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What was the accommodation like? Oh my goodness the accommodation was absolutely wicked! There were two areas where the volunteers lived; either in the volunteer house or in Wendy houses which were in front of the wild baboon and lion enclosure. I was lucky enough to be allocated a Wendy with 4 other girls. Inside the Wendy there were two bunk beds and a single, 2 spacious wardrobes and a little ensuite in the corner. The rooms were very spacious which was good as when we had the baby baboons in our beds everything was hidden and tucked away as to ensure that nothing got pinched! What did you think of the programme? I cannot even begin to explain how fantastic and life changing the experience has been. The determination and ultimate aim of all the permanent workers i.e. the family, is so awe-inspiring. It is such a rewarding programme as it is so hands on and you just don't realise where the days go…4 weeks was just not enough for me. The way that the programme was organised was really good as we were all divided into teams and giving a set of animals to take care of. It's such a life changing experience as you get encouraged to try anything and everything from cutting up meat at food prep straight after breakfast to trying to catch and relocate animals…which is extremely difficult from personal experience.
In one instance, I had to do the nappies myself and had to leave the two of the babies, one of which was Donovan, to show another volunteer their vervet monkey which they would be having for the night. When I came back Donovan was screaming so loudly and my peer, who stayed with them, said he started as soon as I left the room. But, when I came back he quietened down a little bit and jumped straight onto me and calmed down then went to sleep almost automatically. So I then had to put three nappies on him who was clung to my chest and then quite artistically put three nappies on the other baboon who was being held by my friend. We then had to take them to our room for the night and, it wasn't the first time I had a baboon in my bed, but he was so affectionate and like a little baby so that if I moved he would make his “scared sound” and grab me! I miss him a lot but not the sleepless nights!!! Did your programme and destination meet your expectations? I decided, before I went on the programme, to go with the attitude to expect the unexpected as to not be disappointed and to fully enjoy absolutely everything. I think that that was one of the most important decisions that I made as even Frikki, who looks after the volunteers, said himself to expect the unexpected and to be ready to just drop everything and help elsewhere on gamp camp. For instance, we needed to relocate some lionesses and were in the middle of cleaning our animal enclosures when the bell was rung, so we had to leave our brushes behind and run to the truck to go and help. The programme was just absolutely fantastic and was so much more fantastic and awesome than anything that I had premeditated it to be like.
How have you benefited from your experience? How have you changed? As aforementioned, I have become a lot more confident in myself. My love for animals has dramatically increased, I have learnt that I don't need to change myself for something that someone wants me to be, have become more relaxed, my stomach has become a lot harder from chopping up various parts of a horse to get meat…I have just benefited so much! What advice could you offer to someone considering this programme? If the programme catches your eye just go for it. I was drawing circles about whether to go or not and I am so glad that I have done. If you have a love for animals and want to do something that is completely wacky and different this is the programme for you. There is a lot of hard work involved but the experience that you will gain and many other different factors takes your mind off minor back pain and muscle strain (only joking!). It is a fantastic opportunity to work as a team and meet a very diverse amount of people from all over the world, who have their own stories and reasons for coming to “Noah's Ark”. The term Noah's Ark really does sum up what the founder of the programme and her family does every single minute of every single day. You will find yourself doing things that are out of your comfort zone but my only advice to you is to trust everyone around you and to remember that everyone is probably feeling the same thing! SO DON'T PANIC! Just try everything and anything and you will be surprised and very proud of yourself. HAKUNA MATATA (A very applicable phrase to my stay!)  Further information on the Noah's Ark Wildlife ConservationReturn to Africa Travel Stories |
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