Week 7 at Ulovane

After yet another 8am exam (on reptiles and birds) we start focussing on our practical drives this week. The first mock exam drives are in just over a week (starting with me!) and we all want to at least another 1 or 2 drives in with the students here before we have to do a "full guided experience" with the public and of course our assessors. In addition, this week we have the monster of theory week covering ecology, ethology (animal behaviour) and mammals which is huge! We have a wonderful informative drive with Schalk in the afternoon and are rewarded by seeing some wonderful mammals: 2 gemsbok and their baby, a rhino with her baby, a lioness and 2 elephants playing in the river (I was able to capture 5 minutes on video!)

 

 

By mid week people are feeling a little overwhelmed with all the work that has to be done before finals and we are surprised with a 2 day break in Port Alfred! In true Ulovane style we are given 30 mins to pack, bundled into a game viewer and after a few hectic minutes of push starting Heidi's car we are speeding down the highway with the wind blowing a gale through the open game viewer! We arrive safely (and partly frozen) in Port Alfred and settle into awesome beachfront cabanas before heading to the local pub/Italian/steakhouse for a few beers and some wood fired pizza - heavenly! Dessert of Dom Pedro's finish off the night and a bit more drinking and dancing on the sofas back home makes for a good night :) The rest of our time consists of lots of beach walking and 2 hours of glorious beach galloping at Beachcombers Horse trails with Johno - best horse riding I've ever done! We arrive back at camp armed with shopping bags full of goodies from Pick & Pay and we have to hunker down for 2 days of stormy weather, lots of practical driving sessions and lots & lots of very interesting information about animals and their behaviour!