Ubunye Expedition Project 2013 Diary
Day 1 Arriving in Cape Town
We arrived at camp in Camp Africa, Cape Town just before lunch time on Sunday 10th February 2013.
After a quick lesson on how to put up our tents and a light lunch, off we were for a hike up to Cape Point to visit the Cape of Hope. This was followed by a visit to the Penguin Colony where the unique African Penguins reside in their unusual surroundings ...Sand !!!
On our return to camp we were grouped into teams of four to be camp cooks, where we would help Sophie (our cook) to prepare and cook all our meals.
Exhausted we went to bed at 9.30 pm ready for an early start next day.
We arrived at camp in Camp Africa, Cape Town just before lunch time on Sunday 10th February 2013.
After a quick lesson on how to put up our tents and a light lunch, off we were for a hike up to Cape Point to visit the Cape of Hope. This was followed by a visit to the Penguin Colony where the unique African Penguins reside in their unusual surroundings ...Sand !!!
On our return to camp we were grouped into teams of four to be camp cooks, where we would help Sophie (our cook) to prepare and cook all our meals.
Exhausted we went to bed at 9.30 pm ready for an early start next day.
Day 2 Table Mountain and Robben Island
We visited the historic Table Mountain and Robben Island.
The cable car took us high up into the clouds to walk along this beautiful mountain, bustling with nature, flowers, shrubs and small animals.
We visited the historic Table Mountain and Robben Island.
The cable car took us high up into the clouds to walk along this beautiful mountain, bustling with nature, flowers, shrubs and small animals.
Nelson Mandela
We then took a short boat ride to Robben Island where we had a guided tour and were brought up to speed about some of the prisoners lives and Nelson Mandela's time there.It was quite unbelievable to see the conditions that Nelson Mandela lived in for many years. At the end of the day we all gathered round for circle time to reflect upon the days events before retiring to bed.
We then took a short boat ride to Robben Island where we had a guided tour and were brought up to speed about some of the prisoners lives and Nelson Mandela's time there.It was quite unbelievable to see the conditions that Nelson Mandela lived in for many years. At the end of the day we all gathered round for circle time to reflect upon the days events before retiring to bed.
Day 3 On the move to Storms River Campsite Tsitsikamma
After our first challenge of the day to take down our tents and pack up our belongings, we set off on a short drive to Storms River Campsite which was to be our new home for the next couple of days. Situated on the edge of the beach we set up our tents before setting off for a walk over some interesting terrain, a nature reserve and three wobbly bridges before arriving for a short visit to Boulders Beach.
On our return to the camp after circle time, seventeen very tired students and four very tired staff retired to their tents to listen to the waves crashing onto the rocks while they fell asleep under the beautiful Milky Way.
After our first challenge of the day to take down our tents and pack up our belongings, we set off on a short drive to Storms River Campsite which was to be our new home for the next couple of days. Situated on the edge of the beach we set up our tents before setting off for a walk over some interesting terrain, a nature reserve and three wobbly bridges before arriving for a short visit to Boulders Beach.
On our return to the camp after circle time, seventeen very tired students and four very tired staff retired to their tents to listen to the waves crashing onto the rocks while they fell asleep under the beautiful Milky Way.
Day 4 Canopy Tours with Storms River Adventures at Tsitsikamma
Early the next day we set off for a day of adventure with Canopy Tours where we zipped through the tree tops while learning about the ancient trees of South Africa.
Early the next day we set off for a day of adventure with Canopy Tours where we zipped through the tree tops while learning about the ancient trees of South Africa.
Day 5 On the move again Motherwell Port Elizabeth
We dismantled our tents and prepared to move on to our final destination Port Elizabeth. After the long 9 hour drive we were excited at the thought of finally meeting the children of Mboliselo but first we visited the township of Motherwell. We were very emotional when we saw the poverty and challenges the community and it's children faced.
We dismantled our tents and prepared to move on to our final destination Port Elizabeth. After the long 9 hour drive we were excited at the thought of finally meeting the children of Mboliselo but first we visited the township of Motherwell. We were very emotional when we saw the poverty and challenges the community and it's children faced.
Day 6 Work at Mboliselo School begins
When we first laid our eyes upon the waste ground that was to be transformed into a full sized sports ground we all gasped at the enormity of the huge task in hand. We began by clearing away boulders and rocks that covered this vast area, a job that took all day.
When we first laid our eyes upon the waste ground that was to be transformed into a full sized sports ground we all gasped at the enormity of the huge task in hand. We began by clearing away boulders and rocks that covered this vast area, a job that took all day.
Day 7 Amakala Wildlife Reserve
We needed help with this project and a trip to Amakala Wildlife reserve should help us with some friendship building.We took seventeen Mboliselo students along with us and after pairing up with our students the bonding began. The students chatted about shared lives, experiences and the very popular future sports field.
We needed help with this project and a trip to Amakala Wildlife reserve should help us with some friendship building.We took seventeen Mboliselo students along with us and after pairing up with our students the bonding began. The students chatted about shared lives, experiences and the very popular future sports field.
Day 8 Working hard on the sports field at Mboliselo School
Now geared up, fired up and ready to make that difference.
Let the work begin.Organised and orderly work had begun, wheelbarrows full of topsoil, rakes to evenly distribute it and the sound of everyone singing. Suddenly the school bell rang and over a hundred school children flooded the field. Some were only four or five years old, none had gardening gloves,others were barefoot, all were eager to help, picking up rakes and spades, working quickly and energetically. We were surprised at their strength and speed until we realized they were helping us to make their dream sports field a reality.
Now geared up, fired up and ready to make that difference.
Let the work begin.Organised and orderly work had begun, wheelbarrows full of topsoil, rakes to evenly distribute it and the sound of everyone singing. Suddenly the school bell rang and over a hundred school children flooded the field. Some were only four or five years old, none had gardening gloves,others were barefoot, all were eager to help, picking up rakes and spades, working quickly and energetically. We were surprised at their strength and speed until we realized they were helping us to make their dream sports field a reality.
Days 9, 10 and 11 The hard work continues
For a total of four days the students from both Chaucer and Mboliselo worked very hard as a team and slowly but surely the sports field began to evolve before our eyes. Gone were the rocks and stones to be replaced by a lush green chequerboard of grass which would spread quickly all over the area and form an amazing sports field for the children of Mboliselo to use within weeks.
For a total of four days the students from both Chaucer and Mboliselo worked very hard as a team and slowly but surely the sports field began to evolve before our eyes. Gone were the rocks and stones to be replaced by a lush green chequerboard of grass which would spread quickly all over the area and form an amazing sports field for the children of Mboliselo to use within weeks.
Day 12 Work Complete, Mission Accomplished
We all looked back at what we had achieved together. How well we all worked as a team to complete this mammoth task and the skills we acquired along the way.
After a fantastic farewell ceremony from everyone at Mboliselo it was time to pack up our tents for the final time and head home on our 24 hour journey back to our very privileged lives.
Challenging experiences and a wonderful time was had by all.
See you soon Mboliselo School
By Sam Hudson Expedition Member
We all looked back at what we had achieved together. How well we all worked as a team to complete this mammoth task and the skills we acquired along the way.
After a fantastic farewell ceremony from everyone at Mboliselo it was time to pack up our tents for the final time and head home on our 24 hour journey back to our very privileged lives.
Challenging experiences and a wonderful time was had by all.
See you soon Mboliselo School
By Sam Hudson Expedition Member