Caboose

Thessa organised a trip to Yankari, partly to celebrate her birthday and partly as a send-off for Pete and Mary.

Most of us met up in Bauchi motor park and then chartered a minibus to take us to Wikki camp, where the accommodation is. The journey wasn’t too bad, the park is currently being renovated and this includes surfacing the road from the entrance to Wikki. The accommodation and facilities are a bit run-down but we were lucky and managed to see quite a few animals.


The rooms are one of the most run-down parts, some have been renovated but aren’t available yet. A lot of effort seems to be going into building an enormous concrete VIP lodge and impressive gates at the entrances, not quite the priorities I would have but quite normal here.

Our game drive on Saturday morning was a highlight, we managed to see lions and crocodiles as well as lots of bushbuck, waterbuck and guinea fowl.

Wikki camp is full of baboons and warthogs, even down by the warm springs. On one of the days, while we were swimming in the springs a large group of baboons arrived and had to be chased away from our things.

Another highlight was Thessa being given a bottle of Nigerian tonic wine as a birthday present (disgusting, but she gained lots of new friends among a group of students). We were also saying goodbye to Pete and Mary, they’ve headed off on an overland trip around West Africa, which was especially sad for me as we arrived in Nigeria together. They’d brought Henry (picture from a trip to Opobo) up from Opobo with them, he’s currently at a bit of a loose end because some “militants” stole the Opobo-Nkoro Community Development Foundation’s boat.

So, a lovely weekend, meeting new volunteers and saying goodbye to old friends. It’s odd to think that Jenny and I are now the longest-serving VSOs in Nigeria!