South Africa Gap Year Research Trip

Hornbills.

I think it was Ernest Hemmingway who said “There is not a day that went by when I woke up in Africa and I’m wasn’t truly happy”. Well Ernest clearly never got woken up at 4.50am by a pair of Hornbills crowing outside his window. Imagine a Crow with a banana nailed to its face and then give it an ear splitting whining noise like a pissed of frightened cat. That is a Hornbill. Years of evolution has not been kind to these things, imagine trying to fly with a huge downward curving banana beak and you can imagine how these things travel – Pretty much like I do in a plane to be fair, must be something to do with my nose also. The meaning of their name I am unsure of – either because of their beak being mistaken for some kind of Horn (most likely) or my theory is that they sound like a fucking fog horn.

Freddie the Guard Frog.

I have a new friend – Freddie. Freddie is a frog that has taken up residence on top of the bathroom mirror at the cottage. He has been sat there for days, just waiting for god knows what, but he seems happy enough. I like to think that he is keeping my toothbrush free from bugs and a fine job he is doing too. Freddie is not the type of frog to be bothered by intrigued Englishmen poking at him with sticks shampoo bottles and toothbrush handles in fact my admiration for him has grown somewhat considering the hours he is putting in. I will keep the diary updated accordingly if he ever leaves his post.