First day at camp in Botswana

May 1, 2010

I arrived in Botswana yesterday and was met at the airport by Harry, one of the other volunteers who I have heard referred to now as “The Cheetah Girls.” She drove me to the Old Bridge Backpackers where I had rented a safari tent for the night. It was a very cool place. My safari tent had 2 beds in it and overlooked the river. I loved it. There were a bunch of Peace Corps people staying there and they were very kind in helping me get acquainted with the money (Pulas) and the local beers. We took a sunset cruise down the river and I felt like I was on my parent’s boat in Florida. It literally looked and felt the exact same way, with the exception of a gorgeous giraffe hanging out riverside. I turned in on the early side after a white Botswanan pissed me off talking shit about Americans.

Today I slept in since I knew it would be the last chance I could for a long time. Harry picked me up and we went to the airport to grab Elena, the other Research Assistant, and then drove 3 hours to Ghanzi. The road was pretty empty of other cars but it was FULL of cows, donkeys and horses. We were constantly stopping to let them cross or to drive around them. I loved it.
Our camp is about 20 minutes past Ghanzi on a gravel road. By the time we got to Ghanzi it was dark and it was getting hard to drive in the dark and watch out for the animals. Harry’s a pro, though. Unfortunately about 10 minutes into the drive on gravel we got a flat tire. So here we are, in the middle of the desert in the pitch black night changing a tire. She knew what she was doing so I took the time to look at the sky and sit there in shock looking at the millions of stars. You can see the Milky Way crystal clear. The boss at the camp, Lorainne, came and helped out and I watched these 2 awesome women changing a tire like champs and felt some serious girl power. All I kept thinking is how I wanted to be more like these women.

I drove the rest of the way with Lorainne who proceeded to tell me they found and killed a cobra in one of the bedrooms on the camp today. Apparently the camp has had some snake problems lately. Awesome. I requested that room go to the other volunteer, and she’s in there now with the camp cat protecting her.

My room is cute. It’s in sort of a small cabin and there are 2 rooms, one being mine and Harry’s in the other. It’s got a bed, dresser, small table, fan and clothing rack. It’s actually better than I was expecting, as long as the snakes stay away…

After I had some chips and bree for dinner I returned to my room, unpacked, checked my bed for scorpions and am getting ready for my first night on the camp. They told me I’ll hear hyenas and jackals during the night and not to let it frighten me. Just like NYC!