Simeon – grade 9 – “Thank you I did enjoy the craft session. I have learned how to create necklaces and rings from beads and string. I also made my dream catcher. It is so lovely and doing its job. Keep it up because it made the children realize the importance of our culture. Thank you to Wilderness Safaris to sponsor the lodge facilities and staff members. We say so many animals like springbok, black rhino and giraffe and all these were done because of you. My wish is to get myself a drive license after my high school and come and work with that wonderful staff.’
Rosalia and Silas say “Thank you to give us this visit to Rhino camp. We see many different wild animals like the Rhino. This was our visit time to visit such a place and now we know the importance to save the animals. Franco is the best. Thank you for the smooth and comfortable journey in those luxury cars. I learned and saw so many things I did not know. We were look so beautiful in our colorful T-shirt. I wish to buy my car also, I will study hard.”
“My name is Johanna. I am a girl of 13 years. My mother died on the year 2001 and now I am orphaned girl. In my life I believed that nobody can become an orphan. My favourite plant is 'Welwitchia Mirabilis' and 'Mopane' trees. My favourite activity was the arts and craft because I learned us more about drawing nicely. I like the ostrich because it is beautiful and gives us meat and eggs. I learned more about HIV/Aids. When I leave camp I will feel happy because I learned more new things and got a new friend. May God bless all the orphaned children!”
Tuyeni says her favourite activity was the game drive. “I like this activity because I see lots of plants those which is poisonous and which is helpful. I see many different animals like kudu and ostrich. My favourite was the kudu and springbok. Olivia says her favourite is the Oryx “because it has a beautiful body and colours. The funniest part was the first aid activities. I will feel grateful because I have seen a lot of animals and will share it wit my friends.” Both feel that when they leave camp they will feel that they “are not going to laugh anymore as we do at Rhino camp.”
Ismael says his favourite animal is the guinea fowl and he like to watch them when they are looking for food. He also liked to see the mountains, rocks and valleys. Bonaifacius enjoyed the drawing most. Judith enjoyed seeing all the animals because it is good and needed in our communities. She liked the Oryx because it is the drawing on the coin money. Rosina liked it most when we were following the rhino. “I enjoyed climbing those mountains. I never knew that I would do that in my ‘internal’ life and that was great and fun. My favourite is the steenbok because it is very small and clever indeed and the place it lives is like the colour of its body. When I leave I will miss Rhino camp.”
Mrs. Shivute - teacher: “It was a lifetime experience for me as well as for the learners. The learners got exposed to a lot of out door learning activities such as rhino tracking, team building games and witnessing the Damaraland natural heritage. More spectacular was the viewing and observing of wild animals and the Welwitchia plant which most learners will only see in books. It is evident that the learners gained a lot of self confidence and improved social skills. As a result of this most of the learners who attended the programme are more willing to participate in school activities. The CTIW was educative, fun and adventurous. It will be great to integrate and mix children from different cultural groups every camp session. Thank you to all the organizers and sponsors for making this experience a reality. Special thanks also to the guides for being friendly, fun, caring and patient throughout the program. We would like to join you again.”
“My name is Misha and I am 14 years old. My dream is to be a doctor. I really want to work at Kulala Tented Camp. All the way to Kulala, I looked at animals and plants and it was great. I enjoyed everything but the best was when I climbed Big Mama dune even though I was afraid of heights. I feel I can make a difference just by trying my best in life and by saying that I can DO IT. My most exciting experience was to meet all the friendly children and kind staff at camp. I will miss them all. Nothing was boring, everything was great. This was the best times I had – loved it.”
From a group of girls - Martha, Corry, Anita and Petra the following: “In June 2005 I went to the Children in the Wilderness camp at Kulala Tented Camp. At camp we saw lots of plants and animals. My favourite was the food and Sunday, because the food was very nice and Sunday was very funny. My favourite was the Springbok because they run very fast. We also climbed Big Daddy. Going up Big Daddy was like you lost your last power. I learned a lot of things at camp. Our guide was Sunday and he taught us about how some animals are surviving without water. My favourite was craft because I enjoyed colouring my beloved animals. My favourite was walking in the desert because we see lots of things that we can’t see when we drive like the footprints of the animals. We also sang a lot of songs at camp. When we leave I will feel sad because I will miss my new family.”
Cindy says “I want to a very exciting camp at Kulala Tented Camp near Sossusvlei. The most exciting day for me was when we visited the ‘Big Boy’. I saw lots of interesting things like the incredible birds nest where more than 80 birds can live in. The animal I admire here was the Oryx because it can survive for such a long time without water. The most amazing plant for me was the !Nara plant, because it is food for many other desert animals. At the Dune called ‘Big Boy’ I have to admit that I struggled a lot and at the end I made it. That really got me to see that there are many challenges in life tat you have to face and you never think you can make it, but if you don’t give it a try you will never really know!”
Aloysius says his favourite activity was the morning trail because “I learned how the toktokkie drinks water. I also learned where the name Namibia comes from. Now I have knowledge about my environment. Thank you, Wilderness for giving me this time. Thank you for the chef.” Gerhard, Isak and Heidi and Astrid say “We learned a lot of things at camp. Our guide was Felix and he taught us about mouse holes. We learned about the bushman and how they lived. We also see their paintings.” Individually they feel that “I liked all my friends and the trip to the sand dunes most. I mostly enjoyed it to be on top of the dunes. The best was the evenings around the fire. I would like to thank everyone for the love that you shared with us. Thank you for the gifts. I loved the singing and dancing. Thanks you to the staff for all your love and kindness. Keep our letter in your hearts.”
Patricia says “I really enjoyed being here. Since my mom died this was the first time in a long time that I am really happy again. I am gonna miss my new friends to. I lived really healthy and comfy here. Oh and ‘Big Mamma’ was very heavy for me to got to the top. Thanks to my hero, Igna, who helped me get to the top. I learned a lot about the animals and plants I wish that I am gonno see you all again. It is a wonderful world out here.”
Richy, Desiree, Klasie, Steven and Meliza say that “we drove to Sosssusvlei and climbed the Big Daddy. And it was like the biggest challenge I have faced in my whole life. It was very hard to climb but we made it to the top and then it was easy to run down”. Desiree says that she will really miss the camp “but opportunities come once in a lives time. When I leave I will feel unhappy because home is not like here. We saw many things. We also did a lot of activities. My favourite was swimming but the water was cold. My favourite animal was the Oryx because it is the national animal. I also like the rabbit hopping very funny and the painting. My other favourite was the food because it tastes really good. I will miss everyone. Thanks I appreciate all what the CITW people are doing for us.”