Excitement, Excursions, and Chimp Eden

            At this time last year I’d already had my first phone interview with Grand Teton Lodge Company, and was in the process of securing and planning what would become the best summer of my life. I think back about my time in Grand Teton National Park just about every day, and I still think that if I hadn’t done that last summer, I wouldn’t have this trip to Africa planned out. In the past few weeks I’ve seen a lot of the people I met in Wyoming posting on Facebook that they’re planning on going back this summer, mentioning the positions they have this year, and counting down the time until they’re back out in that beautiful park. It’s not making me sad, exactly, since I know that I’ll be spending this summer in the place I’ve dreamed of going my entire life. But, seeing those posts is definitely making me think back to this time last year, going through the application and interview process with Grand Teton Lodge Company, and looking through information and pictures about the park, the very diverse and beautiful collection of wildlife that lives there, and everything that wonderful place has to offer. I remember the feeling I got when I learned that I’d officially gotten the job at Jackson Lake Lodge, and how my excitement continued to grow as summer approached.

            Now, instead of reading all about that park, I’ve been looking all over the websites and information sent to me about the two projects I’ll be working with in South Africa. Someone recently asked me what I’m looking forward to most about this summer, and I had no idea how to answer. Not only am I excited about the two projects in their own right, but they also have multiple extra excursions offered. The great white shark project offers horseback riding, river rafting, kayaking with whales, zip lining, visiting a cheetah sanctuary, and wine tasting in Cape Town, along with others. CARE baboon sanctuary also offers safaris through Kruger National Park, the largest national park in South Africa, as well as visits to an elephant sanctuary, vervet monkey rescue center, and other nearby animal parks. Needless to say, I definitely want to take advantage of everything that I can during my time in Africa.

            One of the animal sanctuaries not far from CARE, that volunteers often visit, is a place called Chimp Eden. It’s the only chimpanzee sanctuary within South Africa. Andrew Oberle, a previous keeper at the San Antonio Zoo and a friend of mine, worked there a few years ago. I would definitely love to visit that place if I can; Andrew spoke about it in a presentation he gave to me and other zoo docents back in 2011, and ever since I’ve wanted to go see it. It looks like this summer, I could make multiple dreams come true! See you in 84 days, Africa.

            Today’s food for thought: “Let us step into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.”- J.K. Rowling