OK so it's actually quite hard to remember to write blog posts, there's just too much going on here! But you're so welcome for another cliche cheesy title. We've just had an off week though so I really ought to have no excuse... Other than the fact that I did a lot of swimming and relaxing and maybe a liiiiittle bit of drinking! Off week was awesome though; a lazy first few days hanging out at camp, doing a bit of revision but mostly messing around in the pool and playing on Vaughan the giant inflatable flamingo (named after one of our trainers but I'm not sure it's a flattering comparison!) How we've managed not to pop him yet is beyond me.

Wednesday morning last week all of us international students had to go into town to sit our driving theory tests- haven't even thought about theory tests since I passed my English one like 10 years ago and now suddenly I have to learn it all again! Luckily it isn't too different from the UK one, but I don't even know any of that any more so not sure it helps. Basically you can drive a car in SA on an international license, but in order to get our PDP (Professional Drivers Permit) to let us drive guests in a game vehicle, we need a SA license. Even though I'm pretty sure our UK test is a lot more strict than the SA one! On any question about when you're allowed to overtake or not, the real answer is to overtake any time you like because it's what everyone else bloody does! And speed limits? What are those?! Don't worry mum, we're being safe..!

We all passed our theory tests (praise Jesus) and set off to celebrate that afternoon, 9 of us driving down to a friend's place in Marloth Park, near the bottom of Kruger. It was an entirely unhelpful long weekend in terms of the little amount of work we did, but so perfect for us to relax and enjoy some time off. We may or may not have survived the weekend living only on crisps, beer and brandy, but none of us drowned in the pool so I count that as a win! The place was amazing, it's not connected to Kruger directly, but so many animals live in the area or can get through the fences that it felt practically like being in a reserve. Sitting in the pool surrounded by zebra and kudu eating grass pellets that you throw out for them is pretty surreal, and little bushbabies hopping down to eat yoghurt are adorable.

It was with heavy hearts and sickened stomachs that we headed back to campus on Sunday. Luckily with enough time in the afternoon to do some proper revision before this morning's test, which hopefully went alright... This afternoon we start our tracking module, and spend the rest of the week with one of the country's top wildlife trackers, learning everything from prints and poo, to barely visible broken blades of grass to indicate which way the animal went. I mean, obviously I won't actually be able to see the latter, I am almost certain I'm going to be crap at this but maybe I'll pick up some skills or other!