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!

Goodnight everybody, wheels roll at 6am!

Groans all round as everyone realised that that meant an early morning.

But that was last night, and here they all are at 6am ready and waiting… well most of them.

Not many smiley faces at 6 in the morning.

Durban is unique in the world for its shark nets and we are out on the boats to learn about them, their maintenance and their history.

Everyday one of these giant nets is hauled up, checked and replaced to prevent growth of sealife that would attract sharks e.t.c.

Mind the gap!

Question time for our skipper

The students were even lucky enough to get to see a pod of Dolphins approximately seven dolphins playing in the waves. One of the boats was nearly close enough to touch them!

The dolphins playing catch-me-if-you-can

Right, off to Spur for breakfast!!

Breakfast that way!

At 14:40 today we were joined our latest college group from the UK.
After speeding through the airport our tired but happy students were more than glad to collapse into our minibuses and proceed to their first bed for the trip.

Phoning home to mum and having a shower seemed to be the top 2 things on most of the students minds – not necessarily in that order.

But dinner, who could forget that first meal after airplane food! Everyone was enthused at this idea!

So rather than give them any old food we took them to one of the best Italian restaurants in Durban.