June 22, 2010
Woke up at 1 am with a burning fever and stayed awake the rest of the night trying to find a happy medium between freezing my butt off and cooling my head down. I have never been happier to see the sun peeking through the zipper of my tent, bringing promises of warmth and human activity. I proceeded to spend the entire day confined to this tiny abode, covered in blankets, not covered in blankets, and munching on some rice krispies every now and again. So much for habitat assessment. I'm dreading the sun going down again, and hope this was just some 24 hour bug. I don't even know if I can make it up the hill to the fire tonight. *Crosses fingers* for a speedy recovery, otherwise this blog is going to be pretty boring. On a brighter note, I discovered that the outside of my tent is a super-sweet hangout for side-striped skinks. I watch them scurry around all day. Ah, here's one right now, coming to look at me through the mesh window. That's as exciting as this post is going to get.
Bianca
P.S. If you're excited for pictures (so am I) you'll have to be patient. There is no way I can get them up in the near future, as I don't have access to any computers. In fact, these posts have either been put up by Paul or my mom. There are really good pics so far though, and I can't wait to put them up.
Wednesday, June 30, 2010
Nighttime Visitors
June 19, 2010
So we were all sitting around the fire last night, wrapped up in thick wool blankets and full of delicious cottage pie when our ears perked up to the sound of falling trees. And when you hear the crackle of bark snapping and twigs breaking and whole trunks falling to the ground, that can only mean one thing...ELEPHANTS. And, sure enough, as the whole lot of us hustled over to the thin electric fence, there they were. Several eles had surrounded the camp looking for a late-night snack. And some of these eles were obviously in musth, which is when they are quite ready to mate, and thus quite irritable. We all shone our torches just to the side of where they were. There were a couple of big guys down at the bottom of camp and several out by the gate and we just stood there watching these huge animals munching and silently moving through the brush. And every now and then, we would hear loud cracks and watch a whole tree topple over. They were certainly aware of us, and began to get agitated the longer we watched, so we went back to the fire. Soon it was time for bed, and of course the eles had found their way to the fence, right next to MY tent. Try sleeping to the sound of trees crashing to the ground about 20 meters away with some flimsy wires separating you from a seven ton bull elephant in musth!
And those were not the only visitors to Nsikaze Camp last night. At dawn, when we all groggily trudged to our trucks for bird surveys and pitlines, we noticed leopard tracks right at the gate fresh from the night. And they were massive for a leopard. All morning people noticed leopard tracks around the perimeter of the camp. And, if that's not enough, two guides went off this afternoon to inspect lion tracks nearby and when we were out on our surveys, we found tracks from an entire pack of hyenas. I guess our camp was a hot spot last night...I haven't heard the hippos in a couple of nights though.
So, I was quite nervous last night and a little more uneasy when I found evidence of other nighttime visitors, but remarkably, I've become a little more at ease about sleeping in the bush. I'm beginning to sense a kind of mutual respect between myself and some of the larger, more dangerous creatures here. We each are curious of the other, cautious and alert when in each other's presence, but neither enters the territory of the other with malicious or selfish intent. And so, we all continue to live quite peacefully with one another as neighbors in this vast, exciting and untamed wilderness...even if we all do lose some sleep.
Love,
Bianca
So we were all sitting around the fire last night, wrapped up in thick wool blankets and full of delicious cottage pie when our ears perked up to the sound of falling trees. And when you hear the crackle of bark snapping and twigs breaking and whole trunks falling to the ground, that can only mean one thing...ELEPHANTS. And, sure enough, as the whole lot of us hustled over to the thin electric fence, there they were. Several eles had surrounded the camp looking for a late-night snack. And some of these eles were obviously in musth, which is when they are quite ready to mate, and thus quite irritable. We all shone our torches just to the side of where they were. There were a couple of big guys down at the bottom of camp and several out by the gate and we just stood there watching these huge animals munching and silently moving through the brush. And every now and then, we would hear loud cracks and watch a whole tree topple over. They were certainly aware of us, and began to get agitated the longer we watched, so we went back to the fire. Soon it was time for bed, and of course the eles had found their way to the fence, right next to MY tent. Try sleeping to the sound of trees crashing to the ground about 20 meters away with some flimsy wires separating you from a seven ton bull elephant in musth!
And those were not the only visitors to Nsikaze Camp last night. At dawn, when we all groggily trudged to our trucks for bird surveys and pitlines, we noticed leopard tracks right at the gate fresh from the night. And they were massive for a leopard. All morning people noticed leopard tracks around the perimeter of the camp. And, if that's not enough, two guides went off this afternoon to inspect lion tracks nearby and when we were out on our surveys, we found tracks from an entire pack of hyenas. I guess our camp was a hot spot last night...I haven't heard the hippos in a couple of nights though.
So, I was quite nervous last night and a little more uneasy when I found evidence of other nighttime visitors, but remarkably, I've become a little more at ease about sleeping in the bush. I'm beginning to sense a kind of mutual respect between myself and some of the larger, more dangerous creatures here. We each are curious of the other, cautious and alert when in each other's presence, but neither enters the territory of the other with malicious or selfish intent. And so, we all continue to live quite peacefully with one another as neighbors in this vast, exciting and untamed wilderness...even if we all do lose some sleep.
Love,
Bianca
Monday, June 21, 2010
First Week in Kruger!
So one week in Kruger has definitely flown by (although some parts were longer than others). It has been a whole incredibly different, exciting, and sometimes terrifying experience so far. I have adapted to so many things: Living in the bush where the temperature changes are drastic- below freezing at night when it is painfully cold, frigid when we have to get up with the sun, and scorching hot once the sun is overhead. Learning to be friendly with giant man-eating spiders (look up the Baboon Spider, the White Lady, and the Rain Spider if you’d like a better idea)… they live in our bathroom and like to pop out of toilet paper rolls or hang on the door flap that closes behind you. I’ve also learned how to sleep in a tent, where only a thin piece of canvas separates me from the rest of the world. And believe me, it’s hard to get to sleep when you hear hippos grunting and lions growling. I’ve also learned how to survive in the bush, what to do on walks and drives… and the guides here are wonderful. On our bush walks, we always have 3 guides, 2 with rifles and 1 without. Yesterday was the most exciting/terrifying walk I’ve been on so far. We encountered 2 breeding herds of elephants while on foot… and breeding herds are pretty dangerous because the mothers are quite nervous. We had to be sure to keep our distance and make sure the wind was in our direction and check for escape routes. But once my heart slowed down and the elephants didn’t mind our presence, I got to take a really good look at them. And they were magnificent, especially the curious little baby that kept wandering near us.
Let’s see, I’ve also learned so so much about the wildlife here, the vegetation, and research techniques. I’ve gotten quite close with the Sicklebush (which loves to smack me in the face when we’re walking through the bush… not fun). And I’ve developed an interesting relationship with the Arrow Marked Babblers which like to babble outside of my tent ALL of the time, and a Dark-Capped Bulbul which is my new alarm. We took our bush craft training exam yesterday which was all on survival, trees, birds, tracking, dangerous organisms, etc. and I got 100%! I’ve been studying a lot, and it has paid off.
We have to go off on a drive in a bit in order to get our pitlines in order for tomorrow (tomorrow is when we begin our research: bird surveys, microhabitat assessment). Today we’ve been getting all of our materials together, and it’s been kind of a sad day because some really cool people left at 6am this morning to go to different locations after their training here. Anyway, I’ve gotta go get my stuff together for the drive, and prepare for another really cold night (the sun goes down really really fast, so you have to be prepared for the cold just as soon as it starts setting). Hopefully we can light a fire tonight.
Anyway, I hope that all is well with everyone, and I will try to get another blog up next week!
Love, Bianca
Let’s see, I’ve also learned so so much about the wildlife here, the vegetation, and research techniques. I’ve gotten quite close with the Sicklebush (which loves to smack me in the face when we’re walking through the bush… not fun). And I’ve developed an interesting relationship with the Arrow Marked Babblers which like to babble outside of my tent ALL of the time, and a Dark-Capped Bulbul which is my new alarm. We took our bush craft training exam yesterday which was all on survival, trees, birds, tracking, dangerous organisms, etc. and I got 100%! I’ve been studying a lot, and it has paid off.
We have to go off on a drive in a bit in order to get our pitlines in order for tomorrow (tomorrow is when we begin our research: bird surveys, microhabitat assessment). Today we’ve been getting all of our materials together, and it’s been kind of a sad day because some really cool people left at 6am this morning to go to different locations after their training here. Anyway, I’ve gotta go get my stuff together for the drive, and prepare for another really cold night (the sun goes down really really fast, so you have to be prepared for the cold just as soon as it starts setting). Hopefully we can light a fire tonight.
Anyway, I hope that all is well with everyone, and I will try to get another blog up next week!
Love, Bianca
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Off to Kruger Tomorrow
Good evening everyone (or perhaps afternoon for you all),
Tomorrow I will be off to Kruger, leaving from Joburg. It's about a six hour drive on a big bus with a bunch of people that I will be working with for the next several weeks. I'm getting very excited. Paul, Steph, Carys (all are field guides with OpWall), and I have been really enjoying ourselves these past couple of days. We just recently got back from Zebula, which is a fabulous 5 star lodge! Paul's aunt and uncle are partial owners of a beautiful place at Zebula, and we were so lucky to be able to stay there for a bit. We took the opportunity to go on several game drives (daytime, sunrise, and sunset), as well as some walks, where we were able to see quite a few spectacular animals and sights. We also got a chance to brush up on our animal and plant identification, study up, and relax. The coolest thing I did at Zebula was that I got a chance to PLAY with a little lion cub and a little tiger cub, both 12 months old (and you're right, tigers are not an African animal, they just had one at Zebula). The four of us went right into their pens with the handlers and we got to play with them... they were basically like big puppies!
Today we went to a beautiful Botanical Garden where we got to see a Black Eagle and its baby up on a tall tall cliff. That was quite cool as well! And don't worry, I got loads of pictures! I just won't really be able to post them for a while. And tonight at dinner, I was practicing eating British. Steph is British and Carys is Welsh and they have informed me that I don't eat properly with knife and fork. So I've been copying them (holding the fork upside down in the left hand, knife in the right, and using the knife to push food onto the back of the fork). It's quite difficult actually, but I'm getting the hang of it and they're trying my way too!
Anyway, I have to finish getting everything ready for tomorrow. This will be my last night in a real bed, in a place with walls for the next 4 weeks. Then I'll be living in the bush, with only a thin cloth tent and a flimsy electric fence to separate me from the wild. As nerve-wracking as that sounds, I am looking forward to it. I've grown fond of South Africa in the time I've been here, and the amazing wildlife that it is home to... so I can't wait to get a little bit closer with it.
Hopefully, I'll talk to you all soon. I'm hoping to get onto the internet about once a week during a break. Bafana Bafana!! (The FIFA World Cup opening concert is playing in the background, and everyone has been shouting Bafana Bafana all day... it's the name of the South African Soccer team here. Anyone following it??)
<3 Bianca
Tomorrow I will be off to Kruger, leaving from Joburg. It's about a six hour drive on a big bus with a bunch of people that I will be working with for the next several weeks. I'm getting very excited. Paul, Steph, Carys (all are field guides with OpWall), and I have been really enjoying ourselves these past couple of days. We just recently got back from Zebula, which is a fabulous 5 star lodge! Paul's aunt and uncle are partial owners of a beautiful place at Zebula, and we were so lucky to be able to stay there for a bit. We took the opportunity to go on several game drives (daytime, sunrise, and sunset), as well as some walks, where we were able to see quite a few spectacular animals and sights. We also got a chance to brush up on our animal and plant identification, study up, and relax. The coolest thing I did at Zebula was that I got a chance to PLAY with a little lion cub and a little tiger cub, both 12 months old (and you're right, tigers are not an African animal, they just had one at Zebula). The four of us went right into their pens with the handlers and we got to play with them... they were basically like big puppies!
Today we went to a beautiful Botanical Garden where we got to see a Black Eagle and its baby up on a tall tall cliff. That was quite cool as well! And don't worry, I got loads of pictures! I just won't really be able to post them for a while. And tonight at dinner, I was practicing eating British. Steph is British and Carys is Welsh and they have informed me that I don't eat properly with knife and fork. So I've been copying them (holding the fork upside down in the left hand, knife in the right, and using the knife to push food onto the back of the fork). It's quite difficult actually, but I'm getting the hang of it and they're trying my way too!
Anyway, I have to finish getting everything ready for tomorrow. This will be my last night in a real bed, in a place with walls for the next 4 weeks. Then I'll be living in the bush, with only a thin cloth tent and a flimsy electric fence to separate me from the wild. As nerve-wracking as that sounds, I am looking forward to it. I've grown fond of South Africa in the time I've been here, and the amazing wildlife that it is home to... so I can't wait to get a little bit closer with it.
Hopefully, I'll talk to you all soon. I'm hoping to get onto the internet about once a week during a break. Bafana Bafana!! (The FIFA World Cup opening concert is playing in the background, and everyone has been shouting Bafana Bafana all day... it's the name of the South African Soccer team here. Anyone following it??)
<3 Bianca
Monday, June 7, 2010
I'm in AFRICA!
Hello everyone! As of yesterday at 2:30am your time, I arrived in South Africa! And there is so much to tell you already, I don't know where to start!
I suppose I'll start with the plane ride... So I was incredibly nervous getting on that plane, and quite sad saying goodbye to my family, but I took my Dramamine (thanks :-) Dan), made a friend with my seat neighbor, Eric, and held on tight as our giant plane loaded with tons of cargo took off of the ground. Very soon after we were served dinner (which I have pictures of, that I will post when I can upload them somewhere), I watched Ratatouille, watched many TV shows about wildlife, listened to Acoustic Africa, and slept on and off. It really wasn't long after that we were all awoken by scrambled eggs and told we would land in the next 2 hours. Really, it went by in a flash. And then we descended... And boy, as we cleared the cover of clouds that I had seen for the past 14 hours, did my eyes open wide as I caught my first glimpse of Africa. It was simply breathtaking, and quite unlike anything I had ever seen. Below me lay mountains and valleys dappled with tawny browns and bright greens, rivers and streams snaked through vast plains, and the sun created beautiful effects as it had just begun to rise. Then I began to see a few houses, here and there, but as I looked into the distance I saw Johannesburg on the horizon, with the sun glinting off of its buildings. We began to pass over large communities with beautiful, terracotta roofed houses all in neatly organized rows and patches. The beauty of the scene almost made me forget what I was doing... and that's when it hit me... I had arrived in Africa.
So we landed, and everyone took off in every which way, and I departed without a hitch, finding Paul, who will be a field guide at Kruger this year, waiting right at the exit for me. Then we were off! As I left the airport, I entered Joburg and we went right to a rooftop flea market where I got to see so many things all at once. We saw tons of crafts and vendors with beautiful sculptures, beaded artwork, and paintings for sale. We saw people dancing and playing music, and the atmosphere was simply incredible. Even the smell and feel of the breeze was enough to make me realize what a different place I was in, and what an exciting place too!
I am writing here now from Paul's Grandpa's house, which is positively stunning! I will have to show you soon. And today I got my first taste of wildlife... we went to a park called the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve where I got to see many of the animals that I will encounter and perhaps study at Kruger. And I even got to go down into the Wondercave (it's in the link if you want to look) where there used to be a limestone mine. It was such an incredible day!
I have to run now to dinner, but I wanted to let you all know that I was here and safe and that I am having such a wonderful time so far! This is a truly amazing place, and I can't wait to share more about it with you.
Until then...
-Bianca
I suppose I'll start with the plane ride... So I was incredibly nervous getting on that plane, and quite sad saying goodbye to my family, but I took my Dramamine (thanks :-) Dan), made a friend with my seat neighbor, Eric, and held on tight as our giant plane loaded with tons of cargo took off of the ground. Very soon after we were served dinner (which I have pictures of, that I will post when I can upload them somewhere), I watched Ratatouille, watched many TV shows about wildlife, listened to Acoustic Africa, and slept on and off. It really wasn't long after that we were all awoken by scrambled eggs and told we would land in the next 2 hours. Really, it went by in a flash. And then we descended... And boy, as we cleared the cover of clouds that I had seen for the past 14 hours, did my eyes open wide as I caught my first glimpse of Africa. It was simply breathtaking, and quite unlike anything I had ever seen. Below me lay mountains and valleys dappled with tawny browns and bright greens, rivers and streams snaked through vast plains, and the sun created beautiful effects as it had just begun to rise. Then I began to see a few houses, here and there, but as I looked into the distance I saw Johannesburg on the horizon, with the sun glinting off of its buildings. We began to pass over large communities with beautiful, terracotta roofed houses all in neatly organized rows and patches. The beauty of the scene almost made me forget what I was doing... and that's when it hit me... I had arrived in Africa.
So we landed, and everyone took off in every which way, and I departed without a hitch, finding Paul, who will be a field guide at Kruger this year, waiting right at the exit for me. Then we were off! As I left the airport, I entered Joburg and we went right to a rooftop flea market where I got to see so many things all at once. We saw tons of crafts and vendors with beautiful sculptures, beaded artwork, and paintings for sale. We saw people dancing and playing music, and the atmosphere was simply incredible. Even the smell and feel of the breeze was enough to make me realize what a different place I was in, and what an exciting place too!
I am writing here now from Paul's Grandpa's house, which is positively stunning! I will have to show you soon. And today I got my first taste of wildlife... we went to a park called the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve where I got to see many of the animals that I will encounter and perhaps study at Kruger. And I even got to go down into the Wondercave (it's in the link if you want to look) where there used to be a limestone mine. It was such an incredible day!
I have to run now to dinner, but I wanted to let you all know that I was here and safe and that I am having such a wonderful time so far! This is a truly amazing place, and I can't wait to share more about it with you.
Until then...
-Bianca
Friday, June 4, 2010
Tomorrow
Alright. I'm sitting in my hotel room in JFK trying to muster up the courage to sleep, because once I fall asleep it will be tomorrow, and once it's tomorrow it is going to be the big day. I am really getting scared about this flight. It's such an extreme flight for me that it hasn't really hit me that it's really going to happen... until now. I will be flying over the OCEAN, for a huge chunk of the flight that will take 14 1/2 ish hours (give or take). I have NEVER done something like this before. I mean NEVER. But there's always a first time for everything. There will be second time on the way back... except the way back is 17 hours.
So this is my plan of attack for the plane: I think I'm going to go the Dramamine route just to prevent any feeling of motion sickness, and to help me sleep. Also, as soon as I get on the plane, I'm going to set my watch to South Africa time, just to try to orient myself early on. It's 6 hours ahead! Hopefully I brought enough things to entertain myself on the plane, and I know that there are TVs on the back of every seat to watch movies on, etc. I'm definitely going to try to make some friends... this flight would be a lot better if I knew someone on it.
Anyway, I will arrive in Johannesburg early morning their time, get situated... and BREATHE. Then I'm spending the week exploring Joburg before people from all over the world (WORLD!) meet up back at the airport in Joburg to head to Kruger National Park where I will be spending the following 4 weeks learning and exploring and researching! I still have some more studying to do before I start the research part, but I think looking at the actual organisms in real life will be much more effective than looking at them in a book.
So, I'm going to try to post as often as I can, but I really have no idea what the internet situation is going to be. The first week might be better than the last four, since I'll be in Joburg, so hopefully I'll be able to get on then. But I'll try my best during this whole expedition. Thank you so much for following me!
Here's to adventure!
~Bianca
So this is my plan of attack for the plane: I think I'm going to go the Dramamine route just to prevent any feeling of motion sickness, and to help me sleep. Also, as soon as I get on the plane, I'm going to set my watch to South Africa time, just to try to orient myself early on. It's 6 hours ahead! Hopefully I brought enough things to entertain myself on the plane, and I know that there are TVs on the back of every seat to watch movies on, etc. I'm definitely going to try to make some friends... this flight would be a lot better if I knew someone on it.
Anyway, I will arrive in Johannesburg early morning their time, get situated... and BREATHE. Then I'm spending the week exploring Joburg before people from all over the world (WORLD!) meet up back at the airport in Joburg to head to Kruger National Park where I will be spending the following 4 weeks learning and exploring and researching! I still have some more studying to do before I start the research part, but I think looking at the actual organisms in real life will be much more effective than looking at them in a book.
So, I'm going to try to post as often as I can, but I really have no idea what the internet situation is going to be. The first week might be better than the last four, since I'll be in Joburg, so hopefully I'll be able to get on then. But I'll try my best during this whole expedition. Thank you so much for following me!
Here's to adventure!
~Bianca
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Almost there!
Hey everyone!
So tomorrow is a really big day. After I teach at dance, I'm driving to JFK with my family and staying in a hotel there over night since my flight is in the morning on Saturday. I'm going to be double checking my luggage and making sure everything is packed, finish writing up notes, do some last minute things around the house, visit my nana, go to work, and then I'll be on my way. I was really productive today... I went over a bunch of common bird species in Kruger, took notes on them, and reviewed their bird calls (my sister thought I was crazy listening to all of their calls). I also wrote instructions for my recital pieces... I'm missing my students' recital! I'm really bummed about it, but I'm glad I get to be there for their last class tomorrow. Today was basically a tying up of loose ends day, and it was a success. Oh, and tomorrow I'm starting my malaria meds, which I'm nervous about (I always have problems with overanalyzing medications).
I actually think that everything is in order! Hopefully! I will try to get on my sister's laptop either tomorrow night or Saturday morning before I leave because I won't be bringing one with me (there really isn't any internet access where I'm going to be). But if I can get into the office in our camp, or something like that, I will be posting some short blogs with maybe some pictures if I'm lucky. If not, I will have loads of things to put up when I get back. We shall see how it goes.
Alright, goodnight for now!
~Bianca
So tomorrow is a really big day. After I teach at dance, I'm driving to JFK with my family and staying in a hotel there over night since my flight is in the morning on Saturday. I'm going to be double checking my luggage and making sure everything is packed, finish writing up notes, do some last minute things around the house, visit my nana, go to work, and then I'll be on my way. I was really productive today... I went over a bunch of common bird species in Kruger, took notes on them, and reviewed their bird calls (my sister thought I was crazy listening to all of their calls). I also wrote instructions for my recital pieces... I'm missing my students' recital! I'm really bummed about it, but I'm glad I get to be there for their last class tomorrow. Today was basically a tying up of loose ends day, and it was a success. Oh, and tomorrow I'm starting my malaria meds, which I'm nervous about (I always have problems with overanalyzing medications).
I actually think that everything is in order! Hopefully! I will try to get on my sister's laptop either tomorrow night or Saturday morning before I leave because I won't be bringing one with me (there really isn't any internet access where I'm going to be). But if I can get into the office in our camp, or something like that, I will be posting some short blogs with maybe some pictures if I'm lucky. If not, I will have loads of things to put up when I get back. We shall see how it goes.
Alright, goodnight for now!
~Bianca
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