Only one full day left of the month in the bush. It’s amazing how time flies when you’ve got loads to do and lots of fun. I came here a bit worried about the length, thinking that this will be a long time to spend in the bush. But it has just flown by and it’s with a bit of sadness that I’m writing this last post from Selati.
Assessments done and over with
All assessments are now done and over with and there are quite a few newly certified guides that I believe will be a great addition to the industry.
It’s been a rollercoaster ride from day one. We’ve all shared a lot here. Laughter’s, disappointments, achievement’s, happiness, it’s all been shared and close friendship’s has been made. I’m sure we’ll all feel at bit of sorrow tomorrow when it is time to say good bye to each other.
A changed man
The plain thought of the amount of information that has been passed on to us all, and the amount of knowledge that we’ve got is hard to come to terms with. One whole month of continuous new information…It’s been hard to grasp it all, but I’m sure that in due time as things have sunk in a bit, I’ll know I’ve learned a lot here, besides the fact of just being in the bush and reconnecting with Nature.
Question now I guess, is to ask myself if the course and time in the bush has changed me at all and have I been reconnected with Nature as I wanted to?
The saying that you’ll never be the same man as you were before a long journey is fully justified here.
I’ve changed a fair bit in my views and values to the better I believe. Seeing Nature as the complex, magnificent and epical living form it is, you can’t deny the fact that Nature is what control us all and it is what flow through us.
Reconnected with Nature
The feeble attempts from mankind to try to harness and control Nature, only to see it slip through their hands, show us all that we mustn’t try to control it, but to listen to it, to learn from it and to follow the way it shows us. I’m not going philosophical here but it is hard to keep something that grand, simple.
We don’t need to go all Thoreau here or do the full Into the Wild journey to reconnect with Nature. Doing the month in the bush with EcoTraining is something that I believe everyone should try on if time allows. It provides a wealth of knowledge and understandings with the option to do a full certification. Or you could do it for a full two weeks with all the interaction and experience, but without the tests and certifications. A small interest at least in Nature is a plus, but for the average novice “Nature-dweller” it isn’t a need, it’s just a bonus. You’ll learn to love it. I can guarantee it.
This is the first big step on a journey into the wild that will reconnect you to Nature.
Thanks to the gang
I want to take this time to dedicate a few thoughts to new found friends in the group that I might not meet any more after tomorrow.
Ash, the crazy Brit/Swiss/Sefrican cowboy that has given this group the humor, uplift and energy at all times. Without you it would indeed have been a lot harder. Thanks for believing in me and seeing my Petonq qualities, making me raise to World Champ! Hope to share a few beers with you again in the future mate!
Charlie, the Aussie I had to spend my nights with. This young raging bull straight out of the Australian island, that almost trampled me to death at times in our tent. Good times mate, but I’m not going to miss your smelly feet!
Lindsey, the feisty sheila from Down Under with a very strong opinion. The talks in front of the fire, the friendly banters, the effortless tries to teach me trees and the constant reminder of me being old. Will miss it all and best of luck back home in Oz!
Justin, the South African equivalent of Crocodile Dundee, the Brahma bull with his everlasting energy and alpha male bare chest with techno music pounding from the earphones. Good luck with the birds buddy and e
Souqi – The global child that I still haven’t figured out which country she actually belong to. I’ve never seen a human being consume those amounts of coffee on a daily basis.
Nick – the other half of the South African young guns together with Justin. The biggest drink bill in a week in EcoTraining’s history. Respect mate!
Ralph and MJ – The place wasn’t the same after your departure. We’ll be in touch!
My journey continues tomorrow to Botswana for a few days followed by a few more days in Cape Town before going home.
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