Correspondence Course Practical: Week 1

Hi there everyone!

The long awaited Correspondence Course practical has finally begun! Week one has flown past and what an amazing time it has been...

Our students excitedly arrived to an upgraded Nkombe Camp which now has an all new lecture tent and carport! The infamous camp is looking better than ever, still with its rustic character and remains unfenced to all our four-legged visitors! 

What better way to get settled in than a "sundowner" drive to welcome everyone to the African bushveld? We were immediately visited by an impressive elephant bull kicking up the saplings of a few African Weeping Wattle trees. He then decided to take a closer look at the vehicle as he approached a couple of meters and continued to feed. To view these animals in their natural habitat and to see the natural behaviour is priceless. A couple of "dugga boys" (older buffalo bulls) decided to step onto the scene and graze on the grass nearby. This did not sit too well with the elephant as he raised his posture, spreading out those impressive ears and lifting the shoulders and gave a short chase towards the closest buffalo. The old bull, seemingly unfazed and disinterested, merely turned his back on the elephant and continued feeding. This sort of animal behaviour is an absolute treat to witness!

The days have been filled with loads of learning with interesting lectures and the always incredible bush walks every morning as well as some amazing afternoon/night drives. We seem to be having "leopard luck" as we have had two stunning leopard sightings. The first was on our way back to camp one evening when a striking female leopard decided to walk straight in front of our vehicle from the riverbed! We were fortunate enough to follow her as she scanned the darkness for her next potential meal. She then decided to sit and groom herself before heading off into the night. 

The next morning we stopped to view a couple of Magpie shrikes when the same female appeared out of nowhere and approached us, this time from the front! She walked straight down the road towards us and then passed the vehicle only two meters away from our overwhelmed students. There are no words to explain how special and unforgettable this moment was. It all made sense when we found out that the female had a den with her cub in close proximity to our camp. This is why we have been hearing the deep calls of the Kudu and Bushbuck as well as various other alarm calls from squirrels, monkeys and baboon throughout the day. How remarkable!

The most shocking encounter yet was on our way back to camp on foot. We had just told the students to stay vigilant even though we are almost at the end of our walk and near camp. We the spotted two "dugga boys" in the distance. The wind as well the terrain were conveniently in our favour so we viewed the animals walking further and further into the distance. As we were about to continue, we saw what we though was a Warthog about two-hundred meters away. With a quick scan through the binoculars I came to a shock as our "warthog" was indeed a lioness persuing the buffalo! This was reconfirmed by the sound of an aggitated growl... We were picked up by the vehicle and unfortunately the lioness and buffalo had then disappeared.

The bush is constantly changing... The Knob thorn's are now blooming with their creamy, fluffy flowers which are the giraffe's delicacy which in turn also aids the tree in pollination! We have the most spectacular Sausage tree near camp which is now also showing off it's gorgeous red flowers which attract a variety of sunbirds and insects as well as an assortment of animals such as Impala, Kudu, Nyala, Bushbuck and in turn our female leopard! The next gift nature has to offer will be the nectar-rich flowers of the Weeping Boer-bean which will almost immediately start flowering just before the first rains! Nature and its wonders...

The ANT Blog

Bush Breakfast!

FGASA level 1 Course - flashback!

This is a flashback from our previous full-time FGASA level 1 course, as written by student Jamie McWhirter:

It's week six and odd to consider that we've been involved in this course for forty two days now, following a routine of getting up at six, game drive, lecture, off-time, game drive, bed. Some may consider this monotonous and repetitive but, with every day somehow managing to stray from the norm and provide us all with anything from hilarity to jaw-dropping awe, is what makes this course special!

Our instructor, Servaas Hofmeyr

The past week has been no exception. We gained a new member to Nkombe Camp in the form of Servaas. Our new lecturer, lead Trails Guide, FGASA level 3 field guide and examiner. Emphasis on the last part. He arrived to camp in no spectacular fashion, quietly arriving whilst we were more focused on sandwiches than anything else. We all introduced ourselves quietly and calmly, eager to make a good impression with the man who determines our fate.

Then game drive happened.

Servaas jumped into the game viewer and we all followed, obviously. I assumed this was to be a serious drive - an introduction where we should be showing off our bush knowledge to try and impress...until he turned left about a hundred metres from the camp into road that follows a steep incline into the river bed, which drew nervous glances and smiles of anticipation from us students.

All was going well until we reached the bottom and were presented with another incline going back up and the wet sand of the riverbed to swallow the tyres. All perceptions of Servaas being a dark, serious figure dissolved when we began to hear a jovial, "Aaah, nee man!" from the driver's seat...followed shortly afterwards by the order to disembark from the vehicle and push. Team-work! After a few attempts, we eventually emerged from the drainage line, to be welcomed by a herd of buffalo on the other side!



Did you know that a female buffalo has a boss that is
not joined in the centre of her forehead?

Servaas' arrival not only meant exams, but also the ability to go on daily walking safaris. Equipped with three rifles, a lead trails guide, back-up trails guide and tracker, we were off! At walking speed, which is slow... Boring you say? No chance!
Our second walk brought us into the riverbed again, where we followed its meandering for hours, watching baboon troops, birds and tracking animals that passed through the previous night.

Lilac-breasted Roller - image by Louisa Scheepers

We did, however, have to be wary of the one-eyed lioness who had been seen in the area as well as the ever-threatening possibility of dagga boys (solitary, male buffaloes) who have the not-very-comforting name of 'black death'. But, as you might expect, we were fine...

We also had our introduction to basic rifle handling this week, where we had one of the more eccentric lectures I've ever had - this being entirely due to the fact that our lecturer was armed with a rifle. The shooting itself was incredible. Everyone got to shoot ten rounds of .22 calibre supressed rifle. The focus of this was mostly on how to handle a live rifle and how to group your shots to ensure accuracy. After everyone had shot, we each had two shots with a .458 rifle, which is a high enough calibre to bring down a charging bull. You could feel the excitement as the first person stepped up to shoot. They assumed the shooting position, fitted the stock snugly into their shoulder aimed and slowly squeezed the trigger...then I heard nothing. What can only be described as a minor explosion erupted from the barrel of the rifle, deafening those stupid enough not to have worn ear protection. As I regained my hearing, nervous laughter and excited cheers were heard. It was awesome! Each time the rifle went off you could feel the ground rumble and I couldn't help but smile at the power.

This is only a fraction of what happened this week. The knowledge we have gained and the experiences we've had are apparently endless. And despite the pressure of the looming exams, I can't help feeling excited waking up every morning!

This place is magical and every day is exciting. I only wish that we didn't have only two weeks left...

The ANT blog

If you enjoyed reading about Jamie's experiences and would like to sign up for our next course, please contact us for more information, as we do have a few places left, starting on 30th September: 012 667 5440 or e-mail info@africanaturetraining.co.za.

A kill on the wing!

On a recent trip to the Kruger National Park, we parked on the high level bridge over the Shingwedzi River, enjoying the amazing sunset. A ranger mate who used to be stationed at Shingwedzi always assured me that Bat Hawks did indeed exist, as he had seen them in the area from time to time. “Yeah, right...” was my usual reply!

So there we were, clicking away with our cameras, whilst keeping an eye on the bats emerging from their roost under the bridge, when two dark birds swooped over the river from some nearby large trees. Could these be the elusive Bat Hawks I have wanted to see for years? Binoculars quickly replaced the camera and my eyes confirmed the over-excited expletives from my husband – our first sighting of a Bat Hawk!

Image: Bat Hawk in daylight by Johan Janse van Rensburg

The Bat Hawks started their hunt as one swooped on a bat. 

The bat detected the threat and swiftly took impressive evasive action, only to fly directly into the path of the second Bat Hawk – we had just witnessed a ‘kill on the wing’. 

It all happened very quickly and, with the light fading and gate-closing-time fast approaching, I did not manage to get photographic evidence of this incredible sight, but I definitely have a picture in my mind that I will never forget.

Back at camp, the reference books came out and we read that Bat Hawks do indeed hunt their prey on the wing, catching prey with their feet and - if the prey item is small enough - swallowing it whole in flight. 

Insectivorous bats are the usual prey of the Bat Hawk, with most hunting occurring at dusk. The bird can catch its daily food requirement within only twenty to thirty minutes. 

It is estimated that there are no more than five breeding pairs of Bat Hawks in the Kruger National Park[1] and they have ‘Near-threatened’ status in SA - so this is a very rare bird to see.

Image: Shingwedzi sunset by Jenny Bell

We returned to the bridge the following evening and - luckily - the Bat Hawks made another appearance at sunset...so keep an eye out for them next time you overnight at Shingwedzi!

The ANT Blog 

- written by Nature Enthusiast Course student, Jenny Bell

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[1] http://www.birdlife.org.za/conservation/important-bird-areas/iba-directory/item/143-sa002-kruger-national-park

Have you noticed that the full moon has recently got bigger?

No, it has not really got bigger at all – the Moon’s orbit has just been a bit closer than normal to our planet the past month or so and this has resulted in the moon appearing to be bigger and brighter.

Image: Eric Goody

This interesting phenomenon is referred to as a ‘Supermoon’ and it occurs when the proximity of the Moon to the Earth accompanies the full moon phase of the Moon’s cycle.

2014 will be a bit of a record with Supermoons, with three occurring in one year: the first two in July and August and the final Supermoon in September. To have three Supermoons in such close succession is rare and is not expected to happen again until 2034!
It is not only during Supermoons that the moon appears larger. Have you observed that a full moon rising appears to be larger than compared to when the full moon is directly overhead?

The moon doesn’t physically change size over the course of an evening , so why does our brain think it has?

This phenomenon illustrates the Ebbinghaus Illusion. When the Moon rises and is visible on the horizon, the human eye compares its size to other visible objects (trees, power lines, buildings, etc) and, versus these objects, the Moon appears comparatively much larger. However, once the moon rises higher in the night sky, the human eye has no other objects against which to compare the moon’s size and it then appears comparatively smaller.


http://www.universetoday.com/83998/the-supermoon-illusion/

 In this image, the two orange circles are exactly the same size, but we perceive them as being different, which demonstrates the Ebbinghaus Illusion.

So our mind plays tricks on us, making us think that the size of the full moon changes during the course of an evening!

Think about this as you enjoy the next Supermoon on September 9th and please share your images on this blog...

The ANT Blog
 

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

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

And so our first FGASA level one course comes to an end...

Hi there everyone!

Two months of hard work, dedication, endless unforgettable memories and incredible moments have come to an end... yet this is just the beginning for all our graduANTs! I am thus pleased to announce that ALL of our students passed their theory examinations as well as the practical assessments! Congratulations to Frederik, Elzaan, Matthew, Rianne, Dionne, Morgan, Ralph, Jamie and Carmi!

The past few weeks have been better than ever as the infamous sleep-out took place on 'Klipspringer Koppie'!

This was truly one of the most memorable events of the entire course... Sleeping in the middle of the bush amongst lions and leopards under the astonishing milky way is literally indescribable. The students witnessed the most incredible sunset whilst sitting on the impressive granite rocks looking over thousands and thousands of kilometres of African bushveld. We had a traditional 'boerewors braai' and sat together around the fire feeling amazed and stunned by our surroundings before sleeping in our sleeping bags with the world exposed as we laid flat on our backs.

A pair of students were on night-watch every two hours to keep the fire going and to make sure we had no surprise visitors lurking around us in the night. Overall, this unbelievable experience will be engraved in everyone's hearts forever.

The last few days of assessments were not in any way tedious with our friends the 'dagga boys' making a visit to our camp the one morning. After some scrumptious French toast, we then heard a game viewer nearby and as we stood up to see what was happening, we saw a female leopard passing camp just twenty metres away! 

As if all of this is not enough we were once again joined by another breeding herd of elephant. They went about their normal routine as we stood between our tents and observed the beauty of elephants being elephants. It will never get old!

All that was left was to ace the exam and assessment... and that is exactly what the students did! As they went for their last, celebratory game drive, the evening took a turn for the unexpected.

Our instructor, Servaas, stopped the vehicle in the middle of the bush and asked everyone to follow him. He then led the students to a bush boma lit with a massive bonfire with lanterns hanging from the surrounding dead trees. We then shouted, "Congratulations!" and the shock on the students' faces were absolutely priceless as they realised this was all for them :)

They enjoyed a classic 'Bush Braai' and reminisced about the highlights of the past two months (which are many!). They also each received individual awards and their ANT certificates to take home and to be proud of.

This was most definitely the perfect way to end an incredible journey and a life-changing experience for everyone involved.

We wish our students farewell and the best of luck in pursuing your career as the ultimate field guide!

We hope to see you again soon and that you will treasure the past couple of months forever.

Top: Elzaan, Dionne, Ralph, Herman, Carmi, Matthew
Bottom: Jamie, Morgan, Rianne, Frederik

Stay tuned for the next blog as our Nature Enthusiast students are arriving at Nkombe Camp next week Saturday!

The ANT Blog