By Natalie Liquindoli (University of Vermont)
February 28, 2017
As the week went on students continued going out on morning transects with Ben, Kaggie, and the trackers. The students staying behind in camp kept themselves occupied by catching up on reading for classes, playing cards, jamming to some music, and catching up on sleep by taking naps under the tree.
Joe looking for animal tracks in our control transect
We were all starting to feel a little grimy as our legs were covered in mud, dirt was caked under our nails, and applying sunscreen meant spreading around grains of dirt and grass. However, to our delight, mother nature gave us a little gift with a 20 minute torrential down pour. Ben, Tilly, Harrison, and I took this opportunity to take a very luxurious shower. As water was pouring off the tarp Tilly and I stuck our head underneath the large tarp (that was hung up for shade) where the water was running off, we lathered our hair up with conditioner, and washed it all out. While we were doing that, the guys were running around in just their shorts, up and down the road trying to wash off. It wasn’t the same as taking a steamy shower back home, but it sure made our day.
The sunset the night before we left the Setata Fence
Our last night at camp based at the Setata fence, trackers Xaashe and Nature showed us a little game called Hope Chija. In the Bushmen culture, members use this game to solve disputes between each other based on who wins the game. The two who are disputing are labeled as either Lighting or Steenbok and then the game begins. Throughout the game, you are faking each other out with random hand movements, but the goal is to commit to sticking your hand out at the same time as the other person and you gain a point depending on which hand you put out. The Steenbok wins a point if both players put out their hand and they are straight across (steenbok puts out their left hand and lightening puts out their right hand or vice versa). Lightening wins when each player puts out the same hand (ex. right and right) and they line up diagonally. The game continues until one of the of the player gains five points and then the dispute is solved. All of the student were able to test it out with each other and the Bushmen around the fire; we all had a good laugh at the different sounds each person makes for their fake outs and their committed strikes.
Mary and I demonstrating how to play (Lightening here has won)
The next morning, we said a sad good-bye to Karo, Xaashe, Joe, and Nature (see top photo). We then headed to Feline Fields Safari in order to fix up some of our trucks and spent the night there chatting with all of the workers as it was the off season. The students were all able to finally take a real shower in one of the very fancy rooms and sit out on a balcony that opened out to the savanna while waiting for their turn. Everyone there was very generous as they continuously helped us with our vehicles, helped us put up our tents, and cooked us food. So far everyone has been so nice in Botswana; even when we drive by people walking on the side of the road they will wave and say hello.
After a few mishaps that occurred on the drive back to Maun, we arrived back at the Island Safari campsite. After such a long day and two weeks of field work, we set up camp and slept late into the morning the next day. We have been spending the past few days enjoying the food available at the lodge such as a big breakfast and pizza for dinner as we prep for our next expedition out into the field. On March 3rd we will be heading out to Mababe for 17 days. We are now currently prepping for our exams coming up next week testing us on bird calls, plant/tree types, and animal tracks and scat. Wish us luck!
Gemsbok (oryx)
Top photo: Saying our goodbyes to the Bushmen (from left to right: Karo, Joe, Nature, Kaashe)