9th March - Day 9 of the trip, day 5 at the reserve

The volunteers are split into three groups and go off and do different tasks during the day. Today was my group's first opportunity to spend a whole day at the Elephant sanctuary.

The elephants at the sanctuary have approx 900 hectares to roam about in. They are accustomed to the handlers at the sanctuary but otherwise completely wild.

We firstly had to find their spoor marks then track them down. We found them in the bush and followed them to their mud bath, hid about 100 yards away and watched them lark about in it. Was just amazing! They were there for about half an hour rolling about in the mud, rubbing each other and splashing about. Lovely to see how they interact with each other - when one stops dead in their tracks they all do, at the same time, and without communicating at all with each other. They just seem to be able to sense what each other are doing or where they are going. When it was time to leave the matriarch of the group gave a loud trumpet and they all jumped straight out and followed her up the hill. Very disciplined + just beautiful.

Next up we we're out sourcing the elephant's food. When I say 'source' I mean, finding the acacia trees and prickly pear bushes, chopping them down and taking them back to their stables. More chopping (!) + my arm was still sore from yesterday :(

Once back at the stables we had a quick sandwich break and Meg and I had the most hilarious chat with Khumbulani about headache remedies!! You had to be there...

When the stables were clean we got the hay out and made a fresh bed for the elephants for the evening and made their dinner.

We had to leave before the elephants came back in for the day because Khumbulani had to take some guests out on a dusk game drive. That gave us a couple of hours before dinner to catch some rays and pop up to the splash pool (just a little larger than a paddling pool but refreshing none the less). It had gone above 35 degrees again today so we weren't complaining.

A few of the guys went for a wander after dinner - by which point it was pitch black. When they heard a noise behind them they switched on their torches to find two massive men with spears pointed at them! They immediately turned and ran and we heard their screams all the way from the dorms about a mile away. Turns out they were reserve security who, mistaking them for poachers, had followed them all the way round the inner compound of the reserve! So funny + reassuring to know we've got such brave souls in our midst!

Covered from head to toe trying to prevent any more mozzie bites, looking like a right twat, when we were sitting on the veranda chatting the night away. Think everyone understood my paranoia when they saw the big wields that the previous days mozzie dinner had developed into. My legs are covered in such a mass of bruises, cuts, claw marks and bites that they resemble small trees that the lions have been using as scratching posts! Not in the least bit attractive. But acquired through the best fun so wouldn't swap it for the world.

Night peeps.

Love
Jox