More pictures from training (Back in March/ April)



Shortly after arriving in Zambia, I went to stay with a host family, where I lived for the remainder of our 11 week training program.  This is my BaMayo (my host mother) Ba Liah Kotongo, looking absolutely regal.



Here is BaMayo with my BaTaata (my host father), Ba Peter Katongo.  Adorable, yes?

I planted a Moringa tree with BaTaata as a rememberance.  He was really excited about it.  Even me!

The night before I left my training site, my neighbor friend came by with his spectacular homemade banjo.  It is made from pots and wood and other local materials.  He plays it very well.  Myself and the neighborhood kiddos were really enjoying the traditional songs he was playing.  The kids knew the songs so we clapped and sang along.  I even got to dance with Ba Winnie Frieda ( in the back in the red dress).  The whole night was a blast.  I miss my training family sana (very much).

Here is me after the concert, with BaMayo, Ba Shikulu with his banjo, and some of my very favorite children in the whole world.

Kasanka National Park

 

 

 

 Earlier this month I went to visit Kasanka National Park with some friends in Central Province, Zambia.  It is a beautiful park with lots of great wildlife.  We saw Crocodiles from the truck on a game drive.

 

 

We had a fantastic guide, Ba Bastiaan, who was very knowledgeable and had a great eye for spotting birds and wildlife.  This is one of the many Warthogs we saw just across the river from where we were all sitting and talking one afternoon.

 

 

 

My favorite part of the trip though, was seeing these magnificent Elephants.  They walked by shortly after we saw the Warthogs

 

 

 

They were absolutely amazing.  The guide advised us to remain quiet and still, and the Elephants continued to come closer.

 

 

This Elephant in particular was enormous and it was a thrill to watch him at such close range.

 

The real draw of this trip was over 4 million Straw Coloured Fruit Bats.  Every November, over 8 million of them descend on a small area in Kasanka National Park, the largest mammal migration in the world.  We saw less then 5 million because we came early during the migration.  I assure you that over 4 million huge bats (amongst the largest bats in Africa) filling the sky is an awesome and impressive sight.  I was not missing the other 4 million bats.  This of course is just one small section of sky.  The bats were flying over in endless waves in every direction.  If you ever get a chance to go to Kasanka I would absolutely recommend it at anytime of year, but especially during bat season!