South Africa - Adventure, Education, Wildlife Tracking May 31 – June 16, 2021 Trip #2125
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South Africa - Adventure, Education, Wildlife Tracking May 31 – June 16, 2021 Trip #2125 Kruger Lion in beautiful light* Summary Much more than an African safari, this trip with internationally recognized educators and guides encompasses wildlife tracking, animal behavior, cultural anthropology, field ecology, and bushcraft (wilderness survival skills)! And, of course we will enjoy numerous walking and vehicle safaris. Explore the varying landscapes, witness the extraordinary light, and immerse yourself in the culture of the South African Bush. We will sleep in comfortable tents, within remote bush camps, potentially surrounded by over 50 large mammals and hundreds of bird species. Close to camp, we will hear cackling hyenas, leopard coughs and hippopotamus laughter, and look outside at creatures great and small. We’ll see animals such as lions and elephants virtually every day. In fact, they are very often right outside our tents! Most of our time in South Africa will be spent in the Kruger Park Ecosystem. *All Photos courtesy of Lee Gutteridge and Kersey Lawrence unless otherwise noted. Our trip starts with a visit to the Cradle of Humankind, just west of Johannesburg, to see archaeological sites and digs – and explore the proto-hominid history of this area. Next, we will hike in the Drakensberg Mountains to stretch our legs and appreciate the incredible scenery. We could see dozens of interesting and colorful bird species. We may see dwarf antelope and blue monkeys. For the next week we will be at the Ngala Training Camp on the banks of the Olifants River. The following days include walking and vehicle safaris, tracking lessons, a river cruise, and discussions on wildlife and African hominid history. We will learn about local tree types, medicinal plants and other organisms. This is where we could see wildebeest, rhinoceros, elephants, impalas, leopards, zebras, lions and more. One night we have the option of a bush sleep-out (no tent) with endless coffee around the fire, and the gentle chatter of the guard shift to lull us to sleep. We will visit a nearby village to mingle with the locals and hopefully lend a hand with one of their many projects. We will spend a day in an open game viewer within the famous Kruger National Park. Ending on a high note, we will spend our final days in a luxurious camp where the grasses are sweeter and the animals are even more abundant and relaxed. The photographic opportunities are endless! Our Guides Lee Gutteridge, Kersey Lawrence, F.W. De Klerk and Bradley Nurden among others will accompany us during this incredible adventure. Lee is the author of eight southern African natural history books and is one of only 10 FGASA Scout Guides (the highest qualification that can be earned). Kersey, a PhD candidate at UCONN and an award-winning teacher, is the only female Senior Tracker in the world. Lee and Kersey Video of Guide Training Workshop Nature Guide Training and Original Wisdom instruct aspiring African Guides. This 9-minute video shows Ngala Training Camp, where we will stay for the majority of our time in Africa. It shows the animals and includes testimonials of past students. Since we are not studying to become guides, we will not necessarily do everything described in the video – but it has a great overview of where we will be and some of our activities. Video Trip Difficulty This trip can be enjoyed by almost anyone with a reasonable level of fitness and day hiking experience – and a sense of adventure! Trail conditions range from gentle walks to a 10-mile steep mountain hike. Solid hiking shoes or light boots with ankle support will be sufficient for the several hikes and safari walks. Hiking is not the primary focus on this trip, but participants must be sufficiently fit to enjoy the mountain hikes and many safari walks. This trip is rated #3/#4 (easy to moderate) and geared towards those with some hiking experience and the fitness to hike 4-6 hours/day. The longest hike is 10 miles. We will walk/hike at a modest pace, which will permit time for photos, and discussions of what we see. To see more about the rating system go to: Rating System Accommodations and Meals Our accommodations range from rustic and simple to luxurious, but it is always clean and comfortable, and more importantly it is in VERY close contact with nature in a vast and open ecosystem. At our home base, Ngala Camp, we literally have lions and elephants patrol past tents, just outside the unobtrusive electric fence! Most of our nights are spent at Camps or Lodges, two people per tent. Outdoor bathrooms have toilets and showers with hot water. Potable drinking water is available. Electricity is by solar. We are literally inside one of the largest open ecosystems in the world for much of our experience, with the possibility of seeing nomadic lion prides, large herds of elephants or buffalo, and even wild dog or cheetah on any given day. On-the other-hand, because the animals roam at will, the possibility of a quiet day also exists, and then we will focus on all of the little-things that form the foundation of this vast landscape; over a dozen antelope species, mongooses, birds, invertebrates, reptiles and amphibians, trees and other plants, human history, geology… and, of course, tracking! Our meals are excellent quality. We don’t just keep you alive, we ensure that you have well catered meals. We try to accommodate dietary requirements such as for vegetarians and folks with allergies, as best as possible in the wilds of Africa. Please notify us in advance. Ngala camp students watch elephants from their tent On foot with spotted hyenas Daily Itinerary May 30 or Earlier - Travel from the US to Johannesburg, South Africa Johannesburg informally known as “Jozi”, “Joburg”, or “Egoli” (the place of ), is the largest city in South Africa (SA) and one of the 50 largest urban areas in the world. It is a powerhouse for finance and business as well as the provincial capital and largest city in the Gauteng Province, the wealthiest province in SA. With over 10 million trees, Johannesburg is also touted as having the largest man-made forest in the world! Flights from the US typically take 20 to 24 hours. May 31, Day 1 Land in Johannesburg, SA Arrive at the airport and transfer to the lodge to settle into our rooms. Spend the remainder of the day acclimatizing to the time zone and high altitude (just under 6000 feet) of the South African interior plateau. June 1, Day 2 Meet Lee and Kersey, our guides and educators for the next two weeks. Take private transportation to the “Cradle of Humankind”, a paleoanthropological site about 31 miles northwest of this gold mining city. The famous gold rush of the late 1880’s is still evident in old infrastructure and bright yellow mine dumps of the city scenery. We will visit some archaeological sites, and, if we are fortunate, one of the digs run by the University of the Witwatersrand where an archaeologist-in-residence will guide us. This privilege is a fascinating way to explore the proto-hominid history of the area, which is one of the oldest and most productive sites on the continent. We will spend time walking the sites, very cautiously investigating the past of our ancient relatives, and may even go underground into a famous cave! Our evening will be in a comfortable lodge, with a sumptuous dinner, in the traditional South African “braai” style barbeque. June 2, Day 3 Eat an early breakfast and depart for the northern Drakensberg within the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces. The Drakensberg is part of the Great Escarpment, which encloses the central Southern African plateau. Our drive to a comfortable guest lodge will take about 4 hours. We will stop on the way for lunch at a popular restaurant. In the afternoon, we will venture into the Afro-montane forest that surrounds the lodge for some birding and a mountain trail hike. See rare and special birds, such as the black-fronted bush-shrike, orange ground-thrush and the gaudily feathered Knysna turaco. These creatures fly amongst giant forest trees, covered in vines and creepers. Small red duikers (a dwarf forest antelope) lurk in the shadows. Blue monkeys (known locally as the Samango) feed in the treetops around the lodge. There are various hike options to select from depending on the desires of the group. At night, the eerie call of the thick- tailed bushbaby often resounds through the forest, along with the whoop of the African wood owl. Colorful Bird - photo by Drew Grove Male Greater double collared sunbird June 3, Day 4 Take a wonderful walk in the cool of the mountains. Spend the day on the trail, hiking in the northeast Drakensberg’s undulating terrain, which will stretch our limbs and invigorate us. The altitude of approximately 6000 feet may be challenging for some, but the walks will be at a gentle pace to accommodate all. The many trails around the lodge will keep us busy. There are at least a half dozen options that pass by beautiful waterfalls, old caves and gold mine shafts, lush Afro-montane forest, and many other wonderful and unusual habitats. Three Rondawels – photo by Drew Grove June 4, Day 5 Depart the forests to visit the amazing “Three Rondawels” in the Blyde River Canyon region. Also known as the Three Sisters, these ancient geological wonders are a trio of portly peaks shaped like native beehive huts called rondawels. Situated along the famous panorama route in Mpumalanga, the view from the Three Rondawels lookout may be the finest in South Africa! Look out over the Lowveld Region, toward the eastern coastal plain, and Kruger National Park region where we will spend the remainder of our adventure.