Ok, now is where the work begins – Well, after breakfast anyway!
After breakfast there was a little bit of time for chilling out by the poolside or just chatting in the shade (terrorised only by me and the camera) whilst waiting for everyone to locate socks from the bottom of their bags ready for the mornings walk at the game reserve next door.
Post-breakfast trip discussions
Chilling by the poolside before the game walk
Well, the time has come to leave ‘Victors place’.
Sad little faces all round, many of them tired as they wanted to sit around the fire that little bit longer last night. It was a cold cold night but no clouds so the stars were out and what else can you do except lounge back in the chair and toast your toes in the warmth of the fire.
Sad faces on the last night
Swapping stories with Victor till the early hours
But the next place is awesome! It is here, at Albizia Camp which is part of Umkhumbi Lodge.
Luke has been a true gentleman the whole trip, even assisting the ladies with their bags
Albizia camp even has a swimming pool – luxury!
First of all girls and guys, apologies for the radio silence yesterday! The big storms here have meant powercuts and little to no phone signal on the South African sims yesterday.
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After an early night (hahaha – you have to be kidding after that much cake!) everyone was up bright and early – well, after a little help from Seargent Major Tommy anyway 
– and ready for a little walk at Victor’s place. This is an introduction to the environmental awareness course that will be taught at Albizia Camp, made better by finding the giraffes having a quick snack on the path on the way back!
Then was a talk from the SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals), where students found out about the cruelty statistics in South Africa which is high due to a combination of the weather, poverty and most importantly lack of education.
Despite the shocking stories that both inspectors had to tell, everyone wanted to know more. So eager were they with their questions that they didnt even seem to mind that it was lunchtime and instead carried on firing more and more questions about the neutering program that was running in the country in an attempt to lower the number of unwanted and neglected animals.
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Zoo time! This is an important part of the trip as it shows the importance of the right habitat and conditions to each and every animal. The enclosures of the animals at this zoo show a stark contrast to most zoos in the UK. To quote one student “this place makes our Zoos look like palaces”.
Observing the zoo enclosures.
The students were told to observe the enclosures at the zoo so that they could draw direct comparisons between the zoo and the raptor centre.
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What a stark difference at the Raptor Centre! First let me explain what the raptor centre is for.
Ben and Shannon run two different sides to the raptor centre. Ben has a rehabilitation centre where injured birds are brought to get them ready for release back into the environment. They may need help for anything from poisoning, hunting, accidental injury or even rescued from situations such as the muthi market or even zoos.
All birds that can survive in the wild are released. Any birds that cannot be released due to their injuries, such as missing a wing, leg, tail, eye are kept at the raptor centre and are bred to increase the numbers of the species in the wild.
Little marsh owl - very talkative
Walking around the raptor centre is a treat as the enclosures all have specific decor – for example the barn owl enclosure has been decked out as a barn complete with hayloft ladder for them to perch upon.
Big smiles for the raptor centre
This one flew to the front of the cage just for some photos
Companions for each animal are carefully selected to ensure that their quality of life is high as possible despite their disadvantages.
Despite the cold wind coming up the valley – blankets were provided after a few of the students were asked why they weren’t wearing any clothes – girls you know who you are…
"where are your clothes?!"
The highlight of the day for many was the flight show where the more able of the birds have a chance to show off what makes them them great hunters.
Ready for the show!
Somewhere under all that fluff is a teeny tiny little bird.
The birds included among others; the little goshawk who didn’t want to be released.
The African goshawk is smaller than the UK ones
YBK, the Yellow billed kite with the broken wing feathers. The stroppy owl who when scared or bored ‘runs’ (not flies) away, and ‘Chicken’ the Peregrine falcon who was poisoned.
"Are you laughing at his hat? How cruel! I didn't laugh at your hair - oh, actually...."
Shannon kept the students on their toes springing question after question – premempting which questions we were going to ask. Rather than just giving us the usual tourist talk, the show was tailored more specifically to animal management, husbandry and rehabilitation to tie in with the course curriculum.
Shannon also taught us some very important life lessons after seeing poo on the back of the Yellow Billed Kite – never sit below your boyfriend.
The raptor place even had cuddly little bunnies!!
35p for a bag of 'bunny chow' - money well spent!
Hug-a-bun!
And what a view behind the show stands, no one could resist posing for a photo.
All pulling their sweetest smiles
Happy Birthday!! One of our students turned 18 today! It can’t be easy being away from family, but at least she’s here, in South Africa with some of her friends.
She got the most important bit of any birthday though, embarrassed by being the centre of attention whilst everyone sings to you and of course the most important bit of all….
Cake!!
Video coming up soon.
A morning at Victors place. Even getting to his house is a game drive with Zebra and Impala!
But breakfast first, where some of the girls volunteered to pitch in and help. Scrambled eggs, toast, sausages, cheese, cereal, yoghurts, copious fruit juice and tea and coffee to wake everyone up and get them ready for the day. Everyone sang Happy Birthday to our birthday girl as well who has just turned 18!!
Big thank you to everyone who helped
Then at his house we find, marmosets, vervet monkeys, samango monkeys, a giant eagle owl, crocodiles, more bushpigs, spiders, frogs, a worm lizard, ducks and a whole platoon of weaver birds busy building their nests above the crocodiles.
Each group was challenged with sitting perfectly still and watching the monkeys and studying their behaviours. Then Victor decided to get in with one of the hand reared samango monkeys to show us all some interactions.
Monkeying about
The worlds best classroom
Some students even got to feed the monkeys, but not quite what you would expect…
Apparently it is their favourite treat
*Yoink* Mine!!
They certainly seemed to enjoy the lollies,
"Nommy nom nom"
And one of them even mugged a smaller monkey for his lolly too!!
Like taking candy from a monkey....
Now back to camp for lunch and the beginning of the environmental awareness course with Tommy.
Victors place is certainly more like the South Africa that all the students expected. Many were disappointed that there were not wild Elephants, Lions, Zebra or Giraffe roaming around the streets of Durban.
After a picnic lunch in Durban’s botanical garden the minibuses left for ‘Victor’s place’ . On arrival everyone was bundled into the game vehicles and taken on a quick tour of the property/bush where there are Giraffe, Zebra, Impala and countless other species.
After the tour, everyone had the chance to help Victor feed the troop of wild vervet and the bush pigs too. Accompanied by Victor with his stories of the monkey antics.
Biggest shock so far to the students despite the muthi market was the size of the grasshopper on the safari vehicle!
Everyone enjoyed their traditional dinner of pap ‘n sous (maize meal – like mash potato – and tomato and herb gravy) with lamb chops, chicken, boerewors and salad and countless other sides.
But now it is bedtime and time to watch the thunderstorm!
An eye-opening experience for our students today as they discover that despite all the endangered listings of species, and the supposed protection that they receive; many are still slaughtered and sold in the open at Muthi markets.
Muthi markets are markets that sell particular ‘medicines’, it is a part of Zulu culture. There are many beliefs and superstitions about different animals and animal parts, so walking around this market can be both and upsetting and enraging event – as our students found out today.
It is important however that the students understand that despite being protected – this means very little.
Below are a few pictures of what was present.
The students walk around the muthi market
Vulture - supposedly gain the ability to see into the future
Monkey - supposed to ward off evil spirits, drinking blood has other 'spiritual' advantage
Faces after the market - didn't last long though as there was a colourful indoor market to explore
On the brighter side however the students had a chance to explore the traditional Victoria market – spices, clothing, bags, paintings, watches, parrots, meat, veg, books e.t.c
Particularly popular were the sheep heads – we didn’t take any photos of those as the facial expressions were much more amusing!! Especially when they realised they were for eating 
After the market everyone was happily showing off their new purchases – or even other peoples.
At least he claimed it wasn't his...
The last thing to do at uShaka, visit the dangerous creatures chamber of horrors.
Not for the faint-hearted
With lizards, scorpions and spiders filling the small nooks and crannies of the room everywhere you turned was something new. Not to mention little tricks and pranks just like Craig found out… man, you squeal like a girl!!
Basilisk spotting
From the bearded dragons to the basilisks (small lizards who can run on water!!) to bullfrogs the same size as dinner plates everyone found something to admire, photograph and want to take home.
Lunchtime for the bearded dragons
The eight year old iguana got petted by nearly all 29 students, eyes closed in ecstacy as you can see.
Left a bit left a bit, right a bit... thats the spot!
The baby alligators got fed, grabbing chicken necks as quick as they could, be it from Jason’s (their keeper) tongs or from each other. Masters of disguise, just as you think you’ve counted them all, another one appears out of the water to chow.
Some people were a little shocked at how big their little mouths really are
And then the snakes, from twig sized indonesian eyelash vipers, to boas that could eat small dogs and even a 5/6ft (approx) 64kg Python who does not have a waterbowl, but a bath tub!!
After that was a brief talk from two of the keepers about the importance of cleanliness within the cages – especially when there are so many in close proximity.
Well done Charlie for giving all the UK students a bad name….
Only joking, Naomi has nicked his shoes!!
Spot the tourist....
Anyway, day three finds our students at uShaka the marine life centre on Durban beachfront.
Another early morning - poor things
Here everyone got to see…
Sea-sick turtle
There was the chance to get up close and personal and find out how a fish breathes.
Who knew chopping a fish could be so much fun!
Although not everyone liked the smell, again!
It's a bit fishy
Poor old Luke whose bag decided it didn’t want to leave Heathrow (but with some coaxing has joined us) got the chance to make a new friend.
Big screen debut
…a very good friend
An unforgettable moment
Now time for the creepy crawlies and snakes before a spot of snorkelling- stay tuned!
So after a nice little morning cruise, and breakfast at Spur, it was time for a quick shopping trip to South Africa’s equivalent of Bluewater.
Loads of shops, loads of restaurants and even a Mc Donalds to make everyone feel at home!
Because you can't go to Africa and not have Spurs!
Then it was time to learn more about the sharks, and how better than with a dissection!
The speaker throughout the shark dissection had everyone – young and old alike in stitches.
And even gave the girls some very good relationship advice “don’t date a shark, they have very small hearts” as she lifted the exceptionally tiny heart from the Dusky sharks chest cavity.
In previous years the emptying of the stomach contents has been a very popular part of the dissection (despite the smell!)…
*vom*
…but sadly this particular shark had a completely empty stomach. No car license plates, no animals, no bracelets, not even a fish!
Everyone managed to get up, close and personal with the shark after the speaker had finished and were able to feel its skin. The shark skin is textured in such a way that from head to tail the shark skin is smooth and streamline to make it more streamline, but from tail to head it has the texture of sandpaper.
Shark sandpaper skin
After everyone had finished photographing the shark there was plenty of time for fun before venturing off to try their haggling skills at the seafront market.
Say cheese!
"aaaaaaaaargh!!!"
The girls show the market trader they won't have the wool pulled over their eyes!
