Day 21 - Harnas

9 September 2009

A really cold and windy day!

Had the day off since it was my last day before I leave. Felt really lost without my daily activities.

Started packing but really struggling to fit everything in. Spend the morning babysitting Sana in her cage as she was left alone in there. Marieta wanted more quiet in her courtyard so Willy, Dexter and Tosh the vervets were moved into Popeye's old enclosure.

Poor Sana was crying her heart out. I sat with her a bit but then took her out of her enclosure and we went to play on the lawn infront of the lapa. Had the best time! She would run off into a tree, look back to see if I'm following her and then run back to me wrapping her arms around me. She is such a scared little one! I think the reason is that a few weeks ago she got out of the courtyard and into the lion brother's enclosure. Frikkie had to run in and rescue her. At one stage Sir Roger and his dog Brollox came to investigate but soon got bored of us!

After lunch went to pay my bill towards tokens (there's no money traded on the farm, everything works with tokens) and spend some time with Goeters. Got really sad that I will never see him again as he is so old. Then went to say goodbye to Audrey but Malcolm and Tammy were too hard. Could not leave their enclosure and kept going back to play one last time. Also went to cuddle the baby lions, I didnt get to form a close bond with them but they are adorable.

Unfortunately could not say goodbye to my meerkats Darren and Sarah as they were still out on their walk with some volunteers. Since I was leaving we all get the famous lion roar the night before you leave. I wish Frikkie was here to do it with us as he is so spiritual. So went with Marnus to all the wild lion enclosures to feed them and just sit at sunset and listen to them roar. It was incredibly moving and sad as it felt like they were saying goodbye. It was good to see Macho the male and Simba the female and her lion cubs for one last time.

Got back around 19:00pm and quickly had to get dressed for my lapa farewell dinner. The theme was Cast Away and again had no clue. Didnt really dress up but found one of Nikki's (food prep co-ordinator from the UK) Tshirts at laundry and decided to wear it!

We also had our certificate handover at dinner since some of the people leaving were leaving at 05:00am already. Was really sad and we all cried when Ruth (the German girl in my group, also leaving with me in the morning) got up and thanked all the co-ordinators and the owners of the farm. Will miss the sound of frogs at night but most of all the lions roaring. And in the morning the birds and roosters. Tomorrow will be hard. No one can really say goodbye to a place like this.