I really have had the time of my life here in South Africa and I can’t believe it is already coming to an end. If only I had the money to extend my stay, even one more week and I would be happy. It is going to be very hard to leave on Monday; I just have to remember I have amazing places still to go on to.
This week I had to say goodbye to some of the volunteers, some of my new friends, and say hello to even more volunteers and more friends! I have been incredibly lucky with who I have got to spend my time with as I have made some lifelong friends who are truly wonderful people (you know who you are).
I had a normal working week, out in the field, in mainly sunshine this week! With only a couple rainy days. I got to experience two more elephant rides, both on the back of the largest elephant, the matriarch, Sally. I could never get tired of sitting on the back of an elephant, looking out over the stunning views in South Africa, I feel at peace. The only real difference of my last week was that the sawdust (try not to picture the sawdust you would put in a hamster cage) arrived – albeit a day late! Therefore we had to empty the entire boma of the old sawdust – a task which I was luckily spared. Yet the following day I spent two hours shovelling, sweeping and wheelbarrowing the new stuff in. It was hot and hard work but I surprisingly really enjoyed it. I got stuck in and got the job done, it was a good workout. I have seen the elephants during sunrise but this week I got to see them during the sunset. It was a magical experience and the colours in the sky were just incredible. At that moment I really realised how lucky I am to have the opportuinity to live my dreams and I just thought “Wow. I’m really here. I’m in South Africa.” My last ever shift, on Friday, was cleaning out the elephant food bowls. It doesn’t sound like the most exciting of jobs but the sun was shining, I had control of the hose and it soon turned into a water fight. It was a pretty fun way to end my work here at the park.
I then spent Friday afternoon lying on the beach in the sun before enjoying a cocktail at the beach front bar. I always make sure I cover myself in suncream, although this time I did not go close enough to my bikini and so am now left with the outline of my bikini burnt into my body – oops! In the evening I went to a braai (bbq) and hot tub party. 11 of us went from the park and at first we felt a little awkward but we soon started to feel at home and we even met the guys who took us canyoning! We sat around a fire talking, drinking and eating. The food was absolutely amazing and so I had quite a lot to eat! Unfortunately that day the power had been cut, as does occasionally happen in South Africa as a way of saving electricity, and so the hot tub was warm rather than hot. None-the-less I got into the 15 people warm tub, on my own, and just enjoyed swimming around for a little while, much to the amusement of my friends.
It’s another beautiful day and I am going to spend some of it in the field with the elephants and guides. I have to make the most of final two days here in the stunning South Africa before my next adventure begins on Monday. So this is a farewell from Kynsna Elephant Park in South Africa!