Hippopotami

Back in the jeep we set off travelling for about an hour to another camp where we ordered lunch feeling so unwell I decided not to order anything. The jeep took us further on into the bush, the guide then stopped the jeep and asked us to follow him on foot to the river Gambia. We climbed down a slight incline to the waters edge. At the river there was the remains of a makeshift bridge which was to enable vehicles to cross to the other side. We looked up and down the river for any wildlife. Paul suddenly spotted in the distance up river some movement, we quickly climbed back into the jeep to go further on. Once at the sight we quietly walked towards the river. I was so ill by now and had to stop on route to be sick yet again which was so embarrassing. As we neared the river there was a clearing where we could see down to the waters edge. This is when we got our first sighting of Hippopotami, there were about ten with their heads just above the water. Occasionally they would disappear and you could see their silhouette only to then resurface for air. Unfortunately I just needed to sit down I managed to find a tree stump in the shade. I was sweating, having severe stomach cramps, feeling sick and very thirsty I just wanted to go back to the hotel. Once back in the jeep Marielle gave me some rehydration tablets which we quickly mixed with water for me to drink. We eventually headed back to the camp for lunch. Whilst the others sat and ate I was given one of the cabins to lie down in and rest. I immediately stripped off to my pants to cool down as I felt so hot. All I wanted was a drink of pop which Paul brought me, I drank this straight away and still needed more. I spent the next hour and a half lying on the bed dozing and drinking a litre of water and another bottle of pop and still I wanted more to drink. Whilst dozing monkeys were busy running about the camp and trees, disturbing leaves which were then falling on the roof of my hut. I was glad when we headed back to our hotel, once there I showered and laid on the bed to try and get some sleep as we were booked on a river boat at 4.30pm.

Lion Campment