Achievement unlocked - 13 000 hours on the clock

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.

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 Limpopo.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Watching the sunset in the Limpopo, 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.

Thank you everybody for an amazing course and for being part of this special occasion for me.

Some inspiring comment from the Trails guide students and colleagues:

"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." Quintin Koekemoer

"Bwana Bruce

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!!!" Jacques (Head guide The Outpost)

"Bruce

Great to share another milestone with you and Dee". Sean (Patrick)

"13 000hrs! Amazing feat Bruce. So proud to be a part of it.  What a walk! Thanks for all the training." Paul Lyons

"Congrats Bruce!

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!"

"Congrats Spotted Ground-Thrush! I shall give your regards to the Queen and tell her about your 13000 hours.!" Tim Flavell

"Oom Bruce

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!" Reinhardt Visser

"Hey Bruce

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!" Myke with a Y

"Bruce---

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!" Mujon Baghai

"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." Sirah Shaikh

"Awesome walk Bruce! Good luck with the next 13,000 and keep that chin above the bar.  Thanks for everything." Shelley

"Congrats Bruce! Very well done! Thanks so much for everything and really awesome to meet you." Elizabeth Bruce

"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." Gary Ray

"Yess Oom Bruce

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 kans kry nie. Dit was vir my “n groot vooreg gewees om tyd saam met sulke kwaai awesome instructors te deel." Phillip Snyman  # BMW GS

"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!"  Andreas Fox

"Dear Bruce

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

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." Ollie

"Bruce! Congratulations! It has been an honor to be here and to have walked with you.  Thank you for the opportunity, knowledge and fun! Kudos."  Tanith

"Legs!!  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.  I’ve learnt a lot and am sure 13,000hrs have taught you a lot too.  Keep up the good work. Very best>"  Jake

"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#  (It’s a horrible  workout)." Renoux

"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!" Michael Kirby 

Flight of the Fish eagle

What are the iconic sights and sounds of the African bush?  The honking of hippos at dusk; the eerie whoop of a hyaena under the soft glow of a full moon; or perhaps the bassy rumbling of a lion’s call as it echoes out across the savanna?  These are iconic sounds of the night for sure, but what of the daylight hour?  Birds dominate our auditory senses during the day as they scramble for perches from which to announce their intentions.  The air is usually awash with this avian symphony and sometimes, such is their diversity, that they blur into one, becoming discernible to all but the keenest ear.  But one, above all else sums up the African bush:  the African Fish Eagle.

Often seen surveying its favourite aquatic hunting grounds, the fish eagle ticks all the boxes for an icon: beautiful, majestic, imperious and formidable.  To add to this, its unmistakable shrill call has become synonymous with the African bush.  A sighting of this impressive raptor is always special but the bush likes to add to the drama at times and as we rounded a bend, she had laid on a special moment for us!

In the drying mud of a seasonal pan, a fish eagle stood proud, its razor sharp talons gripping a barbell like a vice.  Such was the size of its prize, it seems unsure of its next step and amused us for some time by comically dancing from A to B as it tried to decide on its next move.  We wondered whether it would be a little too heavy for the raptor to take to the skies with its meal but nature’s power is immense and with a few muscular wing beats, it was airborne and heading for the safety of a nearby dead tree.  Such is their strength, that 2 kg of fish can easily be carried into the blue to be devoured at a more suitable, and safe spot!

The fish eagle however seemed un-content with its choice of spot however and soon gave us a great display by launching from its perch and disappearing into the sky with the lifeless barbell still in its talons.  Soon after, we found it again sitting alongside its mate but with no sign of the takeaway sushi.  Non-migratory raptors such as the fish eagle breed during the dry season to avoid competition with its biannual visitors and will engage in courtship feeding where the male presents the female with gifts to cement their monogamous bond for the coming clutch.  Perhaps this explains its reluctance to feed at the time and it was merely securing a nuptial gift for its mate?

Whatever the thought process of the eagle, the sighting was spectacular.  There is nothing more iconic in Africa than the sight of a fully grown fish eagle taking flight from a skeletal tree.  Contrasting chestnut and white being displayed twixt each wing beat is a breathtaking moment and one that every safari goer should experience!

Blog and images by Ben Coley

Putting the students to the test!

The current crop of students recently completed their first practical observation test.  70 questions, most centering on identifying phenomena encountered in the bush, would prove a stern examination as to whether the previous 3 week’s information had sunk in.  The morning of the test was like any other but there was an air of unease within the camp.  Students were dotted around the camp, coffee in one hand, book in the other as they used these last vital moments to try to cement their new-found knowledge.  Wide eyes and furrowed brows seemed to be the order of the day.

For the next 6 hours, the students dredged their memory banks as Gerhard and I set them a number of questions related to what we found in the bush.  From tracks to trees, dung to bird calls, the students were subjected to all manner of questions.  Some rounds were tough, some were easier but all our budding guides performed admirably, and many surprised us with the level of detail that they had retained.  The practical observation test is a great way for the students to see how much they have learned but it is also when we find out whether our teaching has been successful!  The pressure is on for us all!  But I am very happy to report that everyone breached the 75% pass mark with many scores being in the 90’s!

This is the first of many practical tests that the students will experience during their quest for an EcoTraining qualification.  In the coming weeks they will have to tackle bird call and slide identification, snake slide ID, frog calls and a second, more challenging practical observation, not to mention a handful of written theory exams.  All of these skills will hopefully set them up well for their final test, the practical assessment, which awaits them in just 3 weeks’ time!

After 8 years guiding in the lodge industry, I have seen all manner of guides ply their trade in the bush.  Some have been good and some, not so.  For the guests that come on safari this may be their one and only chance to experience the majesty of this land, and it is a guide’s obligation to ensure that they have a life-altering journey.  EcoTraining is in the unique position to send out the next generation of field guides with the knowledge that we believe is essential to give a guest the best possible experience.  Make no mistake:  this course is tough, but the rewards one can reap from understanding the complexities and intricacies of the bush are priceless

Blog and photos by Ben Coley

PROFESSIONAL FIELD GUIDE COURSE: Testimony that you’ll have the time of your life!

The time is NOW to make that jump into an adventure of epic proportions. EcoTraining’s professional field guide course will change your life and put you on a path sure to be more exciting than you can ever imagine.

The next one is about to start, in September, and for a limited period of time being offered at a special rate. Email enquiries@ecotraining.co.za and make sure that you are among the lucky ones!

Like Marc Lindsay Rea, who says he’s now living the dream, thanks in part to EcoTraining who has put him in a very privilege position indeed.

Here is his story, enjoy, and be prepared to book your place afterwards…

“When I was 11 my father went on a business trip to Phinda Private game reserve and returned home with a brochure of CC Africa. I was amazed by the images… From that day on I knew I wanted to work in the bush and become a ranger. 

So it was a natural choice for me to do a game ranging and lodge management diploma after school, which I passed with an overall distinction. During my diploma course I did two EcoTraining courses, at Selati and Makuleke. This was the first time I had actually spent a solid amount of time in the bush doing training. It was brilliant.

After my course and practical experiences at EcoTraining, I approached AndBeyond and passed their selection phase and relevant training and was offered a job at Madikwe Safari Lodge. Since starting my guiding career in early in 2006, I steadily climbed the ranks becoming a senior ranger, mentor, assistant head ranger and was then appointed as head ranger in October 2008.

For most of 2011 I spent my time working in Namibia at Sossusvlei Desert Lodge. I also spent time working in Botswana at Nxabega and Sandibe lodge in the Okavango delta for AndBeyond.

In 2012 whilst working as a ranger and a specialist guide at Phinda Game Reserve I was nominated by my peers to compete in the Safari Guide of the year 2012. I made it into the top eight rangers in the country and in the finals I won two out of the six categories we were all being assessed on.

I have completed my FGASA Level 3 and have also got my Level 2 trackers qualification. In addition I’ve got a full trails guide walking qualification with hundreds of hours of walking experience and dangerous game encounters on foot. This is one of my favourite ways of experiencing the bush and encourage all my guests to come tracking big game on foot with me.

After the competition Africa Direct noticed me and my skills in the bush and offered me a position to become a private, specialist guide in their company. I now get to travel all over Africa with my guests and am at the pinnacle of my guiding career.

I thank and appreciate everybody and every company that has put in many long hours to help get me to the position I am at now. Thank you!

In addition to the bush I have a massive passion for wildlife photography. I have been placed first and third in two international competitions: Africa Geographic / Canon Field Guides Competition and Wildside Nikon All Africa Competition respectively.

I have travelled to a large number of countries around the globe but nothing compares to the excitement of travelling Africa. I am very serious birder and am called a twitcher by many of my friends. Because of my love for birding I have explored the remotest parts of Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia looking for all the special rarities.

In 2009 I founded a small non-profit organisation with the help of my work colleagues and some guests to support the Matetsi Community along the Zambezi River in Zimbabwe. We helped 150 people for 3 years supplying them with vegetable seeds, clothing, toiletries and fishing equipment to try make living a little easier over that difficult time in the country.

I have such a thirst for acquiring knowledge about wildlife and nature from around the world and I am lucky to have the privilege to guide guests through these exciting places.”

(Thanks for sharing Marc!) 

LOOK AT NATURE WITH ‘NEW’ EYES: 14 DAY ECOQUEST COURSE – MASHATU, BOTSWANA

Birding Competition Winner announced:

EcoTraining in conjunction with Africa Geographic and Birds & Birding Geographic announced the winner of the Birding competition yesterday. Congratulations Lance van de Vyver; we hope you enjoy your prize: Makuleke “Birding in the Bush” experience in Kruger for two.

 

Although it wasn’t necessary to post a photo, you needed to either enquiry on our website, add a photo, or like the fan page. The winner did all 3 (possibly enhancing his chances) Lance posted a photo, sent an email and enquired on the website. I will place a photo he sent on the fan page as well. Thanks to everybody that sent us photos.

Follow the link below to see more amazing photos added to the EcoTraining fan page

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.405995182795354.86133.248905765170964&type=3

FABULOUS FEATHERS – WIN A BIRDING TRIP TO KRUGER!

Shake the winter blues away, get ready, because spring is officially only 15 days away! It’s time to strut your stuff on a grand scale, and what better way than with winning a fantastic birding trip for two worth over R25 000 from 21-27 October 2012! Dust those binoculars off and start scanning the skies because EcoTraining, in cooperation with Africa Geographic and Africa – Birds and Birding, is offering this unique experience to some lucky ‘twitchers’.

As the winner, you will be able to explore the Makuleke concession in the 24 000 hectares of the Pafuri region in the most northern part of the Kruger National Park. It is the most diverse and scenically attractive region of the KNP and an area that teems with all things wild and wonderful, with those taking to the skies in flight too numerous to mention.

The basic birding course, “Birding in the bush” is a very practical course, designed to broaden and enrich your knowledge and skills by educating you about the fascinating world of birds. It caters for those who wish to learn the basics of birding identification or improve their existing identification skills. There are some lectures which includes birding ethics and code of conduct, birding equipment, bird anatomy and physiology as well as species identification in the field. The theory sessions take place during the day and practical bird identification sessions in the early morning and late afternoon, either driving or walking.

The popularity of birding as a hobby amongst South African and international guests have risen considerably. We are therefore confident that any person attending our course will leave more enriched and with greater confidence in being able to pass on the wonders and beauty of the South African birdlife to family, friends or clients.

The competition closes on 15 September 2012. To enter, send us a birding related email on our enquiry page on the website at www.ecotraining.co.za , or join our fan page on Facebook:  EcoTraining – Ecotourism Specials and post your birding photos on the competition update.

THE STORRO STORRO STORY: UPDATE FROM NAMIBIA (14 AUGUST 2012)

You can hardly get it any better than this – watching four male cheetahs for a good period of time, following the ‘brotherhood’ and observing their behaviour in their natural habitat. A great viewing indeed! This fortune befell the group of EcoTraining participants currently on their 28 day FGASA Level One field guide course in the Erindi Game Reserve in Namibia just a couple of days ago. Student Brannigan ‘Animal’ Wise, a manager/builder at the Hoada campsite at Grootberg, shares his diary of experiences so far. In his own words:

I recently came back to my motherland after a short service in "La Legion Etrangere" and some experience as a builder and construction worker in the UK. I fell in love with nature and Namibia all over again! I started working on a project of building a campsite for Journeys Namibia and soon I found out that I was nominated as a scholar for the Amarula Trust Scholarship Program.

I was the first student on duty and took everyone out into the reserve in the game viewer.  We left the camp at 06:00 and I thought I would have to cut my fingers from the steering wheel because of the freezing cold! Luckily it wasn’t long before the sun broke over the horizon and we were greeted by a confusion of bird calls. The morning drive was eventful and we circled the north eastern part of the reserve. 

Hidden (another student) was disappointed because we did not see any rhinos or lions making “storro storro” (mating) but I reasoned with him and assured him that the lions would still be “storro storroing” in the afternoon…

On the afternoon drive we headed for Kudu dam.  We had a lion sighting and it was my first ever, I was so excited! Unfortunately they had two young juveniles already, so we were too late to see “storro storro”.

We had many great sightings – hippos, blue wildebeest, crocodiles, African wildcat, gemsbok, kudu, giraffe, an eland carcass (killed by a male lion the previous day) ground squirrel, waterbuck, impala, springbok, black wildebeest and lots of birds, including a pale chanting goshawk. And don’t forget the lions!

There were also lessons to be learned on the drive (from instructor Ralph Kirsten) – how to identify black rhino signs by looking at its dung and the sexual dimorphism of different antelope.

I am looking forward to the rest of the course and also coming back for my Level 2!

IT’S ALL FOR THE BIRDS – WIN A FANTASTIC KRUGER TRIP FOR TWO!

The bush is slowly starting to emerge from its winter slumber with spring just around the corner. And this can only mean one thing – the migratory species of the feathered kind are on their way back to the southern tip of Africa. To celebrate EcoTraining, in cooperation with Africa Geographic and Africa – Birds and Birding, is offering the chance of a lifetime for all birders in winning a competition for two worth over R25 000 from 21-27 October 2012.

As the winner, you will be able to explore the Makuleke concession in the 24 000 hectares of the Pafuri region in the most northern part of the Kruger National Park. It is the most diverse and scenically attractive region of the KNP and an area that teems with all things wild and wonderful, with those taking to the skies in flight too numerous to mention.

The basic birding course, “Birding in the bush” is a very practical course, designed to broaden and enrich your knowledge and skills by educating you about the fascinating world of birds. It caters for those who wish to learn the basics of birding identification or improve their existing identification skills. There are some lectures which includes birding ethics and code of conduct, birding equipment, bird anatomy and physiology as well as species identification in the field. The theory sessions take place during the day and practical bird identification sessions in the early morning and late afternoon, either driving or walking.

The popularity of birding as a hobby amongst South African and international guests have risen considerably. We are therefore confident that any person attending our course will leave more enriched and with greater confidence in being able to pass on the wonders and beauty of the South African birdlife to family, friends or clients.

 

The competition closes on 15 September 2012. To enter, send us a birding related email on our enquiry page on the website at www.ecotraining.co.za , or join our fan page on Facebook:  EcoTraining – Ecotourism Specials and post your birding photos on the competition update.

SOUTH AFRICAN BIRDS IN TROUBLE

The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List of Threatened Species ranks plants and animals according to threat levels and risk of extinction, thus providing an indication of biodiversity loss. This has become a key tool used by scientists and conservationists to determine which species are most urgently in need of conservation attention, both on a regional and global scale, thus guiding the work of governmental conservation departments and environmental NGOs.


In South Africa, a number of birds are listed on the IUCN Red List, with several heading for extinction should some of the threats continue and should the NGOs who are implementing conservation action halt their important work.

The Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus is the most severely threatened crane on the African continent. Recent surveys in Botswana, Mozambique, Tanzania and Zambia, countries long thought to be strongholds for the Wattled Crane, show that the global population is only half of what has been reported in recent years. Some of the greatest losses have occurred in South Africa, where a 38% decline between 1980 and 2000 left the national population Critically Endangered. Only about 250 individuals remain in South Africa, mostly concentrated in isolated pockets of the KwaZulu-Natal midlands. Kerryn Morrison of the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s African Crane Conservation Programme says, “G enetic diversity studies indicate that this sub-population is genetically different from populations in other regions of Africa, making Wattled Crane conservation urgent in South Africa.” The programme works with local communities to protect the wetland habitat of this species. Through this work both the cranes and the communities benefit, as wetlands provide resources and services to these communities in the form of clean drinking water, reeds for crafts, medicinal plants and fertile land in which to grow crops.

The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is one of the most signed onto treaties in the world, and deals with the need to sustain the rich diversity of life on Earth. In 2002 the CBD adopted the 2010 Biodiversity Target, an international commitment to reduce biodiversity decline by 2010. However, the Target was never met. The impacts on livelihoods, human health, economies and our way of life will be severe if we do not quickly correct this situation.