South Africa Field Trip 2014
Friday 3rd January 2014
We left home in Worcester at around 9AM, arriving at London Heathrow's Terminal 5 at about midday. From there I found the rest of the group, and then the waiting began (which wasn't helped by the fact the flight was delayed for two hours!). Eventually we were able to board the plane at around 7PM and off we went!
We left home in Worcester at around 9AM, arriving at London Heathrow's Terminal 5 at about midday. From there I found the rest of the group, and then the waiting began (which wasn't helped by the fact the flight was delayed for two hours!). Eventually we were able to board the plane at around 7PM and off we went!
Saturday 4th January 2014
After landing at Cape Town airport, we had a little bit of a wait as the lecturers went off to collect the minibuses and kit van. From the airport, we immediately went to Betty's Bay to see the colony of African penguins there. This was a pretty good way to throw us into the trip, and to see these animals in the wild was pretty special. Here, we performed a small amount of data collection on the penguins, just to prepare us for what was to come later in the week! After spending the afternoon at Betty's Bay, we travelled to our accommodation for the first two nights of the trip, Kogelberg Farm Hostel.
After landing at Cape Town airport, we had a little bit of a wait as the lecturers went off to collect the minibuses and kit van. From the airport, we immediately went to Betty's Bay to see the colony of African penguins there. This was a pretty good way to throw us into the trip, and to see these animals in the wild was pretty special. Here, we performed a small amount of data collection on the penguins, just to prepare us for what was to come later in the week! After spending the afternoon at Betty's Bay, we travelled to our accommodation for the first two nights of the trip, Kogelberg Farm Hostel.
Sunday 5th January 2014
After a very warm night's sleep, we travelled to Fernkloof Nature Reserve to have a guided walk through the native fynbos. Fernkloof is a very pretty place, and the vast array of flora species is something to behold. We also caught our first glimpse of a baboon, as well as sunbirds, sugarbirds and a tortoise. After spending the morning hiking around the reserve, we retreated inside as the rain began to come down heavily. Here, we performed a practical looking into conservation and the limitations that organisations have when looking into areas to conserve. We then travelled back to the farm hostel for the evening, although our night-time chameleon hunt wasn't particularly successful!
After a very warm night's sleep, we travelled to Fernkloof Nature Reserve to have a guided walk through the native fynbos. Fernkloof is a very pretty place, and the vast array of flora species is something to behold. We also caught our first glimpse of a baboon, as well as sunbirds, sugarbirds and a tortoise. After spending the morning hiking around the reserve, we retreated inside as the rain began to come down heavily. Here, we performed a practical looking into conservation and the limitations that organisations have when looking into areas to conserve. We then travelled back to the farm hostel for the evening, although our night-time chameleon hunt wasn't particularly successful!
Monday 6th January 2014
Due to bad weather and a horrible rainy day, we were unable to travel to see the sharks at Gansbaai as was scheduled. Therefore, we travelled straight to De Hoop Nature Reserve, our home for the next five nights. This was when it really started to feel like we were in Africa, as we passed zebra, ostrich, bontebok and baboons on our drive through the reserve. We spent the afternoon pitching our tent and then had a wander around the reserve, looking for potential project ideas.
Due to bad weather and a horrible rainy day, we were unable to travel to see the sharks at Gansbaai as was scheduled. Therefore, we travelled straight to De Hoop Nature Reserve, our home for the next five nights. This was when it really started to feel like we were in Africa, as we passed zebra, ostrich, bontebok and baboons on our drive through the reserve. We spent the afternoon pitching our tent and then had a wander around the reserve, looking for potential project ideas.
Tuesday 7th January 2014
After a wet and windy night in the tent, we began our group projects. Our group decided to look at the num-num plant, and how it allocates resources in response to pressures from herbivores. The morning was spent collecting some pilot data, which went well, and so the afternoon was spent collecting our official data. Luckily, the rain held off for us as we collected data, so we were able to get plenty of useful stuff. It is pretty surreal to be collecting data out in the field, with herds of bontebok all around you, ostriches wandering around and mongooses scampering about. That night, more bad weather was forecast so, very kindly, we were put up in some of the reserve's cottages which were not currently occupied, allowing for a much better night's sleep than the previous one! We also went out for our first night drive, allowing us to see things that we normally wouldn't be able to in the day, such as porcupines and a striped polecat.
After a wet and windy night in the tent, we began our group projects. Our group decided to look at the num-num plant, and how it allocates resources in response to pressures from herbivores. The morning was spent collecting some pilot data, which went well, and so the afternoon was spent collecting our official data. Luckily, the rain held off for us as we collected data, so we were able to get plenty of useful stuff. It is pretty surreal to be collecting data out in the field, with herds of bontebok all around you, ostriches wandering around and mongooses scampering about. That night, more bad weather was forecast so, very kindly, we were put up in some of the reserve's cottages which were not currently occupied, allowing for a much better night's sleep than the previous one! We also went out for our first night drive, allowing us to see things that we normally wouldn't be able to in the day, such as porcupines and a striped polecat.
Wednesday 8th January 2014
Projects continued on this day. And as we had collected all of our data on Tuesday, there was only one thing left for us to do. Stats! Therefore, we had a boring day number-crunching. That evening we were informed that we were being given the more permanent accommodation for the rest of our stay, which was a nice little surprise. We also went on another night drive, where we saw another porcupine and also an African wild cat, which was a treat.
Projects continued on this day. And as we had collected all of our data on Tuesday, there was only one thing left for us to do. Stats! Therefore, we had a boring day number-crunching. That evening we were informed that we were being given the more permanent accommodation for the rest of our stay, which was a nice little surprise. We also went on another night drive, where we saw another porcupine and also an African wild cat, which was a treat.
Thursday 9th January 2014
Once again, another day dedicated to our projects, which was a bit of a shame as it was the first day of nice weather since the start of the week. In the morning we finished off our stats, and wrote up the poster that we would be presenting later in the day. In the afternoon, we all presented the results of our projects along with our posters. After this, we had some free time, and so we went for a walk around the reserve in the evening sunlight. We walked through the bontebok herd and saw the baboon acting a little shiftily. De Hoop is a very beautiful place, and it has some amazing scenery.
Once again, another day dedicated to our projects, which was a bit of a shame as it was the first day of nice weather since the start of the week. In the morning we finished off our stats, and wrote up the poster that we would be presenting later in the day. In the afternoon, we all presented the results of our projects along with our posters. After this, we had some free time, and so we went for a walk around the reserve in the evening sunlight. We walked through the bontebok herd and saw the baboon acting a little shiftily. De Hoop is a very beautiful place, and it has some amazing scenery.
Friday 10th January 2014
Awaking to a second day of lovely weather, we were very happy to hear that the shark trip was finally happening today! I think the main feeling amongst the group was that of relief, as it was our last chance to go. We therefore travelled to Gansbaai, and hopped on the 'Apex Predator' to go and find the great white sharks. After baiting them in with a tuna head, we saw around eight or nine differing sharks, and some were whoppers! We stayed with them for a good couple of hours, watching them attack the tuna and the dummy seal (called Gladys). After leaving the sharks, we continued on to Dyer Island, where we saw the South African fur seal colony (of over 60,000 individuals). It was a pretty crazy sight, and the sound and smell were equally incredible. Once we stepped back onto dry land, we travelled back to De Hoop for our final night in the reserve. A wine tasting night had been organised, and as far as I remember it was a good laugh!
Awaking to a second day of lovely weather, we were very happy to hear that the shark trip was finally happening today! I think the main feeling amongst the group was that of relief, as it was our last chance to go. We therefore travelled to Gansbaai, and hopped on the 'Apex Predator' to go and find the great white sharks. After baiting them in with a tuna head, we saw around eight or nine differing sharks, and some were whoppers! We stayed with them for a good couple of hours, watching them attack the tuna and the dummy seal (called Gladys). After leaving the sharks, we continued on to Dyer Island, where we saw the South African fur seal colony (of over 60,000 individuals). It was a pretty crazy sight, and the sound and smell were equally incredible. Once we stepped back onto dry land, we travelled back to De Hoop for our final night in the reserve. A wine tasting night had been organised, and as far as I remember it was a good laugh!
Saturday 11th January 2014
We left De Hoop in the morning, and began our long journey to Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape. This was a day spent in the minibuses, as it was a mammoth ten-hour drive to get to Addo from De Hoop. We eventually arrived at Addo in the early evening, made camp and settled into our new surroundings.
We left De Hoop in the morning, and began our long journey to Addo Elephant National Park in the Eastern Cape. This was a day spent in the minibuses, as it was a mammoth ten-hour drive to get to Addo from De Hoop. We eventually arrived at Addo in the early evening, made camp and settled into our new surroundings.
Sunday 12th January 2014
We awoke in the very early hours to partake on our first game drive around Addo. We saw some pretty cool things on our first venture into the reserve including kudu, warthogs, meerkats and jackals. We also managed to track down a herd of elephants, and it was amazing to be in the middle of a herd of wild elephants as they wandered around the minibus. After the drive, we were given some free time, so this meant spending a couple of hours in the swimming pool! It was a nice way to unwind after a busy few days. In the afternoon we went back out into the reserve to perform a practical, where we were attempting to work out the biomass of the park's big herbivores. We also had a visitor at dinner that night, in the form of a small spotted genet who ran through the boma as we were eating.
We awoke in the very early hours to partake on our first game drive around Addo. We saw some pretty cool things on our first venture into the reserve including kudu, warthogs, meerkats and jackals. We also managed to track down a herd of elephants, and it was amazing to be in the middle of a herd of wild elephants as they wandered around the minibus. After the drive, we were given some free time, so this meant spending a couple of hours in the swimming pool! It was a nice way to unwind after a busy few days. In the afternoon we went back out into the reserve to perform a practical, where we were attempting to work out the biomass of the park's big herbivores. We also had a visitor at dinner that night, in the form of a small spotted genet who ran through the boma as we were eating.
Monday 13th January 2014
After another early morning game drive, we then travelled to the Zuurberg mountains where we hiked through fynbos, sub-tropical thicket and Alexandria forest. It was a very hot day, and so the going was tough, but the views and scenery of the place were worth the effort that we went to. The hike took all day (and everything out of us), so we were given the evening off. We received some visitors behind our tent in the form of a porcupine and a small spotted genet. We also spent some time at the watering hole, watching buffalo and also hearing lions roaring all around us. It was a pretty surreal experience, falling asleep in our tent, hearing lions roaring.
After another early morning game drive, we then travelled to the Zuurberg mountains where we hiked through fynbos, sub-tropical thicket and Alexandria forest. It was a very hot day, and so the going was tough, but the views and scenery of the place were worth the effort that we went to. The hike took all day (and everything out of us), so we were given the evening off. We received some visitors behind our tent in the form of a porcupine and a small spotted genet. We also spent some time at the watering hole, watching buffalo and also hearing lions roaring all around us. It was a pretty surreal experience, falling asleep in our tent, hearing lions roaring.
Tuesday 14th January 2014
No game drive this morning, as we travelled to Kariega, a private game reserve about 2 hours from Addo. We spent the morning driving around the reserves in open-top Jeeps, driven by our respective guides. We saw our first white rhino of the trip, as well as impala, eland, wildebeest, giraffe and hippo. Sadly, there wasn't enough time to head to the other section of the reserve, and so we would have to hope to see lions back at Addo. We travelled back to Addo in the afternoon, and had a discussion about conservation in the evening. We were also allocated into groups and given a question for the projects we would be undertaking at Addo. Our question was 'Do termites recognise their kin?' and so we needed to collect samples that night, when the termites were active.
No game drive this morning, as we travelled to Kariega, a private game reserve about 2 hours from Addo. We spent the morning driving around the reserves in open-top Jeeps, driven by our respective guides. We saw our first white rhino of the trip, as well as impala, eland, wildebeest, giraffe and hippo. Sadly, there wasn't enough time to head to the other section of the reserve, and so we would have to hope to see lions back at Addo. We travelled back to Addo in the afternoon, and had a discussion about conservation in the evening. We were also allocated into groups and given a question for the projects we would be undertaking at Addo. Our question was 'Do termites recognise their kin?' and so we needed to collect samples that night, when the termites were active.
Wednesday 15th January 2014
After an early morning game drive (still with no lions), we had a day devoted to our projects. We performed our studies on our termites and began doing stats. During our discussion about our projects, a baby bushbuck ran into the boma, livening things up a bit! In the evening, the lecturers had organised a night drive with the rangers at the park. We went out looking for anything we could find, and saw another porcupine, as well as some of the occupants of the park we had seen during the day. A highlight of the drive was watching a jackal hunt a young kudu, although the youngsters Mother managed to fend off the jackal. We still didn't see any lions though, which was a shame as this was our last chance. Or so we thought...
After an early morning game drive (still with no lions), we had a day devoted to our projects. We performed our studies on our termites and began doing stats. During our discussion about our projects, a baby bushbuck ran into the boma, livening things up a bit! In the evening, the lecturers had organised a night drive with the rangers at the park. We went out looking for anything we could find, and saw another porcupine, as well as some of the occupants of the park we had seen during the day. A highlight of the drive was watching a jackal hunt a young kudu, although the youngsters Mother managed to fend off the jackal. We still didn't see any lions though, which was a shame as this was our last chance. Or so we thought...
Thursday 16th January 2014
Over breakfast, the lecturers rushed in to tell us that they knew where the lions were in the reserve. Needless to say, everyone dashed to the minibuses, and we managed to catch a glimpse of two male lions lying down. It was only a small glimpse, but a glimpse of a wild lion nonetheless. For the rest of the morning we finished off the stats for our project, and once again wrote up the poster. In the afternoon, we had a talk from members of the local community outreach programme, and we then visited a local composting site and a creche, both projects funded by the programme. The visit to the creche was an incredible experience. The kids were all so cheery, even though most of them had been through something terrible. We played with the kids for an hour and a half before we had to leave. Back at Addo, we presented our projects and then it was time to unwind. Some of the staff performed songs and dances for us (which we joined in with), and we got to hear some of the lecturers' brilliant stories. It was the best way to end a brilliant adventure.
Over breakfast, the lecturers rushed in to tell us that they knew where the lions were in the reserve. Needless to say, everyone dashed to the minibuses, and we managed to catch a glimpse of two male lions lying down. It was only a small glimpse, but a glimpse of a wild lion nonetheless. For the rest of the morning we finished off the stats for our project, and once again wrote up the poster. In the afternoon, we had a talk from members of the local community outreach programme, and we then visited a local composting site and a creche, both projects funded by the programme. The visit to the creche was an incredible experience. The kids were all so cheery, even though most of them had been through something terrible. We played with the kids for an hour and a half before we had to leave. Back at Addo, we presented our projects and then it was time to unwind. Some of the staff performed songs and dances for us (which we joined in with), and we got to hear some of the lecturers' brilliant stories. It was the best way to end a brilliant adventure.
Friday 17th and Saturday 18th January 2014
We left Addo in the morning and arrived at Port Elizabeth airport, where we had a flight to Johannesburg. After a five-hour wait at Johannesburg, we finally boarded the plane home, arriving back in the UK in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The entire trip was an incredible experience. Just being able to see and be amongst so much charismatic wildlife was a true privilege. The South African people are so friendly and welcoming, which only helped to add to the experience. It truly was one of, if not the best two weeks of my life, and I really hope to go back again soon. See some more pictures of the trip here.
I would like to thank Prof. Michael Cant, Prof. Robbie McDonald, Dr. Gail Reeves, Dr. Nick Royle and Dr. Emma Vitikainen for organising and running the trip, and for keeping everything together. I would also like to thank all of the fellow students for making the trip such a special experience.
We left Addo in the morning and arrived at Port Elizabeth airport, where we had a flight to Johannesburg. After a five-hour wait at Johannesburg, we finally boarded the plane home, arriving back in the UK in the early hours of Saturday morning.
The entire trip was an incredible experience. Just being able to see and be amongst so much charismatic wildlife was a true privilege. The South African people are so friendly and welcoming, which only helped to add to the experience. It truly was one of, if not the best two weeks of my life, and I really hope to go back again soon. See some more pictures of the trip here.
I would like to thank Prof. Michael Cant, Prof. Robbie McDonald, Dr. Gail Reeves, Dr. Nick Royle and Dr. Emma Vitikainen for organising and running the trip, and for keeping everything together. I would also like to thank all of the fellow students for making the trip such a special experience.