The end is coming closer by each day going by. The month in the bush is almost over and the overall vibe in camp has definitely changed.
The final tests and assessments are upon us and the pressure and uncertainty is clearly present and visible. There seems to have been a turn towards a more individual thinking and a bit less group orientated. Everyone wants to achieve and get the results and certifications.
These final days will be filled with game-drives and walks led by the students, hopefully giving even more opportunities for some nice photos and to just be a real tourist!
Last night gave us the opportunity to blow of some steam as we had a good-bye dinner for Ralph and MJ, the camp-managers since well over a year back. The evening certainly provided good laughs and some weird competitiveness mixed with a few drinks. This group has certainly got its fair share of crazy souls.
This morning wasn’t really overfilled with too much energy. The fact that we had the time off for preparations up until after lunch, was well received and provided an opportunity to recover a bit for the afternoon activity – Rifle practice.
It was time to try on the art of shooting fire-arms with live rounds, which was the first time ever for me. I’ve never been a big fan of guns, but I was really looking forward to trying it. Is it really giving you that rush that you can hear people talking about? Well, I must admit that it did come with a certain rush and it did get my adrenaline pumping. It was a good experience, and that’s also mainly to the way it was all done – with a high professional, ethical and respectful attitude.
We all had a go at the three targets, placed at 5, 10 and 15 meters, in two turns, trying out a caliber .308 and a caliber .375. The kick from the .375 was mighty powerful and certainly provided a few of us with a bruised and sore shoulder. That kicking horse is a beast.
Getting 51 out of 60 is quite good for a complete novice.
For more and bigger photos from our wildlife adventures in South Africa and Botswana, see our photo gallery on Flickr.
