Day 3: Darting Practice, ancient baobab, and Wild Dogs

 Today was a relaxed start, with breakfast together at 7:00 am: scrambled eggs, flapjacks (small thick pancakes--pancakes here are what we call crepes) and bacon (sort of like thinly slice Canadian bacon). Today's muffins were chocolate (yesterday's were bran and the day before vanilla). I'm pleased to report that every student was ready, with lunch packed and supplies loaded in the van, well before the scheduled 8:00 am departure time. These students have the makings of some really great professionals!

We didn't have to drive very far, just a few miles to the airstrip on the same property we stay at. Once there, Carli gave a safety briefing, and everyone learned to handle the dart gun. She helped with the first round, then we were able to practice shooting at the target for several hours. Everyone was able to hit the target board, and it was impressive to see how well everyone improved even with this bit of practice. 

After everyone was feeling fairly confident, we went a little way past the town of Gravelotte to the giant baobab tree. This tree has been carbon dated to be 3800 years old! It grows 1.5 millimeters per year, bloming in December and January, then bearing fruit (it is known as the kremetart boom or cream tart tree in Afrikaans, as the pods are the natural source of the baking aid we call cream of tartar!). It as actually not technically a tree, but a giant succulent; it currently stores about 40,000 litres of water within its wood, and this water is potable. It has an interesting history. Its hollow has served as a hideout for tribal kings, a makeshift roadhouse, and a post office, and it was visited in the 1950s by soon-to-be-Queen Elizabeth shortly before her coronation--her initials remain carved in the trunk. We ate our lunches under her spreading branches, then explored the trunk cavity, climbed her and generally had a great time. Want to know how big the trunk cavity is? Watch this video!

We were back at the landing strip by 1:15 to meet Gerry with the helicopter. We each had the chance to fly twice--we paired up, with one in the front seat taking video and the shooter behind the pilot. Gerry is an expert pilot, and gives a fun flight, and positions us precisely for the most successful shot. Even so, it is challenging to manage the gun in the moving helicopter! Everyone at least hit the target board. Since I write the blog, I guess I get to brag that my dart hit closest to the bullseye, being only about 2 cm high. All agreed that shooting a dart gun out of a helicopter was by far the most badass thing they had ever done! Even students who were initially quite nervous about flying stepped up and gave it their best, and succeeded! I hope that they can use this experience as a benchmark to find the confidence for taking on future challenges. They are so capable! There was so much support and cheering for one another. They are truly a wonderful group of young adults. 

We had nearly an hour to float down from our adrenaline highs before our next activity, so we returned to the lodge for a break. After washing a thick layer of dust from my face, and lying under a tree looking at the sky, I felt ready for anything once again. 

We drove again just a bit further than the baobab tree to a reserve where they are breeding African Wild Dogs. As I mentioned before, these are endangered, and this is one of the private efforts to help build a strong population for release. I had never seen a pack as large as this before--23 dogs. Standing there with them so close on the other side of the fence during the golden hour seemed like magic. 

With another delicious supper awaiting, I will finish this later. I don't want to leave it too late, as I need time to wash half of South Africa's topsoil out of my hair. And we are on standby tonight--if the hyena with the snare wound comes in to the bait site, we will mobilize immediately to meet Rita there to help with treatment. Hope it shows up!!!