PROGRAM PHOTO ALBUM
Thanks for the checking out the blog for this Global Leadership Adventures program!
Here are a few things to know and expect:
- Blog posts are written by onsite program staff and/or students and sent to our Headquarters team who will post the blog on this page.
- We typically receive 2-3 blog updates per week from each program, so please don’t be alarmed if you don’t see a blog post every day – that’s totally normal.
- Blog updates received late in the evening or overnight will be posted the following day.
- Blog updates received on weekends may not be posted until Monday.
- Due to many factors such as internet accessibility, program staff aren’t always able to send photos, so some blog posts may contain text only.
Thank you for your patience and understanding, and we hope you enjoy following along on these unforgettable adventures.
For frequently asked questions about the blogs, please visit our Program Blog FAQ page.
-The Global Leadership Adventures HQ Team
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BLOG POST FOR JULY 16
Dearest blog readers,
Our South Africa program is officially underway. We could not be more excited. We’ve been dreaming about this program for months, and it’s finally happening. The next two weeks have the potential to be some of the best of our lives.
After a long day of travel, students are here and surprisingly energetic. They are quickly adapting to the winter chill in our lodge in Johannesburg. We head out to Nambiti Reserve tomorrow. We are excited to see animals and eat biltong, learn about Zulu culture and take part in conservation efforts.
The program is packed with day after day of activities and fun, and the group is going to make a blast. We’ve already started to bond around the fire and pool table and can’t wait to see what the program has in store for us.
Students will be writing blogs to update you about our adventures. Expect a blog every couple of days. Students will also be able to submit photos to showcase photography skills.
Right now student Lizette is not with us yet because of a delayed flight, but she will be arriving tomorrow. Otherwise, all the students are here and you can see them in this group picture. Our wonderful local director, Graeme, is also present. He was helping shield a light, so we could get the best shot.
Cheers,
John
BLOG POST FOR JULY 18
Today wake up was at 7:30, but most people woke up at 6:00 to shower. We met for breakfast at 8:00 and had a lovely combination of oatmeals and fruits. We left for our first safari early, hopes high of seeing many of our favorite animals. As we passed through the entrance, we spotted off in the distance a float of hippopotamus. We drove up closer, so that we could take some photos of the hippos.
After the exciting hippo sighting we drove off hoping to see more animals. We eventually saw a dazzle of zebras and a confusion of wildebeest grazing in the field. At one point we saw an elephant off in the distance and a tower of ten giraffes. While we were driving we saw a sounder of warthogs which were pretty cool to see as well. We came back and had sandwiches for lunch at 12:30. After that we went back out at 2:00 for another safari. We saw a crash of rhinos and had a nice reflective drive.
We came back to camp at 4:30 and had some nice hot chocolate to warm up before going back out to do some practical telemetry. Telemetry is the tracking of animals and we got to practice tracking. Thankfully, John, our international director, was willing to wear the collar that the animals wear, and we tracked him through the bush. He tried to trick us by doubling back in himself, but we noticed that, and we were hot on his heels until we finally tracked him down.
After the fun adventure we came back to camp and relaxed a little bit before dinner at 6:30. After we finished dinner we all gathered around the fire for s’mores and the question of the day. The question of the day was “What is your favorite memory of the trip so far?” There were a lot of different and interesting answers, but the main ones were getting to see all of the animals that we don’t normally get to see and riding in the safari cars. After s’mores we were free to do whatever we wanted to do which included going to bed showering or staying by the fire for a little bit longer. At the end of the day it was a really good first full day that we have had and all of us in the camp are looking forward to whats coming next.
– Cam V and Everett
BLOG POST FOR JULY 19
We woke up this morning to some light rain. It sounded beautiful on our tents. On our way to breakfast, we all had mud stuck to our shoes that wouldn’t come off as hard as we tried. It was so much fun. We then took a morning game drive through Nambiti Game Reserve on the way to our meeting with a South African community that was a short car ride away from the reserve. On the drive in the rain, we saw wet wildebeest and hartebeest, as well as a mother white rhino with her calf that our guide identified by looking at notches on her ears. It was cold and wet on the way to the community, but we all had a blast looking at the beautiful hats that the Gogos (grannies) made out of plastic, playing keep up with a soccer ball with the kids, and eating the food that they prepared for us. A main highlight was having an all-out soccer game against the kids of the community where John, our director, had a spectacular goal to win the game. We drove back to the reserve and played cards for a while before participating in a leadership opportunity where we discovered what types of leaders we are and discussed about it. We then had dinner and after that went for a night game drive where our guides would shine a light to look out into the savanna for the reflection off of animals’ eyes, and one of our groups saw a jackal, owls, and even a rhino. We’re super excited for what’s to come!
Lizette and Adam
BLOG POST FOR JULY 20
We woke up bright and early to start our day of excitement. We ate some delicious breakfast of scrambled eggs, baked beans, and banana bread. After we ate the breakfast we packed up to say goodbye to Nambiti. We left around 8:45 a.m. to go to the mushroom farm 2 hours away. Around an hour and a half in to the drive, we stopped at a little rest stop which had a lot of cool memorabilia and some crazy South African delicacies. We arrived at our house and were struck by the openness of it. We have a huge living room to chill in with all of our new found friends.
After we settled in to our cottage, we went zip lining. Before we went zip lining we had a little lunch of sandwiches made for us. We all gathered around one big table and enjoyed our meal together. We rode 12 different zip lines ranging from 40m to 200m. It was so cool to see the scenery as we were flying through it. After the zip line we went back to the mushroom farm to look around the area. We went to all of the shops, and we through a public garden for the residents that are staying there. We then played a bunch of outdoor games as a group, like hide and seek and sharks and minis. We then had a delightful dinner of kudu pie made for us by the locals. It was very tasty. We then went into our mentor groups and had a lot fun talking about some of our goals we want to accomplish. We then ended our day with talking to each other as a group before we were off to bed to get ready for the next day.
Tripp and Lilian
BLOG POST FOR JULY 21
Yesterday we transferred from Howick to Bonomanzi Reserve. Most of the day was spent in the car with lots of singing, music, and sleeping. We stopped for lunch and then made it to Bonomanzi. We played some games including Mafia once we were there and got some rest.
Vikram and Elin
BLOG POST FOR JULY 22
After a long travel day we had an early wake up and breakfast, then headed to the Snake Pharm. Donald, our guide at the Snake Pharm, showed us all of the snakes like vipers, cobras, rattlesnakes, and more. We then split into two separate groups. One group went to hang out with, feed, and name all of the guinea pigs while the other group stayed behind with Donald to help do some work with the snakes. We climbed into snake enclosures (once they were empty) and helped clean them by scooping poop, cleaning the glass, and cleaning and refilling the water. We also got to hold some of the nonvenomous snakes. The groups switched, so everyone had a chance to help clean the enclosures and hold the guinea pigs. For lunch we made our own sandwiches and then went back to help with moving some monitor lizards. Some students helped dig bigger holes to access the lizards underground and then staff helped actually catch them. Many students were watching, filming, and eating passion fruit from a tree on the property. Then we watched as Donald caught baby crocodiles and moved them into the old monitor lizard enclosure. After our work at the Snake Pharm we followed Donald to snake bridge where he released a forest cobra back into the wild. Many students said that today was their most enjoyable day on the trip so far. The experience was a very highfalutin and enjoyable memory. We went back to camp and did some leadership activities and laundry before dinner, which was chicken soup and rice. After dinner we played a few games of mafia before lights out.
Elin and Vikram
BLOG POST FOR JULY 23
We woke up at 7:30 to have a quick breakfast of frittata. Then we headed to ZAP-Wing, which is the aerial division of the Anti-Poaching-Unit. We learned about both Rhino poaching and the lesser known Vulture poaching, both of which are equally as relevant and concerning to our environment. We were lucky enough to be able to get in the cockpits of their planes and even try and lift them up. Due to their light aluminum material they were easily lifted. Later Brandon let us try on their bullet proof vests they use on patrol as well. We bought stuff from the shop and gave donations to help their cause, you can follow ZAP-Wing on Instagram at @zap_wing, and save the rhinoes at @projectrhinokzn.
After learning about rhino conservation, we drove to a local supermarket where everyone bought snacks, alongside a butcher where we were able to check out and purchase some of the exotic meats. Afterwards we played a game of soccer with the whole group. Many goals were scored in this exhilarating game, and it was won in a nail-biting “last goal wins”. Afterwards some people chose to hand-wash their clothes in buckets. To dry, we hung our clothes on clothing lines.
Afterwards we had to cook our own lunch by participating in a scavenger hunt for our ingredients to make our Poitjie. Potjie is a stew made by boiling meat, vegetables, and seasoning in a pot. After gathering all the ingredients, we elected our best chefs to cook the potjie and have our chef rate them. The venison had a 3/5, and the chicken won with a solid 4/5. Later on before curfew, we practiced a dance routine for our school visit the next day.
Ada and Knox
BLOG POST FOR JULY 24
Today we got to sleep in a little later, although some of us still got up early to squeeze in a morning workout. For breakfast, we enjoyed a delicious meal of bacon, French toast, fruit, and yogurt.
Right after breakfast, we headed to Hluhluwe High School, where we had the chance to talk with students our age and introduce ourselves. We also got to congratulate the winners of Project Rhino’s rhino art competition.
Next, we visited a crèche school, where we met all the adorable kids who go there. We played and danced with them, and even performed a dance we had choreographed the night before.
After our wonderful time with the little ones, we headed back to camp for a quick lunch of chicken and veggie wraps prepared by our amazing chef. Then we had some chill time to relax and unwind before our evening game drive.
During our break, we were surprised with a short, unexpected game drive to see Cape Buffalo for the first time on our trip! After returning from that sighting, we played a fun (and slightly heated) debate game.
Finally, we set out on our evening game drive, where we saw rhinos, monkeys, and nyala. My favorite moment of the day was when we were pulling back into camp and spotted a white rhino. It was majestic. We watched it for quite a while and took tons of pictures.
Shortly after, we had a tasty supper of spaghetti and meat sauce (there were vegetarian options of course). We ended the night with a lively and suspenseful game of Mafia.
– Mak and Alex
BLOG POST FOR JULY 25
Today we woke up at 6:30 but some people woke up earlier to workout or watch the sunset. After everybody was up and ready we had an amazing breakfast that consisted of oatmeal, toast, hard boiled eggs and fruit. After breakfast, we washed our dishes and got ready for a pretty long drive to Sodwana Bay Beach where we passed communities and restaurants as well as cattle on the road and we also went through town and saw all of the stores and restaurants and houses, as well as the people whom live in the town.
When we arrived at the beach, we crossed a smaller body of water. Some balances on a log while some went straight through the water and then we all set our stuff down and got sunscreen on and went in the water and went swimming and then we all got lunch at the restaurant on the beach and then headed to the grocery store for some snacks. Then we went back to camp and hung out and then we did chow circle and then for dinner we had delicious burgers and then played poker after dinner and then went to bed.
Noah B. and Cam C.
BLOG POST FOR JULY 27
We woke up and ate some scrambled eggs and toast for breakfast. Today we went to the community to make some bracelets and baskets. We had a group make bracelets and a group weave some baskets. We got to keep the things that we made, and they all look really cool. After we made some bracelets we got to go to the shop and see/buy all the things the kind ladies have made. It all ranged from jewelry to wooden spoons.
After we got done in the community we came back to eat lunch. We had some amagwenya, which is like a donut that you can put lunch meat, cheese, and other sandwich ingredients on. After lunch will had a little bit of chill time. We played some soccer which was really fun. Some people had some really amazing goals. We then went on a game drive and saw some amazing wildlife. We saw a lot of different flowers and other plant life. We saw a lot of monkeys and giraffes this game drive.
We then got some lunch after our game drive and ate some chicken and vegetables. We then split into our mentor groups and had our respectable conversations. After we hung out in the outside community area and then went to bed.
