Hey everyone,

So I have arrived safely in Namibia and have been on the project for a week now. I arrived late Monday night just in time for dinner - the accommodation is VERY basic here and made me realise what luxury I was treated to on the last project! There are 25 other volunteers, different ages and nationalities but all nice and making the time here fun! We are in groups of 5-6 and each day are given a different 'project' to work on - so you have good days such as animal feed where you get to spend time with the animals, prepare their food etc, and not such good days such as 'project work' - maintenance stuff which so far has involved cleaning enclosures, gardening, building fences etc! But all part of it!

On the sanctuary they have a number of animals including baboons, cheetahs, caricals, lions, leopards, wild dogs and general farm animals. The baboons are brilliant - all orphaned but such intelligent animals - they size you up as soon as you approach them and if they sense any nerves they will straight away pick on you. We've been encourged to actually bite back to show them who is boss!! (I have yet to do this and hope it won't come to that!) They have a couple of babies here who they ask volunteers to keep over night as they want the body heat of someone close by. So Thursday night we had a baby with us - it was such a hilarious experience although didn't get much sleep! But he gets in your sleeping bag with you and cuddles up - very cute.

Days are slightly less packed than the previous project - up and working from 8 - 10.30, then lunch is 1pm - 2.30pm then work finishes at 5pm. You then have to RUN for a shower because the hot water is charged by solar panels so as soon as the sun is down... you are in for a grim shower! Then we all gather round a fire and have dinner, it's a really really nice group atmosphere. I am hoping over the next two weeks I might leave the farm and go visit the sand dunes on an excursion - otherwise I won't get to see much of Namibia which would be a shame. So I will keep you updated on that!

Pictures will have to come at a later date - I was unorganised and forgot my camera lead today. But hopefully I will get some good ones to add to the collection!

Love to all xx