tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14221068062014262102024-03-13T14:39:57.565+02:00EcoTraining BlogRead all about the exciting sightings, activities and experiences the students have at EcoTraining's wildlife campsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger283125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-11057718858094840712016-05-26T15:03:00.000+02:002016-05-26T15:05:22.581+02:00Breathtaking nature: have you ever...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BuudZOkkKd4/V0bvZsLbv6I/AAAAAAAAENU/Y0feFLknj3MZgdVZLj8cvgHQFpyEiXbuQCLcB/s1600/Makuleke_Elephant%2Bbull%2Bin%2BFever%2BTree%2Bforest_Vaughn%2Bdu%2BPlooy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-BuudZOkkKd4/V0bvZsLbv6I/AAAAAAAAENU/Y0feFLknj3MZgdVZLj8cvgHQFpyEiXbuQCLcB/s640/Makuleke_Elephant%2Bbull%2Bin%2BFever%2BTree%2Bforest_Vaughn%2Bdu%2BPlooy.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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"Have you ever had the sheer pleasure of just laying down under a big, old, shady tree with some grass as your mattress and your trails backpack as your pillow, closing your eyes and dozing off to the sounds of the African bush?<br />
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fWDQJdN8c-I/V0bv98oB4gI/AAAAAAAAENY/w4uzgk5mDlkKWXo3kbQkeNlXaE0J62m9QCLcB/s1600/Mashatu_9E%2BTrails_Henry%2BParsons%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fWDQJdN8c-I/V0bv98oB4gI/AAAAAAAAENY/w4uzgk5mDlkKWXo3kbQkeNlXaE0J62m9QCLcB/s320/Mashatu_9E%2BTrails_Henry%2BParsons%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a>Have you ever felt the soothing coolness of the gentle current of a river as you step into it after a day's good walking along ancient, dusty pathways winding their way through pure wilderness?<br />
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Have you ever slowly walked across a floodplain at sunrise and run your hand through the drop-seed grass as it glows gold in the rising light and the promise of a new day?<br />
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Have you ever woken up to the eerie whoop of a hyena in the creeping darkness and just lay still in your sleeping bag as the mystery of the African night embraced you?<br />
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Have you ever been so close to a wild african elephant on foot that you can't help but stare into its wise and beautiful hazelnut colored eyes as time seems to stand still and life takes on a more natural, authentic and wild meaning?<br />
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If not, then my friends, you have not lived..."<br />
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<i>Inspiring words by our very own <b>Vaughn du Plooy.</b></i></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-17004237212731903722016-04-22T11:46:00.000+02:002016-04-22T11:48:53.365+02:00'Tree'mendous fun facts: Earth Day 2016 - The importance of trees<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-22ObFCV4oyg/VxnxkdY6foI/AAAAAAAAEMw/bTDc21QG09ogWVzvB85Cg7UjBy7hz3y2wCLcB/s1600/DSC02129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-22ObFCV4oyg/VxnxkdY6foI/AAAAAAAAEMw/bTDc21QG09ogWVzvB85Cg7UjBy7hz3y2wCLcB/s640/DSC02129.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The entire theme of Earth day
2016 revolves around the importance of trees. Most of the time we take trees
for granted, and never quite realize the importance of trees in our lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Here are
some valuable and important facts about trees:</span></div>
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<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Trees
Produce Oxygen – we can simply not live if there were no trees</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Trees
play an essential role in environmental sustainability.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">It helps
with the fight of climate change by absorbing carbon dioxide and other
pollutants from the air.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">They
prevent erosion and clean the water.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Trees
provide home to surrounding habitat, not to mention the nutritional value their
fruits have to offer.</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Some more facts...a little bit more on a lighter note.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_6PX0QuIyqs/VxnpTyS97HI/AAAAAAAAEMU/gt6Vwy9VqtMSkj5zu-v_fPC1OLpepwLdQCLcB/s1600/Bruce_Makuleke_%2BWarrior%2BTrails%2B%252829%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_6PX0QuIyqs/VxnpTyS97HI/AAAAAAAAEMU/gt6Vwy9VqtMSkj5zu-v_fPC1OLpepwLdQCLcB/s200/Bruce_Makuleke_%2BWarrior%2BTrails%2B%252829%2529.JPG" width="150" /></a><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_6PX0QuIyqs/VxnpTyS97HI/AAAAAAAAEMU/gt6Vwy9VqtMSkj5zu-v_fPC1OLpepwLdQCLcB/s1600/Bruce_Makuleke_%2BWarrior%2BTrails%2B%252829%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">6. <span style="font-weight: bold; line-height: 107%;">It
can be used as cover when being chased by a lion or</span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> <b>elephant</b></span> – usually lions do not
climb trees. When out walking in big five game areas, the chances are good that
you might run into one of the big 5. If you are surrounded by trees, then the best
option would be to look for the closest tree and seek hiding. You might have
some trouble when encountering a leopard.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">7. <b><span style="line-height: 107%;">When
sleeping in the wilderness, there is no better roof for the night, than to sleep under a
tree.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">8<b>. It
serves as camouflage when faced with an elephant on foot</b></span><span style="line-height: 107%;"> –
situational awareness is key during on foot guiding. Trees can become an
important cover when faced with dangerous game.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%;">9<b>. An elephant keeps busy by pushing over some trees</b></span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">.</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%;"> According to the EcoLibrary “m</span><span style="background: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%;">any ecologists believe that by frequently pushing
over trees, elephants help keep savannas as open habitats, so that they do not
grow up into more dense woodlands</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">”</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2IG6VfWp8_8/VxnnCAj1enI/AAAAAAAAEMA/ifspgLC7MBACQsvKDLtg8mMv_J3lU_-QgCLcB/s1600/Selati_Elephants%2Bhaving%2Bsome%2Bfun%2Bat%2Bcamp%2B%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2IG6VfWp8_8/VxnnCAj1enI/AAAAAAAAEMA/ifspgLC7MBACQsvKDLtg8mMv_J3lU_-QgCLcB/s320/Selati_Elephants%2Bhaving%2Bsome%2Bfun%2Bat%2Bcamp%2B%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">10<b>. It
creates shade for the lazy cat specie</b></span><span style="line-height: 107%;">, the shade of a tree becomes a relieve during hot summer days<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 107%;">11. Trees make for beautiful photos</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-38m2sleil9Q/VxnnOmVbyKI/AAAAAAAAEME/knFAmV53B7ws8J237YVzgYNG6gLHs_BQQCLcB/s1600/Rhodes%2BBaobab_Mashatu_Henry%2BParsons.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-38m2sleil9Q/VxnnOmVbyKI/AAAAAAAAEME/knFAmV53B7ws8J237YVzgYNG6gLHs_BQQCLcB/s320/Rhodes%2BBaobab_Mashatu_Henry%2BParsons.jpeg" width="256" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 107%;">We must take it upon ourselves
to look after our planet. Preserve the earth and we all will secure a green
future for ourselves and our children. Let’s all celebrate Earth Day. Not only
on 22 April, but every single day of our lives</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Happy Earth day 2016!</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 10pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-37526925303537883822016-03-31T12:06:00.002+02:002016-03-31T12:12:59.360+02:00Fascinating facts: Matabele ants<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
Matabele or hissing ants are the main predators of termites. They get their name from the Matabele tribe who are an offshoot of the Zulus. Much like the Matabele people of old, the Matabele ants attack in raiding parties and then carry off the spoils of the subdued tribe. In the video we can see an army of matabele ants raiding a termite colony. If you watch closely, the seemingly chaotic frenzy is actually a well planned and expertly carried out attack!<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzx-dt_CQYRrWpNOSsac9_a3s79eMGL37Tg6uLTmWPrDtITe-laAcuxgrnqla_qZqOnZRqvnj9JJ0X1yQbuSg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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What usually happens is that a single scout will locate a potential food source and then lay a pheromone trail which the raiding party, often marching 2 to 10 abreast in a column that can extend in excess of 2 meter long, follows. When the attack takes place it appears that some of the Matabele ants rush in and drag out the larva of the termites, or the termites themselves, while others sting them (which paralyzes them) and then carry them off to their own colonies as food. Incredible!<br />
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Blogger: Vaughn du Plooy<br />
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-61028213539859396862016-02-22T16:03:00.001+02:002016-02-22T16:03:47.155+02:00FINALLY SOME RAIN<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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Makuleke got its first taste of some decent rain last week and almost instantly the bush transformed into a completely different place. It is incredible how just a small injection of nature's life giving nectar can have such a profound affect on not only nature's physical appearance but it's mood as well!</div>
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It is almost as if every animal is walking with a bit more of a spring in their step, every bird singing with a bit more enthusiasm, every bug scurrying around with a bit more intent and all the plants have just simply come alive! </div>
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The immediate impact that rain has on an ecosystem is of course incredible, but have you ever thought about what is IN a drop of rain? We know that rain is water and water is made up of hydrogen and oxygen atoms, but, in order for a rain drop to form it needs a nuclei. A small partical right in the middle around which the water can cling to in order to form a rain drop. This nuclei can be a small spec of dust or even pollen.</div>
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A rain drop, however, contains much more than just a few molecules of water and a nuclei. It contains hope, potential and promise. Water is the universal solvent in which all the processes of life take place. Contained within the perfectly spherical ball of a glistening rain drop is the power to give life, restore strength and wash away the dust of past worries and stress. Isn't nature incredible!?</div>
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Blog and photo by Vaughn du Plooy</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-82466849955707039952016-01-22T08:01:00.000+02:002016-01-22T08:21:15.500+02:00MAKULEKE AS I SEE IT...<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dtVxpPt94P8/VqDNEP_7u1I/AAAAAAAAEJw/GNJ2BySeHKg/s1600/Vaughn_Lanner%2BGorge%2BMakuleke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-dtVxpPt94P8/VqDNEP_7u1I/AAAAAAAAEJw/GNJ2BySeHKg/s1600/Vaughn_Lanner%2BGorge%2BMakuleke.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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In this blog Vaughn will take you on a journey to the bush and make you want to leave everything behind to get that same down to earth experience he is describing. This is what he had to say:</div>
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"Tucked away in the far North of Kruger National Park, hugged by two rivers
and littered with baobabs, lies a truly remarkable piece of land. 26000ha of
pristine wilderness, as rich in ecological biodiversity as it is is in cultural
history.<o:p></o:p></div>
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I first set foot in the Makuleke concession, also known as the Pafuri
triangle, one unusually balmy day in July a few years ago. I had just embarked
on a life changing adventure, a transition from overworked and underpaid diesel
mechanic on South Africa's platinum mines to intrepid trails guide and all
round quality South African safari guide. Well, at least that is what I thought
at the time anyway. I had no idea of the roller coaster ride of self discovery,
laughter, tears, love and friendship that lay ahead of me.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Looking back on an unbelievable couple of years, there is without a doubt,
one element that stands out. The starting point and solid bedrock of my
personal journey. A constant in a continually changing and evolving set of
memories, decisions and chances. Makuleke.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fKpe47aQswI/VqDNDM9SPmI/AAAAAAAAEJo/TV2M8M2ONss/s1600/Vaughn_Sunrise%2Bat%2BLanner%2BGorge%2BMakuleke.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fKpe47aQswI/VqDNDM9SPmI/AAAAAAAAEJo/TV2M8M2ONss/s320/Vaughn_Sunrise%2Bat%2BLanner%2BGorge%2BMakuleke.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pjmYtuOKJzU/VqDNOPlyq2I/AAAAAAAAEKA/HsrzPxC9dow/s1600/Makuleke_Elephant%2Byoungster_Vaughn%2Bdu%2BPlooy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pjmYtuOKJzU/VqDNOPlyq2I/AAAAAAAAEKA/HsrzPxC9dow/s320/Makuleke_Elephant%2Byoungster_Vaughn%2Bdu%2BPlooy.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Sure, I understand, how can I possibly expect you to believe that a piece of
land can have such a profound affect on a person's life. I mean, when you break
it down and strip it bare, it is merely a bunch of biotic and abiotic
components reacting and inter-reacting, creating relationships and inter
relationships and forming a canvas on which a picture of life can be painted... But Makuleke is not just another piece of land. It is an expertly woven
tapestry with a beauty and complexity very rarely seen. It is a small piece of
wild heaven, a big step back into Old Africa. It is a place where magic not
only exists, but where you can see it every single day. Join me on a walk
through the heart of one of South Africa's last true remaining wilderness areas
as Alan mcSmith an I, try to shine a gentle light of understanding on some of
the secrets of the ebb and flow of life and history in the unique and truely
memorizing Makuleke concession." - Vaughn Du Plooy</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2--iprOrRzQ/VqDNHFE16hI/AAAAAAAAEJ4/750NQ_ioobM/s1600/Makuleke_Sunset_Vaughn%2BdP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2--iprOrRzQ/VqDNHFE16hI/AAAAAAAAEJ4/750NQ_ioobM/s320/Makuleke_Sunset_Vaughn%2BdP.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-80304668214866692262015-12-10T14:54:00.000+02:002015-12-10T14:54:02.456+02:00Watch out...there is a hippo in the road.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JWSMye4G_3w/VmgBhL9P5kI/AAAAAAAAEJc/fbOJge3nNvA/s1600/IMG-20151207-WA0012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-JWSMye4G_3w/VmgBhL9P5kI/AAAAAAAAEJc/fbOJge3nNvA/s320/IMG-20151207-WA0012.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ben Coley with the hippo in the background</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span><br />
<span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">While out on a drive at Karongwe, the game drive vehicle came across a bit of an unexpected roadblock. Ben Coley describes the encounter in more detail.</span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;">"At the time of the detour, we were behind elephants on the road so I tried to take a different road to get in front of
them. It had rained heavily in the morning and the reserve was dotted
with puddles so I thought nothing of the pool of water ahead of us. As my
front wheels touched water, something moved. We thought it was a terrapin
until a huge shape loomed up, arched its neck and opened its mouth wide to
reveal some formidable weaponry! It turns out that this puddle was
already occupied by a hippo! I would like to thank the hippo for saving
my blushes as without it causing me to stop, we would have no doubt become
stuck as the ‘puddle’ must have been a meter deep! Another great of
example that in the bush, you never know what is around the next corner!"</span><br />
<span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-46919335938501577662015-11-26T16:31:00.000+02:002015-11-26T16:31:13.275+02:00Show Stoppers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SHDckgO1_s0/VlcNDwDcRPI/AAAAAAAAEIc/DnvkeIFQ78w/s1600/leopard%2Bv%2Blion%2B8%2Bsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SHDckgO1_s0/VlcNDwDcRPI/AAAAAAAAEIc/DnvkeIFQ78w/s640/leopard%2Bv%2Blion%2B8%2Bsmall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="http://www.ecotraining.co.za/" target="_blank">EcoTraining</a> is about the small things, we
all know this, and we truly believe it.
The mechanisms evolved over millennia by the coexistence of organisms
know no bounds: the relationship between
figs and their wasp pollinators, the unique adaptations of an ant-lion larva to
locate its prey and the fascinating behaviour exhibited by the polyandrous
African Jacana are just some of the majesties awaiting a potential student on one
of our courses. That being said, nothing
beats witnessing interactions between Africa’s heavy hitters, the big cats!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">It’s a bit like buying a car: we know that
we should spend our money on a nice safe and reliable family car with good fuel
economy, but most of us would give our right arm to own an Aston Martin or
Bugatti! There is just something about
them. The cats are no different. They are the aces up the sleeve of the bush
poker player, and the Mecca for any safari-goer!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">What happens in the bush under the cloak of darkness is a mystery to
most, but occasionally the nocturnal exploits of these key players transcend
the dawn and we are able to view some unique events unfold. Lions and leopards are mortal enemies. Countless generations have fought this war; a
war where both sides have their special weapons. The lions have strength both in physicality
and in numbers, but what the leopard lacks in this department it makes up with
guile, agility and stealth. Both will
kill each other, especially their offspring, and most young cubs succumb to
predation by one of their carnivorous cousins.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-US">For a mother leopard nurturing a cub, a
run-in with lions usually spells curtains, but lighting reactions and unparalleled
tree climbing abilities might just be enough to save them. By the time we arrived at the sighting, we
found a majestic leopardess patrolling the treetops whilst her nemeses circled
below. Her footing was sure, and she
almost mocked the comical attempts of the young lions far below her as they
tried to scale the vertical trunk to reach her.
She spat and growled, but
knew better than to antagonize her much larger relatives. Her lightweight frame allowed her to control
the canopy, but youth knows no bounds, and time and time again, the young lions
tried their luck. This made for some
great viewing as their facial expressions matched their frustrations as their
powerful limbs were nullified by their greater body mass and weak wrists. Failed attempts ended in a shower of bark and
a somewhat unceremonious dismount!
As usual, it is difficult not
to anthropomorphasize the events, but if a lion could ever look embarrassed,
this was it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nTx24OMi5uE/VlcM5kQuTjI/AAAAAAAAEII/r9yUsns2xRQ/s1600/Leopard%2Bv%2BLion%2B1%2Bsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-nTx24OMi5uE/VlcM5kQuTjI/AAAAAAAAEII/r9yUsns2xRQ/s400/Leopard%2Bv%2BLion%2B1%2Bsmall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IOhopnSawj0/VlcM03H5YlI/AAAAAAAAEIE/3EutqpJfiVU/s1600/Leopard%2Bv%2BLion%2B3%2Bsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-IOhopnSawj0/VlcM03H5YlI/AAAAAAAAEIE/3EutqpJfiVU/s400/Leopard%2Bv%2BLion%2B3%2Bsmall.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The leopardess however seemed
distracted. Between bouts of snarling at
her feline foes, she continued glancing skyward towards a nearby fig tree. Upon closer inspection we discovered a small
cub, no more than 6 months old, sheltering in the upper reaches of its arboreal
safe haven. Whilst we could hear no
communication, their glances spoke a thousand words, the maternal bond felt by
both easily bridging the gap between their refuges. Leopard cubs learn to climb from an early
age, and this skill can save their life.
Despite balancing 10m from the ground, the cub looked sure-footed,
relaxed and it matched its mother’s aggression towards its pursuers with low
growls that defied its size. Not that
the lions were too concerned. However,
despite several attempts, the lions knew they were beaten. Disdainfully they relinquished their spot on
the battlefield, slinking silently into the surrounding bush as the heat of the
Sun sapped their resolve. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UYkwkZLYROs/VlcM_vzK2hI/AAAAAAAAEIU/lD4sOnpARCo/s1600/leopard%2Bv%2Blion%2B5%2Bsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-UYkwkZLYROs/VlcM_vzK2hI/AAAAAAAAEIU/lD4sOnpARCo/s400/leopard%2Bv%2Blion%2B5%2Bsmall.jpg" width="222" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The leopardess and her prodigy remained in
their lofty sanctuary watching the retreat of their antagonists until the coast
was clear. The female gracefully
dismounted and moved to the shade of a nearby termite mound but her terrified
cub remained aloft. This female is not
very relaxed around cars and whilst their ordeal was over, our ethics dictated
that we leave the area to allow mother and cub to reunite and disappear back
into the bush in the way that only leopards can. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">It was an epic sighting for us, but just
another day in the endless struggle for survival of one of Africa’s greatest
icons. The small things in the bush are
fascinating, more so than many of you might realize, but some things are truly
special. We all have our weaknesses, our
addictions if you will, and mine is the leopard. To see a mother and cub in a
tree, and the interactions of hungry lions below them is as good as it gets!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Blogpost and photos by Ben Coley</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-7267870976546417282015-11-19T14:37:00.000+02:002015-11-19T14:37:32.673+02:00The day of the jackal<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeBvRrWkaZg/Vk2_6M8sv0I/AAAAAAAAEHI/uldFkzCnlA8/s1600/Jackal%2B1%2Bsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZeBvRrWkaZg/Vk2_6M8sv0I/AAAAAAAAEHI/uldFkzCnlA8/s640/Jackal%2B1%2Bsmall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA">We at <a href="http://www.ecotraining.co.za/">EcoTraining</a> spend countless hours
pouring over books written by a variety of experts to try and explain animal
behaviour to prospective field guides.
We have a huge wealth of knowledge at our finger tips with which to
glean the plethora of information documented on some of the most iconic animals
in the world. However, despite Man’s
propensity of recording field data from observations, animals do not always
read the text books and often we are made to look foolish as they defy the
preconceptions we have attributed to them! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA">The other day, a report about a male lion that had killed a bush pig, came through on the radio. We rushed to
the scene of the crime already deep in explanation as to the feeding habits of
Africa’s apex terrestrial predator, looking forward to watching the ferocious
feline demolishing his prey. When we
arrived at the location we found the bushpig completely intact, not even
opened, and no lion to be seen. Often
predators will kill other predators as a means of eliminating competition and
these victims are usually not consumed as they were removed rather than killed
for food, but there was no viable reas<o:p></o:p></span>on that a cache of meat such as this
would be left alone. It was a gentle
reminder from the bush that no matter how long you spend out here watching the daily
lives of its inhabitants, nothing is ever set in stone!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA">I can offer no
satisfactory explanation as to why the lion chose to leave his prize but
nothing is left to waste in the bush for long.
Throughout the afternoon, the vultures arrived and began to consume the
carcass, comically scrapping and flapping around as they argued over feeding
rights. We returned to the site at the
end of our night drive hoping that the smell of decomposing flesh had wafted
its way to the sensitive nostrils of the resident hyena clan. It seemed however that the hyenas’ had also
turned their nose up at the meal but not so a small group of side-striped
jackals!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tKM9wPSxgEk/Vk2_7kX306I/AAAAAAAAEHQ/adjNdQUWMYI/s1600/Jackal%2B2%2Bsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tKM9wPSxgEk/Vk2_7kX306I/AAAAAAAAEHQ/adjNdQUWMYI/s640/Jackal%2B2%2Bsmall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
This diminutive
predator is often overlooked in the food chain but plays a hugely important
role in cleaning up the bush. It is not
as gregarious as the more common black backed jackal and thus their presence
was a welcome sight to us all. The
temptation of a free meal overrode their normal normally nervous disposition
and we were rewarded with a wonderful sighting as they wrestled with their
porky prize! </div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Side striped
jackals are omnivores and can get their water requirements from eating fruits
which enable them to be very successful in more harsh terrains. They are also efficient hunters and regularly
take small mammals, birds and even arthropods but an unattended carcass was a
bonanza for them to enjoy. We stayed in
the sighting long after dark enjoying their antics as individuals argued over
the choice cuts, prompting a long discussion over their feeding habits, role in
the ecosystem and why the lion chose to leave its kill. </div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA">For me, the true
beauty of working in the bush is the fact that nothing is ever set in
stone. For a lion to pass up an
opportunity to feed is unusual, but its decision benefited a whole host of less
powerful members of the bushveld community.
Rules are made to be broken and trying to fathom the rationale behind
these incidents is what makes this vocation so fascinating. Variety is the spice of life, and we bush
folk live our lives wondering what awaits us around the next corner and it is
this excitement: the unknown commodity, that makes a life in the bush so
rewarding!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
Blog and photos by Ben Coley</div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-6693197227513792932015-11-12T16:01:00.001+02:002015-11-12T16:03:01.763+02:00Tranquility<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA"><span id="goog_744763808"></span><span id="goog_744763809"></span><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AeS9EdQg8QA/VkSaVp6LylI/AAAAAAAAEG4/8ZMj9i0RZI0/s1600/Roy%2Bin%2BFig%2BSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AeS9EdQg8QA/VkSaVp6LylI/AAAAAAAAEG4/8ZMj9i0RZI0/s640/Roy%2Bin%2BFig%2BSmall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-ZA">The bush is a
place to find peace and solace. The
feeling of immersion in a pristine wilderness area is something that only a few
of us are lucky enough to experience. It
is a place where the complications of our world disappear. The sounds of never-ending traffic, police
sirens and the constant hum of electricity are nowhere to be seen, and instead
they are replaced by a myriad of tuneful birdcalls, an underlying cacophony of
insect life, the whoop of a distant hyaena or the crack of a branch as a gentle
leviathan feeds. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA">The holistic
effect of the bush is often overlooked.
People come to the wilderness to tick off their marquis animals and get
their certificate of seeing the Big 5, but many will miss the true meaning of
being lost in one of the world’s most pristine wildernesses. It is a place to find ourselves, to revisit
the primitive nature of our ancestors and experience what life used to be like
before the advent of technology.
Undoubtedly our advances as a species have opened up doors to new places
and allowed us to enjoy a more stress free life…or have they? Yes, television and a comfy sofa sound like a
great way to relax, but I can assure you all that it is no substitute for
sitting next to a serene waterhole, watching the setting Sun‘s rays dance
across the water. The colours that seep
through the skeletal winter trees cannot be put in words and I struggle to
believe that even Dulux could recreate some of them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA">Our current crop
of budding new field guides was privy to experience such an evening last
night. After a gentle walk from the
camp, stopping to discuss an old hyena den and tasting the moisture-rich roots
of the aptly named ‘Mother-in-Law’s Tongue’ we stumbled across an oasis. Stretching out before us was a small body of
water with no road access and thus protected from our own destructive
influences. The golden light of an
African evening filtered through the clouds, giving the whole scene a magical
hue: the trees seemed to radiate the light and shine it back at us like
something out of a fairy tale. Learning
about the fascinating organisms that inhabit this area is one thing, but there
is no substitute for just sitting quietly and contemplating life in such an
idyllic place. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-27Wg65tCMHY/VkSaT8rgkYI/AAAAAAAAEG0/8oO1LErc54s/s1600/Group%2BPhoto%2BSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-27Wg65tCMHY/VkSaT8rgkYI/AAAAAAAAEG0/8oO1LErc54s/s400/Group%2BPhoto%2BSmall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span lang="EN-ZA">The students
found their own quiet corner to just sit.
We spend our whole life rushing from one thing to another, governed by
time and the need to attribute meaning to everything. We have forgotten how to truly relax and find
ourselves. This was the perfect
opportunity and we all relished in the chance to be wrapped up in our thoughts
about why we chose to come to such a place, just appreciating the beauty and
wonder of nature in her purest form. We
sipped drinks in the warm evening air and listened to the wind rustle the
leaves and last of the birds say their farewell to another perfect day in
Africa. The only movement came from
little pond-skaters skimming across the glassy surface of the water and the
occasional bumbles rising from its depths as the unseen aquatic world went
around its business. It was a perfect
moment where time was irrelevant.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cHpoH2KAJqI/VkSaNn3cn1I/AAAAAAAAEGc/YlpJ4kMLFRk/s1600/Karen%2Bon%2BRock%2BSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cHpoH2KAJqI/VkSaNn3cn1I/AAAAAAAAEGc/YlpJ4kMLFRk/s400/Karen%2Bon%2BRock%2BSmall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rj6A98XN9Ig/VkSaSWabpRI/AAAAAAAAEGs/X9zow8iB1to/s1600/Rosie%2BSunset%2BSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rj6A98XN9Ig/VkSaSWabpRI/AAAAAAAAEGs/X9zow8iB1to/s400/Rosie%2BSunset%2BSmall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA">This is what the
bush is all about, and the reason that so many of us come to the bush. We are all looking for something. Some find it in a bustling city full of
social interaction and technological advances.
Others, like myself, and many of the students who pass through
EcoTraining’s welcoming doors need only experience this solitude once and
become addicted to this purity. The
‘real’ world can be fun, but only in small doses. The bush gets under your skin and for some,
it will change their life, and their outlook on it, forever.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-ZA"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-ZA">Blog post and photos by Ben Coley</span></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-78909388579758428252015-11-05T13:19:00.000+02:002015-11-05T13:19:25.553+02:00Ground beetles and bushveld lizzards<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-ZA">Beetles are one of the most successful
orders on the planet thanks to a holometabolic (complete metamorphosis)
lifecycle. This means that the larva is
completely different to the adult in both diet and habitat. In order to reach adulthood, the larva must
undergo pupation before emerging as a beetle (the same mechanism as butterflies
and moths). This theoretically enables
them to double the number of individuals in a given area since the problem of
competition for space and food is non-existent.
They have also evolved a plethora of anti-predation behaviour essential
for survival!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">Ground beetles display contrasting colours
on their carapace to warn potential predators of their defence mechanisms. This phenomenon is called <i>aposematic colouration</i> and is essential
when their main predator, birds, rely on superb colour vision to hunt. They are able to squirt a noxious substance
at their attackers and are known to be very accurate giving rise to the
Afrikaans name ‘oogpisters’ or ‘eye-pissers’!
In some species, the chemicals involved can even burn human flesh. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Interestingly, there is a reptile found in
Southern Africa known called the bushveld lizard that mimics the two-spotted
ground beetle shown here. The juvenile
lizards show similar bright markings and even walk with a hunched, slow posture
to try and dupe their avian predators.
It is one of the very few examples in nature where an arthropod is
mimicked by another class of animals.</div>
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Blog written by Ben Coley</div>
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Photo courtesy of www.sareptiles.co.za </div>
<span lang="EN-ZA"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-14658371664877037112015-10-29T14:00:00.000+02:002015-10-29T14:00:00.049+02:0010 fascinating facts about an elephant's trunk<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cVERjpu_oF4/VjHbI_VfpLI/AAAAAAAAEF0/z3wmjj6ibP0/s1600/Ben%2BColey_Elephant%2B1%2Bsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cVERjpu_oF4/VjHbI_VfpLI/AAAAAAAAEF0/z3wmjj6ibP0/s640/Ben%2BColey_Elephant%2B1%2Bsmall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">1. There are over
40,000 muscles in an elephant’s trunk housing over 150,000 separate muscle
fascicles (fibres that allow the muscle to move in various directions). Humans have only 639 muscles in their entire
body!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">2. The trunk alone
can lift close to 400kgs, yet is delicate enough to pick up a single piece of
straw.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">3. The trunk can
hold over 20 litres of water which is why, despite their enormous water
requirements (approx. 120 litres per day), elephants generally do not linger
whilst drinking.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">4. Elephants are
able to use their trunk like a snorkel, easily crossing deep water totally
submerged except for their trunk breaking the surface.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">5. The trunk
contains 5 times more smell receptors than humans, and twice as many as a
bloodhound. This enables them to smell
water from miles away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">6. Such is their
olfactory power that projects are training elephants to aid in clearing
minefields in areas of Mozambique.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">7. When faced with
a particularly interesting smell (such a cow’s urine) an elephant will touch
its trunk to the source of the odour and physically place it in the organ of
Jacobson in its mouth for further analysis.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">8. Elephants show a
preference to one side of the trunk than the other, thus seeming right or
left-handed. This is most obvious during
the wet summer months when one side of the trunk becomes stained green from
repeatedly plucking grasses.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">9. The tip of the
trunk contains a layer of cells known as ‘Pacinian Corpuscles’ that are
specialised in sensing vibrations. This
may be one of the mechanisms enabling elephants to communicate over such long
distances using low frequency rumbles.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">10. These low sounds
are made possible as the trunk acts like a 2m long resonating chamber!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLi9rzwHri4/VjHalRH7BgI/AAAAAAAAEFk/pau4mJ8pfZo/s1600/Ben%2BColey_Trunk%2Bsmall%2B%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLi9rzwHri4/VjHalRH7BgI/AAAAAAAAEFk/pau4mJ8pfZo/s400/Ben%2BColey_Trunk%2Bsmall%2B%25282%2529.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">Blog and photos by Ben Coley</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-74135877727014148002015-10-23T08:49:00.002+02:002015-10-23T08:50:10.748+02:00False sense of security<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fvyX8VlpnAQ/VinT4CVs1nI/AAAAAAAAEFI/McX2E1PmnQc/s1600/Elephants%2BDrinking%2B2%2Bsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="360" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fvyX8VlpnAQ/VinT4CVs1nI/AAAAAAAAEFI/McX2E1PmnQc/s640/Elephants%2BDrinking%2B2%2Bsmall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Elephants have long since been my favourite
animal to view in the bush but the past three months have been a great test of
my admiration towards them. Living in
the bush is an honour but wherever people and animals coexist, there will
always be conflict. Thanks to a very dry
winter, water has become the most valuable commodity on Karongwe. It is an essential requirement for almost
every organism on this planet, and when under water stress, their will to
survive is strong. When the animal in
question weighs over 6 tonnes, the outcome is inevitable…</div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">For month after month, the local herd of
elephants’ massive water requirements have reeked havoc on our bush oasis. Elephants are fussy when it comes to water,
and when faced with a stagnant pool of water versus the clean water in our
tanks, there will only ever going to be one winner. I soon learned that trying to stop or
outsmart them was futile and it pains me to say but I had given up trying. It had become routine to stockpile water in
the evenings and then fix the pipes the next day. We all had no choice but to accept it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">Finally last week however, the rains
came. Thunder and lightning ravaged the
skies and the first downpour of the season was relished by all. With water no longer in such short supply,
the elephants relinquished their relentless raids on our tanks and seemed more
content now that natural order had been restored. We were lucky enough to bump into them the
day after and they seemed filled with the joys of spring as they frolicked in
one of the dams close by. Despite my
love for these gentle giants being tested to the full over the last few months,
nothing could contain my grin as we had a perfect view of the herd splashing
about, one even deciding that the occasion was worth a swim! I am supposed to teach guides to interpret
behaviour, but sometimes it needs no interpretation. Joy is a powerful emotion and it positively
oozed from these most emotive of animals.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NiBxsROqp5k/VinT3l6dL-I/AAAAAAAAEFM/svdLYWH6sUg/s1600/Elephants%2BDrinking%2B3%2Bsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NiBxsROqp5k/VinT3l6dL-I/AAAAAAAAEFM/svdLYWH6sUg/s400/Elephants%2BDrinking%2B3%2Bsmall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EbU8Es25osY/VinTzUxYO5I/AAAAAAAAEFA/OhNFQgREKC4/s1600/Elephants%2BDrinking%2B5%2Bsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EbU8Es25osY/VinTzUxYO5I/AAAAAAAAEFA/OhNFQgREKC4/s400/Elephants%2BDrinking%2B5%2Bsmall.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">The elephants moved north, back to the area
they tend to spend the summer, and we let our guard down. For days we enjoyed running water. Showers seemed sweeter than ever and the
simple pleasure of water on demand become common-place once more. We may have lost the battle but we had won
the war. Battered and bruised yes, but
we had weathered the elephantine storm! The
bush however is not without its sense of irony, and whilst I secretly
celebrated the end of a long and arduous campaign against an unstoppable enemy,
I was in for a rude awakening. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">I slept well that night under the soothing shroud
of a false sense of security. As the
morning light filtered through my tent I went to help myself to a refreshing
cup of water but when I turned the tap, I was met by nothing but the sound of
rushing air (although I swear there was a subtle hint of elephant mockery mixed
in with it!). They had returned. Like silent assassins in the night they had
travelled the length of the reserve and reminded me who indeed was the biggest
fish in this newly stocked pond. Normal
service had been resumed I was left with no question as to who had the upper
hand in this long-running war!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Hopefully the summer has begun and the
pressure on the animals will recede as more rains fall. Either way, despite their destructive tendencies,
they still remain my favourite animals. Coexistence
with nature is whole point and it is up to us to adapt and learn to live
together in harmony. One thing is for
sure, whether they are causing mayhem at camp or delighting us with their
aquatic antics at a more natural venue, the honour of living in the midst of
giants is a true privilege. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Blog post and photos by Ben Coley</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0Karongwe Private Game Reserve, R36, Hoetspruit, 1380, South Africa-24.1957255 30.567739399999937-50.437649500000006 -10.740854600000063 2.0461984999999991 71.876333399999936tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-52121781136202634852015-10-09T09:00:00.000+02:002015-10-09T09:09:03.459+02:00Survival 101: What to do when you get lost in the bush<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lOOsn6lTcZM/Vhdj6PonfBI/AAAAAAAAED8/DkWQlesfXyM/s1600/P1040098.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lOOsn6lTcZM/Vhdj6PonfBI/AAAAAAAAED8/DkWQlesfXyM/s640/P1040098.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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What do you do
when things go wrong and you get lost while out in the bush? In a nutshell:
Stop, stay calm and plan. Keep warm. Drink plenty of water and ration your
food. Conserve your energy. </div>
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Be determined to survive. Get help.</div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">Actually there
are a number of things, so let’s tackle this systematically. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">The first and
most important thing to do is to remain calm and THINK. Then make tea, tea and
not coffee. Making tea requires a certain ceremony and if you can take your
time and make tea, then you are in charge of the situation. Then take stock of
your situation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">The first option
is to turn around and track yourself out of there. Your shoes have left marks
on the trail; the tires of the vehicle have left two long lines behind the
vehicle. The vehicle will not leave tracks on a tar road but if you are on a
tar road then you are probably not lost.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">If this still
does not work then settle down and make a camp. Take out you little survival
pack. What, don’t you have one? You should have packed it before the rest of
your kit. Inside should be the following: a small bag or pouch with a lighter,
some strong string, a knife and/or a machete; a small pot for cooking and
boiling water; soap and a lightweight towel; water sterilizing tablets and
coffee filters, to filter water not coffee; insect repellent; a proper first
aid kit, not just a packet with first aid written on it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">The weather
conditions will determine what type of protection you will need. Do a good job
of keeping yourself warm and dry. Find and purify water or ration the water you
have. Find fire-wood before it gets dark but use it sparingly. Have a pile of
small sticks that you can throw on if there is a threat from animals. Feed the
fire slowly, do not heap it up and then let it die down to almost nothing. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">Stay near the
vehicle if you are using one. The vehicle is easier to see than people on foot.
You should have left a rout plan and return date with someone. Stick to the
plan. Do not ever deviate from your plan. If you do not return by the set day
then they will send people out to find you. You should know your equipment;
know how to use it when it works properly as well as when it is not functioning
properly. The boy scouts motto of “be prepared” says it all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">Look around you
as you travel, look back at any junctions that you pass, see them from the
return journey’s perspective. Learn to use your equipment properly and then
practice regularly. Learn some skills and practice them regularly; learned
skills are lighter to carry than a book. And very importantly – NEVER over-estimate
your capabilities but be positive about what you can do. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-ZA"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-ZA">Courtesy of EcoTraining instructor Mark Gunn - article written by Liryn de Jager</span></b></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-28376743935793160072015-10-01T14:59:00.003+02:002015-10-01T15:00:26.386+02:00Top 10 tips on how to cope on an EcoTraining course<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tcbrRAgPd4E/Vg0tEsUytcI/AAAAAAAAEDk/YQd4ZE2HfQg/s1600/Students%2B2%2BSmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tcbrRAgPd4E/Vg0tEsUytcI/AAAAAAAAEDk/YQd4ZE2HfQg/s640/Students%2B2%2BSmall.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Being in a group setting isn't always easy, especially if you are surrounded by strange people in a brand new environment. </div>
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We have asked a few of our former students to give some advise on how to cope with the training period, especially living in such a close community with fellow students. If you keep the below step in the back of your mind at all times, you will have an amazing time on course and walk away with a lifetime of memories. This is what they had to say:</div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;">Be friendly and humble</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Take advise and set boundaries
and know your boundaries and know when to give people space</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">It can be tough. Especially at
the start. So much to take in, but if you keep going and enjoy it, then
everything comes naturally. As for the people you are with, whether you like
them at the time or not, they become family!</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Work Hard and Take notes always! Do not leave
any paperwork until the last minute.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Focus on why you are here, and
not everything else.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Stay motivated and push through it. It is worth it in the end.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Respect the instructors and
fellow students and enjoy learning about every aspect of the bush.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Get clarity on deliverables at
the start of the course.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Don’t get into the bottleneck of
assessments.</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Try not to get involved in petty
rows. Be patient.</li>
</ol>
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The most important is to make the best of your time in the bush. Staying in camp, surrounded by nature 24/7 is a huge privilege that a lot of people have never experienced. Make every second count! </div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-84108575405605115162015-09-24T07:20:00.001+02:002015-09-24T07:20:37.725+02:00What the students have to say: FGASA Level 1 course in Zimbabwe<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M2GuCCa0lKQ/VgOFYLKJhpI/AAAAAAAAEC8/hNFUN6IP45E/s1600/DSC_2764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M2GuCCa0lKQ/VgOFYLKJhpI/AAAAAAAAEC8/hNFUN6IP45E/s640/DSC_2764.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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EcoTraining in collaboration with Nakavango Conservation programme runs FGASA Level 1 courses from the Stanley and Livingstone reserve in Zimbabwe twice a year. This venue proofs to offer amazing learning opportunities and beautiful sightings. The current course started on 17 August, and are just about halfway through and with Mark Gunn as an instructor, you can only have an amazing time. One of the students shares her experience on the course thus far:</div>
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Ruth Westrick, Switzerland</div>
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"I just want to send you a quick note
to let you know how much fun I have got doing the FGASA level 1 course at Nakavango. It is intense and I am thoroughly enjoying every aspect of it. We've
had some awesome sightings where we could observe animals for a very long time,
whilst learning a lot of interesting facts about everything that the bush is
offering. Mark, our instructor has got an impressive knowledge and I like his
holistic approach. I am sad to say that we are over half way already and will
continue to enjoy my great time here.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Our short trip into Chobe was
awesome as well. You are running a great programme and I am so glad that I
enrolled for it."</div>
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For more information on the FGASA Level 1 course in Zimbabwe, contact our enquiries department at enquiries@ecotraining.co.za or call us +27 (0)13 752 2532<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mBfv8bCAH-8/VgOFYVO-bUI/AAAAAAAAEDA/8pt8tpPunp0/s1600/DSC_2769.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="426" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mBfv8bCAH-8/VgOFYVO-bUI/AAAAAAAAEDA/8pt8tpPunp0/s640/DSC_2769.JPG" width="640" /></a></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-80408229759163450352015-09-17T08:54:00.000+02:002015-09-17T08:54:13.322+02:00Chinese Whispers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IxLgU_l7wiA/VehSrqnsRhI/AAAAAAAAEAI/eVTxIhU_Mfk/s1600/EcoQuest%2BCrocdile%2Bsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IxLgU_l7wiA/VehSrqnsRhI/AAAAAAAAEAI/eVTxIhU_Mfk/s640/EcoQuest%2BCrocdile%2Bsmall.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;"><a href="http://www.ecotraining.co.za/" target="_blank">EcoTraining</a> is
pioneering a new venture with partners in China to try and educate curious
travellers in the delights of the natural world. We hope that by enlightening
about 8 groups per year, hopefully some being potentially influential people,
the knock-on effect may have a huge impact on the future of our once spacious
and green planet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The science of
‘conservation management’ is a fast growing discipline with new methods and
ideas being tested continually. However, most of these ideas are <i>reactive</i>, trying to combat problems that
are already rife. To save our wilderness
areas and their species, we need <i>proactive</i>
measures. The simplest of these measures
is education, and more importantly, who is educated about the importance of the
environment for our survival. The root
of our environmental crisis is the over-population of our fast-vanishing
home. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Asia is perceived by
many to be the root of the population boom and thus a huge cause of habitat
loss and over utilisation of natural resources as people use them to
survive. The continent itself holds two
thirds of the world’s population! A
proactive measure therefore is to educate this vast population so that they
understand what the relentless spread of Man is doing to our planet. Using the bush as a natural catalyst to
experience the wonders of the natural world will hopefully increase the chances
of us <i>all</i> working together to save
her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The EcoTraining
EcoQuest 7 day course is designed to immerse its participants in the wilderness
and whilst time is limited, we try to cram in as much information as possible -
concentrating specifically with reconnecting to nature, ecology and of course,
conservation initiatives. Activities are
tailored around such topics as symbiotic relationships, ecological roles,
poaching issues and survival, and the inter-relationships between all aspects
of the ecosystem, especially our own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The last Chinese <a href="http://www.ecotraining.co.za/index.php/courses/short-courses/20-ecoquest" target="_blank">EcoQuest</a>
students recently a week with EcoTraining at their <a href="http://www.ecotraining.co.za/camps/south-africa/24-karongwe-game-reserve" target="_blank">Karongwe</a> tented camp. What
better classroom in the world? Days were
spent exploring the reserve and many great sightings were witnessed, including
lions feeding on a giraffe kill and various encounters with white rhino. Situations like these do not need much
interpretation as the subject matters themselves speak volumes. For many eastern visitors, rhino and lion are
just words and pictures or are associated with medicinal resources.
Transformation should take place as seeing is believing and nothing beats
spending up close and personal time with these iconic beasts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Our focus is not only
on giving them a taster of what may not be around for their children to
experience, but also the essential roles they all play in maintaining the
stability of this now fragile ecosystem.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The best way to learn
something and appreciate it fully to actively experience it, and this is where
we exert much of our energy when educating people. This last group’s senses were tantalized on a
daily basis as they tasted the sweet leaves of the buffalo thorn, chewed the
moisture rich roots of the aptly named mother in law’s tongue, sampled tea
brewed from russet bushwillow samaras and attempted to make friction
fires. The latter exercise is always a
favourite with young and old, and the addition of some children on the last
course made for a moving experience as they delighted in their efforts. Although we achieved smoke and a blackened
baseplate, fire was not forthcoming despite the blisters on our hands! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yv4o6aqgs5A/VehSyE0iAlI/AAAAAAAAEAQ/t1USTjktCF0/s1600/Making%2BFire%2B3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-yv4o6aqgs5A/VehSyE0iAlI/AAAAAAAAEAQ/t1USTjktCF0/s400/Making%2BFire%2B3.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Making fire</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The group exercise was
enjoyed by all and their renewed fascination of how the bush can be sustainably
used was incited further when Norman Chauke, a local Shangaan tracker and
instructor, fashioned some traditional traps used by the tribes people to
procure food in survival situations. For
demonstrative purposes rope was used but the group also learned about which
trees and plants can provide fibrous material if nothing artificial is on
hand. Norman made perfectly clear that
these traps should only be used when necessary: for a man to catch an antelope
to feed his family is one thing, but the relentless capture of millions of
animals to fuel an organisation’s financial gain, be it through nutritive
demand or medicinal belief, is not condonable.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tbQCnY3LlfQ/VehS8wt1m3I/AAAAAAAAEA4/pAYBvwVLdSs/s1600/Norman%2BSnare%2B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tbQCnY3LlfQ/VehS8wt1m3I/AAAAAAAAEA4/pAYBvwVLdSs/s400/Norman%2BSnare%2B2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman demonstrates how the snare works</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Discussions also
revolve around energy flows, symbiotic relations between them and other
organisms but there is also time for reflection and tranquillity. A favourite among many is to sleep out under
the twinkling blanket of the night’s sky.
The world we live in is three dimensional and for people who spent their
lives in a concrete jungle of office blocks, traffic, noise and pollution, many
have never witnessed the infinite beauty of what lies above us all. It is easy to lose yourself in the
stars. It is a time to let your
imagination extend to the furthest reaches of the universe and to consider our
insignificant role in eternity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HboI1bAzHrI/VfphFbImEII/AAAAAAAAEBc/M5PiT7swPus/s1600/Sleep%2BOut%2B3%2Bsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-HboI1bAzHrI/VfphFbImEII/AAAAAAAAEBc/M5PiT7swPus/s320/Sleep%2BOut%2B3%2Bsmall.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sleep out under the stars</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">Waking up to the
beating heart of Africa as the cerise sun shows its face above the horizon is a
primal experience and for many, can ignite the blue-touch paper of
environmental awareness. We hope that by the end of this short exposure to the
wonders of the natural world, the eyes of these ordinary people will open up to
the extraordinary environment in which they live, one that they did not know
existed. We hope that when they return
to their homeland, the experiences and knowledge gained will percolate through
their social and business circles like a snowball rolling down a mountain. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri;">The whispers of a few
can influence the many, and the whispers of many can influence the masses. This has always been EcoTraining’s philosophy
and with the current state of our fragile environment, we need all the buy-in
that we can get. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I92LsPPaF0w/VehS0GDxlJI/AAAAAAAAEAg/D3I6x-mv9OI/s1600/EcoQuest%2BRhinos%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I92LsPPaF0w/VehS0GDxlJI/AAAAAAAAEAg/D3I6x-mv9OI/s400/EcoQuest%2BRhinos%2B1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Educational Game Drive</td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 11.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 115%;">Blog and photos by
Ben Coley</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-71721926917164411242015-08-07T12:46:00.001+02:002015-08-07T12:46:38.436+02:0010 fascinating facts about Lichen (trust us, it more interesting than you may think!)<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<li><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Lichen
is made up of an algae and a fungus living in perfect harmony. Each needs each other to survive and forms a
symbiotic relationship known as ‘obligatory mutualism’. Such is depth of this relationship that
neither party can survive without the other.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">The
algae is an autotroph and can thus supply the organism with food produced by
photosynthesis, whilst the fungus envelops the algae in order to protect it
from desiccation and also provides it with a means to attach to the substrate.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">If
the algal and fungal elements of lichen are grown separately, their structures
are completely different from that of their combined lichen form. It seems that when placed together, the
fungus envelops the algae to protect it from desiccation, among other things,
and creates a completely new, symbiotic structure</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Such
is the success of this union, lichen species are abundant and inhabit habitats
ranging from sea level to alpine regions, from the Arctic tundra to dry
deserts. In fact, lichen covers 6% of
the entire surface of the planet and i</span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">s considered to be amongst the oldest
living things on Earth.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Lichen
is considered an agent of mechanical and chemical weathering. Whilst the process is exceptionally slow, it
is still effective and is an important factor in producing soil over long
periods of time. Man-made structures can
also be affected and the Mount Rushmore National Memorial in the USA has to be
routinely cleaned by a group of mountain climbers to avoid irreparable damage
being done!</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Lichen
grows very slowly but regularly depending on the species. It grows at about 1mm a year and has been
used as a technique to age exposed rocks, although it is only accurate up to
about 1000 years of age. It is
particularly helpful in aging rocks of less than 500 years are carbon dating
techniques are ineffectual at such young ages.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">Lichens
do not have a root system and thus get all of the nutrients they need from the
atmosphere. This means that they also
absorb a variety of pollutants and many environmental studies with lichen
emphasize their role as a feasible biomonitor of air quality</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">The
pH indicators in the litmus test (to measure acidity and alkalinity) is
extracted from the lichen <i>Roccella
tinctoria</i> by boiling it</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">A
selection of Lichen were exposed to the vacuum of space and the full force of
the Sun’s radiation for a period of 15 days as passengers on a European Space
Agency mission in 2009. Amazingly, some
species continued to grow as normal upon their return, fuelling interest from
cosmetic companies looking to develop new sunscreens for human use.</span></li>
<li><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: Symbol; text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -18pt;">With
the search for new worlds to accommodate Mankind’s relentless population
growth, some lichens were exposed to Martian atmospheric conditions in the lab
for a period of over 3 weeks in 2012.
Amazingly, despite the weak atmospheric pressure, lack of protection
from cosmic radiation, bitter cold and alien atmospheric composition, some
species not only survived, but continued to grow and function with relative
normality! Evidence like this has given
the scientific community renewed hope of find life on other planets!</span></li>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c5lhP2GShj8/VcSLBiU_3HI/AAAAAAAAD9o/ZMyGnF6L1-M/s1600/Lichen%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-c5lhP2GShj8/VcSLBiU_3HI/AAAAAAAAD9o/ZMyGnF6L1-M/s320/Lichen%2B1.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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Facts and photos by Ben Coley</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-15061182813536044892015-08-06T12:50:00.000+02:002015-08-06T12:52:50.953+02:00Do a course that suits you best!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-ZA">Mike Kirby has started off as a Professional Field Guide student earlier this year. Little did he know that he would end up working as a back-up guide at our camps during his Lodge placement programme. Mike shares some great insider tips to those who are not too sure about what course to book!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
"Doing an EcoTraining short course, a 55 day FGASA Field Guide Level 1 course or even a
one year Professional Field Guide course is, in my opinion, the best experience Southern Africa has to
offer.</div>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">It caters for a complete African novice to guides who want to
further their knowledge. </span>EcoTraining has a course catered for you!</div>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">During my FGASA Level 1 training, you got to understand how the
environment works around you, from mammals to arthropods to trees. Your knowledge and general understanding of
nature in Southern Africa and any other place will grow tremendously.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">I would also highly recommend the 7 or 14 day Tracking course, held
in one of the four wilderness camps in South Africa and Botswana. I was astounded at how much this course
taught me and how much I can apply the knowledge and read the ‘stories in the
sand’.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YjG3-D1OHd4/VcM2jjLz7YI/AAAAAAAAD9I/IoJPhea5pKs/s1600/Geza_Neitzel%2B%252847%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YjG3-D1OHd4/VcM2jjLz7YI/AAAAAAAAD9I/IoJPhea5pKs/s400/Geza_Neitzel%2B%252847%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA">If you only have a month to spare, then 28 day Trails Guide
course is on the top of my list. You will be ttaying in
the remote wilderness camps of either Makuleke, Kruger National Park or Mashatu, Botswana. The art
of guiding on foot is learnt, as well as accessing places that no vehicle or
tourist has even seen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">All of the courses can be done <b><u>without</u> </b>pursuing a career in guiding. You can look at it as an educational holiday in some of the best areas Africa has to
offer.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">Personal highlights during the One year PFG course was: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
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<ul style="text-align: left;">
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-stretch: normal;"> The</span></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="text-indent: -18pt;"> remoteness of all the camps</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="text-indent: -18pt;">Walking with elephant and lion</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="font-stretch: normal;"> </span></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="text-indent: -18pt;">Opening my eyes to the little things that are quite often overlooked</span></li>
</ul>
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The more you know, the more you appreciate nature and are breath-taken by
what is going on around you in any environment."</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
Blog written by Mike Kirby</div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-4951775225413644732015-08-03T15:36:00.000+02:002015-08-03T15:36:19.890+02:00SA’s leading Guide Training company acquires influential FGASA CEO<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9wFlwa1N_rY/Vb9t-jnazLI/AAAAAAAAD8o/IC1WCpo5lVU/s1600/20150729_082757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9wFlwa1N_rY/Vb9t-jnazLI/AAAAAAAAD8o/IC1WCpo5lVU/s320/20150729_082757.jpg" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grant Hine</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">EcoTraining, the oldest and
most established of the safari guide and wildlife training institutions
endorsed by FGASA, is thrilled to announce the appointment of their new General
Manager, Grant Hine. Grant is the former CEO of </span><span lang="EN-ZA">The
Field Guide Association of southern Africa so t</span><span lang="EN-ZA">his
amalgamation of experience and skill from both parties should prove to be a
noteworthy boost to the safari circuit.</span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">The appointment comes
at a time when EcoTraining has significant intentions to reach new places and
new heights. “We are building a dream team to bolster EcoTraining into a
position of having an impact on the world’s natural places,” says Anton
Lategan, director and owner of EcoTraining. “We aim to win over the hearts and
minds of people all over the globe and encourage them to love and care for
their environment. Our </span><span lang="EN-ZA">life-changing wilderness experiences</span><span lang="EN-ZA"> on
all of our courses </span><span lang="EN-ZA">connect
participants to the earth, reawakening instinctive senses.” </span><span lang="EN-ZA"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA">EcoTraining’s mission is two-fold: </span><span lang="EN-US">to produce highly qualified local field guides for
the ecotourism industry, and to </span><span lang="EN-ZA">educate travellers from all walks of life about wildlife and
ecosystems through a unique learning safari. </span><span lang="EN-US">What better way to achieve the aforementioned
mission than under the auspices of Grant Hine, the guru in Field Guide Training
in South Africa. Grant worked as a field guide and lodge manager for 12 years
at various prominent safari lodges including MalaMala, SabiSabi and at lodges
in the Lapalala wilderness area. His knowledge and experience with the
etiquette of guiding guests into the bush to reveal fascinating facts about
wildlife to them, ensured the move to become FGASA’s CEO was seamless. Over the past 14 years, Grant has been instrumental
in building up FGASA to where it is today and developing the existing guiding
qualifications. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Trainers have challenging jobs as they host,
teach, care for, understand, empathise and lead learners for long periods
at a time. What they teach has a direct effect on how future safari guides
behave, which in turn has a direct effect on international and local safari guests’
experiences and impressions of that particular lodge, game reserve, country and
continent. Guides influence the hearts and minds of the well-travelled world.
The responsibility of our trainers is significant as they are the messengers to
a global audience.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 130%;">After 22 years of guide training excellence
delivered in the Kruger Park, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Kenya and further afield, the
inclusion of Grant to the EcoTraining team will further empower EcoTraining to
deliver the best guide training and the most powerful wilderness experiences to
all who seek them.</span></div>
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</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-36953497750943334442015-07-30T16:26:00.001+02:002015-07-30T16:26:54.022+02:00Tracking - an unforgettable experience<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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If you ever thought of joining a Tracking course, then this testimonial will surely persuade you to sign up! Terry Black joined EcoTraining on a recent Tracking course and sent us the most rewarding feedback:</div>
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<br /></div>
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"I
very much enjoyed my time in Makuleke, I'd been travelling through East Africa
for two months before arriving in South Africa, but I think my time with
EcoTraining was probably the highlight of the whole trip - and you can tell
Alex that I think Norman was a very important part in making that the case.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
We
identified and looked at nearly 100 different species over the two weeks, and
many more signs if you include spoor/scenting etc, and despite this vast amount
of information coming right at us, it was absorbed very easily thanks to the
perfect pace of the instruction and the fact that we were having fun every
minute of the day.</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-byhrRjPtht4/VboyesNe0kI/AAAAAAAAD74/MVC2-poN7fc/s1600/IMG-20150629-WA0011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-byhrRjPtht4/VboyesNe0kI/AAAAAAAAD74/MVC2-poN7fc/s320/IMG-20150629-WA0011.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<o:p></o:p><br />
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Norman
was an exemplary instructor. I honestly couldn't praise him highly enough. I
have no criticism or suggestions whatsoever. He was very keen to ensure we were
learning what we wanted to learn, asking early on if we had any other interests
in addition to the tracks (medicinal use of trees, bird calls etc), and he was
very conscious to make sure that everyone was OK all the time; asking 'Everyone
still, OK?', whenever on a long drive or walk. I felt safe, valued and
important at every step. His tone, pace, (and patience!) made the learning
experience easy and fun, but it was his unbridled enthusiasm that was
absolutely infectious. His charisma and love for the bush was plain to see and
made the whole two weeks an unforgettable experience. I'm enjoying his
'after-care' as well (emailing me pictures of tracks to identify) and I hope I
will see him again next time I'm in South Africa, I felt like I made a good
friend.<o:p></o:p></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BMr3Vfu86wQ/VboygVAdh7I/AAAAAAAAD8M/WOe_8z7Eg0Q/s1600/IMG_2050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-BMr3Vfu86wQ/VboygVAdh7I/AAAAAAAAD8M/WOe_8z7Eg0Q/s320/IMG_2050.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Norman Chauke in action</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-voQpnbzGcCs/VboyfjTG7SI/AAAAAAAAD8E/6JuqmCynLIA/s1600/IMG-20150629-WA0016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-voQpnbzGcCs/VboyfjTG7SI/AAAAAAAAD8E/6JuqmCynLIA/s320/IMG-20150629-WA0016.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Walking in the wild outdoors</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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The
other EcoTraining instructors were all absolutely relaxed in their approach and
professional in their execution. I would like to make special mention of Alan,
who brought another dimension of expertise and experience to the course - it
isn't just the stuff on the 'tracking syllabus' which informed my time in the
bush, but every anecdote and story of the flora and fauna, history, culture,
geology, ecosystems and daily life, and I owe Alan a great deal for enriching
the experience.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uFCf4QT3f0s/VboyfD3GQVI/AAAAAAAAD78/YHdUDu-vQNE/s1600/IMG_2046.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uFCf4QT3f0s/VboyfD3GQVI/AAAAAAAAD78/YHdUDu-vQNE/s320/IMG_2046.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CoARGz9NJU8/Vboyha8RkwI/AAAAAAAAD8U/lV0pjloY_60/s1600/IMG_2057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CoARGz9NJU8/Vboyha8RkwI/AAAAAAAAD8U/lV0pjloY_60/s320/IMG_2057.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant encounter a few meters away</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<u1:p class=""></u1:p>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I
felt honoured to have met Alex when he came to visit the first few days. I had
very high expectations from the Tracker Academy and EcoTraining, and I am very
pleased to say they were all highly surpassed. The work of the Tracker Academy
is fantastic, Norman is an incredible ambassador for both The Tracking Academy
and EcoTraining. I will be telling everyone I know about the course. I can't
thank you enough."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><b><i>The next 14 day Tracking course starts 10 August in the magical Botswana. Contact us at enquiries@ecotraining.co.za for to book your spot today!</i></b></span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-57658088925843702492015-07-27T11:47:00.000+02:002015-07-27T11:52:56.873+02:00Community spirit<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-ZA">Rarely in this
day and age does a sequel top the first instalment, but a mere 2 weeks after
the local school received a much needed lick of paint, the peaceful community
of The Oaks was about to be shattered by a second rank of young, enthusiastic
Americans. Moondance had returned, and
this time, with a vengeance. Armed with
nearly 200 litres of excessively bright and vibrant paint, the group surveyed
its target: a 46 meter long stretch of marketplace; the focal point of the
village. The stakes had been raised and
the pressure was on!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NA0qEwZvCDs/VbX321kGnxI/AAAAAAAAD7A/CbGDj5k4VaE/s1600/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%25286%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NA0qEwZvCDs/VbX321kGnxI/AAAAAAAAD7A/CbGDj5k4VaE/s400/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%25286%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marketplace before...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Youth however
knows no fear, and within minutes of our arrival, the façade of the building
was under constant assault from flailing rollers and brushes. The relentlessness of the attack soon brought
the local residents to the scene, and before long, both young and old were
helping us apply the initial layer of primer. The entire expanse of market front was primed
in less than 2 hours and after a brief stop to stock up on caffeine, the group
(and in fact, the community) wasted no time in applying the colour. With over 20 market stalls to liven up, the
decision was made to adorn each in a repeating sequence of colour to rival that
of the ripe fruit shining from their displays!
The market owners had also arrived by now with most of the women
ecstatic with the new look and each took great pride in helping spruce up their
livelihood!<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmHh2v-pUj8/VbX3DuzzY8I/AAAAAAAAD58/02Yx3KqOiZw/s1600/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%25283%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fmHh2v-pUj8/VbX3DuzzY8I/AAAAAAAAD58/02Yx3KqOiZw/s320/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%25283%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting down and dirty</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5hrgiX6cH0Q/VbX26ulqe_I/AAAAAAAAD50/zyBMCD3VfZc/s1600/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%252814%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5hrgiX6cH0Q/VbX26ulqe_I/AAAAAAAAD50/zyBMCD3VfZc/s320/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%252814%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" width="209" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Who says you can't have fun while working?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7UQb6Q-mUuw/VbX3HvIzBNI/AAAAAAAAD6E/mO1io7Secow/s1600/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%252822%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7UQb6Q-mUuw/VbX3HvIzBNI/AAAAAAAAD6E/mO1io7Secow/s320/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%252822%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some owners joined in</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
With all the
help at our disposal, the kids had more time to do what kids do best, and
before long, their once clean clothes, not to mention any available exposed
flesh, were transformed into a cacophony of colour that would rival the tie dye
phenomenon of the swinging sixties! It
also allowed time for them to immerse themselves into the community and the
whole scene was lit up with the infectious laughter and smiles of small children
as they learnt new games ranging from ‘Simon Says’ to ‘Ninja’. The day had taken on a carnival
atmosphere. It was a perfect cross
section of the community, and for hours on end, all language and racial
barriers were destroyed by the endearing innocence of youth.</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pO-MAwReNw4/VbX8ASixr0I/AAAAAAAAD7M/f32QfF84Vcc/s1600/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%252816%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pO-MAwReNw4/VbX8ASixr0I/AAAAAAAAD7M/f32QfF84Vcc/s320/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%252816%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uKmr36TctqQ/VbX8FfXcPtI/AAAAAAAAD7U/zl1T_v0MOhM/s1600/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%252818%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-uKmr36TctqQ/VbX8FfXcPtI/AAAAAAAAD7U/zl1T_v0MOhM/s320/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%252818%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Having some fun with some of the children from the community</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-ZA">Despite the best
efforts of everybody involved, the massive project could not be finished in a
day and by sunset it was time to pack up and head home for a well-earned shower
before returning the following day to apply the finishing touches. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br />
<span lang="EN-ZA">With the
pressure off after a very productive day, the kids returned eager to enjoy
their last involvement with the local community, and once again chaos
ruled. It was decided to put a few hand
prints on to the end walls as a reminder of the collective effort of these
remarkable and selfless decorators, but before long the local kids got wind of
this new game. A rainbow of digits now
adorned the end wall and clothes become emblazoned with prints of all sizes as
the bonds made over the last 36 hours were immortalized in paint on material.</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-ZA"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_BnpVke6GsI/VbX8y-4cbMI/AAAAAAAAD7c/cSbnQ4_VmoE/s1600/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%252833%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-_BnpVke6GsI/VbX8y-4cbMI/AAAAAAAAD7c/cSbnQ4_VmoE/s320/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%252833%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<span lang="EN-ZA"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA">The once dreary
brick-faced market place had been transformed almost overnight into a bright,
vibrant and fun epicentre of this typical South African rural village. We even realised that some of the local
wildlife had got involved when a goat walked past sporting a red stripe down
its side after straying too close to the freshly painted wall!! I have to be honest, when I saw the size of
the task awaiting us I was not sure what we could achieve in such a short time,
but thanks to a work ethic dwarfing their young age, and a huge community
effort, all I could do was stand back and admire what had been achieved. The delight on the faces of the market owners
was evident as the ladies hugged and thanked us before showering us with free
fruits before our departure!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cV9ZW5PNf2c/VbX3YLIUgDI/AAAAAAAAD6k/PXMfI0ZjQ_A/s1600/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%252844%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cV9ZW5PNf2c/VbX3YLIUgDI/AAAAAAAAD6k/PXMfI0ZjQ_A/s320/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%252844%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bZJVBO-DM-4/VbX3i9H4XEI/AAAAAAAAD6s/P_wZhaHxMYw/s1600/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%252845%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bZJVBO-DM-4/VbX3i9H4XEI/AAAAAAAAD6s/P_wZhaHxMYw/s320/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%252845%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kr1mCxhZpes/VbX3jR6fQSI/AAAAAAAAD60/dj_yYQY1MIE/s1600/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%252846%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kr1mCxhZpes/VbX3jR6fQSI/AAAAAAAAD60/dj_yYQY1MIE/s320/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%252846%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Marketplace after...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="text-align: justify;">It is people
that change lives, not policy or ideas, and the dedication, motivation and
selfless nature of the Moondance organisation had now most certainly left its
mark in this once dark corner of Africa.
I travel to and from work through this unassuming settlement but from
now on I will be reminded of these 2 amazing days every time I see this
dazzling stretch of colour. Thanks to
the hard work of a group of school children from America, The Oaks now shines
like a beacon amongst its neighbours. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4UH7hu09tOE/VbX3SWr8SCI/AAAAAAAAD6U/ZrchH_P76WI/s1600/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%252837%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4UH7hu09tOE/VbX3SWr8SCI/AAAAAAAAD6U/ZrchH_P76WI/s400/Richard%2BPace%2BMarket%2BPainting%2B%252837%2Bof%2B46%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students from Moondance after a long day of painting.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Blog and photos by Ben Coley<br />
<span style="text-align: justify;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-49897206081693097622015-07-16T15:01:00.000+02:002015-07-16T15:01:20.041+02:00Ollie Ballarano: My life as a back-up<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA">Ollie Balarano is currently busy with his 6 month placement at the EcoTraining camp in Makuleke, Northern Kruger Park. Ollie summed his experience up in a few paragraphs. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
"It’s hard to put a life as a back-up into words. I can spend hours talking about walking up to
wild lions or speaking to elephants at a mere 5 meters away. I can go on about keeping the guests and students save who passes through EcoTraining's Makuleke camp or to walk in the
most stunning area I have ever experienced so far in my life. I can go on and on about working
alongside such knowledgeable and experienced experts of the bush. I could even tell you of all the little
things that you would never see on your average safari, such as a Water Monitor
diving out of tree into a pan or a Chameleon shedding its skin, just to name a
couple, but what I find most exciting of all is to watch people start their journey, and to see what becomes of them at the
end.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA">Very recently, we had a group of three people come for
a Tracking course. Fortunately, I got to
walk with them on their Tracking Assessment.
By the time they left after their two week course, they could identify most
tracks they came across and followed them successfully. One of the students have never set foot in South
Africa before and he is now a good quality certified tracker with a skill set and a
memory he will never ever forget.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA">Even more exciting was to watch a group
of year long students do their Back-up Trails Guide assessment and doing well
enough to be invited back as part of the Back-up family here at
EcoTraining. The two new additions
arrived in camp a couple of days ago and I already know I have two new friends
for life, with whom I share a connection and a passion with: Walking through
nature and experiencing it on a level not many get to see. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA">To have assisted with helping people experience this
side of the world brings a lot of fulfillment for me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-ZA">This is all just a glimpse of what goes on in our
lives here at EcoTraining and so I urge to all reading this to come along for a
unique experience that you will never forget.
Come and see what the world is really about and where all of our roots
come from."<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 6pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-36096826353026939882015-07-09T11:21:00.000+02:002015-07-09T11:21:00.560+02:00Making a difference<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tourists spend
millions of rand every year to come and visit South Africa. Their trip is usually wildlife orientated
with fingers poised above shutter release buttons to hopefully catch a glimpse
of the fabled Big 5 and all the other elements of the intricate ecosystem we
call the bush. High on many’s agenda is
also to visit Cape Town, the stunning winelands close by and maybe some other
areas of interest such as Soweto.
Unfortunately most tourists spend their time here shrouded in a
protective westernized bubble; fancy
lodges, 5* service, private transfers and fine dining. Few are bold enough to visit true
Africa. This land is the birthplace of
man. We talk of culture, but the culture
of man (whatever that may be) originated here; our ancestors originated here
and thus we all have an undeniable connection to this magical continent.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst there is
no doubt that the world we live in is overpopulated, this does not excuse
millions of people, inclu</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">ding young children, living in heart-wrenching
conditions. “I can’t make a difference
on my own” I hear some of you cry, but there is an old African proverb that
says: ‘</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">If you think you are too small to
make a difference, try sleeping in a closed room with a mosquito</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">.’ Every little helps and we as a nation, and a
continent, thank all those who have contributed in some way.</span></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: right;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Recently, a
group of school girls visited EcoTraining’s Karongwe camp to learn more about
Man’s place in the wild. Of course, the
major focus of the trip was to view some of the spectacular wildlife on offer,
but it was also important for them to experience life in the local
community. At their request, EcoTraining in partnership of </span><span style="text-align: left;">Toine Vos (Outreach Manager
at Daktari)</span><span style="font-size: 11pt; text-align: left;"> </span>organised for the group to visit the Maahlamela High School in a small village
close to the reserve and help to improve learning conditions for the hundreds
of amazing local children that attend it. Three of the classrooms were nothing more than bare shells with only basic
equipment, the walls drab and dreary:
hardly an environment conducive to fun learning. But that was about to change!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C5JNu-dMyBg/VZ4zFK9ylrI/AAAAAAAAD5U/km2eTlceFoE/s1600/RP%2BCommunity%2BProject%2B%25287%2Bof%2B30%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-C5JNu-dMyBg/VZ4zFK9ylrI/AAAAAAAAD5U/km2eTlceFoE/s400/RP%2BCommunity%2BProject%2B%25287%2Bof%2B30%2529.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always time for some fun</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Armed with paint,
brushes and rollers, we arrived at the school gates eager to begin transforming
the classrooms. For the next day and
half, the girls toiled selflessly and by the time they had finished painting
the walls yellow and red, the classrooms looked like new! Admittedly, I think more of the paint ended
up on us than on the walls but the whole experience was great fun and very
rewarding. Their enthusiasm for the
project was contagious and I was hugely impressed by their desire to get involved. It is very easy to shun responsibility and
ignore the plight that so many rural areas face, but I have to say that the
group applied themselves admirably and seemed to relish in the chance to make a
difference. I myself have not had the
opportunity to do much work in the local community and cannot speak for all,
but I am very proud of what we achieved and the thanks from the principal and
local children were a more than sufficient reward! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2vgmNOFET30/VZ4yvW7lTSI/AAAAAAAAD4s/vwbErzlv8i8/s1600/RP%2BCommunity%2BProject%2B%252814%2Bof%2B30%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-2vgmNOFET30/VZ4yvW7lTSI/AAAAAAAAD4s/vwbErzlv8i8/s400/RP%2BCommunity%2BProject%2B%252814%2Bof%2B30%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Halfway there</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WJDRWeyAKeI/VZ4ytXuO1yI/AAAAAAAAD4k/sVJytWO3QUM/s1600/RP%2BCommunity%2BProject%2B%252811%2Bof%2B30%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WJDRWeyAKeI/VZ4ytXuO1yI/AAAAAAAAD4k/sVJytWO3QUM/s400/RP%2BCommunity%2BProject%2B%252811%2Bof%2B30%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adding the finishing touches</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite being a
public holiday, many children were present and the girls took great pleasure
transcending language barriers getting to know the local children and members
of the community. Names and contact
details were swopped and many promised to keep in touch. We would love to have done more but the group
also made a very generous donation to the school to aid in the purchasing of
better equipment, stationary and books.
Every little bit helps and it is a warming feeling to know that our work,
and the group’s donations will have an impact on shaping the opportunities
afforded to the next generation. These
kids will inherit the Earth that we leave behind and the more help that we can
give them, the better! </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On behalf of EcoTraining, we would like to thank Toin Vos and Daktari for going through</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> a lot of trouble sourcing the project, putting us in contact with the school
principal and making the necessary arrangements. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Last, but not least, a big thank you to Moondance for the generous donation to the school. The money will be used to buy the necessary stationary and equipment the school need.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k-fr_3DNIcM/VZ4yyj-zisI/AAAAAAAAD40/QSOpSebt66I/s1600/RP%2BCommunity%2BProject%2B%252820%2Bof%2B30%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-k-fr_3DNIcM/VZ4yyj-zisI/AAAAAAAAD40/QSOpSebt66I/s320/RP%2BCommunity%2BProject%2B%252820%2Bof%2B30%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spending some time with the pupils</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VwA9tO-z7-0/VZ4y_igYKxI/AAAAAAAAD5M/5sm08AUGCBw/s1600/RP%2BCommunity%2BProject%2B%252827%2Bof%2B30%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VwA9tO-z7-0/VZ4y_igYKxI/AAAAAAAAD5M/5sm08AUGCBw/s320/RP%2BCommunity%2BProject%2B%252827%2Bof%2B30%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The group of students</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ci3dy-OfJZU/VZ4y_0KpALI/AAAAAAAAD5I/UlFusD7exio/s1600/RP%2BCommunity%2BProject%2B%252825%2Bof%2B30%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ci3dy-OfJZU/VZ4y_0KpALI/AAAAAAAAD5I/UlFusD7exio/s320/RP%2BCommunity%2BProject%2B%252825%2Bof%2B30%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting down and dirty on the playground</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Blog and photos by Ben Coley</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-82990160886398391162015-07-02T11:22:00.000+02:002015-07-02T11:23:37.320+02:00Hard Graft<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The bush is the
greatest classroom there is. Yes,
theoretical knowledge is important, and trust me, there is a bucket-load on a <a href="http://www.ecotraining.co.za/courses/fgasa-accredited-courses/11-field-guide-level-one" target="_blank">FGASA Field Guide Level 1</a> course, but there is no substitute for time spent in the field. In addition to <a href="http://www.ecotraining.co.za/" target="_blank">EcoTraining</a>'s twice daily activities in game
rich areas, the students are expected to get their hands dirty and help out
with some reserve maintenance. If it
wasn’t for reserves and conservancies, we would not have the opportunity to
offer these courses and perhaps tourists would not even have a chance to see
these areas, such is man’s habit of developing land at all costs. Despite there being a module dedicated to
conservation management, what better way to give something back than by helping
to keep the bush looking as pristine as possible.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLLQeiwEkoQ/VZUAAQuJ5_I/AAAAAAAAD20/AkR7vJbcxl0/s1600/Bush%2BClearing%2B1%2Bsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ZLLQeiwEkoQ/VZUAAQuJ5_I/AAAAAAAAD20/AkR7vJbcxl0/s200/Bush%2BClearing%2B1%2Bsmall.jpg" width="131" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Getting ready to blow off some steam</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-US">As an added
bonus, the students get the chance to blow off a bit of steam and frustration
after weeks of hard learning. Where
possible we try to clear over-hanging branches, fix erosion channels in roads
and place bolsters and mitre drains, which are designed to funnel water off the
road and reduce weathering effects.
There is nothing like a bit of hard labour to clear the cobwebs of
mental over stimulation and without exception, students throw themselves into
exercises like this with great gusto! There is something very primal about welding a
panga and both men and women attack the cause with equal enthusiasm!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Despite the fun
and games, the students also learn about the perils of poor management. Many of the reserves are old cattle farm,
with soil that has been pillaged of nutrients by hundreds of head of hungry
cattle. The grass is destroyed, removing
competition for the wooded plants, and thus dense thickets of pioneer species
inhabitat large areas of the land.
Pioneers are designed to rehabilitate the soil by adding nutrients and
sheltering the soil from weathering, but it does this at the detriment of species
diversity. Sometimes these thickets can
become so thick that animals simply cannot penetrate them and the carrying
capacity of the area (especially of grazing animals) is significantly reduced. This is one of many challenges that face many
private reserves in South Africa and they need all the help they can get.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IrppAxfU-kY/VZUAEXSdnbI/AAAAAAAAD3I/Kwd8UzwTmqo/s1600/Bush%2BClearing%2B2%2Bsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IrppAxfU-kY/VZUAEXSdnbI/AAAAAAAAD3I/Kwd8UzwTmqo/s320/Bush%2BClearing%2B2%2Bsmall.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Let the bush clearing begin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3GgGMFdBKU/VZUAMOQSv2I/AAAAAAAAD3Q/he8mWozZzE0/s1600/Bush%2BClearing%2B4%2Bsmall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-M3GgGMFdBKU/VZUAMOQSv2I/AAAAAAAAD3Q/he8mWozZzE0/s320/Bush%2BClearing%2B4%2Bsmall.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hard at work</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Something as
simple as clearing roads of overhanging branches can make a huge difference to
a guest experience; and since <a href="http://www.ecotraining.co.za/" target="_blank">EcoTraining</a> students are training as guides, it
is imperative to understand that guest satisfaction is massively
important. Unfortunately, we live in a
capitalist world whereby the only way to protect most wilderness areas, is to
make them a viable commercial operation and make money. Like it or not, no guests means no income for
the reserve and soon there will be no reserve. If guests are constantly bobbing and weaving more than a young Mohamed
Ali, they will not return! Simple little
touches such as a comfortable ride without the perils of losing an eye to rogue
thorn go a long way!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-US"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-US">Blog post and photos by Ben Coley</span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
</div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1422106806201426210.post-14141311840583221052015-06-26T15:19:00.001+02:002015-06-26T15:19:11.948+02:00Achievement unlocked - 13 000 hours on the clock<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was a bit unusual to be starting a walk that
early in the afternoon but if we wanted to get to Makwadzi/Limpopo Lookout by
sunset we would have to leave early and without lunch. The group walking with me
wanted a walk as it would be their final walk for the course, as it was the
second to last day. The 10 of us gathered on the outer firebreak for what they
were expecting to be a very thorough pre-walk brief before departure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">They quickly realized this walk was going to be
different when all I told them was I would not be doing much interpretation on
the walk. We had all learnt a lot in the month of walking and now we were going
to use this walk as a REFLECTION on all we had achieved and experienced in the
last month. Quintin, my new back-up and I cycled our rounds before loading up. With a final walk “where you want, make as
much noise as you like and run like hell if something comes for us” we set off
for Lala Palm Windmill and the floodplain along the <st1:place w:st="on">Limpopo</st1:place>.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From the first step out of camp I just felt like
something was different or going to be different about this walk. I saw everything in great detail, I heard
everything with sharp clarity and knew the students walking behind me were
experiencing the same. Unlike other
walks on the course I did not stop for much but just pointed out things that
were of importance. Yellow-billed
Oxpeckers calling from ahead – knowing there were buffalo around, Grey
Go-away-bird shouting from the Mashatu Trees to the north – knowing they were
shouting at a resident Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Yellow-billed Hornbill cackling
away from the basalt ridge next to us telling us there were Dwarf Mongoose
there, were all things I knew the students behind me were picking up. Circling
the windmill to the north, from the downwind side Quintin whispered from behind
“elephant”. He had spotted a lone bull in the long grass to the east of
us. It was a young bull so our immediate
reaction was to look for the rest of the herd.
Nope, just a young bull on his own enjoying his solitude.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We left him and continued crossing the floodplain
to the north of LP Windmill heading towards Hulukulu Pan in the Fever Tree
forest. The slight breeze was into our faces as we walked but the sun was
getting low into our eyes. I kept the
pace constant macking Hulukulu in a good time.
Here we took a break and did some birding. Tamborine Dove came down to drink while a
noisy Gorgeous Bush-Shrike called from the thick forest. An African Crowned-Eagle circled above while calling
and four Bomhs Spinetails did a flyby. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was amazing how the water had dropped in the
pan in the month we had been visiting the pan.
It would not be long before it was completely empty. However this did
not stop the birds from enjoying the remaining water and it did not take long
to clock up a quick 40 species. We unfortunately could not spend too long there
as we knew we had away to go yet so we continued west inside the forest heading
towards Sandpit.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I had the feeling I was being watched so stopped
and slowly looked around. Not 15m ahead
of us were 4 Warthogs staring at us through the long grass. The standoff lasted a couple of minutes until
some movement behind me set them off at high speed. The sow ducked between two low bushed and did
not appear the opposite side. Next thing
this bush started swaying from side to side with the sow coming out backwards
with a snare around her neck. She was panicking trying to get away but just
getting the snare tighter round her neck.
We dropped kit and charged in to free her but is was very difficult
getting at her without being tusked by her.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually she started slowing down which enabled
us to get onto her and hold her head and tusks while trying to cut the thin
cable snare. The snare had cut off her oxygen which caused her to pass out
which in turn got me working a lot quicker on cutting the cable. The cable cut
and off her we moved back waiting for her to up and move off. She eventually took a gasp of air, then
another and slowly stated to breathe again. Her head lifted and she wobbled
around a bit but eventually found her feet and sped off into the bush.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">High-fives all round, a sweep for more snares and
we were off again heading for our destination. We path took us to a dried up pan,
through a small drainage line into a very large clearing amongst the Fever
Trees. Once again my trusty back-up
spotted elephant a mile off, this time a breeding herd heading our way. I
veered off into the thornveld to the south of us and continued on, boxing them
by a good 200m. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sandpad came and went before we walked round the
final ridge and Makwadzi Pan opened up ahead off us. Crocodiles lined the
shores as did African Openbill, Yellow-billed Stork, Spurwinged and Egyptian
Goose. Smaller Three-banded Plovers, Water Thick-knee and over wintering Common
Greenshank paraded the shallows while a pod of hippo guarded the deep water.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Makwadzi Pan in the late afternoon is something to
behold and I think this afternoon it was even better. The group were quiet,
which told me they were thinking about the month and just enjoying the last
time at Makwadzi Pan. Leaving Makwadzi Pan I headed North straight towards the
Lipmpopo wanting to walk the last kilometer or so in the river while watching
the sun go down.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Watching the sunset in the <st1:place w:st="on">Limpopo</st1:place>,
while walking upstream, is definitely something special. The fact that this was
some student’s last walk and my 13000 hour walk just made it all the more
special. All to soon we were at the pick-up where there was a lively game of
volleyball on the go. What a great way
to end a course and clock your 13000 hours.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you everybody for an amazing course and for
being part of this special occasion for me.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some inspiring comment from the Trails guide students and colleagues:</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"From an elephant in the floodplains to saving a
warthog in a snare to one of the best walks I had on my course…… And some
“mint” condition birding really really
“very lekker”. I feel honored in being a part of it! Congratulations and I hope
to be there for 14 000." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Quintin
Koekemoer</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Bwana Bruce<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You are somebody I aspire to be in our world of
trails guiding. You have set and will
continue to set standards that all will respect in the future. Many more happy
safe hours in the Gangeni…….3 000hrs
WENA!!!"</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Jacques
(Head guide The Outpost)</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Bruce</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Great to share another milestone with you and Dee".<i> </i></span></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sean</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Patrick)</span></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"13 000hrs! Amazing feat Bruce. So proud to be a
part of it. What a walk! Thanks for all
the training." </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Paul Lyons</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Congrats Bruce!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">13 000 hours incredible accomplishment, I’m glad I
got to be here and share it with you. Not everyday you are a part of something
so incredible in someone’s life.
Hopefully many more to come!"<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Congrats Spotted Ground-Thrush! I shall give your
regards to the Queen and tell her about your 13000 hours.!"</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Tim Flavell</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Oom Bruce</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baie dankie vir “n ongelooflike tyd hier in
Makuleke, did was ‘n ongelooflikke eer om saam met oom te kon stap en leer van
oom af! I enjoyed everything from the ARH, to the assessment walks and so much
more! The lessons learnt of life and the knowledge gained from the bush have
been extremely valuable to me! Baie, Baie Dankie, en veels geluk met die 13000
ure! Ongelooflik! Sterkte en groete, ek is seker ek sal weer vi room sien, en
hoop ook so!" </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Reinhardt
Visser</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Hey Bruce<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank you for your great wisdom and fun spirit,
this final camp has really been the greats of the greats. Congratulations on your 13 000 hrs!"</span></span><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Myke
with a Y</i></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Bruce---</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I feel truly lucky to have done this trails course
with you. It’s easy to see why you are such
a legend in this industry. I learned a
lot and laughed even more.
Congratulations on 13000 hours. An incredible accomplishment full of
incredible memories and encounters in the bush I’m sure, as well as scratches,
scrapes and ticks! Hope to cross paths
once again someday! Til then, best of luck and on to 14000!" </span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Mujon Baghai</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Meeting you was the best dangerous game encounter
there was. Its been a pleasure to go on walks with you and learn from you.
Congratulations on your 13 000 hours! I will see you in Feb." <i>Sirah Shaikh<o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Awesome walk Bruce! Good luck with the next 13,000
and keep that chin above the bar.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thanks
for everything."</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Shelley</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Congrats Bruce! Very well done! Thanks so much for
everything and really awesome to meet you." <i>Elizabeth Bruce</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"From 1 bat to another, what a great achievement.
So honored to have been part of the walk. Here I thought Ironman took a lot,
well done! Kudos Brother."</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Gary Ray</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Yess Oom Bruce<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Baie dankie vir al swat oom vir ons, en meer
specific vir my als gedoen het, dit beteken baie vir my, did nie altyd wat mens
“n 2de of (haha) “n 3rde <st1:state w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">kans</st1:place></st1:state>
kry nie. Dit was vir my “n groot vooreg gewees om tyd saam met sulke kwaai
awesome instructors te deel." <i>Phillip Snyman # BMW GS</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"It’s unbelievable to think that I get to write
this on your 13000 hour milestone as a colleague here in Makuleke. Thanks for the inspiration back in 2012 on a
Wilderness Trails Skills Course and continued mentorship. To many more!" <i>Andreas Fox</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Dear Bruce</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I would just like to say thank you for everything
you have taught me. You are such an
incredible man and you have achieved so much greatness in life. You are definitely leaving a major positive
mark on nature and people. May you continue to preserve the world and teach
people how to appreciate the bush and animals and be forever happy. Kind regards. Sarah Brown<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Congratulations Bruce. It’s not everyday you get to walk with
someone that hits 13,000 hours in the bush.
That is unless you’re a Makuleke back-up, so I’d like to say a big thank
you for letting me be a part of it." <i>Ollie</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Bruce! Congratulations! It has been an honor to be
here and to have walked with you.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thank
you for the opportunity, knowledge and fun!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kudos." <i>Tanith</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Legs!!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It
has been a lot of fun walking the game paths of Makuleke with you, especially
looking at all the birds and ignoring the stampeding buffalo.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve learnt a lot and am sure 13,000hrs have
taught you a lot too.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Keep up the good
work. Very best>"</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Jake</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Thanks for the opportunity to be here. Can’t ask for a better role model in
life. Well done on the 13,000hrs. Hope
there is a lot more! Can’t wait to learn more form you and hopefully get fit
with you. Thanks for everything so far,
looking forward. #Death before
Thanks Giving# <span style="color: #ff6600;">(It’s
a horrible workout)." </span><i>Renoux</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">"Congrats Bruce!! Inspirational to all guides,
thanks for setting us off in the right direction and imparting your wisdom and
experience with us! To many more hours!
I’ll be your back-up one day!" </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Michael Kirby</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> </span></div>
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