Great looking kitchen

I cannot believe how quickly the last week went. Monday Susanne and I cleaned out the kitchen in the boma. We moved all the racking and gave the whole place a good scrub including the floor and when we had finished it looked really good for about 10 minutes before the first dirty boot print appeared.

Tuesday we were able to watch the vet darting and treating Bliksem the rhino. It was really interesting to see the whole process and to get an understanding of methods and the risks involved in treating such a large animal. He is fine after the treatment.

Puffadder and genet

Back at the boma we worked with John to clear out sort and clean all the crates used for animal moves. Huge wooden leopard crates to small bird boxes we moved them all out. Susanne moved a crate lid and coiled up in the corner was a snake. John removed it and showed it to us. It was a puff adder. Quite docile but it has a very fast strike. It was relocated outside the compound and disappeared off into the bush.

While we were working we was watched all the time by a small genet that lives in the boma. It is a small hunting cat with a very pretty face. All the crates now look neat and tidy.

It will be a while before I eat chicken again

Wednesday we all went to Tzaneen for animal feed supplies and to pick up bags of chicks for the rehab patients. During my stay I have skinned and chopped hundreds of day old chicks for feeding. It will be a while before I can face eating chicken again.

We have managed to get a bit more of the painting done at the camp when we have been there. It has not all been work; we have had a couple of drives to the plains to watch the sunset with a couple of beers. What a way to end the day.

I have become very attached the owls with twice daily feed. The eagle owl that was poisoned is doing ok although still needs hand feeding. The two small owls are so cute and are now starting to feed themselves and the two bigger eagle owl chicks look after themselves which is just as well as feeding them when they were in the rehab centre was always a battle. I discussed it with them one day to decide who was in charge and it was pretty certain that they were.

Saturday we all went with Louise in the evening to Tzaneen for a meal, which was very good.

I have only a couple of days left now before I go home. It has been really enjoyable to come back and see what has changed and to hear all the future plans for SanWild.

To see Susanne again has been a delight and although she has always said she cannot cook the meal she prepared last night was excellent.
I like to think that one day I will be back again.

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