Wow, I can’t begin to explain the brain storms, deliberations, extreme ideas, questions, emotions and soul searching that we have been through in the past 3 months. Since arriving back in Joburg for Christmas, John and I spent some time with our families and have been bunking with my mum while we considered our next move. We had a few things to get sorted out such as fixing poor Cruiser who got bashed up in Namibia. While hanging around, we kept ourselves busy and even managed a couple of weekends away, a refreshing break from the hustle and bustle. Once the summer rains had subsided the flowers this year were just so beautiful, so I have included some photos in this blog for lack of other photos!
While doing some life planning, we realised we had depleted our savings quite significantly and so we started to look around at possible job opportunities. After deciding the call of the bush was still strong, we looked for a job which would put us in the wilderness but offer some sort of income. So we searched in a variety of industries such as conservation, NGO’s, lodge management, research and journalism but found them all very tricky to get into and with huge experience requirements. After having our CV’s with a few recruiters we finally cracked an interview for a lodge in Botswana. So we took a road trip up to Kasane in Botswana, a location we were now fairly familiar with after our volunteer work at a lodge across the river there last year. The drive was beautiful from sunrise over the Nylsvlei to the elephant and animals along the national road passing Nata. Everything was looking green and lush after the rainy season.
The job entails John and I being ‘relief managers’ for the 2 lodges and a conservancy office in the north of the Okavango Delta on the Selinda Spillway. The lodges fall under the Great Plains Conservation company, and are predominantly owned by Beverly and Dereck Joubert, well known wildlife documentary film makers (many of you would have watched their amazing movies on National Geographic – The Eye of the Leopard is one of the more recent ones). So we were thrilled to be working with like minded people who place conservation at the forefront and who strive to ensure their lodges are as sustainable and as eco-friendly as possible.
We were able to actually get up to the lodges which entailed an hour’s flight from Kasane in a plane that makes the back of a mini look like a limousine, but the views over the Delta and the river channels were spectacular. Once we had landed we took a drive around the reserve to meet the various managers and gawk at the two lodges, which are truly beautiful. We didn’t take any photos (some of the photos included here are taken directly from the website below to give you an idea) so you will have to check out the camps at their website (http://www.greatplainsconservation.com/). Zarafa Camp is the more exclusive camp with only 8 beds and has the most amazing setting while Selinda Camp has 18 beds and is fairly busy all year round. All the people and staff we met were friendly and welcoming and we had a fun night with divine food.
We then had dinner with the CEO and HR manager in Kasane, got all our documents in a row – one of which entailed us being declared by the local doctor that we are not (and I quote) ‘an imbicile’ or 'an idiot'!! We took it easy on the drive back and took 2 days to get home, avoiding donkeys and Mopane worms on the roads! We then met Dereck and Beverly as our last ‘interview’ and we can confirm that we have the job – Wow. We now await our work permits and then we will be heading up there to start!
With such an extreme lifestyle change we were slightly apprehensive and spent some time talking to people who have been in the industry. Their input has been invaluable and we feel we can cope with the stress and requirements.
We understand the job is demanding with long hours and constant attention to guests and detail. But the flip side of the coin is just so appealing – living in a true wilderness area (no fences, no boundaries, something different every day), contributing towards conservation initiatives, working with friendly and competent staff and being able to get involved with hands on conservancy management. Another great perk is the one month off we have after a three month stint. Which means we will be able to continue to travel with our trusty cruiser and see more of this great continent.
So it’s just a waiting game at the moment – our work permits are submitted and we are waiting for our waiver. We could be up there in a matter of weeks. In the meantime we are frantically getting ourselves sorted for our new adventure. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank our mum’s, family and friends for supporting us and providing sound advice during the past few months. I know it has not been easy at times but we appreciate everything you do for us and are grateful to have you in our lives.
John and I will next blog from the camps as we are connected to the internet, but no cell phones or TV (thank goodness). I hope to hear some great stories from those of you who have also decided to do more travelling and try new experiences – life is for living. I will leave you with some words of wisdom from the Dali Lama:
‘Man sacrifices his health in order to make money. Then he sacrifices his money to recuperate his health. Then he is so anxious about the future that he doesn’t enjoy the present. As a result he doesn’t live in the present or the future. And he lives as if he is never going to die, and then dies, having never really lived’.
To health, happiness and new experiences....
Love Liz 
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