The Tinga Tinyeleti tree house lodge is located in Tinga – a private concession in the famed Kruger National Park. The lodge was recently completed and offers guests the chance to sleep among the tree canopies in unrivalled luxury, giving one an unprecedented safari experience. With the sights and sounds of the African bush encapsulating you on the luxurious four post bed, it’s incredibly easy to forget one’s cares and become lost in the experience.

These pictures of Tinga Tinyeleti tree house lodge do it more justice than words ever could! If you’d like to experience the treetops for yourself, then please feel free to Contact Us and we’ll gladly make it a reality.

Based in Botswana, the Jouberts have developed an understanding and appreciation of the African wilderness that few others could match. Their documentary ‘Eternal Enemies’ – about the fierce competition that exists between spotted hyenas and lions – catapulted them into worldwide prominence and went on to become one of the most viewed wildlife documentaries of all time.

Beverly and Dereck Joubert.

With five Emmy awards behind their name, their talent for filmmaking is matched only by their passion for conservation. The Joubert’s were instrumental in the establishment of the Big Cat Initiative in partnership with National Geographic, which was formed as an emergency action fund to drive the world’s attention to big cats and to develop real solutions to stop their decline in population.

“We no longer have the luxury of time when it comes to big cats,” says Dereck. “They are in such a downward spiral that if we hesitate now, we will be responsible for extinctions across the globe. If there was ever a time to take action, it is now.”

A screen shot from ‘The Last Lions’ – the Joubert’s latest film.

As co-founders of Great Plains Conservation (a preferred supplier to ASC), the Jouberts and their partners have undertaken to “find the right formula between conservation, communities and commerce” and stop the degradation of land throughout Africa, while becoming pioneers in Conservation Tourism.  This year they added land in Tanzania, Kenya and an exciting new project in Rwanda, bringing the total amount of impacted conservation land to about 1.5 million acres.

Africa is blessed to have people as passionate about her conservation as Dereck and Beverly Joubert. As close friends of the ASC team, we salute them on their efforts and wish them all the best going forward.

*PS, Safari Guru Jeff says the best cat sightings he’s ever seen were at Great Plains Conservation’s Duba Plains Camp!

Check out this TED Talk where Dereck and Beverly speak about the life lessons they’ve learnt from Big Cats.

We also helped local charity organisation Uthando in raising money for a new children’s jungle gym (see more here).

Last year (2012) we established our ‘ASC Scholarship Program’ whereby eligible American University or College students, who were part of an exchange program in Africa and planned to participate in environmental or community upliftment projects, could apply to receive funding towards their academic endeavours.

Mandi Tembo was the successful applicant last year, and she used the money to do some incredible things on her trip to Cape Town, South Africa. You can read more about Mandi’s trip on her follow up blog post here.

This year, as more and more American students study abroad in Africa, we are proud to announce the second ASC Scholarship Program to give them a little help in realising their worthwhile goals.

The successful applicant, who intends travelling to African for research or participation in an environmental or social welfare project, will be awarded a US$500.00 scholarship to use towards covering costs during their studies or field work.

The successful applicant will also maintain a virtual travel diary blog so our readers will be able to witness just how much good exchange students have done, and continue to do, in African communities.

All American students enrolled at a recognised American college or university, who are participating in an exchange program with an accredited African university, are eligible for entry.

The application form, as well as full terms and conditions, can be found here.

Best of luck!

Here are some staggering statistics about the epic production:

• 196 hours were spent filming the series from a helicopter.
• 553 cameras, 42 file formats, 21 types of cameras and over 1km of cabling was used.
• 111 888 miles were covered over 905 hours of jungle trekking, 180 hours of mountain trekking, and 100 days on horseback.
• The team spent a total of 1598 hours on location with 601 nights spent in tents.
• In total. filming took four years with 79 separate expeditions to 27 different countries.

Incredible!

Users were able to submit questions to the great man using the #AskAttenborough tag. Here are some of the questions submitted and Sir David’s responses:

Have you encountered any animals over your career that have now gone extinct?

In Galapagos, there was the world’s loneliest animal Lonesome George –  the tortoise – who recently died. [read about Lonesome George here].

If you had an evening to spend on the Space Station, how would you spend it?

I’d just sit and watch the earth go by – its a perspective I’ve never had.

To go into a career in natural history documentary which is more useful – a science background or media?

I’d study Science first, Media later.

What was your favorite subject at school?

Biology. And my least favorite was Latin!

Have you got a favorite shark? If so what is it and why?

The whale shark… it’s the biggest fish in the sea and it doesn’t eat scuba divers!

What is the nastiest thing that has bitten you?

I was once bitten by a python. It was my fault, not his!

You seemed comfortable around all of the African animals; are there any that you don’t like or are scared of?

The spitting cobra.

How would you educate children to save wildlife? What can they do? My students ask me this ALL the time.

Being aware of what is happening in nature around the world… beyond your own home.

Have any of the African animals’ behaviors surprised you over the series?

The nest behavior of the shoebills was fascinating. The savagery of the giraffe battle was something we did not expect. And of course the socializing rhinos at night.

Is there anything you would say to your younger self looking back?

I don’t think I would have anything to say to him, I wouldn’t do anything differently.

Visit the BBC Africa series site here.

Sir David encounters a young rhino calf.

After beating out many other highly qualified candidates, Mandi Tembo was selected as the first recipient of our ASC scholarship. This is her account of her time spent in Africa…

100 Goals for Africa

This summer I spent an amazing three months studying t the University of Cape Town and volunteering in the township of Khayelitsha, Cape Town in South Africa. As part of my volunteering experience I aided in launching a soccer-education program known as 100 Goals for Peace, a program that aimed to empower young South African girls through sports-based public health education.

Studying in Cape Town was such a pleasure and a joy. I learnt so much concerning gender and racial dynamics and how almost all aspects of South Africans’ lives were and continue to be influenced by the history of Apartheid.  I read and wrote countless papers on politics and public health development in developing countries and enjoyed every minute. The education and knowledge I gained during this trip will stay with me forever. While I gained much from going to the University of Cape Town, my greatest life lessons came from volunteering in the township of Khayelitsha as part of 100 Goals for Peace.

100 Goals for Peace

A few other Franklin and Marshall students and I worked with local partners in Khayelitsha to develop a public health education program that trained 20 young women as local community leaders. The program engaged over 100 young female participants and equipped them with knowledge about HIV/AIDS, pregnancy and other critical health issues in an attempt to reduce health incongruence’s in South Africa.

Today, fourteen years after apartheid, South Africa’s national HIV prevalence for Africans was 13.6% while the white South Africans had an HIV prevalence of 0.3%. In particular, prevalence of HIV for women is much higher than men. Young girls between the ages of 15-19 have a 6.7% chance of contracting HIV, while their male counterparts have a 2.5% chance. Similarly, women between the ages of 21- 24 have a of 21.1% chance, while their male counterparts have a 5.1% chance (UNGASS Country Progress Report, 2010).

The goal of the 100 Goals for Africa program was and continues to be about using the South African cultural love of soccer to provide public health education for one of the most vulnerable populations in the country: adolescent South African girls. By working with local young women to create the education material and facilitate public health education, this project sought to empower these leaders in the community. In addition to empowering local young women, this project aimed to provide public health education, with an emphasis on HIV/AIDS, to all of the 100 female participants.

Overall, the program educated over 100 girls (and over 150 boys). We used soccer as a vehicle to educate and empower young South Africans on issues related to their health. This 50 hours girls program took place during South Africa’s school holiday break. Prior to our arrival we worked directly with the Medical Knowledge Institute (a non-profit health organization within the township of Khayelitsha) and helped prepare the health materials. By working with MKI we were able to specify and target the direct needs of the youth of Khayelitsha. By partnering with this public health organization we were able to develop an educational program tailored to and designed for the women and young girls of Khayelitsha. Furthermore, by training the local community leaders through MKI we managed to implement sustainable support to meet the every-day educational needs of the community.

Classroom session.

Our hope is that this will result in a larger overall impact for the field and the township as a whole. It is through their gained knowledge, and education that the participants will spread awareness and education regarding health issues throughout the year.

I could expound on what we did as per our everyday schedule but I think that sharing one of my journal/blog entries might express and describe the impact and power of the 100 Goals for Africa project more effectively:

 July 11, 2012

“Winning is not everything” I never thought I would admit to that but it really isn’t.

I spent the past week learning a hard lesson self-control and discipline. Something the AMANDLA and CTC 10 Memorial Field staffs have been teaching the multitude of girls and boys enrolled in soccer programs at the field over the years.

I spent 7 years in high school and national field hockey building a cutthroat aggression on the field and passionate want for the win at any cost and it only took 2 weeks and 10 amazing boys to change all that. Last week, Barcelona (my team) started with a BANG – winning all their games and getting full marks for fair play. To fully grasp the message I am trying relay in this posting, I will go into detail as to what “fair play” is all about. Fair play is an 8point grading system implemented at the field to encourage good sportsmanship and team spirit. Each point is allocated to the following: cheering for other team when scored against, shaking hands with opponents and officials, no aggression, no talking back to referees, performing a team song and cheer and making sure all members of the team play in the match.

For Barcelona, things soon deteriorated when frustration and anxiety peaked as we tried our best to stay on top (and we did but it wasn’t easy). Although we managed to win overall, it was evident that fair play was our weakness. Our daily staff meeting revealed that fair play was something the coaches and facilitators struggled with as well. That Tuesday, I left the field very emotional and somber. I realized that a lot people misinterpreted my love for my team as pride, my passion as anger, my energy as brutal aggression. And I probably gave them good reason to. I recognized that weakness in my kids as well, especially Tera who never finished a game without shouting at the referee or getting into a fist fight. In getting to know him I realized that he wasn’t a reckless, angry little boy, he was passionate. And when that passion is tapered with self-control and discipline, Barcelona, Tera and I were unstoppable!

The end point of this long story is this – aggression isn’t a bad thing, it just needs to controlled (enough to “kill” at the game without killing your opponent…haha) and passion is a great thing, it just needs to be displayed in encouraging your teammates, never giving up on the game and being the BEST (the BEST winner or the BEST loser).

I want to thank the F&M students and AMANDLA staff for everything that doing to the field, especially during the ONE GOAL Program. Everything that we are doing at the field is making a difference and changing lives. And my team is living proof of that because by Friday, Barcelona was scoring 8/8 on fair play. There was an evident attitude adjustment and it reflected in a triumphant loss to KPR in the soccer tournament final. “Triumphant loss” what?! But that’s what it was – we won at being the best losers and it felt awesome.

1, 2, 3… BARCELONA!!!

To the African Safari Consultants, THANK YOU so much for providing the funds that allowed me to part of this amazing experience. Your contributions changed my life and most certainly impacted the lives of countless boys, girls, men and women in the Khayelitsha community.

 “If you educate a man you educate an individual, if you educate a women you educate a community” -African Proverb

Mandi with a (tired) young Khayelitsha resident.

]]> http://blog.africansafaris.com/2013/02/04/asc-scholarship-follow-up-mandi-tembo/feed/ 1 http://blog.africansafaris.com/2013/02/01/african-safari-consultants-team-profile-liesl-mathews/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=african-safari-consultants-team-profile-liesl-mathews http://blog.africansafaris.com/2013/02/01/african-safari-consultants-team-profile-liesl-mathews/#comments Fri, 01 Feb 2013 06:28:05 +0000 Cameron Duncan http://blog.africansafaris.com/?p=2934 Posted in AfricaBlog

In the second part of our exclusive Q&A series with the team behind African Safari Consultants, we speak to Cape Town based partner Liesl Mathews about eggs benedict, where to go with your kids, the perfect holiday snap and much (more) more…

For part one of our series, where we speak to Jeff Ward, click here.

1. If a client was adamant that he/she wanted to stay at (what you considered) the wrong places at the wrong times, how would you handle that situation?

Although I always try my best to steer clients in the right direction, you are often dealing with clients who are also getting advice from their friends who have travelled before and their word seems a lot more powerful than anything I can say, if in the end, after my best persuasive attempts, the client chooses not to take my advice I just graciously accept it and book the trip for them the way they want it. We are slaves to our clients after all!

2. What five adjectives would you use to describe yourself? And your business?

Myself: Caring, loyal, effervecant, attention to detail geek, superbly dedicated (my partners say this is my German heritage showing through!)

My Company: professional, exceed expectations, brilliant team, offices in New York & Cape Town

3. As a born and bred Capetonian, you’re amongst the luckiest people in South Africa (or the world). What are your favourite spots in Cape Town?

A few years ago, (pre – kids!) I walked up Table Mountain, we spent the late afternoon on the top, toasting the sunset over Camps Bay while watching the full moon rising over the city. Walking down by the light of the moon and fireflies just made it perfect

Now as an old mother hen I love going to Kirstenbosch concerts in the summer time and Boulders Beach where the kids love swimming with the penguins !

4. You’re always jovial and high spirited in the office and are known as the having the biggest personality – do you think that your cheerful demeanour has helped make you one of the best in the business?

I am who I am and I can’t be any different when I communicate with my clients, I am passionate about what I do and personality and passion always shines through no matter what.

Liesl is always smiling!

5. If you weren’t doing what you’re doing now, what would you be doing?

I always wanted to be an actress but even during the Christmas recitals I couldn’t remember all my words so alas, the world is now my stage and my poor colleagues get to front row seats to my drama queen performances.

6. Would you rather….

See an elephant giving birth or witness a leopard kill from start to finish?
Giving birth hands down, a kill is a lot more violent than you expect, although you always wish to see a kill… once you there in the middle of it all it’s a very emotional and gory experience (I am a girl after all)

Go out for a game drive at the crack of dawn or hit the sunset drive?
I have a rule, never miss a game drive because when you do that’s when they others get to see the pangolin you have been waiting for 12 years to see!!

Eat mopane worms or a local delicacy of tripe?
Fried up mopane worms could rival KFC you know

Be soaring over the Masai Mara in a hot air balloon or paddling through the Okavango Delta on a mokoro?
That would be like choosing between my children!

Be a meerkat or a monkey?
Meerkat, way more personality!

7. With Botswana enjoying an ever-increasing amount of attention from tourists, what do you think makes it so special?

I just love the remoteness of Botswana, because you fly into most of the camps and your ranger collects you from a dusty airstrip you feel like you are the only human in this wild paradise, gliding down the Okavango Delta in a mokoro (although not unique to Botswana) is still one of my all- time favourite experiences.

8. When having a braai (or a BBQ for our American friends), what are the absolute essentials that no self-respecting braai could go without?

A perfectionist husband who builds the perfect fire, never burns the meat and always makes sure his wife has a drink in her hand (I got one of those!!)

Cheers!

9. Are you proudly South African? If so, why?

Of course!! For a few years while I was travelling around Europe and the USA and I didn’t mention to too many people that I came from South Africa but then Nelson Mandela weaved his special magic and we could all hold our heads higher and walk taller. I am proudly South African because I live in an incredible country complete with some of the world’s most beautiful scenery, some of the greatest people and the best sparkling wine a girl could ask for!

10. What do you do all day?

I sit behind my desk in front of my computer dreaming up the most fabulous vacations for people to go on…. and then wish I was going too.

11. Why do you do what you do?

I am so passionate about Africa and sharing it with the world, there is nothing better than hearing back from a client that their lives have been changed forever, that Africa has got under their skin and they cannot wait to come back again.

12. How long have you been putting African travel itineraries together?

For more than 12 years now

13. How do you stand out from the crowd? (and no, I’m not referring to your bright red hair!)

Well if you need to spot me at the Cape Grace when I meeting my clients then knowing that I have bright red hair most certainly helps!! I am real, I don’t try to be anyone that I am not. Also, 12 years of experience gives me a lot to talk about (and I love to talk!) as I guide clients through their planning of their once-in-a-lifetime Africa trip.

With over 12 years experience, Lisel will ensure your African safari is a special one.

14. Where and when was your first safari?

My first safari was with my mother, we did a drive through the Sabi Sands and we styled it from day one, staying at Ulusaba Rock Lodge. Could life get any better? I remember having a bath and watching the animals wonder past below. (Rock Lodge is exactly that, a lodge built on a mountain rock).

15. With so many under the belt, what has been your most memorable safari?

This is a tough one because I just love being on safari, but the one that stands out from the rest would have to be my trip to Zambia. We went to the South Luangwa and enjoyed a safari with Remote African Safaris where walked from camp to camp. Then, when we reached “Main” Lodge we went on a mountain bike ride to the local village. Later we went on a microlight flight over the river…

16. What are two of your all time favourite city accommodation places?

I just love Kensington Place on the foot of Table Mountain, their service, rooms and staff are just perfect. Their eggs benedict is worth going back for!!

I am also a big Cape Grace fan. Their success has been how they make a large, full service hotel feel like a warm, friendly personable boutique hotel.

17. Tell us about two of your all time fave safari lodges?

Although it doesn’t have any of the mod-cons, Tafika in the South Luangwa valley is my all-time favourite safari lodge. And then I’d say Singita Faru Faru in the Grumeti (Serengeti) – the most complete opposite to Tafika…..

18. And if I asked you to pick a place to take your kids for some sun, sand and nature…

I took my kids on their first safari last year, we went to the Manyeleti (Honeyguide Khoka Moya) and the Sabi Sands (Kirkmans Camp and Ulusaba). Watching my children experience their first game drive was a truly incredible and unique experience, although my son (who was 6 at the time) was way more eager than my daughter (who was 4 at the time) – she loved being at the lodge being entertained by the lodge staff and care givers.

For beach and sun I still think going to Plettenberg Bay is the best option, there are great activities and experiences to take them to (like Monkeyland, Elephant Sanctuary, Land of Birds, Ocean safaris, walks through the forest, zip line tree top tours through the forest) and of course the fabulous beaches – its got it all!

One of Liesl’s favourite pics – elephants in Amboseli, Kenya.

19. Where’s next on your bucket list? 

I have ear-marked Namibia for my bucket list this year, and I may just need to return to my beloved Botswana too. There are too many choices…..luckily I have a lifetime to get everywhere.

20. I know you like wildlife photography – have you got a favourite photograph to show us? Where was it taken?

I still think my favourite is the photograph of the herd of elephants we saw when travelling through the Amboseli, it was a huge herd and the most impressive was this old matriarch at the back of the herd with the longest tusks I had ever seen.

I love this photo of the monkey we saw at Lake Manyara, I took a picture of only his hand on a branch, its so human….I love it (it reminded me of my time in Uganda at the Ngamba Island Camp Chimp Orphanage)

If you’re on Pinterest and would like to see more of Liesl’s pictures, check out our board ‘ Liesl’s Favourite Safari Photos‘.

Liesl’s favourite photo.

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We have some free tickets to give away to fans of ASC too, so if you’d like to attend the show then simply click here to go through to the NY Times Travel Show ticket reservation site and use the promotional code ‘Africa1‘ in order to qualify for a ticket on us. In fact, so keen are we to say hi and get to know our fans, if you come up and say hi and leave your details with Jeff, we’ll thrown in a free* helicopter or microlight flight over Victoria Falls! That’s a flight over one of the world’s most beautiful natural sights completely ‘on the house’ – just our way of saying thank you for the support.

With over 500 destinations showcased, and five different cultural stages featuring music and cuisine from all around the world, there won’t be any shortage of fascinating things to see, hear, taste and smell.

We hope to see you there!

 *Free microlight or helicopter flight valid when booking a Victoria Falls extension on a Botswana travel deal.

First up we speak to Mr Jeff Ward, managing partner of the New York office.

1) Where are you from?

I grew up in a town just outside of Houston, Texas, called Seabrook. The main industry in the town was of course NASA, so it was a town full of astronauts. It was a really exciting time to be there and I believe it somehow inspired me to travel.

2) When did you get in to the safari industry?

Around 2006. However I’ve been in love with safaris since the late 1990’s.

3) How did you get in to the industry?

I’ve always loved travel, and specifically the airline industry (must’ve been all the astronauts!). When I was 10 years old, I started booking all the family vacations and it just sort of grew from there. After obtaining my MBA from Northwestern University I joined American Airlines (AA) in a management training program (marketing division) at their Headquarters when I was about 28 years old, and enjoyed many happy years there.

I left AA in 2001 to embark on a completely different career path entirely. For five years I ran my own Executive Coaching company called Northward Leadership & Development. Though the experience was hugely beneficial, I realized in 2006 that my heart was in travel. A good friend always says of the time that “the executive coach coached himself out of coaching”.

I launched my first travel company, Savvy Navigator Tours, in 2006 when my now partner, Liesl, told me that I needed to bring her high-end South African food and wine safaris to the US marketplace.

4) Where have you traveled in Africa?

So far I’ve visited Morocco, Tanzania, South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Mozambique and Zambia.

A meerkat surveys the scene from atop Jeff’s head.

5) Where is your favourite African destination?

Botswana, hands down. I love the geographical diversity that the country offers. From the arid desert environment of the Kalahari, to the fascinating Makgadigadi Salt Pans, to the abundance of wildlife in the Chobe National Park and the Savuti Plains, to the pristine beauty of the Okavango Delta – Botswana has all the bases covered. The game viewing is incredible too, and there are some really specatular lodges there!

6) What has been your safari highlight?

I have a couple! In 2008, Vanessa and I were at Londolozi in the Sabi SandsSab game reserve. We had been tracking a small female leopard hunting an impala. Our persistence paid off and we actually witnessed the slight of frame leopard take down the considerably bigger impala – it was incredible! The leopard applied the choke hold and the impala was dead within a couple of minutes. The leopard just began to eat when an adult Spotted Hyena came along and chased her from the scene. She managed to scramble to a nearby hill and sat and watched the Hyena finish the impala with great disgust. Absolutely fascinating to see nature in full effect!

My other highlight was when I was spending some time at Beverly and Derek Joubert’s Duba Plains camp. We were out on a game drive and happened across the infamous lioness ‘Silver Eye’ (star of the Joubert’s ‘The Last Lioness’ film). She lead us to a recent buffalo kill of her pride where all the members were stuffed to the point of being unable to move. The adult lions rested while the cubs were playing with bits of the buffalo – it was both gory and unbelievably cute. And I’m not one for ‘cute’…

A photo from when Jeff witnessed a pride of lions take on a buffalo.

7) What has been your most stressful experience as a consultant?

Recently a young couple on their honeymoon experienced some really bad luck with flight cancellations. Through no fault of anyone’s really, the airline kept cancelling their flights and left them stranded at the airport. My team and I had to do somersaults to get things back on track! Though it was extremely difficult to get things solved and to find space for them on various inbound and connecting flights, as well as adjust their accommodation bookings, I’m proud to say that we were successful and that they had a fantastic honeymoon in the end.

8) What’s the best one line of feedback you’ve received?

“Everything was perfect on our trip and we couldn’t have done it without you guys”.

9) What makes you different from the rest?

The fact that we have an office in both New York and Cape Town puts us in a unique position to cater to our clients all over the world. Between the offices, we have hundreds and hundreds of hours of safari planning expertise. I honestly believe that our collective experience of travelling throughout Africa has given us a superior knowledge of the continent.

10) Why do you do what you do?

I personally believe strongly in making a positive difference in people’s lives and that African travel does just that. In this way, my job now is similar to my previous jobs at American Airlines and Northward Development where I helped people travel to places where they enjoyed themselves, and leaders to find their passion respectively.

Smiling faces make Jeff’s day: clients enjoying sundowners in the Kalahari.

11) What are your favourite meals from the African continent?

Both dishes are South African by chance! I absolutely love a traditional Cape Malay style ‘Bobotie’, which is a spicy mince dish with an egg based topping that is usually accompanied by rice. The dish is Indonesian in origin but was bought to the Cape by the Dutch and adopted by the Cape Malay population in the 1600’s.

My other favourite dish from Africa is the traditional South African desert of malva pudding, which is spongy and apricot jam based. The dish has a couple variants and is almost certain to be found on the dessert menu of most South African restaurants. The best one I’ve had so far is at Julian Melck’s Kersefontein farm where it was served with a rooibos cream (rooibos, or ‘red bush’, is a popular South African tea).

Speaking of rooibos, our Social Media guru in Cape Town has promised to bring me a ‘Red Espresso’ when I’m next at the office. It’s apparently a coffee alternative made out of rooibos so I can’t wait to try it.

12) What piece of top travel advice can you share?

This piece of advice is absolutely crucial and comes from personal experience. Before leaving for Africa, always ensure that your carry-on luggage complies with charter flight regulations for flying between camps. I once had to leave my bag behind (full of dirty laundry) because it had wheels that extended it beyond the permitted dimensions. This is NOT something you want to happen to you!

For more of Jeff’s favorite safari photographs, check out his Pinterest board here. If you have anything you’d like to ask Jeff yourself, feel free to tweet him at @SafariGuru.

Founded in 2010, Greenpop has now successfully planted over 17000 trees in 210 locations that they’ve identified as being ‘under-greened’. Initially a once off project to plant 1000 trees in a month to offset co-founder Misha Teasdale’s work-related carbon footprint, the campaign was so successful that Misha couldn’t possibly call it a day. After joining forces with good friends Lauren O’Donnell and Jeremy Hewitt, the trio have taken Greenpop to new heights.

Success!

After having been a longtime admirer of the project, I decided that it was long overdue for me to check it out for myself. A simple online volunteer registration form later, and I was confirmed for an upcoming planting day the next week. I could not have been more excited!

Arriving at the Greenpop nursery at 8am on a scorching Cape Town summer’s day, we prepared the necessary items and staked a few trees before it was time to head off. The plant was to take place at a medical clinic in Plumstead (Cape Town) and would see 20 new fruit tree additions to the back section of the grounds. The (extremely) high temperatures were made bearable by the good spirits of the 20 or so volunteers, from all works of life, who had come to lend a hand. All trees are donated by private individuals and companies and all volunteers expect nothing for their time – it’s extremely encouraging to say the least.

With dirty hands, sweaty brows and tired legs, there were still smiles in abundance as the groundskeeper proudly watered the first tree planted. It was a truly memorable experience, and one that I will definitely be partaking in many (many) times again in future. Watch this space too for a possible future alliance between ASC and Greenpop.

Greenpop, we salute you! Check them out online here.

As part of my MSc. Forest and Nature Conservation at Wageningen University (The Netherlands) I had the chance to travel south and join forces with Dr. Mike Peel and the rest of the scientific team of the Agricultural Research Council’s Animal Production Institute. Together with them, I visited the Sabie Sand Wildtuin on several occasions and came across many of the amazing people that make this reserve such a rare treat. The small experience that I want to share with you describes a day of working in the bush:

“Winter has kicked in in the reserve, and last night was very cold; but with the golden flames of our braai (BBQ), and with the spicy coffees from one of our colleagues, we managed to overcome the chill. As most bush-evenings, this particular one ended quite early because duty would be calling at 5 in the morning. When I first heard my alarm, I basically thought that it had to be a mistake as it was in the midst of the night. It was cold and dark and the crisp morning air was full with the famous African smells that most of you are familiar with. After boiling some water above our little “veld-stove”, I quickly prepared a coffee and got out to the edge of the little hill on which we were staying. Here, with a coffee, I enjoyed the early African morning to the fullest. As some impalas were gently making their way over the plains in front of me, and warthogs were frolicking happily, the huge red sun appeared on the horizon just over the Sabie river system. Although the world was at peace and the coffee even better, duty called and we headed out to measure grass production throughout the reserve.

Our campsite braai.

While driving around in our “bakkie” in search of our first plot for the day, we stumbled upon a huge breeding-herd of elephants that were not planning to move because of two scientists. So we had to stay and we got to observe the elephants and their amazing way of communicating and the social interaction within the herd. It did not take long for the elephants to move though, and so we continued on our way. At the first plot, I got out the gear and started walking around in the veld, which at that stage was smoking because of the evaporating dew – the African bush was once again getting ready for a hot day. I finished the plot and climbed on the back tire of the car to get a quick overview of the area. On one of the grassy plains up ahead, a huge herd of Cape buffalo were grazing in the morning sun.

The elephants continued at their own pace.

When we were finished, I got the gear back in the car and as we fired up the engine, a two year old male leopard appeared from the bush and continued his way on the tracks as if we weren’t there. After this thrill (I really love leopards) we continued but just before getting to our next stop, we saw some movement up ahead. A pride of lions was sitting in the plot and it was obvious that they had spotted something in the bush. Three old Kudu bulls did not see the lions approach and continued browsing as their chances of making it out alive of this tricky situation slimmed by the second. When the actual chase finally started, we only got to see the beginning as they moved off into thick bush in the blink of an eye.

After deciding that it might be better to leave this plot for the next morning, we made our way to a new camp with new conservationists, new scientists, new thrilling bush-stories and a new braai. The sun went down in all its splendour and as the birdlife fell quiet after surviving another day in the African bush. The calls of Hyena and Nightjars took over to rule the African night once again. Under the bright moon, a number of scientists were happily sitting around the fire, sharing their bush stories with one another and above all, recognising the fact that their lives in the bush are a true privilege. Let us hope that these, and all other scientists and conservationists, can play a vital role in protecting our natural heritage in Africa and all around the world.”

The sun setting on the Sabie Sands bush.

Guest Post

Written By: Jordi van Oort

Photographs By: Jordi van Oort

Secretary Bird.

The plains were always full of game.