Namibia - Day Nineteen, Twenty and Twenty One

Camera Traps
The rest of the group went to the sand dunes so we went through 1500 camera trap pictures and then went to check and collect the memory cards from the cameras. They were the same as we had previously done though. We went to the Honey Canyon to see if there was any where suitable to put a man made watering  hole but it was decided that the only way would be to have a long hose from the top to the bottom due to the first part being so steep that it would be to dangerous realistically for people to carry lots of water. We then wandered down a different canyon where there was a Zebra skeleton which still had most of its skin still  on. We then went for a little sun downer as well which was so nice!

My Last Day at Neuras
Instead of doing camera trap work, Kate offered to take us up the Naukluf Mountains! After a late start due to puncture we started the climb. It wasn't like a normal  mountain walk as there were lots of boulders and it was incredibly steep. One bad footing meant your legs and lots of loose rocks fell down which nearly happened. After the huge boulders the climb it became even steeper which felt like a real rock climbing wall just with a slight slant, there were so many loose rocks though that it wasn't easy at all! When we reached the top the views were incredible, you could easily see about 200 km! The way up took 1 hour 10 minutes but the way down was so much harder! We found bones of a kudu that was probably a leopard meal. As we descended very slowly we needed to get out of a dip so as went to climb the boulder that I thought was secure and it rolled down onto my foot. Somehow though there must have been a dent in the boulder which somehow was the bit of the rock that landed on my foot, if it had really hit it definitely would have shattered a few bones. We got down in 1 hour 30 minutes. We then went for a final sun downer. I cant believe how fast my time went at Neuras, it has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. Part of me will always remain in Namibia though, not just on thorn bushes but in spirit too.

Back to N/a'an ku se
The journey back to N/a'an ku se took 4 hours but we did get to stop for food on the way. We played with the monkeys for a bit, they do really stink! After a chill around the camp fire we all headed to bed.

Namibia - Day Ten, Eleven & Twelve

Sossusvlei- The Dunes
We awoke at 4.30 to head to the famous red sand dunes of Namibia. After an hour of travelling we had entered the national park which the dunes are in and we saw a wide variety of animals including oryx and jackels! We had to drive another 45 minutes to reach the Sossasvlei where only 4x4s could drive to and we then decided to walk one of the biggest climbable dunes in the world called Big Daddy that stands at just under 300m tall. The walk destroyed my calves due to having to push your legs into the sand and trying to walk on your toes not balls of the feet and some bits were so steep that you had to scramble on all fours. It took just under an hour to reach the top but only 5 minutes or so to reach the bottom due to the fact that you run down at a very fast speed. The views from the top were just truely breathtaking. You could see for so miles and the fact that there was no houses, cars or roads in the view just made me realise how special our landscape really is and that without all the things we have filled it with its more beautiful than you could imagine!

After running down the dunes we entered Namibia's dead trees which was very eary. The trees are set in natural clay which has dried out and so the trees have died but still remain perfectly in tact in the ground. The trees are a national treasure of Namibia and are definitely beautiful. You are not aloud to climb on the trees but no one said you couldn't handstand against them. After the dunes we went and ate at an all you can eat buffet which I definitely ate to much of as on the way home I didn't feel to good. The dunes are a truly remarkable experience that i will remember forever, even if the sand was giving my face an exfoliation when we were at the top it was a once in a life time experience. Not many people can say that they have climbed one of the biggest sand dunes in the world now can they?

Eco Challange
The eco challange is a 12 km walk through the Honey Canyon where you have to find and identify different feaces, footprints, trees and animals. My group didnt have any luck when it came to spotting animals as we only saw 4 female kudu, a lizard and 2 birds which was horrifically poor but we did get to see lots of poo and prints from animals such as spotted hyena, cheetahs, leopards, springbok, zebra, jackel, kudu, steembok and clipspringer. We practically followed an entire route of a hyena which had HUGE front legs. By the end my legs were certainly achy and we had been out for over 5 hours! Before we left we visited the grave of a bushman who had fallen to his death from the wall of the canyon as many bushmen risk their lives to collect honey from the crevices in the walls. We each placed a rock to show respect.
I managed to finish my second book of the trip called 'Hush Hush' which is the sequel to Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick and then we started on the cheetah enrichment that we took to Solitaire for the cheetahs to play with and find the meat in them.

Bushmans Grave

Hyena Footprint

Camera Traps
First thing we went through lots of photos from 7th June and recorded all the different animal sightings that had taken place in the 4 days that the camera had been up for. After we had finished that we headed out with Matt to change all the memory cards in the cameras. We visited 5 sites, 3 were dry sites that we had to walk about 1km to each. The first sight was really interesting as it had a leopard marking site on a strangling Fig Tree. After the 6km walk (I never knew I would do so much of this walking lark) we visited the 2 watering holes where the other 2 camera sites were. On the way back we stopped at the site where they had put a cage in the hope of capturing and collaring a leopard. We then finished of creating our elephant for the cheetah enrichment which was great fun!

Here is a video of me running down Big Daddy the Sand dune. IT WAS SO FUN!!!!!!

Namibia - Day Seven, Eight & Nine

Neuras
So we all got on the bus at  7.30, Harriet and Mowenna left to go on Safari. The bus drive to get there was about 4.5 hours with a break on the way.

We finally arrived at about 13.00 and it was so beautiful! The courtyard is pretty with green grass, flower beds and a place where they cook the braai. After lunch we got to relax which felt very surreal as we hadn't ever had free time in the day at N/a'an ku se! At 16.30 we went on a sundown drive where we went to the top of a hill and all sat with a cider in hand watching the sun set. It was really beautful. We then returned to a platter of cheese and biscuits whilst we waited for our Braai to cook. Everyone sat chatting and getting to know each other. At dinner I got to experience different types of of food such as springbok steaks. The food in Africa may be very different but its so tasty that you really cant complain at all. Not having phone signal is also slightly liberating in many ways as you really dont have to think about anything bar the moment you are in.

Neuras - Day Two
After having a full nights sleep without feeling cold or waking up due to the sounds of peacocks i felt amazing. After breakfast we were split into two groups. My group did a trail which meant that we learnt how to work the GPS as well. This walk was about 3km. After that we got shown how to work a camera trap for the first time and then sent out to go and change the memory card in a camera by a watering hole. We biked to the watering hole though which was highly entertaining due to it being so hilly and so my legs were dead by the end of the 6 km ride.
After returning we went through all the pictures that the memory card we had collected had on which was mainly Kudu, springbok and then there were a few Zebra and some baboons.
Once the other group returned we went on a game drive where we saw lots of Ostriches and Kudu, Matt managed to get lost and so the route took another hour. The day was enjoyable to say the least and ending it with a hot shower made it all so much better!

Neuras -Day Three

On the Monday we were with Matt who is completing his masters out in Namibia monitoring the wildlife present in Neuras along with trying to use 2 camera traps positioned opposite each other to be able to photograph both sides of cheetahs, leopards and hyenas as this will enable identification of the animals even if only one side of the animal is photographed again. He had divided the park up into two halves so had 5 sites with 2 cameras at each time and so we were out looking for possible new sites that were in the half where the study had yet to be conducted. We walked about 10km through the canons in search of sites. The first sight we went to was a real possibility but after we reached the second site it was decided that the pathway was to narrow to be able to place two cameras along with the other problem that there was far to much vegetation so that you would never be able to gain a clear image of the animal even if it did walk past one camera clearly and so it was no use. During the walk we learnt how to identify leopard prints and the difference between leopard, hyena and cheetahs due to how big the pad is, the distribution of their toes around the pad and whether they have large/little indents into the pad.

After lunch we went on another game drive, this time we saw 60 springbok, kudu, wandering baboons, zebra and ostriches.
I finally managed to finish my first book of the holiday, in which i  will write a review for another time called 'The Thread' by Victoria Hislop which was very beautifully written.

The monday was a very odd day as although everyone seems to love their jobs I cant help but notice the negativity of all the Zoology researchers I had met since going on the trip as they all seems to say just how hard it really is for anyone that wants to go into animal conservation work.
Its such a sad state of affairs that you now have to pay someone else to give you a job and its so old fashioned. No one should have to pay £3000 just to go and work, there needs to be many more places that have people pay their board by working, to me the system is so floored and means that any one who wants to work with animals will constantly have an uphill battle with getting to do what they want to not even be paid but not have to be paid for. Its such an angry situation to be in to know that you may never be paid to do what you want but in my mind someone is gonna have to try very hard to stop me from getting to do what I want.

Namibia- The Packing List

So here is what I thought i would need to take with me to N/a 'an ku se, it turned out that I took far to much stuff with me for my 3 week trip but at the time because I didn't know how good laundry was going to be I definitely over compensated.
Clothing
18x Tshirts - You probably only need around 10-15 maximum
04x Bottoms - At night the temperatures plummit so having warm trousers to sleep in and walk around is                         crutial
04x Shorts
02x Leggings - Great for Game Counts
02x Shoes - Trainers and nice sandals are good for town trips at the weekends.
01x Walking boots - I took trainer type ones but normal are in some ways probably better.
01x Flipflops - For the mad dash back from a tepid shower at night
03x PJs
02x Fleece - VERY IMPORTANT, its cold at nights and in the morning so you will want to sleep in one.
02x Hoodie - If you don't sleep in a fleece you will sleep in a hoodie at night, also when you have a baby baboon they are better when they are zipped into a jacket close to you so a zip up hoodie is perfect for them
20x Knickers- like the tops I didn't know about washing, only about 10-15 is needed.
02x Nice outfits - for the weekend
01x Bikini - If you're brave enough like me to go in the freezing cold pool!

Other things to take
Sleeping bag liner
Sleeping bag- You will be so grateful you have it!
Blanket - I used the one from  my flight and i was relieved i did
Sun cream -Factor 30 is  fine in June-October as it's their winter.
Watch
Torch and Head torch - No lite walk ways at night
Rucksac
Ipod
Adapter - South African Adapter, I got miss sold an Indian one so had to borrow for the trip, there are some English plug sockets to.
Sewing Kit - Baboons do like to make holes in your clothes
Mosquito Repellent - I didn't see any mosquitoes whilst I was there!
Ear Plugs - Sometimes it can be really noisy at night due to monkeys, ear plugs are the best way to get a good nights sleep, just ask someone to wake you when they get up!
First Aid kit - for blisters and thorn scratches (You get plenty)
Hand Sanitizer- who knows where those baboon hands have been?
Towels - one for face and one for body
Gardening Gloves- for when you're on project work
Camera - Not that you ever would forget!!