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Conservation and Research Course – 14 Days Mashatu Conservation and Research course offers you the opportunity to join a dedicated research project in a new approach to game management. Forming part of the Limpopo-Shashe Trans frontier conservation area, the core study area allows natural migration of game across historically established national borders. This exciting new concept in wildlife management creates a need for volunteers to assist in research of populations moving through this vast wilderness. Educational modules will be included in the form of lectures and daily drives and walks, projects and reserve work. Tuli and Mashatu that forms part of Tuli is vast and not a lot is known about its wildlife, thus has not been studied extensively. Link in with researchers in the area and help collect data and share knowledge of the area. Lecturers will provide insight to many of your conservation questions while practical exercises and contact with researchers on the ground will provide great insight into the subject matter. EcoTraining instructors will also be on hand to answer questions on various other subjects and encounters in the bush:
• Ecology
• Geology and soils
• Animal tracks and tracking
• Bird identification and behaviour
• Animal behaviour
• Astronomy
• Amphibians and reptiles
• Orientation and navigation
• Bush skills Cost: We have chosen not to put our rates here as they vary for each camp. Please contact us for course rate Venue: Mashatu Camp Download pdf info!
EcoQuest – 7 days
This course is run on the same principles as the 14 day version of this course; it is however shortened for those travellers that do not have 14 days available to their disposal. You will learn about the behaviour and identification of many of the insects, spiders, scorpions, other small creatures and birds in our ecosystems. Then you learn about the underlying elements that support this amazing variety of life such as the geology, soils, plants and climate. Cost: We have chosen not to put our rates here as they vary for each camp. Please contact us for course rate Venue: Kruger Makuleke Camp, Karongwe Camp and Mashatu Camp Download pdf info! Bush Survival Skills – 7 days Trained lecturer and survival experts will teach you everything you need to know to survive in the African bush. Training takes place in unfenced camps in game reserves in the Lowveld area. Understand how to use nature to your advantage - Where and how to find food, how to overcome being lost in the bush and how to build a shelter, learn tracker skills and situational awareness in the bush. Towards the end of the course you and your teammates will be put to the test during a makeshift survival scenario. The Lecturer will watch the team for safety reasons, as you use your new found knowledge to handle the situation. So you may not be Ray Mears but by the time you leave the EcoTraining Camp you will be able to light fires, find water and fend for yourself! Some of the topics that will be covered:
• Shelter Building (different structures, location)
• Fire (methods of lighting)
• Water (collecting, finding, filters)
• Trapping (different methods of trapping birds and mammals)
• Preparation of food
• Navigation and orientation Cost: We have chosen not to put our rates here as they vary for each camp. Please contact us for course rate Venue: Karongwe Camp and Selati Camp Download pdf info! Rhino Conservation and Research - 7 days The aim of the course is twofold. First, to provide an in-depth education suitable for guides, rangers, tourists and academics on the two African rhinos and the conservation thereof. Secondly, to establish and teach non-invasive methods for monitoring rhino populations. The main method of instruction is hands on participation in a rhino monitoring project. This is supplemented by lectures. The goal of the monitoring is to establish identities for all rhinos within a given research area. This is accomplished by a variety of methods depending on the area, including: - Camera traps, tracking/trailing and plaster casts of tracks are used to identify individual rhinos by their tracks.
- Trailing on foot or by vehicle, when possible, to get photos of rhinos for identification purposes.
- Observing on foot to establish rhino movement patterns, habitat selection, water sources and territories.
- Observing on foot or by vehicle to study behaviour and habitat / food selection.
- Dung analysis to study food selection.
Topics covered during the course include: - rhinos of the world
- rhino biology
- evolution of Rhinocerotidae and subtaxa
- rhino behaviour (black and white rhinos)
- poaching and anti-poaching
- conservation issues
- conservation research and research methods
- tracking and trailing
- rhino habitats & ecosystems
- crime scene analysis - anti-poaching
During the Rhino Conservation & Research Course, there is a heavy emphasis on Rhinos, but other aspects of savannah ecosystems are also explored. Cost: We have chosen not to put our rates here as they vary for each camp. Please contact us for course rate Venue: Selati Camp
Wilderness Trails Skills – 6 days
With the Wilderness Trails Skills course EcoTraining wants to give back to the industry and conservation, introduce guides to one another and share what they have. Not only that, but also provide aspirant guides with a platform to develop the true wilderness spirit within them. Giving these guides the opportunity to be a part of the bigger wilder picture will not only rejuvenate their spirits, but in turn will wear off on their clients and help the greater cause of conservation.
The 5 nights/6 days course will be spend exploring one of South Africa last true wilderness areas on foot. The Makuleke is a 24 000 hectare concession of pristine wilderness inside the Kruger National Park. It has almost no roads, has the largest fever tree forest in South Africa, two perennial rivers, 12 natural springs, has open borders with two countries and lies in the middle of the Limpopo Transfrontier National Park.
Bruce Lawson, one of South Africa’s premier wilderness guides and one of only a hand full of guides who have passed the SKS DG and Birding qualifications, will be tutoring each course. Lessons you will be taught will not be found in any books, but will rather be hands on learning. These include advanced navigation and orientation with an emphasis on map reading. Situational awareness, setting up eco-friendly camps and water purification without using modern techniques is but a few of the advanced skills you will learn.
For example: Lesson 1 – PLAN for your overnight stops. P-Position: Is your position a safe one? L-Location: Are you located close to escape route? A-Acquisitions: Are resources close to hand (water & firewood)? N-Navigation: Will it be easy to navigate from, come leaving time? Lesson 2 – How to make an Eco-Friendly fire (You’ll have to come on course for that one…). Lesson 3 – Minimal footprint.
Each guide will take the lead each day, (the route is up to them,) and learn the intricacies of advanced navigation while exploring this pristine wilderness. Game viewing is an option, as game is plentiful, however every effort will be made to avoid confrontational encounters. Nights will be spent under the stars getting to know the environment by starlight.
Maybe an encounter like this one on a previous Wilderness Trails Skills course explains it even better. In Bruce’s own words:
“While we were all down preparing lunch a large bull elephant also decided he wanted to spend time in the forest. We all sat quietly while he approached having a massive scratch on a tree 20m from where Brett was standing. He continued to approach unaware of us and in his own world. Brett raised his right hand when the bull got to 10m in an attempt to make him aware of us which it did. He stopped, looking surprised, rocked back onto his back feet, looked down at Brett turned slowly and sauntered off in a different direction. What an amazing experience!”
Or in the words of a participant, who put is so eloquently on departing after attending a Wilderness Trails Skills course.
“We all used to live in a cave
And hear the sound that nature gave
That sound that carries like a wave
That sound that we must now save
It was an ancient memory
That told me not to run or flee
When I heard the lion roar
I just wanted more, more, more
The sound is in the soul, the blood
It makes the heart go thud, thud, thud
The sound that makes your throat go gulp
And turns your insides into pulp
A visceral feeling
Inspired kneeling
Spiritual healing”
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
Maximum participants will be 7
Minimum will be 4, for course to run
Minimum Requirements:
a) Candidates must have FGASA Trails Guide or FGASA Trails Guide Back-up
b) Candidates must have current FGASA ARH (Trails Guide)
c) If candidates have their own weapon, .375 or .458, welcome to bring it along.
What to Bring:
- Backpack:- adequate size (65 – 85L)
- Trail food for 5 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 5 dinners
- trail snacks
- energy drinks (ie: game powders)
- Sleeping bag
- Sleeping bag inner or outer (if needed for warmth)
- Sleeping mat or inflatable hiking mattress
- Cooking utensils
- Hiking gas stove
- Navigational aids
- GPS (optional)
- Compass
- Basic survival kit
- Personnel first aid kit: (Blister plasters)
- Water purification tablets or water-purification pump/system
- Drinking Water
- 3 litre bladder (whilst walking)
- Water Storage Containers
- 6 litres (for cooking/toiletries at camp)
- Torch – Head lamp (strong beam)
- Personal toiletries & sundry
- Toilet Paper
- Toothbrush
- Small Toothpaste
- Sunscreen
- Personal Clothing
- Neutrally coloured
- 1 set for walking
- Spare pair of socks
- Fleece for cold weather
- Beanie for cold heads
- Good walking shoes/boots
- Sandals or flip flops for evenings
- Rain poncho
- Hat (preferably wide brimmed)
- Rifle cleaning kit (if bringing own rifle)
Course structure:
- Day 1: Meet at Levuvhu River Bridge at 13H00
- Participant vehicles will be left at the student carpark, Makuleke Concession
- Course commences from car park
- Sleep out in bush
- Day 2 – 5: Sleep out in bush
- Day 6: Students arrive carpark & depart
Training Content
- Participants to rotate as lead or back-up on half day basis
- Participants to navigate using maps, GPS, compass & landmarks
- Participants to plan overnight stops & navigate to locations and/or adjust to unforeseen circumstances
- Participants to plan camp sites, set-up & security
- Participants to plan for water replenishment
- Participants to manage radio contact with base camp
- Participants to trail/track where appropriate
- DG Encounters where applicable, managing approach/sighting/retreat etc
- Participants to make full use of opportunities presented to you
Cost: We have chosen not to put our rates here as they vary for each camp. Please contact us for course rate Venue: Makuleke Camp Biomimicry – 5 days
“Bios” means life, “Mimicry” means imitate. Biomimicry is the practice of learning from and then emulating life’s genius to solve human problems and create more sustainable designs. Biomimicry is a branch of science, a problem-solving method, a sustainability ethos, a movement, a stance toward nature, and a new way of viewing and valuing biodiversity.
Organisms and ecosystems face the same challenges that we humans do, but they meet those challenges sustainably. The premise of biomimicry is that Life has been performing design experiments in Earth's R&D lab for 3.85 billion years and what is flourishing on the planet today are the best ideas - those that perform well in context, while economizing on energy and materials. Whatever the design challenge, the odds are high that one or more of the world's 30 million creatures has not only faced the same challenge, but has evolved effective strategies to solve it. The selective pressure placed on all natural life forms minimizes and removes failures. Organisms are the consummate physicists, chemists, and engineers, and ecosystems are economies beyond compare. They can provide us with innovative and progressive solutions to the design, engineering and other challenges that we now face: energy, food production, climate control, benign chemistry, transportation, packaging, and more. The vision is to create products, processes, organizations, and policies—new ways of living—that are well-adapted to life on earth over the long haul. "Doing it nature's way" has the potential to change the way we grow food, make materials, harness energy, heal ourselves, store information, and conduct business.
day educational walking trails embrace the EcoTraining vision of imparting wildlife knowledge, a nature conservation philosophy and enhancing the appreciation of nature, while doing this in an enjoyable and relaxed atmosphere.
The trails are designed for wildlife enthusiasts (usually older than student guides) who are eager to learn more but not in the more formal structure of EcoTraining’s guide training programs. They are structured for more informal learning through a mixture of interesting lectures, discussions and “in the field” observations on the morning and afternoon walks.
Core topics covered in the lectures and discussions are mammals, birds and trees. Other topics depend on the experiences while out walking and are likely to include such subjects as ecology, signs of the bush, insects, grasses, astronomy etc Additional focus can be given to specific subjects. About your instructor – Claire Janisch
Claire is a sustainability & innovation advisor and Biomimicry professional. She is a graduate of and a co-trainer for the Biomimicry Institute's international 2-year Biomimicry Professionals Program. She currently heads up BiomimicrySA (South Africa). Claire works in the areas of strategy, technology & education. She is also a co-creator of the Genius Lab in South Africa, an experiential learning organisation inspiring innovation and future thinking for organisations and individuals (children and adults). Claire proactively spreads the Biomimicry meme in South Africa across different disciplines and levels (schools, universities, professionals) through both education & practice. Claire also has a MSc.Chem-Eng in the field of Environmental Process Engineering and has worked across Africa as an independent consultant in: Environmental Technology, Sustainable Energy & Climate Change, Cleaner Production, Sustainable Urban Design, Integrated Waste Management, Sustainable Agricultural Practices, Eco-labeling, Environmental Management & Environmental Education. Her work focus has included training & capacity building and developing policy, strategies and practical projects to enable sustainable development on a broader scale in Africa.
is a FGASA qualified level 2 trails guide and savannah birding specialist who pursued his love for nature after he had spent his initial career in the corporate world of big business. He has extensive wilderness experience from Alaska, northern Australia, Tanzania, Zambia and all of Southern Africa. Besides the educational walking trails, Johna is an instructor for EcoTraining’s formal guide training program on the birding module.
Duration: 5 days
Cost: We have chosen not to put our rates here as they vary for each camp. Please contact us for course rate
Venue: Makuleke Camp
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