My experience at the Okkie Jooste Nature Reserve

The bus trip toward the camp was lots of fun as all my friends were very excited to be spending time together. When we arrived at the camp site , it was a totally different world. The climate was much hotter then Belville and the scenic view was breathtaking. All cameras were out and many of us were taken aback by the view and pool area. The first thing we had to do was find a room. Of cause all the cliques went to their rooms and settled. My roommates and I however took a day to settle and call it home for the next few days. The team building exercises were the best. My team: The red blood wolves won most of the exercises and managed to get in trouble for scaring one of the facilitators (Lyle). Kitchen duty was fun too as most of the people in the red team knew what to do and where their help was needed. Cleaning the chicken was a mission because not a lot of people felt it was "hygienic". However, Enrico and I had to hang in there and clean a massive bag of chicken alone. 

The Frog talk and Introduction to South African biodiversity was educational and was an eye opener especially since I knew so little about frogs and the different calls they make. The stargazing experience was the most memorable as we had to sit in complete silence and just listen to the wonderful sounds of nature. Learning about the different stars, star signs and southern cross really made me appreciate this planet and the wonderful things that are found here. The talent show was fun due to many people opening up and sharing their crazy and weird personalities with the rest of the class.

Back to the dorm room. The crazy people in my life I call friends decided our room needed to be raided every night. Because our bunk beds happened to have place to sit, everyone felt it was the place to be. The first evening was fun. The music was loud, people were dancing and going crazy and others were having withdrawal symptoms from not being used to no alcohol every weekend. #Mango
Every night we went to sleep at about 12. EXCEPT for the evening before breakfast duty. Jodene and I had to get up super early (6 am) to shower and get ready to prepare cereal and eggs for the rest of the class. The struggle was real!!!! The snooze button probably went off 3 times before we decided to get up. The bed was so warm. Of cause I would prefer my bed. We were in for a real shocker! The damn showers had no warm water. Just to prepare yourself for a cold shower was the worst :(.

The hike was the worst. Not only because it was so hot but because it was a 3km walk and there was no shade plus we still had to fill in information regarding the hike. No water + no shade + sunburn = disaster !

Everyone slept on the way home. The camp had its ups and downs but in the end it brought a lot of us closer together.