I realize it may appear as though I gave up on my 2010 resolution of being more adventurous half way through the year, as I haven’t posted updates on my exploits. Don’t worry, I’ve quietly accomplished my goal and have one massive update to share my amazing adventures!
August…
One adventure I was determined to accomplish before I left this country was riding a donkey cart. Despite my co-workers inherent warnings I persevered and success was mine when one spring day I found two donkeys hitched to a cart enjoying a leisurely lunch mere blocks from my home.
Setting: The heart of Otavi’s location surrounded by curious onlookers, two goats, and a turkey.
Participants: Myself and 3 surprised donkey cart owners
Mission: To ride on a donkey cart, preferably one that goes really, really fast (at least donkey fast)
Courage: Medium, what are the odds of being killed by an errant donkey? My guess… it is substantially lower than being in a vehicle accident. Honestly, how would you rather leave this life, in a crumbled heap of metal courtesy of a drunk driver or trampled by a donkey? My vote, every time, is death by donkey.
Injuries: None, though my fingers were a bit stiff after I pried them from the side of the cart. Who would have thought those suckers actually do go donkey fast.
Level of Intensity: Medium, though I could see it increasing should the donkeys stage a coup and attempt an escape.
Probability of a Repeat Performance: Very high, I plan on mounting one of those babies again, preferably one that sports a Toyota cart; because, who doesn’t want to tool around in something that classy.
Degree of Coolness: Very high, why else would half the neighborhood stand outside on a Sunday afternoon and watch us take a spin around the block?
September…
One kudu, two kudu, three kudu, four. This adventure basically fell into my lap as I ever so kindly agreed to help a fellow American procure volunteers to participate in his game count. Over a period of three days and five 8-hour shifts, 20 volunteers counted the animals that strolled past their waterhole. All in all; a success. Now I just have to resolve myself to the implications that said lodge owner now knows how much game is available for hunters to shoot on his land.
Setting: 20,000 acres on the outskirts of Otavi
Participants: Myself and 19 fellow volunteers
Mission: To count game animals, hence the name, game count. Catchy isn’t it?
Courage: Low, as there was a very slim chance of being attacked by wild animals in our safe, little brick hidey-holes
Injuries: None, other than my blood sugar dipping very low after sitting in a hide for 15 hours. Although I’m sure my co-counter considered smacking me a few times as my hunger increased and my patience decreased.
Level of Intensity: Low; we hoped to see a leopard as there had been one in the area the previous evening chewing on a dead kudu mere feet from our door but alas we made due with kudu, wildebeest, hartebeest, dikdiks, giraffe, waterbuck, amongst other game.
Probability of a Repeat Performance: Medium, I enjoyed watching the game in their natural habitat but as I’ve seen the majority of these animals on multiple game drives it wasn’t particularly new. Although, I was interested in gauging the animals’ behavior as they gathered at the waterhole without external stimuli.
Degree of Coolness: Medium, it’s not too often that you are afforded an up close experience with indigenous African animals
October…
Setting: Dune Seven between Swakopmund and Walvis Bay
Participants: Myself and two friends
Mission: To sandboard, or more accurately, bellyboard, down Dune 7
Injuries: None, other than an impromptu panic attack, that incapacitated me as I sat halfway up the dune with my head between my legs.
Level of Intensity: I didn’t really consider sandboarding to be a particularly strenuous or difficult activity but I soon found that it is more difficult than I first anticipated to a) walk to the top of a dune of scorching hot sand, b) hold a flimsy piece of cardboard level so that I can both lie down on it as well as steer it down the dune, and c) not get the wretched excuse for a sandboard buried into the sand every 10 feet.
Probability of a Repeat Performance: Nil. Unless my next trip includes seasoned professionals and a board that is not made from a thin piece of corrugated cardboard
Degree of Coolness: There probably would have been a much higher coolness factor had I not had a panic attack and also managed to get down the dune in one smooth go.
November…
As I already dedicated an entire blog to machine guns and Waterberg I won’t bore you by retelling the tale. Instead, here’s a short recap of our rhino tracking experience…
Courage: I didn’t find the mission particularly daring though I managed to stand my ground while my fellow “trackers” ran screaming like little girls to hide behind the man with the machine gun.
Injuries: While I walked away unscathed I can’t necessarily say the same for the boys, they may have acquired a few bumps and bruises as they dove to the ground in fright
Level of Intensity: I’m guessing relatively high for the dozing rhino that awoke to find himself stared down by a bunch of tourist trackers
Probability of a Repeat Performance: High, as this is one of the more unique ways to experience wildlife in its natural habitat I would definitely try this again… perhaps a leopard next time?
Degree of Coolness: High. For me, that is. For the boys, I’m not sure you can get any less cool than whimpering for your mommies as you hide from a sleepy rhino.
December…
Basically my entire holiday was an ongoing adventure that included being serenaded by a makoro poler, gazing at a pride of lions as they devoured their morning meal mere feet away, trekking through the bush to view some of the oldest San (Bushmen) cave paintings in existence, snorkeling and kayaking in the clear blue waters of Lake Malawi, tossing fish into the still waters hoping to catch African fish eagles diving for an afternoon snack, scrambling up cliffs to jump in the warm lake currents, learning to balance while paddling a dugout canoe, and straddling a horse bareback as we cool off together in Lake Malawi.
Setting: a small dugout canoe on the beach of Nkhata Bay on New Year’s Eve
Participants: Myself and four friends
Mission: If yoga has taught me anything it is that my balance needs some serious help. I don’t even know how I can walk upright without falling over. Thus trying to balance on a dugout canoe AND paddle is a feat in itself.
Courage: As the experienced canoers (that’s a word, I swear! If not, then I’ve just made it one. There. It’s simply one more thing I can add to my CV, creator of words. Impressive, isn’t it?) were smart to keep us close to the shore it was virtually impossible to drown in the shallow waters thus increasing my courage tenfold.
Injuries: While I did manage to swallow huge mouthfuls of water every time I flipped over I think the only thing I likely contracted was bilharzia, a small price to pay for a memorable holiday.
Probability of a Repeat Performance: High, that is once I work on my balance and manage to paddle more than 2 minutes without tipping over.
Degree of Coolness: Medium, I probably would have gained a bit more respect from my friends and canoers (see how I did that? Using a new word twice in one paragraph totally makes it legit!) had I not fallen half a dozen times.
I originally set this goal for myself knowing that life in a small, Namibian village is tough and it’s necessary to make time for activities that will bring joy, happiness, and maybe a little bit of terror into life. Honestly, what is the point of working so hard if you don’t have memories to look back and smile on? So, if you haven’t made your 2011 resolutions I encourage you to consider bringing a bit of adventure into your own life. Don’t let yourself be dissuaded by excuses. I managed to accomplish all of these adventures despite the fact that I have no personal transport, a limited volunteer budget, as well as work and time constraints.
Recap of my fabulous 2010 adventures:
January: Surf a wave before being thrown to the mercies of Poseidon
February: Obtain a lock of hair from the mane of a lion
March: Experience history in the making at Namibia’s 20th Independence Day celebrations
April: Glide through the air on a microlight
May: Survive the Divebomber aka Carnival Ride of Death
June: Straddle a camel gracefully
July: Allow a tiny stabbing needle to permanently ink my back
August: Utilize a donkey cart as a mode of transport
September: Learn to count as high as 50… game that is
October: Surf a dune before being thrown to the mercies of the unforgiving sand
November: Track a white rhino without hiding behind the guy with a machine gun
December: Paddle a dugout canoe with grace