next step after 4 years of undergraduate studies, however I got offered the opportunity to do volunteer research work at Harnas Wildlife Foundation in Namibia straight after graduation. I never had a set plan for my life so postponing Master’s wasn’t a big deal. 

So there I was, a slightly independent 19 year old, passport and work visa in hand, sitting next to my purple suitcase with 3 months’ worth of clothes in, waiting at the bus stop. Looking back I wasn’t terribly nervous about being in another country, destined for a strange place and its people.  To be honest, I had no idea what my exact role at Harnas was destined to be, but the plan didn’t feel wrong.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Botswana-lovin

Image
So that’s where I am at the moment, sitting in a dilapidated little chalet in Seronga, a small town situated in Northern Botswana, on the side of the delta which tourists seldom visit. Painted a pretty picture right, ag it’s not bad, it’s extremely rural – picture majestic elephants roaming freely between the villagers at dusk and dawn; fetching water either from a manually operated borehole or a tap; getting to the closest town (110km) away by crossing the delta with a ferry and having local kiddies shout “kua” which means white person every single time you pass them. So as you can imagine, it’s a little different to what I am used too, but it’s Africa and I love it.  Although I do miss having a fridge and everything that comes with that. I’ve already warned the family back home that I’m expecting the biggest braai known to man when I return as I need to catch-up on all the meat I’m missing out on while living the dream in Botswana (only slightly sarcastic on that note). So let...
Read more

Botswana lovin' continues. with just a little bit more drama

It's been a while since I've thought about writing down anything about my conservation adventures, which is terrible I know, and it's not that I haven't had stories to tell so I'm rather going to summarise everything that has happened until now instead of thinking of an excuse. 1. I was lucky enough to be able to see rhinos, elephants and lions almost every week while working with ACE on the Game Ranger Experience program offered in Hoedspruit. The guy I worked with was a special case of crazy, calling me Angel after only knowing each other for a few days, but he had a good heart and I learnt a lot from him. 2. I finally get to Botswana and then the fun starts....or more like first the frustration with working with human beings, their plain lack of common sense (you'll soon realise I rant a lot of this) but also their loving nature. (insert the start of my Botswana adventure) 9 June 2016 10:42pm After endlessly rolling around, trying to fall asleep, I...
Read more

I don't want to work with humans

18 June 2016 The guide was supposed to be back yesterday after dropping off the journalists as well as our GM in Maun, but he hasn’t arrived back yet. And just my luck that my airtime is done again! Prepaid phones are going to be the end of me. I’ve already practised the lecture I’m going to be giving him about using company cars on his free will without even letting me know or asking permission. Even if the GM gave him permission, I’d appreciate it if he would let me know as well since it’s the camps vehicle. The good ol mechanic finally arrived yesterday to install the pump for the camps waterhole. But of course it can never be as easy as that – first the borehole was covered with a layer of mud – who would have guessed after it not being used for 2 years that mud be accumulate. When he finally broke through the mud, it appeared that there was no water. Goodness. I don’t think he actually knows what he’s doing. Marinus said he’ll come look when he comes next week. It’s a ne...
Read more