Welcome home, feedback and Photo Competition

Sawubona expeditioners one and all,

It was wonderful to see you all home safe and sound this morning.  Some of you even left your bags on the coach to draw out the experience!

Just a couple of things:

1.    Your feedback is really important to us.  If you have a moment to let us know your thoughts about your expedition, they would be very valued.

2.    PHOTO COMPETITION!  Please do send us any photos or videos that you took whilst in South Africa.  The winner with the best shot will get a £25.00 Amazon voucher.  All entries must be in by the 30^th of September. 

Please email both feedback and photos to: info@outposts.co.uk. 

We have created a dropbox folder for you to share your pictures on (could you please limit it to your 20 top shot and put your name in the image title). 

Very best of wishes

Fee

Landed

They are all back in the UK.  On the Coach and currently on schedule!

1030 Gordano Services

1130 Taunton Hankridge Bus Stop

If you need to let me know that you are going to be late you can contact me in the office on 01823 451959 before 0930.
After 0930 you can contact me on my mobile: 07771 721185
I will be at Gordano and then Taunton.

Look forward to seeing you all.  Fee

On their way home

The teams have taken to the air for the beginning of their journey home to in the UK!

All is well in South Africa

It is HOT!
Teams 1 & 2 have their last day in Kosi today. So it's down to the beach for games and a picnic. It will be so exciting to see them all on Monday! Team 3 are on Pongola so everyone has a chance to cool down with water today.

Here is a Team 2 photo to give you a final flavour of the fantastic job they have all done at the school. Like you, can't wait to see Team 1's photos on their return!

A note from Michael Kingscote

The expeditions are nearing completion. Of course, the real finish is when you meet your sons & daughters at the pickup points on Monday.
Until then we shall keep our eye on the ball!
Thank you, parents, for entrusting Outposts Ltd, with your charges.
We all hope that they have grown in stature from the opportunity we produced as an idea and that you, parents, have bought into wholeheartedly.
Your sons and daughters will have changed a little, seen things for the first time and made new friends; they also will have their own tales to tell.
We all hope that this has been a worthwhile venture for your family and would ask that you send us your thoughts and feedback as soon as you can after the expeditioners return.
I shall be at LHR on Monday to meet the flights.
Thank you again.
Michael & DD Kingscote and all at Outposts Ltd

Arrival in UK is MONDAY

Good morning everyone,

The first thing to know is that everyone is having a great time and are fit and well.  I have been able to chat to each teams leaders but I have no photo updates.  They are either busy on Walking Trails, building green houses, sewing torn sports kit, visiting young zulus and helping them with their homework, mending shelves, spearing fish, absorbing the delights of Kosi Bay beach...  The expedition is full on and I have no doubt that you will be bombarded with photos on their return.  If anything does come in, I'll put it on!

On that note: they return on MONDAY the 18th.  

The flight gets into Heathrow at 0655. If flights are on time probable drop offs will be:
1. Gordano Services 1030
2. Taunton Sainsburys Hankridge Bus stop 1130

We will confirm the times on this Blog as they arrive, alternatively you can call the office from 0830 on 01823 451959

Teams 1 and 2 on their way to Kosi

The sun is shining and our intrepid expeditioners are making their way to Kosi Bay and a combination of Community interaction and Marine ecology will fill their final week in South Africa.

They are having a wonderful time. The Walking Trails and time on the Pongola River give them the opportunity to absorb the atmosphere of this part of South Africa and get a sense of space, life and the universe!

Though communication is slow, this photo from Team 2 has snuck in through:

Team 3 - game Drives today

Everyone is having a great time.  They are today on Game Drives so here's crossing our fingers that they spot some of the Big 5.

  



















In the interim here are some photos from the end of their Kosi Bay experience (Photos are getting to the UK in South Africa time!)... 

Team 3 finish up at Kosi Bay

Today they are making their way to Umkhumbi Lodge where they will be met by Anton and his snakes!!!  The Environmental Awareness Course begins.....

Herewith news from their last 2 days in Kosi.

Beach day!!!!

Today we walked down to the fish traps in Kosi Bay. Unfortunately there were no fish in the traps, but we waded over to some of the traps and looked at some of the creatures under the water. We found a lot of hermit crabs, and lots of empty shells.

Next we walked on to the beach. The first look we got was stunning-there were palm trees, white sand and clear blue water. Some of us spent the time at the beach playing water sports, others collected shells, and for a while we played a game of football on the sand. One of the locals joined my team and helped us achieve a 3-3 draw! :)

The last thing we did was walk through the mangrove forest to the beach right next to the Ocean. We looked out into the sea, and eventually it paid off and we saw a whole pod of whales just off the shore. It was amazing, they were jumping right out of the water! I have never seen one so close!

Eventually we had to head back to camp. On the way back, we saw some Samango monkeys! They were really close and might have come closer, but a car came along and we had to leave :(

All in all, it was an awesome day, and I will miss Kosi Bay a lot as it is such a wonderful place. -Emily (Daddy please don't forget my fishies:) )

06/08/14 SWS3

Today began with an early start to give us time to finish the community project before we head on to the next phase of the trip.The community project was very rewarding to finish the final touches and the second coats, some of us also spent time adding pictures of sea creatures to one wall of the classrooms. It was nice to add a personal touch to the school and leave a lasting reminder of our time here. Ella and Alex Mockridge

Today I had the amazing opportunity to teach English and Maths to a group of around 30students. As challenging as this was it was very rewarding and eye opening as they were all so eager to learn.
They welcomed us into their classroom, were patient and laughed with our mistakes - very different to how we act at school. A brilliant day we would love to experience again. Hettie


After teaching I was privileged to help a younger student at their home with some Maths homework. Even though they spoke little English we managed to get the work done and have a great laugh doing this! Their house is unlike anything I have seen before - they took such pride in what they had even though they didn't have much. This makes me feel that i should tidy my room more and take more pride in what I have! Demi

Team 2 lads at Pongola

Team 1

Have headed off into the Bush for the Walking Trail phase of their expedition!  Everyone is fit and well and having a great time.

We've managed to glean a photo from them! 

Game watch after Night watch!

From Team 2

and Nic (T1)!

To mumma Mal and Papa Coconut Mal. Im down to R130 and have yet to buy mum a gift, Louis has a knife (blunt), dad has a hand carved lion and nan has a wooded hippo. I will try to find a nice gift for you mum. - Charlie Malender

Hi mum and dad, having an amazing time. Don't think ill be on the plane back. Love you both lots.

Nia

Mother Gannon and father Gannon. I went to a school a few days aago, saw some small people and they loved me. I told you I was good with kids. Have a swell time on holiday. Love you. - Sasha x

Hey everyone. Dont be too anoyed when I bring loads of souvenirs home. Love you all. P.S. Hope you had a lovely birthday. - Nic x

Hello Mum and Dad and Albe. Im having the time of my life and I wish you were here to share it with me! I've filmed the African Elephants for you mum. - Violette xxx

I cant begin to comprehend what we have done over the past 2 days. Safari, seeing the big 5. Sat next to a cheetah and fed an elephant. Ive made some brilliant friends. Very funny and entertaining. - Love Libby

Hey family. Haven't died yet however bruises and scratches have been received from camouflage prickles. Walking through a big 5 area in 2 days and camping in the middle, so before I do that I want to say I love you, miss you all and want to say thanks mum for doing my washing for 16 years. I have presents for you all! I know I will come back to africa at some point. AMAZING.

- Georgie x x

Packed and ready for Pongola

 

Team 2

Hippo spotting 

Team 3

SWS3 Kosi Bay school project 5/8/14

Today was pretty insane, I helped with some painting and then afterwards went into grade 5's class and helped the children and also taught a little. After returning back to camp we went to visit a Zulu homestead.

After picking up the child and beginning the walk to her home the girls in my group were terribly shy so I started talking to the girl. After reaching her house we sat down and started on her homework, after a while the girls finally stopped being shy and began to help with the homework and talking to the child and her family. After completing the homework we played games outside, duck duck goose was good fun and the children taught us another game which was similar to stuck in the mud but used a tennis ball. After the games there was a mass selfie session and a fair bit of photo bombing, unfortunately all good things must come to an end and we had to leave after thanking the mother for allowing us into their home. She was very happy to receive the food parcel that we took with us and she just kept saying thank you, thank you, thank you.

The kids walked us down the path back to the school and gave us sweets, but since I don't like sweets I said that she can have it after tea and not to tell her mum. I hope I don't get her into trouble! All in all an epic day that I will never forget.

Jack

Photos at last!

Teams 1, 2 and 3!

Notes from Team 3

For Tuesday 5th August
To Sam,
Sorry that I will not be at home for your birthday but I hope you have a lovely time. I look forward to seeing you and Yasmin when I get back.
Missing you all lots,
Zoe
X

..................................................
Kosi Bay SWS 3
Today we were back at the project working on our half painted, not so beautiful walls. All the holes have been filled with filler previously  and needed a slight sanding before we started on our first coat. This was a very exciting and proud moment for everyone. Hours later,  paint all over the floor, all over us and, most importantly, all over the walls!
Today we completed our first coat of white paint! Woohoo!
Painting the walls today was easier than yesterday, even though the weather was hotter! This is due to the motivation of the school children learning and playing all around us. Happiness and laugher made the heat and hard work very easy as we had break to look forward to when we could play with the children.
- Demi -missing everyone back at home, can't wait to tell you about everything!

After lunch, I went to a child's homestead with two other members of my team. We first helped her with her Maths homework, which was quite a challenge considering that she was only in grade 4 and didn't know much English.
We eventually finished her Maths, and afterwards we went outside and played games with her, her cousin and her 18 year old sister.
Communication was easier now as the sister knew much more English. Eventually we had to leave, which was actually quite sad because we had enjoyed our time together. We took some pictures together and then me and my team mates walked back to camp.
It was quite an eye opener to see how different the living conditions are here, and  I'm looking forward to spending the next few days at the school with the children.
- Emily (Hi mum!)

Messages from Teams 1 & 2

Blog Messages from group 1 and 2
Hi guys, Im not coming home! Hope you are all well. It is amazing here. - Georgia Bowey

Miss you very much. Enjoying camp, veiws are amazing, see you soon. - Love Libby

Happy Birthday Chris. - Dom

Yesterday I pee'd on a frog and Im the only vegetarian in the group. - Violette

Hi Sarah. I bought a knife but I will hide it from Louis when Im home. I love you all, cats and nan too. Miss ya. - Love Charlie Mal

Hi Mum, I hope your Ok, Im having so much fun, but I miss you loads. - Gemma

Hi Mum and Dad. Having a great time in South Africa. Miss you loads. - Megan

Having a great time, see you soon, love you family and Jenn – Joe Hooper

Happy wedding anniversary. Having lots of fun. Xxx - Nick Wills.

Hey Everyone, Jack here. Having a sick time. We went all round the zulu battlefields which included a brutal 10km walk. Also we had a fat game of football with a school of kids here, went swimming in the nicest river and had a few adders around our necks. I miss you all so much and cant wait to see ya. - Jack

Hope this helps!!

All the kids are having a fantastic time, happy safe and having endless fun. Their positive attitudes mean they are gaining so much. They are all a pleasure. - Devin

From Team 3

Kosi bay project Day 1

Today we went to the local school to start our community project. For this we had to clean the walls, fix cracks in buildings and pick up litter. It was interesting looking around the classrooms and seeing the difference between schools here and schools back home. It was really enjoyable being able to work in smaller groups and it made us a better team. This evening we went on a walk to a viewpoint overlooking Kosi Bay estuary.We saw whales surfacing off the coast and watched the sunset.

Tomorrow we're looking forward to getting on with the project (the painting begins!) and the opportunity to teach some of the children and enjoying the rest of our time at Kosi Bay.

Harry Nicholson, Susanna Harvey, Beth Kings, and Daisy Goddard

 

All good in South Africa

I have now spoken to all 3 teams and everything is going well.

Teams 1 and 2 have begun their environmental awareness course and by the end of tomorrow I am assured that I will have photos to post on this blog! 

Team 3 are in Kosi Bay and begin their community interaction phase.  Scrubbing walls down in preperation for painting! 

So, all good and all your good wishes have been passed on to them.

Report in

Everything is going well in South Africa!
Thank you for all your comments.  Don't panic if there is nothing put on the blog for a couple of days!  That just means that they are having an action packed time!  Internet is very intermittant.  As soon as I receive photos I will put them up for you.  Meanwhile, leaders say that they are all well and happy.  All messages have been distributed from all those that have sent them.. don't worry.
In the meantime here are piccies of Reggie, who has given them the Battlefield tours and  their first glimpse of South Africa. They are with him again all day today.   Tomorrow they head off for Umkhumbi and Kosi, depending on the team! Then you have Tommy.  He is their South African guide and will be a font of information to them all when it comes to Environmental Awareness.  Finally, a lovely shot from one of last years expeditioners giving you a feel for the landscape that they are in at the moment.



REGGIE




TOMMY

 





ELANDSHEIM