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| "Hunters" - our staff house |
I started work again on Monday the 15th, overcast weather greeted me. It was good to get back! Friendly greetings all round and then back to work. It took me a while to get into the swing of things again. You have to change your whole way of living here. It seemed rather tough after being at home for 10 days!
We went shooting the other day. Firstly clay pigeon shooting with the 12 gauge Shotgun. I really liked this gun, it’s got a kick but not as bad as the 375 Rifle. The 6 of us took turns, myself, Wimpie (Head of Reserve and Ranger), Solly (Horse guy and Ranger), Mariette(Reception and Accounts), Kagiso (Reserve worker) and Kgomotso (Housekeeping and my gym buddy). I managed to shoot 3 out of 6 clays in the air and 3 out of 3 on the ground. Not bad… well so I thought! :)
We then jumped onto the bakkie and drove down to natural dam to shoot the 375 Rifle and the Smith & Wesson ladysmith revolver at still targets. The Rifle kicked like crazy as expected! The revolver was nice for a change, also quite a kick for a hand gun! While we were there, a mommy warthog ran past with 4 babies!! I must say that this is possibly the cutest thing that I have ever seen in my life!!! They really are tiny – like the size of bunnies – when they are new born!
Last night I got some sad news… Wimpie our head ranger found another job!! So he resigned and is starting his new job on the 1st Jan 2011. I am really upset about this and feel a bit scared- especially because we are supposed to be getting in 3 new cheetahs to be rehabilitated - but I know that everything happens for a reason!
Today was quite a hectic day. Started off with checking the rain gauges around the reserve and getting stuck on a clay road… I had 6 giraffes starring at me wondering what on Earth I was doing. Wimpie came to my rescue (what am I going to do without him??) and pulled me out with the Landy. I then went off to track the cheetahs. I found them under a tiny tree relaxing in the shade and spent half an hour sitting with them. I find their deep purr very soothing! On my way back to the lodge a huge dung beetle flew into the car window, smack into my face! Eina! (Only in the bush!!)
From now until the 7th of January we are going to be seriously busy! Mom, Dad and Grae are coming to visit in Dec for 3 nights which will be great! Cant wait!
