Wild life

stilted shelter @Majete Community Campsite

To get the fire going for breakfast we brought along one of our map print-outs from the day before. The wood was plenty dry but a quick an easy fire-starter is helpful when, you know, it's been a while. The night watchman was entertained to see the mzungu lady setting the fire and was eager to help. Pointing at my supplies he asks "No plastic bag?". When I refused my ziplock bags - which at home I wash and re-use until they fall apart - he went off to find something, more suitable than my A4 sheet of paper. It seems that instead of paper, plastic is the go-to firestarter. Hm. This was an open air kitchen but what about all those fires made in huts? With plastic. It's hard not to wag a finger and claim a moral high ground. Air quality! Pollution! Health! But then, what else to do with the waste we  leave behind in a natural environment like this? Is it best burnt? It's hard to imagine our life at home without the city's garbage pickup service.

There really weren't many tourists around although we did get a glimpse of some other semi-permanent residents. Near to the campsite there was a student/ research camp, linked to Stellenbosch University in South Africa. A pretty spectacular location for a research-stay if you ask me. Maybe not easy considering the relative isolation. On a day off the pool up the road was one of the few places to go.

Stephen in the kitchen and PUMBAA! sighting

In the podcast we list the animals we saw and if you want to know more or discover what they look like you will probably have no problem getting Mr Google or Mrs Wikipedia to assist. We were not planning to add countless numbers of photos (but offer a glimpse anyway). Having said that, two of the animals may need an explanatory note.
The first is 'the Pumbaa'. It seems one of the best known warthogs is a Walt Disney character called Pumbaa (the Lion King, 1994) and this name has been widely adopted (or just by Osman & Stephen?). I do not think it is the Chichewa word for warthog. 

Also, we saw a Civet. Not a Civic. Not a car and not a cat. Sorry, is this confusing? The Civet used to be called the Civet Cat until it was decided it's not a cat at all. An unusual looking animal and now ... for the unexpected link to coffee: it is the Civet's Asian relatives that are responsible for Kopi Luwak or Civet Coffee (and if you've never heard of that you may want to watch 'the Bucket List').

wonders of creation (special shout out to @HoopoeNL: we saw one! an Upupa Africana)

With thanks to Kenneth & Osman of African Parks