Tina Hasibar Testimonial – Volunteer, January – February 2018

The 4 weeks that I stayed at the park were amazing. I came here because I wanted to work with elephants, because I adore them. I am really glad that I was able to spend so much time with the elephants. It is amazing to get to know their personalities and just watching them, made me very happy.

At first it was very hard to recognize them, but it only took me about a week and then I knew them all, which was really cool. I always enjoyed doing field observations because then I could spend time with the ellies and I also enjoyed the weekends when I could go out and spend more time with them, take photos and touch them.

Two highlights in my 4 weeks here were the birthdays of Nandi and Thato, where we prepared pellet and watermelon cakes for each elephant and were allowed to feed it to them. That was really special, because I think there are not many people who have prepared birthday cakes for elephants J  On Thatos birthday I made a cake for Mash and I put a Gopro around my chest while feeding him and took an amazing video.

But it was not only the ellies I liked here. I got along very well with the other Volunteers, we made trips and went out in the evenings, played cards, cooked together and had a lot of fun. Also everybody from AERU was very nice, always helpful and I enjoyed things like the Braai and Pancake night together with some of them very much. It is always important to have nice people around, and here at KEP are lots of nice people.

One of my favourite things, except for the ellies of course, was AERU-shop. I made a lot of nice things and I am going to take some of them home.

I really don’t want to leave this place and I hope I can come back some day and meet all the wonderful elephants (and people) again! I am going to miss this place so much!