On September 2, we left Harare for Rifa Camp in northern  Zimbabwe, close to the Zambezi River. Rifa camp is one of the many game reserves in Zimbabwe. Our school, The Harare International School, organizes yearly trips for grades four to twelve to visit and experience different outdoor camps in our "Explore Zimbabwe” program. The camp was located in the Riverine forest.  

Unlike the previous camps I have attended, this one was a self-help community. We were all assigned to prepare meals on certain days for the whole grade, teachers and help staff.  Altogether that was about 50 people.  Quite a lot huh.  The camp’s dormitories were arranged in a semi-circle.  All the beds had mosquito nets and all windows had wires. They looked like prison cells.  As usual the girls got the better cabins, the ones that were left clean.  

During our stay at Rifa, we had many different activities. These included scatology, bamboo writing, ballistics, river painting, and night drives. We identified and made drawings of several plants and we got to see some of the wild life as well. During our excursions into the bush we had to wear earth tone colours so that we would not scare the animals away. It was a hectic 5 days but we all enjoyed it.  In fact, most of us want to go back.  

On the last night, we had a bonfire. During the morning hours the hunters had gone out to look for an Impala to shoot for our final meal but they were unlucky. We were a little disappointed, as we had looked forward to Impala stew for dinner. Mr. Lombardo, our science teacher, handed out all kinds of awards for behaviour and effort.  Then he handed out awards that he had made up.  I got the “Cheeseburger” award for reversing the path of the digestive system for a lady. The actual incident happened on our to Rifa at a restaurant, but that is another story.  

When we got back to school, we were so tired.  Some of my friends got their sleeping bags lay on the grass and went to sleep. Rifa was a great experience for me. I learned some useful skills and I had a chance to test my survival skills. I am glad that the school includes these kinds of trips in the curriculum. Zimbabwe is well known for it’s great game reserves and living in here has given me the opportunity to some wonderful outdoor experiences. I’m enjoying our time in Zimbabwe very much.

Rotimi Adesina, is in the Ninth Grade of Harare International School, Zimbabwe.