Koro Camp, Tuli Block, Botswana
well, we’re travelling again
flew from Ncl to Heathrow to Joburg, SA (loooong flight) and then car up to ‘Alldays) a small town in Northern South Africa, then another car to Botswana.
we’re just inside the Botswana border in a conservation project in KWA Tuli of the Tuli Block. I’ll record the co-ordinates for it next time (I fotrgot to write them down from me GPS this time) so if yer interested you can check it out on Google Earth…or your very own satellite..if you’re particularly lucky……and rich
basically the camp has about 8 ‘students’ who travel around in a Landie driven by Charlie (a girl) or Stuart: the Project leader. we monitor and record sightings of the various animals and birds and of late, the vegetation – so that a long term study can be made of general animal behaviour etc. and specifically of the project area. The area isnt feenced so the animals are free to roam in and out (mainly out) of it at leisure
its the end of the rainy season…… which was dry (apparently theres a 14 year cycle) most of the bigger animals have disappeared whilst theres water elsewhere – as soon as it dries again, they’ll return as we have year round water here. Ive seen elephants, baboons, zebra, wildebeest, Impala, jackals, Kudu, Steenbok, Klipspringers and various other stuff too – pretty close up too! (they are getting accustomed to the Landie) got some photos to load up, but its a standing joke now that as soon as I raise me camera they do off!
we’ve tracked leapords a few times – on foot with Stuart leading (with a gun) but havent seen them for over a week now….actyually they havent been seen since I got here (unlucky, moi?) we think theres 3 adults, one with cubs. I was going to use my SAS training and find them – but I didnt wanna show of
and they lied: there ARE spiders here!…BIG fellas too!!!!!
we live in tents and cook our own meals in a concrete kitchen and scullery- or at least the duties are split amongst us on a daily basis (by Charlie) other duties are cleaning and recording various aspects of the game watches etc.
mostly 18/19year olds here, but us oldies are fighting back…theres 4 of us now. ….and we can drink more too (I think)
my first evening here was partly spent in the outside shower (cold….cos we hadnt lit the donkey!…eh???) under a fantastic starry sky. welcome to Botswana!
more to write when I can get on the net again….not sure how often it’ll be….photos to come too
Tags: ACE, africa, block, botswana, charlie, chuggy, conservation, elephants, ellies, koro, leopard, stuart, Travel, tuli
chuggy
sounds like animals in b/r have fun nd take care
pmsl @ animals doing a runner when you point your camera.
Sounds like your enjoying it.
Take care mate, and don’t forget pics 😉
Glad you have new news, been missing the travel updates! What else do I have to do at work!?!
What’s the heat like then? One extreme to the other eh!
keep in touch when ya can fella…
Rich
you probably can not remember me from nestle but i just found out about your blog site from nobby,the photos of canada are brilliant it beats this place any day,good luck.
swifty the blind man.
good to hear from you – yeah, I remember you!……Canada was fab the pctures dont do it justice!…and now Biotswana is fab too (jeesh, I miss Nestle)
Hello! I am a French vet student and I would like to do a training period with African Conservation Experience. It sounds so great!!! Could you give me informations about this organization? Is it a serious one? How were the pros and the cons?
I hope hearing from you,
Charlotte
hi, nice to hear from you!…..sadly I’m only gonna say good stuff about ACE…..they are a VERY professional company: their UK based office is very efficient and helpful in making your booking – whilst the guys in South Africa couldnt be more helpful!…..even since I left them to travel, they have gone out of their way to help me (and I know from first hand experience that theyve done it for many others) I believe they have 2 vet projects – though I dont know more about them, sorry. Maybe you should also consider the Game Capture project: there isnt a lot of vet work as such, however there is a lot of drug (sedative and reversals) administration to the animals as they are caught (and you can get ‘hands on with all manner of animals including giraffe, kudu, wildebeest, springbok etc.) etc.
Good luck and best wishes – let me know how you get on, eh?