18th February
by Dr Romane Courteille
We began our second day at the IWAH course with an early rise, greeted by the serene beauty of Wildebeest Eco Camp. After checking out, we boarded a bus bound for the Wildlife Research and Training Institute (WRTI). Along the way, we paused at a scenic viewpoint to capture photographs of the Great Rift Valley.
Upon our arrival at WRTI, we were given a tour of the institute. We were delighted to find that wildlife roams freely in the garden; warthogs were there to welcome us. The highlight of the tour for most of the group was definitely the museum, which houses skulls and skeletons of various wild species native to the area, as well as preserved snakes and other reptiles.
Following a delicious lunch buffet, the staff provided us with introductory talks about the institute and the course itself. Each participant introduced themselves (twice actually), sharing their backgrounds and current roles. It was fascinating to observe the diverse nationalities and experiences within our group. It was also interesting and fun to see the different personalities of the participants. Some clearly stood out with their humorous presentations and excellent oratory skills (yes, Anna, we’re talking about you!).
In the evening, we kept it short, most of us went to bed pretty quickly after dinner, because we were all tired from the day’s travels and eager to rest up for the next day’s activities.
