Monday 21 July 2014

Trails Guide Course 2014

Hi there everyone!

It's that time of the year where nothing can be better than walking every morning and afternoon in the almighty African bush... and that is exactly what we have been doing these past few weeks! Our one month Trails Guide Course has kicked off with another big bang and yes, it's just getting better and better. 

Our students have seen the Big Five on foot! To say that you have experienced this is already absolutely incredible. We have been extremely fortunate with our encounters and sightings so far and have learnt so much in such a short period of time. You can only realise how mighty an elephant is or how intimidating a buffalo bull is when you are on your feet in the middle of their world! To say the least, everyone has a new found respect for these wonderful creatures... big and small. 

It is an amazing feeling to become tuned into your surroundings and that is exactly what you need to do as a trails guide. You need to make use of sight, smell, hearing as well as feeling to interpret what is happening around you. As the course is progressing, we have all become more and more in tune with nature and can look at it with new eyes. 


Giraffe photo bomb!
We can now hear the crack of a branch, smell the scent of an elephant bull in musth, see the freshness of a "dugga boy" track and so much more. We have also learnt how to approach these animals without them being aware of any disturbance whatsoever by reading the wind direction, keeping the sun behind us and always using sufficient bush cover. The perfect balance between caution and curiosity is applied to each approach which is vital to learn and be safe in the bush.

The most memorable encounter so far was a female leopard. We were walking across an open area when we hear bushbuck calling nearby. We approached a drainage line where we then heard the alarm calls of baboon as well as Vervet monkeys. We carefully crossed the dry river bed and came across leopard tracks. After a few metres we then saw fresh scat which belonged to the female leopard which we spotted as soon as we lifted our heads, walking down the road!

Frederik, Mike R, Marte-Lize, Silvia, Michael, Paul W, Paul G, Chanyn, Conrad, Matthew
We slowly followed and for about a minute or so we could say we stalked a leopard. She then moved off into the bush after which we all looked at each other and said, "Did that just happen?"

This and countless other encounters have made for priceless experience. Stay tuned to see what happens next!

The ANT Blog

Saturday 19 July 2014

Nature Enthusiast Course Practical

Hi there everyone!
The first group of students set off on a game drive
Our practical session for our Nature Enthusiast Course here at Nkombe Camp has already come to an end... and what an eventful and exhilarating two weeks it was for our students!

My words cannot nearly explain the incredible things these students experienced but to give you an idea, in the first twenty-four hours of their stay they had managed to witness lions mating as well as a leopard sighting that will go down in history as one of the best ever!


This photo of the leopard was taken by Lizel Bester
A male leopard had made a warthog kill and dragged it into a Common Cluster Fig (Ficus sycomorus). This tree is conveniently placed beside a massive granite bolder in a dry river bed. For years we have been fantasizing about viewing a leopard on this particular rock and what a treat and privilege it was to view this magnificent creature (close-up!) lying on the rock grooming after a bite or two of his well-deserved meal. We all knew this was a "once in a lifetime" experience and that we most probably won't easily get the chance to see it again. This place is truly amazing and never fails to disappoint...
After settling in with a welcoming "sundowner" in the middle of the African bush, the students returned to camp to a fire and some good, hearty food! We had morning and afternoon walks and drives learning about the spectacular mammals we get to see as well as the "behind the scenes" aspects of nature which put the puzzle together to form this paradise. From birding and tracking to medicinal uses of trees and the identification of new grasses... these students got a well earned dose of what nature has to offer! :)

We often get elephants passing through the camp!
Another highlight was the surprise bush breakfast under a massive Jackleberry tree... need I say more?? The rare sightings did however not end with the male leopard and its kill as the students saw honey badgers... twice! This and many more memorable encounters such as walking amongst baboons in the river bed as well as ground hornbills and a usual visit by elephants in camp! "Never a dull moment" seems to be the appropriate phrase no matter which course or what time of the year...

The icing on top of the cake was when they saw a leopard hunt and kill a duiker which shortly after was stolen by a hyena! How many people can say they have seen this rare and incredible sighting? An event which lasted only a few minutes but will stay in everyone's hearts forever...

As if all of this is not enough to get the heart-rate pumping, there was one thing left to see... the NEC students saw lions on a buffalo kill at night! Now this is something that a person can't put into words. To see the king of the jungle in killing mode at its best is purely a spectacular experience! 

Every night was spent reminiscing about the most breath-taking experiences which each day brings here at Nkombe Camp.

The ANT Blog