Life Science Excursion

My experience at Cape Point nature reserve

Today was one of the many times I have been at Cape Point nature reserve because I used to be a junior ranger. Junior Rangers is a voluntary course in which we learn the basics of conservation. I used to go to Cape Point nature reserve at least twice a month to learn all about nature. I have also hiked every hiking trail within the nature reserve with my parents because my parents own a hiking club for the children of marine primary school. Nevertheless, I still enjoy every time I go to the reserve because this time it was with all my friends. The bus drive was really long from Bellville to the nature reserve and it started to make me feel nauseous, but as soon as we got to the lighthouse, the smell of the sea felt really revitalizing. That was something I've been missing out on for way too long, since I haven’t been to the beach in ages.

Shortly after, we had to hike to the lighthouse which was really fun because of how certain people reacted towards the Chacma Baboons and the wind which was really turbulent. Some people where even brave enough to sit right next to the baboons as we went to the top of the lighthouse. As soon as we went to the top of the lighthouse, I immediately noticed that there was something missing on the lighthouse. It was the post that displayed all the directions of various countries and the amount of distance from the lighthouse towards them.  It was still fun on top of the lighthouse seeing tourists from various countries. Out of all the tourists I could only tell that some of the people where from China, France and Netherlands. Seeing over the peak of the cliff was a very majestic experience because, as low as that cliff is, it felt as if I was on top of the world. 

After the trip to the lighthouse we went to the side of the cliff which was near the beach. This is where a few people hiked up the mountain to gaze at the vast ocean or to feel the strength of the wind against us.
When I was up at the top of the cliff I was able to lean my body 45 degrees forward and not fall because of the wind. Since it was so windy, climbing to the top gave me a head ache and made my ears really sore. That was the signal that I should just hike back down. Unfortunately when we were on the bus to go to another hike, it had started raining, cancelling the plans we had for an hour or so.

Even though I had a good time, I didn't really understand the point of this excursion and giving us an assignment that required the internet, when there weren't even people that could have taught us about the history of the reserve or on the certain stuff on the assignment to do with conservation.