"Wow, Wow, Wow" ... says Julie Cadmore

Julie Cadmore has provided this 'blog' entry, via expedition leader Matt and Michael Kingscote ... it was heard by the whole group and they agreed with and approved it ...

''Wow, wow, wow! ... What an amazing 36 hours- a great send off, smooth travel and flight and awesome scenery through this beautiful country. We've already seen zebra, water buck and jackal buzzards. Our accommodation is fantastic - we've had a delicious dinner.

As we write this we are sat around a roaring fire toasting marshmallows underneath a stunning milky way. Tomorrow we're decorating 4 classrooms and meeting local children - How exciting!

Thank you for enabling us to have this adventure of a lifetime."

Entabeni ...

Everyone has arrived safely at Entabeni Camp - all very tired but happy and in good spirits! Looking forward to busy days ahead.

Entabeni Environmental Camp at the foot of the mighty Drakensbergs

On our way to the Drakensbergs ...

Everyone has arrived safely in Johannesburg and now onboard the coach heading for their environmental camp at the foot of the magnificent Drakensberg Mountains.

All checked-in. Flight on-time!

Fee Bellamy reports from Heathrow ... 

All checked in and through to security. Flight gates open 1800, flight still due to depart 1900. Group excellently behaved!

Waiting at Check-in ... relaxed, happy & excited!

Robert Blake & Chilton Trinity - on day of departure looking smart in their expedition t-shirts!

Cold? Nah ... bring on the Drakensberg Mountains ... we're ready!

After final training session at Outposts Bush Camp in Somerset, everyone left with morale high and great anticipation of the next time they will all meet up

 ... Africa here we come! 

Students and teachers from Chilton Trinity & Robert Blake's joint expedition to South Africa with Outposts - braved the bitter cold to have fun and make final preparations at training session 2 at Outposts' Bush Camp this past weekend. 

Outposts' apprentice and assistant on the weekend, Megan Olding, reports: 

Arrival a bit hectic trying to park but managed it. Smokey Bush Camp fire - but lovely and warm - where packs were laid out; expedition t-shirts, 'plan-pack-explore' book, lesson plan manual, notebooks and pens.

Lots of teambuilding activities to challenge us and keep us warm. Split into groups and then all came together for a ‘River Crossing' race. 

Students from both schools integrated superbly and expeditioners were very mature. Very good teamwork and communication (even though one team lost 4 crates!). Teachers were all very encouraging. After lunch, we all looked through some text books from a South African School and discussed the community project/ cultural interaction phase of the expedition.  

 Back to Bush Camp for hot chocolate and selection of delicious homemade cakes by aptly named Mrs Baker. Went for a walk/hike around the lanes to keep up our fitness and then early evening expeditioners huddled around the fire and talked over successful fundraising experiences and their anticipation of the expedition. 

Dinner ... Everyone helped prepare and cook dinner for 'forty' of delicious and warming spaghetti bolognese, garlic bread and yummy dessert. After washing up was completed, settled down to watch the film Zulu which depicts the Zulu-Anglo battle at Rorke's Drift where the expeditioners will be visiting. 

Off to our tents and bed, on one of the coldest nights of the year ... but everyone seemed in good spirits in the morning and this was good practice for the night they will be spending out under the 

magnificent Drakensberg mountains. 

Tents were left clean and tidy - so very many thanks to you all for this. Expedition leader Richard had to go through Risk Assessments and safety with the group which although very important was described as ‘dry’ even by the leader himself! (which brought some giggles).