Camel Riding

Emma was a little afraid of the camels at first because they were so loud but she warmed up to them quickly and loved touching their soft fur. She didn't ride but she said she would when she was a big girl!
Tristan loved his first experience with the camels. As you can see they are very affectionate.

Can you see the look of pure terror on my face? I almost fell off as the camel stood up; unlike a horse that you mount when it is standing, a camel gets down with it's belly flat on the ground and then lurches up. Did I mention that I almost fell off when he sat back down at the end of the ride? All in good fun!

Aaron was a pro at camel riding! He could do it for a living. My camel man! There are no stirups so you are balancing your self on a wooden saddle placed over the camel's hump. The camel has no halter or bit, just a rope tied around his neck and a decorative head wrap.

On Saturday morning we spent several hours at the Raya Camel Cooperative. We were glad to see that the treatment for the Tseste Fly had been affective and that the herd was healthy. Some of the herdsmen were glad to report that a couple of the camels are expecting (the gestation period is a full year). We also had the opportunity to ride the male camel of the herd as he is the only camel trained to be saddled. Ron hopes that someday they will be able to train more camels for eco-tourism, bringing some much needed currency into the local economy.

Here is a short video of Tristan as he enjoys his first camel ride.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5371923921530192807

Aaron and Tristan with the camels

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5464923924978674670