By Helena Karcher, Weber State
As I stepped onto the tarmac at Maun International Airport, ears still popping from the quick descent from the sky, I read the sign on the building: “Welcome to Botswana.” Wow! Who would have ever thought I’d make it here? I sure didn’t! But there I was, about to enter the airport, get the third stamp in my first ever, brand new passport, and start the adventure that I had only ever been able to dream about before now.
Welcome sign at Maun International Airport
Despite the months upon months of preparation, I was still feeling unprepared. I hadn’t processed the reality of the trip and was still in disbelief. Because of this, on top my struggle with social anxiety, adjusting to camp life with a bunch of people that I had just barely met was quite difficult, to say the least. But as we got into our routine at Island Safari Lodge, met more and more people, and time flew by, things got easier. However, even on the drive to our first concession in Mababe, when we saw the first group of giraffe next to the dirt road, I still felt like my eyes were deceiving me.
The first giraffe (Giraffa giraffa) sighting of the trip!
I can’t decide if our time in Mababe went by super-fast or very slow, but I do know that the experience was a one of a kind, beautiful thing. The first few days was an influx of new information to remember. We learned about the local birds and mammals, techniques and procedures for driving transects, as well as keeping up with the readings for our lectures. I often felt like I was on the verge of panic, doubting my ability to remember all of the information that was coming in.
It wasn’t until we were settling in for the first night at Dizhana Camp in the bush of Botswana, Africa, that the realization hit me:
“I am here. I am doing this, and everything will be okay.”
Ula and I, very grateful to have this short running loop, despite the storm brewing in the background! The storms in Mababe have been intense this Wet Season!
When the day finally came for us to go out on our first official transect, I was nervous, of course, but I was also feeling a bit more comfortable and excited to finally get into the swing of things! My first transect was with one of our instructors, SB, who had so much knowledge of the things that were happening around us. My favorite moments were when he would stop the car to get out and grab a plant, and he would come back and tell us what it was called and what the locals used it for. I remember mentioning how pretty the water lilies that were growing in the river were, and he responded by telling me all about how the local people will dig up the roots, peel off the skin, and boil the roots for 5-6 hours with various meats to eat for dinner. Apparently the roots of water lilies have a meaty taste!
One of my favorite sightings so far, spotted during our first practice transect, was this Water monitor (Varanus niloticus)!
As the days continued, I noticed that I was becoming more familiar with the landscape, the plants, the mammals, and the birds (I was SO panicked about remembering the birds!). I was hearing birds and recognizing their calls. I was seeing plants and recognizing the species and their uses. I noticed that it was so much easier for me to recognize patterns, retain information, ask questions, and participate in discussions, things that I struggle with in a normal classroom setting.
I found that I was becoming more relaxed in general. Even when we had inconveniences, like the water in the ablutions suddenly not working, getting stuck in a giant mud puddle mid transect, or even finding a dead bird in our water, I found that I was looking at these situations with a positive attitude. These experiences emphasized for me that things don’t always go to plan, but they usually turn out okay anyway, and they sometimes provide a good story to tell.
A pan located on Transect 6 (T6). Another favorite sighting of mine were all the huge African bullfrogs (Pyxicephalus adspersus) swimming and crawling around in the back of this pan. Not pictured is the second pan on the other side of this stretch of sand, where a Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta) laid at the edge of the water, basking in the sun.
When it came time for our first Natural History Quiz, which is in the form of a nature walk, walking amongst the subjects of the quiz, I wasn’t panicked. In fact, I was feeling more confident than I think I’ve ever felt going into a quiz. I was confident that I had the answers, but I was also accepting of the fact that maybe I wouldn’t have them all. I got a 100% on that quiz.
By the time our concession was over, I couldn’t decide if our time in Mababe went super-fast or very slow, but I found myself missing it before we officially drove out, back to Island Safari Lodge, back to civilization, and I found myself dreading the reality of getting back into the real world of Wi-Fi and cell phone service.
I am so grateful for all of the experiences my cohort and I have had so far, and I am so excited to see what the rest of the semester has in store for us. Next stop: Mopane!
Sunset at Dizhana Camp in Mababe, Botswana. Picture cred -> Reese Widowski