Tag Archives: south africa
Busy as a bee…
One year ago, I was enjoying my last month at Lajuma before going to the Democratic Republic of Congo. This year, I’m also preparing for a new journey. In a month, I’ll begin collecting data for my dissertation. Location? Gashaka-Gumti National Park … Continue reading
Return to the “Big Bad City”
Jolted awake, my first thoughts were, “OH MY GOD I’M GOING TO DIE.” This quickly changed to relief when I peered out the window and realized the plane was only landing at another city before reaching Kinshasa. Earlier that morning … Continue reading
Au revoir Lajuma…Bonjour Kinshasa
The rusty corrugated tin roofs blinked like diamonds among the greens and reds—such rich colors like an oil painting. The river whispered through the city all brown and dull as tiny black dots hustled down dusty streets and bright yellow … Continue reading
Screams in the night and continuing the Full Moon tradition
Screams in the night and continuing the Full Moon tradition Awoken in the middle of the night by screams, I quickly sit up heart palpitating and hairs on end. What the hell was that??? Camped out beneath some trays for … Continue reading
Rule #1: Never sit below a monkey
Something dribbling from above as I hastily duck away with the realization that it’s probably coming from that little Samango fellow scratching his leg innocently—already breaking Rule Number 1 when following monkeys. Back at Lajuma for about two weeks now … Continue reading
Parents come to visit: Moholoholo, Kruger and Lajuma
New Years Eve, just saw some hippos, zebras and giraffes during a night drive at Moholoholo and everyone has gone to bed! It’s only 1030 PM and I’m not sure what to do with myself. Luckily some of the rangers … Continue reading
Waterval Boven, Goodbyes, Christmas! And “Oh…you want an abortion?”
Finally a climbing trip put together with Anja, Demis and John! Cramped inside a small car, off we go down the mountain to Waterval Boven. Passing through the northern Drakensberg was breathtaking with slanting cliffs of red and green with … Continue reading
Rainy Season, camping and getting my first real African sunburn
December 8th marked the last day of our vegetation work for Ben’s project—a bittersweet moment that points to the departure of Ben and John right before Christmas. However, with the transects and quadrats done, time has opened up to begin … Continue reading
Catching frogs by moonlight, Thanksgiving, sleeping beneath the stars, abseiling and falling out of a tree
Barefoot in a marsh, the moon practically full, head cocked for chirps and looking around slowly for any hint of movement–frog hunting in Africa. Surprisingly no mosquito bites and home with three frogs and a water scorpion (all released to … Continue reading
