So after the best and fastest month of my life, I am back and have finally sorted out all of my pictures! Unfortunately my camera ran out of battery and my solar charger didn't work so I only used my camera for the first few days, however some of the pictures I got were amazing quality!
After starting off in the school hall, saying goodbye to our parents in the rain and then travelling for 12 hours we finally made it to Zambia making it an extremely surreal day. We then took a prebooked bus to our campsite (and favourite place) called Jollyboys which we stayed at for our R&R phase.
During our four weeks in Zambia we had four phases to get through; our rest and relaxation, acclimitisation, main trek and project phase.
R&R phase
Vic Falls
The first day of our R&R we went to the world-known Victoria Falls which was absolutely AMAZING. Not just the Falls themselves but the sights like the boiling point and the jungle were literally breath-taking too. We spent all day looking at the sights, eating lunch and running away from baboons...
The boiling part was the best bit of Vic Falls as it was so relaxing and
beautiful, we all just sat there speechless taking in the natural
beauty and sun rays. We were even more astounded when we got told that
the wall to the left of us was Zimbabwe so we were SO close! (and people bungee jump off of the bridge, soo crazy)
Elephant Encounter
The day we met elephants was the scariest but most amazing of the whole trip! On the way there it was literally a safari, we were playing our usual games on the bus (some people having a nap) then all of a sudden Harry shouted "GIRAFFE!" so everyone looked at him then he said "No, genuinely a giraffe!!" and pointed out the window at the front of the bus, we all turned our heads to see the first wild giraffe we have all ever seen and we all went crazy with our cameras! A few metres up there were some impala doing their gracious leap and about half a mile further up the road there were a few zebras. It was literally the most surreal car journey I have ever had and probably will ever have and that was only the journey on the way to meet the elephants!
We then got to the encounter which was located on the Zambezi river which was the most beautiful sight. Each elephant had a name each (which they responded too!) and they even listened to what they were told, such as "sit down, stand up, trunk up, mouth open". It was extraordinary to see that they could understand what they were being told, not just by their owners but by us vistors too!
I was honestly petrified by the elephants even though they listened to what you were telling them, it was purely the fact that the man said "people say they are scared of mice, that is true because they are only scared of small things...so small people make no sudden movements". That statement made me scared for my life, literally. Also I am only 5ft1 tall and these elephants were easily at least 12ft! It took me a while to get used to them, I wouldn't go near any on my own (whereas some people sat on their knees feeding them!) but I did end up getting some really cool pictures!
This was easily my favourite day of the whole trip because not only did we have a mini safari on the way but we also got to meet, touch and feed elephants! I felt this day brought everyone together so much and when we got back to our campsite people were saying how happy they were and how lucky we are to be doing such things at the age of only 17 (or in my case still 16!) Jake even said "I would happily go home today and think that the £3500 was well spent", baring in mind this was only on day 3!
Sunset Cruise
Who says they have sailed down the Zambezi river in a boat watching the sunset go down? QUEENS TEAM 1, thats who! We were hippo searching and challenged ourselves to try and find a family of 5 hippos...we saw 7 at one time! We saw some incredible birds, wild elephants and a ridiculous amount of hippos and lots crocs! Again this day brought us together as a group and we were so happy, already feeling like a family!
I'm so glad we had our R&R in the first week because we got to have a real feel of how lucky we really were to be in such an amazing place especially with seeing all the wild animals, beautiful sunset and just becoming so close as a group in general. Whereas if we had a trek first for example, I feel there was a big risk of having a few arguments and grudges being held for the rest of the trip so for us, it could only get better from here!
To be continued...
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