Kenya
A bit far for a school trip you say? Well it wasn't technically a school trip, it was a World Challenge expedition. However, it was run through the school and we had teachers with us. Go figure.

Anyway, about 5 days into the month long trip we go to Hell's Gate National park. The name alone should have been a warning. Anyway, we arrive in the morning and pitch our camp on top of a very picturesque cliff. Our buses are still with us at this point. They take 5 of us back to the entrance to get firewood, then piss off.

We get the firewood, and walk back to the camp- about 45 minutes in the midday sun. This is ok, we have water with us. Walking back into the camp, we find the rest of the team huddled at one end, and our camp being ripped apart by baboons. Now, baboons may look amusing but they're vicious bastards. They got into our food trailer and were ripping tins of food apart with their teeth. Let me repeat that TINNED FOOD being ripped into.

So naturally, were all scared. So we decide on the only sensible course of action. Walk down the cliff, through the park and back to the entrance. The cliff descent was bad enough, but when walking through the park we didn't have any water. A member of the team fainted. Things were going well.

We finally get to the entrance, call the buses back, and head back to the camp armed with automobiles. One blast of a high pitched whistle and all the baboons disappeared, leaving us to grab our stuff and get the hell out of there. We lost all our food for the week, and our equipment was all damaged.

Still, the rest of the trip was incredible.

Length? About a month, weren't you listening?
(Urban Hermit Exit, pursued by a bear on, Fri 8 Dec 2006, 16:18, Reply)