Animal blinds are an amazing and close up vantage point from which to conduct game counts. The blinds are low, green, cinder block buildings, approximately 8 x 11. A foot wide, slit-like, horizontal window allows volunteers to view the game. Blinds are strategically located near water holes, man made or natural sources of water, where animals come to drink, lick and (in the case of a warthog) bathe. As the animals can't see the volunteers inside the blind, it is a great vantage point for CCF's 12 hour surveys (6am to 6pm). These surveys are taken on a regular basis, and the data is compiled to get an accurate assessment on the health of area wildlife and most importantly the health of animals that cheetah prey upon.
It was amazing to be so close to the animals and to have the opportunity to observe them at ease. We saw one oryx spending considerable time grooming herself and a male giraffe herding his family through the area. Three juvenile giraffes played together and one oryx spent a very long time looking at our blind, quite puzzled.
Matti had warned us to "take an umbrella" and he was right. It turned out that the blind was not waterproof. At 4pm, there was a huge thunderstorm and downpour. The sketchy roof covering gave way and we squeezed ourselves into the one dry square foot, only to be dripped upon mercilessly. At 6pm, we were holding up the roof and standing on a mat, as the blind was flooding. Luckily, Matt came early to pick us up and we were able to laugh the whole way through.
Written by Kim
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