Tuesday 22nd November found the Year 7’s gearing up for their first 3 day – 2 night journey into the desert.  After time spent packing, re-packing and re-re-packing, we were off on our long journey to the ancient Kingdom of Meroe.  Pitching camp in a gusty wind provided a great opportunity for practicing communication and team work skills as tents turned into kites and pegs flew out of the soft sand….
… with all the tents safely secured, it was time for a few group games and then the adventurous took to the saddle on a camel ride to experience travelling in the desert local style.    

Dinner followed, with many contenders for the ‘Desert MasterChef’ Award, which was clinched by Ahmed and Michail, who made some delicious coated potato chips!  The next morning we struck camp and headed out from the dunes to explore the pyramids…searching for clues of a lost culture and empire, and making some human pyramids of our own along the way.

Back on the buses we headed to the desert near Shendi and returned to the same campsite from last year for a ‘jebel reunion’.  An evening game of sardines (who hid under the truck?!) and an early morning climb up the jebel to watch the sunrise, topped off a great adventure before we headed for a well earned Fatour at the ‘Coca Cola Café’.
Thank you to all the drivers and support staff who enabled the trip to run so smoothly.

Izzy Bartley
ODE Coordinator