Gail in tent "reading" Reader's Digest - Kenya. |
My name is Gail Selby Wentink and I was born on January 4th 1959 in Nairobi, Kenya. With my parents being in the safari business, I was introduced to the bush, animals and nature at a very early age! I was 3 years old when we left Kenya for Botswana, so I do not remember much of my life in Kenya, but I do have some pictures and my parents have told me many stories of some of the things I got up to there. I did learn to sleep in a tent from an early age! |
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I really wish I could remember the times my parents used to take us on horse and camel safaris - apparently I used to cause such a fuss if my mum got onto a camel that she had to do it behind my back! A horse and camel safari was a "safari" without the vehicles. I did get on the horses though and I did venture through rivers with my balancing sticks! |
Gail on horse & camel safari - Kenya. |
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Gail, Dad & Mark on horse & camel safari - Kenya.
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Gail & Mark with friends on safari.
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When I moved to Maun, Botswana in 1962 with my parents and brother, Mark - the country changed but not the lifestyle! My entire childhood was about camping; fishing; hunting; boating; exploring; nature and animals. I have always had my own pets and adore animals. I was also a complete tomboy and spent most my life up trees when I wasn't busy doing something else that was slowly turning my parents hair grey!
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Mum, Mark & Gail at Crossroads - Kenya.
(Click on picture to enlarge)
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Mum, Mark & Gail with Rendille women - Kenya. |
Life in Maun was wonderful - when we weren't in the bush then I would spend my time fishing with the local children in the river infront of our house. It was huge with crystal clear water. The river was full of fish in those days and we were master fishermen with our lines, tiny hooks and worms! Sadly, these days - we are lucky when there is even water in the riverbed.
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When we first arrived in Botswana, my parents spent months in the bush making roads, building safari camps and getting to know the areas. Many of the areas had never seen vehicles before. Many lions hadn't seen humans either, and I do remember that the moment they saw a vehicle, they used to chase the heck out of it! Those were wonderful days and for a child - pure heaven! |
Mark & Gail - Kenya. |
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Gail getting ready to go camping - Botswana. |
I started school in Maun and the wives used to take turns as 'teacher' - it wasn't fun when my Mum was 'teacher' as I was in trouble all the time! In later years, we would have to go off to Boarding School in Zimbabwe - then called Rhodesia. My boarding school days are days I would rather forget - it was dreadful having to pack up and leave home at 10 years old.
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Being so far away, we could only come home three times a year for school holidays. I hated boarding school and considered it similar to being in jail - not that I had ever been in jail!! I would spend about 3 weeks with sleepless nights before holidays began, and boy, did I look forward to them.
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Gail with catch of the day! - Botswana. |
