In November it was finally the seniors' turn to receive a renovated camp! They were already getting very jealous when they saw that both the babies and juniors had received a revamp of their homes back earlier in October...
So on a sunny Friday afternoon, Cila and Johannes took out the seniors for a long walk, and all the remaining volunteers and staff members ventured into the baboon camp. We had to be very careful and be aware of our phones at all times in case of Cila calling, as the sudden and unannounced return of the baboons would have meant trouble for us!
We split up in three groups: The first group was responsible for digging and cleaning the waterhole. This was quite a smelly affair but is also one of the most important ones to ensure the ongoing health of our friends! The second group started combing the ground, getting rid of rocks, branches, and general rubbish that then had to be put into wheelbarrows and carried outside the camp. What a job!
The third group was the creative one and got to paint some of the newly brought in furniture! For the seniors we opted for purple, grey and yellow as the main colors to redecorate the camp. At the end of it all, we brought in some pieces of fruit and vegetables and hid it in corners so that the baboons would have some nice surprises upon their return.
After Nemo and his friends had been gone for a few hours, during which they had an encounter with some wild baboons that played with them for a while, Cila called to tell us that they were on their way back, so it was time for us to quickly pack up all the tools and run out of the camp.
Full of expectation, we then stayed to watch the reaction of our friends when they came back into their new camp and saw the changes. And of course, they loved it! Doinkievan and Doree went straight into the water and enjoyed a bath in the fresh crystal-clear waterhole, while Nemo did as best as he could to find all the hidden oranges, apples and cabbages before anyone else would find them!
Big Momma opted to check out the newly painted house in the middle of the camp. I am sure that if they could they would like to thank all the volunteers and donors who made it possible for them to have this beautiful new home...
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