Reisebrev fra Deltakere » Jobb med elefanter i Namibia (Namibia Reisebrev)
Jobb med elefanter i Namibia
En av x-plores Namibia-reisende (fra Nederland) sender oss en mail.
"Hi Kine,
Sorry for the late reply,
My stay at the desert elephant project for very very nice! When I came to Namibia at first there was a guy waiting for me to pick me up to bring me to chameleon backpackers. This man was very helpful and could contact them whenever I was in trouble. At first there was a miscommunication with Rachel because I first wanted to do a safari. So they were expecting me already the day after I arrived. Because I was on safari and didn’t have Internet they thought I disappeared somewhere in Namibia.
When I came back from the safari I took a shuttle to Swakopmund that I already booked before I went on safari. When I arrived in Swakopmund I was precisely on time for the briefing. I met all the new arrivals and the people that were already there. They were all very interested and very nice. After the briefing I could have some conversation and where they were coming from. I already made some friends and we went out to dinner somewhere in Swakopmund.
The next day we were already going to base camp. The trip was nice but very cold! I’m happy I took my sleeping back into the car so I could sit into it. The trip was in the beginning very boring because there was only sand. Like a big beach. But after a while the Brandberg was in site and some other very beautiful hills. The nature was so very beautiful!! The sun was going down and made it even more beautiful! When arriving at base camp we were very lucky because the elephants were passing the camp, that was my first encounter with the elephants and was impressed about there presents. But they tolled us to be careful because a local man was killed and the elephants were really nerves. After they moved further we settled in the camp. The camp is so simple but so beautiful! Everything was there that you need toilet, shower and even a kitchen.
My first night in base camp and sleeping under the stars was amazing I felt so free! Sometimes you could here the baboons screaming in the night what was a bit scary because it sounded that they were very close. Also an elephant passed our camp, we heard some footsteps from a very heavy animal and a shade so it must have been an elephant.
The first week of build week started. We were with the 17 of us in the middle of nowhere close to an elephant trail where they past regularly. There was a very good atmosphere within the group and everyone was helping along. Every day there was another couple that was cooking and cleaning. We started to build the wall; there was already some foundation so we could find sand and rocks for building the wall. Always one person had to sit on the water tower to look if there are some elephants coming. This tower was so old and moving that it was a bit scary but very fun. There was a local man who was helping us building the wall someone with some experience. Whenever we had some questions we could ask him. His name Gerson and was a very nice man who was smiling allot. Because we were the 17 of us the building went quite fast and we could finish it. Everyone was so dirty of building because we didn't have a shower for 5 days, haha! That was very funny. Fortunately we had some babywetwipes to clean ourselves a bit else it would terribly dirty. Because of this there was a very good atmosphere in the group and everyone grew to each other.
After finishing the wall we could spend some time in a nearby lodge where we could drink some beer and eat some. That was a very nice gift after working hard for 5 days. In the weekend we went back to base camp where we could relax a bit and clean our cloth and take a shower finally, everyone was definately looking forward to this shower!
Then the next Monday we started out for petrol, and that was luxury after building week. We were scouring out for the elephants sitting in the land cruiser in the burning sun. It was heaven! When driving true the riverbed we came across allot of elephants. There presents always amazed me so much, they are so mighty beast, so strong and big, but so quite and patient. After searching for them and sleeping underneath the beautiful sky the first term came to an end. We had back to base camp to prepare for next days journey to Swakopmund.
IN Swakopmund we went for shopping and partying. But in the end it was hard to say goodbye to the group members. We grew all so much together and now you had say goodbye. IN the weekend I also met the new members that were going with the next term. The group was a bit smaller, about 7 people. After meeting them and saying goodbye to the others we went back to base camp.
This group was also very nice a bit smaller so I could learn to know them all a bit better. Building week was very nice again. We couldn’t finish the wall because we were with few people. It was also getting warmer and warmer so sometimes it was very hard to work. We were working in a kind of valley were there was not too much wind. The difference of this place is that the locals were helping us sometimes building the wall. We were very happy with the extra help. There was a 7-year-old child helping us all the time. I was amazed by his endurance and strength! He lifting up rocks of 20 kilograms and drinking not too much and it was all so normal for him. A real great guy. I also met the local farmer there with whom I talked a bit when he was visiting our camp on the last day. We were talking about the local news and sharing some food and our experiences. Was very nice to talk to him.
The build week we went to base camp again and rest a bit after working hard. In that weekend they tolled us about the plan of the government that they wanted to kill the elephant that killed the local man a few weeks ago. So our plan was to try to stop the man who was hired to do that. We were very sad about the mentality of the government just to kill him. They didn’t even know which one it was.
ON petrol week we didn’t encounter elephants at all!! On the other hand we were happy that they were so hard to track. But the new people that were not on the last week were a bit sad that they didn’t see to many elephants. We tracked them all the way to Brandberg but couldn’t find them. But because of that we saw really beautiful places! So it was not a pity at all.
IN the end were back at base camp and talking about our experiences. After that we were preparing our way back to Swakopmund.
The guidance we had on the project was perfect! We did allot ourselves but when we had questions they were always there! I am them all thankful for making this project work! I hope they can do this still for a long long time!
I had the time of my life there and I will never forget this time in Namibia.
Thank you Kine for bringing me into contact with the Desert Elephant project.
I hope I told you enough, I hope it is not too much, and sorry again that I am a bit late with this.
Kind regards,
Alexander"
Alexander, deltaker på Desert Elephant i Namibia
"Hi Kine,
Sorry for the late reply,
My stay at the desert elephant project for very very nice! When I came to Namibia at first there was a guy waiting for me to pick me up to bring me to chameleon backpackers. This man was very helpful and could contact them whenever I was in trouble. At first there was a miscommunication with Rachel because I first wanted to do a safari. So they were expecting me already the day after I arrived. Because I was on safari and didn’t have Internet they thought I disappeared somewhere in Namibia.
When I came back from the safari I took a shuttle to Swakopmund that I already booked before I went on safari. When I arrived in Swakopmund I was precisely on time for the briefing. I met all the new arrivals and the people that were already there. They were all very interested and very nice. After the briefing I could have some conversation and where they were coming from. I already made some friends and we went out to dinner somewhere in Swakopmund.
The next day we were already going to base camp. The trip was nice but very cold! I’m happy I took my sleeping back into the car so I could sit into it. The trip was in the beginning very boring because there was only sand. Like a big beach. But after a while the Brandberg was in site and some other very beautiful hills. The nature was so very beautiful!! The sun was going down and made it even more beautiful! When arriving at base camp we were very lucky because the elephants were passing the camp, that was my first encounter with the elephants and was impressed about there presents. But they tolled us to be careful because a local man was killed and the elephants were really nerves. After they moved further we settled in the camp. The camp is so simple but so beautiful! Everything was there that you need toilet, shower and even a kitchen.
My first night in base camp and sleeping under the stars was amazing I felt so free! Sometimes you could here the baboons screaming in the night what was a bit scary because it sounded that they were very close. Also an elephant passed our camp, we heard some footsteps from a very heavy animal and a shade so it must have been an elephant.
The first week of build week started. We were with the 17 of us in the middle of nowhere close to an elephant trail where they past regularly. There was a very good atmosphere within the group and everyone was helping along. Every day there was another couple that was cooking and cleaning. We started to build the wall; there was already some foundation so we could find sand and rocks for building the wall. Always one person had to sit on the water tower to look if there are some elephants coming. This tower was so old and moving that it was a bit scary but very fun. There was a local man who was helping us building the wall someone with some experience. Whenever we had some questions we could ask him. His name Gerson and was a very nice man who was smiling allot. Because we were the 17 of us the building went quite fast and we could finish it. Everyone was so dirty of building because we didn't have a shower for 5 days, haha! That was very funny. Fortunately we had some babywetwipes to clean ourselves a bit else it would terribly dirty. Because of this there was a very good atmosphere in the group and everyone grew to each other.
After finishing the wall we could spend some time in a nearby lodge where we could drink some beer and eat some. That was a very nice gift after working hard for 5 days. In the weekend we went back to base camp where we could relax a bit and clean our cloth and take a shower finally, everyone was definately looking forward to this shower!
Then the next Monday we started out for petrol, and that was luxury after building week. We were scouring out for the elephants sitting in the land cruiser in the burning sun. It was heaven! When driving true the riverbed we came across allot of elephants. There presents always amazed me so much, they are so mighty beast, so strong and big, but so quite and patient. After searching for them and sleeping underneath the beautiful sky the first term came to an end. We had back to base camp to prepare for next days journey to Swakopmund.
IN Swakopmund we went for shopping and partying. But in the end it was hard to say goodbye to the group members. We grew all so much together and now you had say goodbye. IN the weekend I also met the new members that were going with the next term. The group was a bit smaller, about 7 people. After meeting them and saying goodbye to the others we went back to base camp.
This group was also very nice a bit smaller so I could learn to know them all a bit better. Building week was very nice again. We couldn’t finish the wall because we were with few people. It was also getting warmer and warmer so sometimes it was very hard to work. We were working in a kind of valley were there was not too much wind. The difference of this place is that the locals were helping us sometimes building the wall. We were very happy with the extra help. There was a 7-year-old child helping us all the time. I was amazed by his endurance and strength! He lifting up rocks of 20 kilograms and drinking not too much and it was all so normal for him. A real great guy. I also met the local farmer there with whom I talked a bit when he was visiting our camp on the last day. We were talking about the local news and sharing some food and our experiences. Was very nice to talk to him.
The build week we went to base camp again and rest a bit after working hard. In that weekend they tolled us about the plan of the government that they wanted to kill the elephant that killed the local man a few weeks ago. So our plan was to try to stop the man who was hired to do that. We were very sad about the mentality of the government just to kill him. They didn’t even know which one it was.
ON petrol week we didn’t encounter elephants at all!! On the other hand we were happy that they were so hard to track. But the new people that were not on the last week were a bit sad that they didn’t see to many elephants. We tracked them all the way to Brandberg but couldn’t find them. But because of that we saw really beautiful places! So it was not a pity at all.
IN the end were back at base camp and talking about our experiences. After that we were preparing our way back to Swakopmund.
The guidance we had on the project was perfect! We did allot ourselves but when we had questions they were always there! I am them all thankful for making this project work! I hope they can do this still for a long long time!
I had the time of my life there and I will never forget this time in Namibia.
Thank you Kine for bringing me into contact with the Desert Elephant project.
I hope I told you enough, I hope it is not too much, and sorry again that I am a bit late with this.
Kind regards,
Alexander"
Alexander, deltaker på Desert Elephant i Namibia