Gap Year Experiences

Sunsets and Rhino

Friday 23 January 2009

I should begin by saying I only have 2 days before my return to England, my Pepper Experience being almost over. I've been working for Pepper for just over a year now and figured that I could squeeze in a visit (or a nip across in Johnny’s words) before University starts in February and experience the trip out in South Africa. It’s been quite a couple of weeks as I’m sure you’ve all read so I’ll only catch you up on our most recent adventures.
I have just learned how to play poker! It has taken 21 years but as I learned in my first proper game I’m a bit of a pro at the game. As much as I can say this is a life achievement I’m sure you’d all much rather hear about the game reserves! We are currently in a reserve about 3 hours north-east of Jo-burg called Loskop, it’s a government protected area so there are only 10 of us in the whole place and no public allowed along all but one road. This gives you the most amazing feeling of isolation and a real peace. We spent the first few days learning about tracking with our field guides. I think amazingly one of my favourite spots was the Golden Brown Baboon Spider in its hole, which are apparently very rare, so often monitored and tagged! One of our guides Mark took us tracking all Monday morning. The idea was that we each had to follow the prints and spoor of the illusive White (now Square Lipped) Rhino. Having followed prints, fresh dung, broken branches and rolling patches for several hours in the scorching African Sun it was decided that they had outpaced us and so called it quits. However later that day on a game drive and Sundowner (drinks and sunset) with other guide Kenneth he screeched the safari truck to holt to reveal four rhino’s munching on grass less than 100 metres away. Enthusiastic Kenny persuaded us all to get off the truck and follow him very carefully into the bush to have a better look. What a completely amazing experience, all of us grouped around the base of a fairly substantial tree in complete silence and awe. We were being watched very carefully by a group of very uncomfortable looking Rhino while Kenny’s rather unsettling comments about them covering the ground between us in 4 seconds flat reached our ears. We eventually managed to peel ourselves away having taken an obscene amount of photographs and with a very happy group and headed off for drinks on the water’s edge. The drive home descended into mayhem when we all discovered we could imitate the baboons that were surrounding us in the truck. Carrie’s call invited a very excited response from the alpha male and Kenny’s got a very defensive bark. By the time we left the conversation had reverted to a caterwaul between human and monkey, all of us with the complete giggles as well. I think all of us would say that is was one of our favourite moments and to top it off, it ended with a spectacular African sunset and Braai (BBQ).

After the amazing few days doing tracking it all rather changed tack with a 3 day photography course. I have to admit, we all have nice compact digital cameras, but I can say without a doubt we all really had no knowledge of them past the Auto setting. I’m now a huge fan of the Macro setting and am contemplating getting a battery with higher mAh, new memory cards, and even understand F-stops and ISO (almost). I think you’ll have to wait till we all arrive back in England to see all our amazing skills but until then you’ll just have to take my word for it that I’m the next David Bailey/Mario Testino. Honestly! I shall leave you with my one and only blog from this trip and hopefully send the sun from here to England ready for my arrival back in the country on Monday.

Love from SA,
Francesca

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Gearing up for the Game Reserves

Friday 16 January 2009

After our exploits on the river and back at the Lodge on Tuesday, Wednesday was mostly quiet with the guys cruising the picture-postcard streets and art galleries of Clarens and chilling out in the garden. There were a few sore heads from the night before, most of which were got rid of with a very pleasant evening walk up the nearest hill for some wonderful views of the town and the mountains beyond as the sun went down.

Yesterday we made the drive back to Johannesburg stopping on the way for important Game Reserve items like headtorches and more suncream! The evening's entertainment was a trip to the famous local Bowling Club, not for tips on Lawn Bowls though, its a popular spot for students, boasting good music and unbelievably cheap drinks. A good night was had by all.

This morning we head back out of the city to the Loskop Dam Game Reserve. Here we will spend a week at a fantastic Lodge in the hands of one of the local experts doing some tracking, photography and learning about the flora and fauna around us.

We might be out of touch for a few days due to the remoteness of our location but we'll be sure to post an update as soon as we can. The first photos of the trip will be on this blog in no time too just as soon as we sort out one or two technical issues.

Doug

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Whitewater rafting and art gallerys

Wednesday 14 January 2009

Greetings from the beautiful little town of Clarens. Our January 2009 experience is now fully underway and after 3 days we already have a few nice sunburns to celebrate everyone leaving the English winter behind and arriving in the South African summer.

Everyone arrived safely on Sunday after a few short flight delays. After a quick powernap at our base in Johannesburg, we spent the evening at the beautiful Moyo restuarant overlooking Johannesburgs Zoo Lake. An amazing buffet consisting of a variety of African food mixed with a few cocktails and some good conversation was followed by an early night for everyone.

Monday morning we packed up Peter the Pepper bus and headed 3 hours south to where we are now in Clarens. We have come down here for a few days of orientation. Its a chance for everyone to get to know each other a bit better and for everyone to go through all the smaller details of the trip that need chatting about. Clarens is the perfect place for our orienation this year as it is a very beautiful little town, innhabited by a high number of artists and surrounded by stunning mountain scenery. The perfect place to relax and acclimatise to South Africa.

However, the main reason we are in Clarens is the exact opposit of relaxing. We came down to take advantage of one of the best whitewater rafting rivers in the country. Tuesday was spent on the river with local guides. They took us down the crystal clean water of the Ash river, featuring some very fun grade 3 and 4 rapids! It defintely got everyones adrenalin pumping. The day on the river set the scene for a few drinks last night and a sleep-in this morning.

Tommorrow its back to Johannesburg and we begin our Game Reserve programme on Friday, which everyone is seriosuly looking forward to.

Cheers for now

Vince

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3 Month Experience Under Way

Monday 12 January 2009

Everyone arrived safely in Johannesburg yesterday and the January 2009 Pepper Experience has now begun. They are all off on their orientation at the moment, soaking up the sun and finding out all that is in store for the next three months in South Africa. Vince and Doug will be in touch soon giving us all the latest info from the trip.

A slightly different outlook here at Pepper HQ!!:


cheers, Johnny

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Doug's intro

Tuesday 6 January 2009

I am overjoyed to be writing this blog in the beautiful surroundings that is the home of Vince Dickson. After just 1 day in the roasting heat of Cape Town in full summer its almost impossible to recall the pain of the sub-zero temperatures and greyness of southeast England.

My very own Pepper Experience has started and if the first 24 hours are anything to go by then we're in for some serious fun. An introduction to the local area from Tour Guide Vince by way of the Pepper Van and a visit to a beach of real quality (the Clifton 4th) was followed by a braai of gigantic proportion, manned by no less than four local experts.

Its down to business now though, as we make all our final preparations and cross-checks before we head to Jo'burg on Friday to meet the team of adventurers, from where we start Pepper's first trip of '09 on Jan 11.

See you then...

Doug