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We have been very busy since the last blog. Unfortunately Anna and Amy were ill last weekend so weren’t able do much but there is still a lot to update you on.
Last Saturday we went on a sponsored 10km walk in a place called Tachila. It is going to be a nature reserve when it opens officially and the walk was to raise money to be able to fence the land in so that they can introduce a variety of game and rhino. It is owned by Nicky Bousfield (a local legend) who is one of the ladies who picked us up while we were hitchhiking the weekend before. Among the walkers was a man who was previously the High Commisioner for Botswana in London, the head of Shell Oil and Nomsa Mbere, who is the president’s fiancée! It was a beautiful walk and there was some traditional dancing afterwards.
On Tuesday we went to a girl called Wada’s house for lunch. She is a pre-med student at the hospital. Her mother cooked us a traditional Botswana meal which included sweet and sour porridge made from boiled melon and sour milk, lots of bean dishes, pounded meat (seswaa)
and….stewed caterpillars!!! We felt a bit like we were on “I’m a celebrity get me out of here”! The caterpillars had a very strong flavor and were crunchy. I managed to eat three, Anna only ate one and Fiona was the winner eating five!! The family were so welcoming and it was a wonderful experience.
On Friday we went out to a “farm” with Denise and Wes (Denise was our other savior whilst we were hitch hiking the week before). It was really a big game reserve although they also have lots of cattle. We were taken out on a game drive with them and three guys including Wes’ nephew. We saw lots of game (Impala, Kudu, Hartebeest and Steinbok) but the defining moment was when we came across a herd of about ten giraffe including three babies. They were so beautiful and allowed us to get pretty close. Even our driver said it was the closest he has ever been to them. We then went back to the club house where there was a braai. It’s a popular place with lots of the white locals so it turned into quite a party. During the drive we had stopped
at a viewing hut over a lake where there are camping facilities. The three boys who were with us were coming back the next day to hunt and camp. We had had such a good time that we decided to join them.
On the Saturday afternoon we went back into the bush. We went out on the hunt which involved two of the boys walking about 50m in front with the rifle and the rest of us creeping behind. Eventually they shot an impala. I had really enjoyed myself up til then but I was quite disturbed when it came to actually killing the animal. It was such a beautiful creature and it was pretty shocking watching it nibbling the grass one minute and then lying on the ground dead the next. Luckily it was about 8 years old which is about how long they live for so it would probably have been eaten by a leopard or died of starvation soon anyway.
Amy was brave and went to watch them skin and gut the impala at the butchery on site. The rest of us walked back to camp. On the way we bumped into the herd of giraffe
again!
The evening was spent around the camp fire consuming vast quantities of beer and eating BBQ meat. In typical male fashion the boys had only brought meat to eat for dinner! Luckily we also brought marshmallows to roast which went down very well. Part of the hunting initiation involves eating the onion rings…ie the animal’s testicles!! Unfortunately we had no butter so we had to cook them in peanut butter but we were all very brave and were fully initiated into the hunting circle…another “I’m a celebrity” moment to add to our collection!
The next day we went on another short hunt in the morning which was (luckily for me) unsuccessful. We then had to get back to reality. This week Fiona and I are doing paeds and Amy and Anna are doing Obs and Gynae. Although we’ve enjoyed the hospital experience we are all looking forward to finishing at the end of the week so that we can carry on our adventures!!!
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Wendy
non-member comment
celebraties!
What a marvellous experience. Seems like you have made quite an impression on the locals.You all look well and happy and we look forward to hearing of your forthcoming adventures. Love form Amy's Mum and Dad xo