Capetown to Johannesburg

Having survived the great white Shark diving, Sam and I headed back to Capetown for two reasons, a trip to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held a prisoner for many years and to see Quantum of Solace at the cinema! Both were superb. The stories by the former prisoners who show you around the prison were moving as was the destruction of the Aston Martin in the film!
After two sleepless nights in a dorm due to snoring man, i went up to Johannesburg to do my second project on the lanseria lion park leaving Sam to shop and sunbathe (dont worry i put factor 100 in her factor 30 bottle, she will never know:) ). I had my doubts initially because I had been told I was the only volunteer and being in a campsite on my own overnight was a bit of a concern, but I thought I would see how I got on. I expected the experience of working with the game park animals, including lions, leopards and cheetahs to outweigh the loneliness in the evenings. Sadly, it didnt! I arrived and was dropped off at a Zoo, not a park! i met the two volunteers who were going to be leaving on the Tuesday and with whom I would be doing a game drive in Pilanesburg national park on that Tuesday so i wasnt alone on that and being a saddo and talking to myself about the animals I had seen! The first day, i sat around eating an icecream, chatting to the AFrikaans who worked there (aged between 13 and 30) and I had a drive around the enclosures. All the lions and big cats are either ex circus or used in commercials or hand reared. The enclosures were small and not sufficient, in my mind for the sizes of them. I hadnt expected this. They sold the project on its conservation aspect and working possibly with lion cubs who may be handreared if mum isnt coping. Actually they take all the cubs away from the mums and hand rear them with no intention of reintroducing them into the wild and everyone who goes to teh Zoo can play with the cubs at Cubworld!! i admit it was amazing to cuddle a baby lion and I had my hand stroked by a leopard but i had serious doubts I could survive this for 2 weeks. The next day I sat for 2 hours collecting tickets and that was my days work! that was it. they said there was nothing mroe to do. having been working 8 hours a day at the community project and feeling shattered but very happy with what I was doing this was mind numbing! I decided to leave. there was no point in my mind wasting time somewhere knowing I wouldnt enjoy it. i did the game drive the next day and left the Wednesday. I have no regrets. I want to leave South Africa feeling proud of what ive done and feeling as though I have actually given something to the people here. i thought about doing some touring but decided to go back to the Community Project in St Lucia and thats where I am now until 19th. Andrew who runs the project met me from the airport and hadnt told anyone else I was coming back. Several of the volunteers i was with were still there and of course the guys I worked with. We walked in and they, expecting a new volunteer called Helen, saw me! ive never heard so much screaming and laughing. that felt good. i was actually missed!
The school term here has ended for summer holidays now, so we do holiday club with 4-12 year olds in the morning and then adult HIV education and building in the afternoon. This is more like it! Im off to the beach tomorrow for tanning and then working hard all week unti friday when I fly back to meet Sam in JOhannesburg when we will do the Soweto tour.
Its strange, this place now feels like home. the guys were like - you are home! its not but it is for a short while and I have no doubt I shall return here again sometime in the future.
and to make my week even better, We beat the scum 2-0 so happy dayz.
signed a very happy Sarah. x

Capetown to Johannesburg

Johannesburg, South Africa