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Trip to the Etosha Environmental Education Center — October 2005

Early on a Tuesday morning in early October, we loaded a hire combi with 14 grade 5 learners and headed North for Etosha. Etosha is the largest game park in Southern Africa and none of our kids had ever been there, even though it is very near to where most of them were raised.

In addition to the learners, there was Shannon, Beverly, Julian, and Rob - and visiting from Australia, Lisa Chee, Rani Fischer and Lincoln Dekalb.

The kids were very excited for the trip, some showed up 2 hours early with their snack lunches, and helped with loading the combi and trailer. The vehicles were filled to the brim with bodies, food and camping gear.

We were staying at the Etosha Environmental Education Center, which is just outside the Naumatomi camp in the Eastern side of the park. We had an 8-hour drive ahead of us and the park gates closed at dark, so we were off early.

The excitement started early when our hired combi broke down in Otjiwarongo, just 4 hours from Swakopmund. The kids ate their lunches in a shaded picnic area at the Shell station while I took the combi to the VW dealer in town. They were able to patch the clutch together to get us through the next few days. Our crack team handled the emergency with good professionalism, so I was proud of them.

After the minor road emergency, we headed North once again. Along the way, we spotted lots of warthog and baboon families by the roadside as well as the occasional ostrich, dik-dik, and kudu. The kids sang songs most of the way and the trip passed easily - at 5pm we were assembled in our camp at the Environmental Education Center.

That first night we made a huge pot of spaghetti for dinner and the kids broke into shifts to clean up. Like the little tennis players they are, it did not take long for them to get the paddles and balls out and fashion a net out of picnic table benches and the matches were on. Every free minute was spent playing paddle tennis under the shade of the common area.

Everyone was tired from the long drive in the heat so we had everyone in bed by 9:30. Tomorrow as an early morning game drive.

Early the next morning we set out on a game drive with two of the park rangers. We were able to use the park bus for maximum viewing area. It was cooler than usual and sadly, we did not see any elephants or lions that first day. We did see lots of zebra, kudo, oryx, dik-dik, wilderbeest and warthogs though, so it was still a good day of viewing.

After a 3 hour drive, we headed to Naumatomi camp where our kids invaded and quickly conquered the swimming pool. Of course, paddle tennis was played next to the pool in between swims. We spent most of the afternoon swimming and exploring the campsite and chasing after the meercats that are ever present on the grounds.

In the late afternoon, we went for another game drive and this time we saw our lions. we saw 2 young females stalking a herd of zebra. One of the lions walked right next to our combi and made the kids realize just how close they were to nature. It was a beautiful sight to see and we were happy for the experience.

After the game drive, we headed back to camp and once again there were paddle tennis matches going on in every possible space while we were preparing dinner. After a huge braai of meat and pasta salad and brotchens, the kids watched a nature video while we got a short rest from the chaos.

We were all very tired after a action packed day, so again we were not late for the beds.

The next morning, after breakfast and cleaning the facility, we loaded up and headed South towards Mondesa and home. The kids were very well behaved on the long drive and once again sang songs most of the trip.

It was a fun and educational trip we are already looking forward to taking next year's grade 5 to Etosha.

Click a thumbnail below to see an enlarged photo from the adventure.

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