I had always imagined how wonderful camping would be, especially sleeping on the ground and under the moon and stars. So, I could not hide my joy when my father broke the good news of going for a three day camp to me and my sister. I was beyond words, dumb-founded.
Early that afternoon, after having lunch, we packed our tents, sleeping bags, camping chairs and personal effects in the pick-up vehicle. My younger sister was overly elated, as we drove across a game reserve; we crossed seasonal rivers and saw herds of buffaloes and giraffes grazing. The drive was rough and bumpy.
We reached our camp site at about five in the evening, just before sunset. We were welcomed by a flock of frightened and angry weaver birds living in a nearby acacia tree. Some chattering monkeys wearing beautiful coats quickly assembled in curiosity when they saw us. The birds and monkeys thought we were intruding into their space. The camp site air was as fresh as a daisy.
I identified a flat area with short grass, where I pitched three tents; my father`s, my sister`s and mine. My father and sister went out to fetch firewood and water from a nearby river. At about 6 O’clock we all sat next to the fire, preparing dinner. It was getting colder by the minute and the camp site was as quiet as a graveyard. My father told us stories around the fire as we prepared some white rice and stew. We enjoyed our meal and then jumped into our tents shortly after to keep warm. The night was cold and silent. In the middle of the night, I was awoken by lions roaring from a distance away. I was terrified to my spine and shivered uncontrollably. My first night was long and cold.
We woke up early in the morning and took early breakfast. We went to climb a scenic hill next to our camp site. The hike was very relaxing but tiring. I enjoyed seeing the beautiful views from the top of the hill. Later that afternoon, we went to fish and swim in the nearby river. We roasted the fish in an open fire at the river bank. The fish was very tasty. We went back to our campsite in the evening; I could hardly keep my eyes open. That night the sky was clear and the moon and stars view was spectacular. It was my best night at the campsite despite my tiredness.
On the last day, we woke up at the crack of dawn to the singing melodies of the weaver birds. They had now realized that we were friends and we had not come to hurt them. We removed our tents and packed our belongings in the car. Later, we went to pick some wild berries as we said goodbye to the monkeys and birds and thanked them for hosting us. We left the campsite to go back home at about noon. It was one of my best times ever.