tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10904927168735387812024-03-13T13:44:57.988+02:00Toyota Enviro OutreachA unique project focusing on supporting people in conservation and their management
on “home turf” and to identify and address training needs hampering conservation management in Southern Africa.Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-21904198544318358602009-11-23T08:03:00.000+02:002009-11-23T08:06:32.230+02:009 Min Video<object width="640" height="505"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/rAkV_GO0a9E&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/rAkV_GO0a9E&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x234900&color2=0x4e9e00" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="505"></embed></object>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-31237292156976126082009-11-22T18:34:00.001+02:002009-11-22T18:34:49.544+02:00Toyota Enviro Outreach 2009Check out this SlideShare Presentation: <div style="width:425px;text-align:left" id="__ss_2558896"><a style="font:14px Helvetica,Arial,Sans-serif;display:block;margin:12px 0 3px 0;text-decoration:underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/cwlinde/toyota-enviro-outreach-2009" title="Toyota Enviro Outreach 2009">Toyota Enviro Outreach 2009</a><object style="margin:0px" width="425" height="355"><param name="movie" value="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=toyotaenvirooutreachpresentation-original-091122103003-phpapp01&stripped_title=toyota-enviro-outreach-2009" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"/><param name="allowScriptAccess" value="always"/><embed src="http://static.slidesharecdn.com/swf/ssplayer2.swf?doc=toyotaenvirooutreachpresentation-original-091122103003-phpapp01&stripped_title=toyota-enviro-outreach-2009" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="355"></embed></object><div style="font-size:11px;font-family:tahoma,arial;height:26px;padding-top:2px;">View more <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/">presentations</a> from <a style="text-decoration:underline;" href="http://www.slideshare.net/cwlinde">cwlinde</a>.</div></div>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-21731693234594725632009-10-22T07:45:00.005+02:002010-01-13T12:18:57.919+02:00I’m back sooner than you think<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/St_xfUEceSI/AAAAAAAABbg/6ToTshJcIXA/s1600-h/ImageFinal_002-733001.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/St_xfUEceSI/AAAAAAAABbg/6ToTshJcIXA/s320/ImageFinal_002-733001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395296398878734626" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/St_xfg5IGkI/AAAAAAAABbo/9JSmPleqom4/s1600-h/ImageFinal_001-734345.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/St_xfg5IGkI/AAAAAAAABbo/9JSmPleqom4/s320/ImageFinal_001-734345.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395296402320923202" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 1: Leaving G</span></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">onarezhou</span></b></span></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; white-space: pre; -webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 2: Group Photo in the Limpopo River</span></b></span></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/St_xf4YabDI/AAAAAAAABbw/nIsoRb65GgQ/s1600-h/ImageFinal_003-735335.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/St_xf4YabDI/AAAAAAAABbw/nIsoRb65GgQ/s320/ImageFinal_003-735335.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5395296408626162738" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 3: Traveled nearly 7000km on the Outreach, with accurate tracking and navigation from Garmin.</span></b></p><p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-ZA">Back as in back in South Africa and back on the blog. C'mon admit it, you've missed me. Ol' Buddy missed you too. I want to talk to you one more time (on the 2009 Toyota Outreach that is, as there will be lots of new events coming up soon).</span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-ZA">This time I'm going to be very dogmatic and quote statistics about the Outreach. But it's amazing stuff. It's somewhere around here... If only I can find that dog-eared notebook of my. It's doggone...</span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-ZA">Ah, got it. Look at this. And we'll be back soon. Greetings from the whole team too. Look at us having a last lunch in the Limpopo River.</span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA">Boa Viagem... <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span></span></i></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-ZA"> </span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="mso-ansi-language:EN-ZA"> </span></p><br /><p><img style="margin:0 0 0 0" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" /><br />Download GPS Tracks for the total outreach.: <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/totaltrack.kml" target="_blank">Google Earth Format</a> & <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/totaltrack.gpx" target="_blank">GPX Format</a> & <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/totaltrack.gdb" target="_blank">Mapsource Format</a></p>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-38095648339811859912009-10-20T21:07:00.001+02:002009-10-20T21:11:53.119+02:00Arrived at SAWC<div class="Section1"><p class="MsoNormal">It’s with great delight and excitement that the Toyota Enviro Outreach concluded here at the Southern Africa Wildlife College after a long day’s travel. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The outreach has been a huge success. Full reports will be made available soon, but in the mean time here are a few words from the Outreach Delegates.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Theresa Sowry – Executive Training Director SAWC</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Over the last 3 weeks, a total of 35 SAWC students have been located in the 6 outreach contact sites. These 35 past students come from an astonishing 28 different protected areas across Malawi & Zimbabwe. The outreach has therefore truly had an impact on conservation areas within these 2 countries. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Bryan Havemann – Director of Conservation WESSA:</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">Wessa’s involvement with the Toyota Enviro Outreach has proactively helped us to fulfil our mission of People Caring for the Earth. The Outreach has made it possible for us to engage with communities in very remote areas and highlight the importance intact healthy eco systems. The dependence of people on the natural resources underpins the importance of the environment in this present day and age. Wessa encourages development which is sustainable in nature, and which doesn’t not only focus on the economic side. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Richard Sowry – Section Ranger Kingfisherspruit</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">From the perspective of the people in the parks the park are in good hands. The parks now require the support of people and governments and that they see for their worth to the world, not just as a recreational tool, but as an integral link in the chain of human survival on the planet, because without a clean healthy environment, man will not continue to survive. <?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The people on the ground, the foot soldiers on conservation, the game rangers, men and women are still going out there every day to try and make it work and look after the land and the wildlife. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Jennifer Newenham – Environmental Consultant</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">The highlights were seeing how resourceful the conservationists have been with absolutely nothing, especially in Zimbabwe, where they use their initiative and are very dedicated. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Professor Michelle van der Bank & Olivier Maurin – University of Johannesburg (UJ)</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">We collected a total of 150 new specimens to add to the Tree BOL Africa project unique to Zimbabwe & Malawi. A duplicate of each specimen will be send to the National Herbarium in Harare & Lilongwe. Formal collaboration was setup between the University of Johannesburg and National Parks in Malawi & Zimbabwe.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Training will be offered early next year to delegates from Zimbabwe & Malawi at UJ and on-site. Training includes: Basic Herbarium technique, tree Identification and bar-coding.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>Stephen Midzi – Section Ranger Vlakte Plaas:</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">We are in this world in this field of conservation for the sole reason of conservation of natural resources. This trip has made it possible, to put aside borders, nationalities and cultural differences in the name of conservation and to say to ourselves, we have a purpose as mankind which is to conserve the natural world. It’s been quite a learning process, wherever we’ve been, we’ve learned new things, discovered new conservation challenges, and for me the intensity of human wildlife conflicts around Southern Africa. </p></div>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-48626871222767513542009-10-19T21:23:00.002+02:002009-10-19T21:27:08.746+02:00The end is not the end.<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sty8vYa2tMI/AAAAAAAABa4/tEI3alxEuUM/s1600-h/IMG_6014_s-721402.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394393975877973186" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sty8vYa2tMI/AAAAAAAABa4/tEI3alxEuUM/s320/IMG_6014_s-721402.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sty8v3HLReI/AAAAAAAABbA/LPsrVbyffpw/s1600-h/P1100826_s-722997.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394393984116934114" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sty8v3HLReI/AAAAAAAABbA/LPsrVbyffpw/s320/P1100826_s-722997.JPG" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sty8wbhWCZI/AAAAAAAABbI/A1ZnW6yUg8g/s1600-h/P1100833_s-725381.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394393993890367890" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sty8wbhWCZI/AAAAAAAABbI/A1ZnW6yUg8g/s320/P1100833_s-725381.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sty8xBfVJJI/AAAAAAAABbQ/IulRr7Hrg5c/s1600-h/P1100838_s-728365.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394394004082467986" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sty8xBfVJJI/AAAAAAAABbQ/IulRr7Hrg5c/s320/P1100838_s-728365.JPG" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sty8xehF96I/AAAAAAAABbY/Bz30lFRkML0/s1600-h/P1100840_s-729884.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394394011874490274" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sty8xehF96I/AAAAAAAABbY/Bz30lFRkML0/s320/P1100840_s-729884.JPG" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span ></span></span></span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span >The end is not the end.<span style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </span></span></span></span></b></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;">Just under three weeks ago, a hippo scared me witless. I will admit it now. Today I'm sitting on the eastern bank of the Rundu River in Gonarezhou and think they are quite cute down there in the water. I know that, of all the wild animals in Africa, they are the biggest killer of people, but you see, I'm a dog. If it weren't for all those flat dogs in the river, I would happily go and swim with the hippos. </span></span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span> </p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;">I know I'm babbling today, but I am not feeling well. Physically I am fine, it's all emotional. It's the last day of the trip and I am already nostalgic. You know that they always say how nostalgia makes you miss people you don't know and places you've never been to. At least this time I can say I've seen those places and I know those people. They are the 20 people who were on the trip from start to finish, making it happen. And that with an expedition in October, Africa's suicide month. It is the hottest, driest month of the year with the first rains staying away. </span></span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span> </p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;">I want to thank those people for the greatest experience of my life. For making the logistics happen, the food happen, the travel, the awesome work done for nature and the environment. For the fact that everybody was always happy with doubling up, doing extra duties. Nobody was ever too important to get his or her hands dirty. I also, on behalf of the whole team, want to thank Toyota South Africa and all our generous sponsors for keeping us going. Once again we are going home with all 10 Toyotas still going strong. After more than 6 000 kilometres, they're still leading the way. </span></span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span> </p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;">Let's reminisce for a moment. Theresa had major successes with the ex-students from SAWC and Bryan the same with his environmental training with the communities. The tree people taught me something. Another way to mark a tree. Their DNA-barcoding tally is close to 150. </span></span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span> </p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;">Talking about trees, have you noticed that a lot of people always get fascinated about game? Especially the Big Five. Because it is 'sexy'. A lot tend to forget about the flora. The fact that the Outreach focuses on the environment and nature, maybe therefore makes it less of an attention getter for a lot of people out there. But as Gerhard always says: "Give me an open cheque book and I create a Big Five game farm in a month. Give me a 1000 years and I create one big tree." Deforestation in Africa is a crisis. </span></span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span> </p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;">But now that the Outreach is over, the question is, did we really make a difference? </span></span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span> </p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;">The statistics look good, but that is not what really counts. We made friends. Friendship is the strongest weapon to overcome problems. Friendship creates hope. Belief. A sense of want. </span></span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span> </p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;">Friends care and friends share. By sharing the knowledge, it spreads. Knowledge empowers. Empowerment brings healing. And this chain reaction is what the 20 people from the Outreach initiated with this trip. Yes, Africa is big, very big and we only managed to reach a few places. But we've been there. </span></span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span> </p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;">At the end of it all, this is only the end of this trip. That's all it is. The process continues. </span></span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span> </p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;">It has to continue, because Africa is suffering. Africa is overpopulated, poverty is rife and biodiversity loss is alarming. Therefore a lot of pessimistic people say that Africa doesn't have a dog's chance to make it. This dog says they're wrong. Because of people and projects like the Toyota Enviro Outreach.</span></span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span> </p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;">Tomorrow we go home. It's a good thought, but I will miss all my Outreach friends. I will think of you and want you to know that I have learnt more from you than I ever thought I would. </span></span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span> </p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;">Now it's also time to say goodbye to you, my readers. Thank you for your support by following us on the blog. </span></span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span> </p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;">So, before I start howling, there's only one more thing left to say:</span></span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;"></span></span> </p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt; tab-stops: 137.4pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;">"Hasta la Vista Baby, I'll be back..."</span></span></p><br /><img style="margin:0 0 0 0" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" />Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-55811883914221994222009-10-18T20:21:00.004+02:002009-10-19T12:14:05.849+02:00The Outreach runs on its stomach<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteCe-emZI/AAAAAAAABZg/OHCSdxPMhq8/s1600-h/Dinner+about+to+happen_s-740783.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394008375474166162" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteCe-emZI/AAAAAAAABZg/OHCSdxPMhq8/s320/Dinner+about+to+happen_s-740783.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteCvfXBlI/AAAAAAAABZo/Tu-vl8wvaDY/s1600-h/Frank+doing+al+dente+a+la+Africa_s-742797.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394008379907049042" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteCvfXBlI/AAAAAAAABZo/Tu-vl8wvaDY/s320/Frank+doing+al+dente+a+la+Africa_s-742797.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 1: Dinner about to happen</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 2: Frank doing al dente a la Africa</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteDIiUsGI/AAAAAAAABZw/7a6LPastZXA/s1600-h/Finely+chopped+says+the+recipe_s-744703.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394008386630365282" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteDIiUsGI/AAAAAAAABZw/7a6LPastZXA/s320/Finely+chopped+says+the+recipe_s-744703.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteDoBmHQI/AAAAAAAABZ4/7J6ndy8fueA/s1600-h/DSC_8030_s-746629.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394008395083029762" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteDoBmHQI/AAAAAAAABZ4/7J6ndy8fueA/s320/DSC_8030_s-746629.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 3: Finely chopped, says the recipe_s</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 4: Camping at Ghonarezhou</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteEjsUkDI/AAAAAAAABaA/NQIqpqKzLGM/s1600-h/IMG_3594_s-750858.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394008411099926578" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteEjsUkDI/AAAAAAAABaA/NQIqpqKzLGM/s320/IMG_3594_s-750858.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteFcnnDGI/AAAAAAAABaI/a5iaJWa3MBA/s1600-h/DSC_8065+%5BDesktop+Resolution%5D-752950.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394008426380987490" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteFcnnDGI/AAAAAAAABaI/a5iaJWa3MBA/s320/DSC_8065+%5BDesktop+Resolution%5D-752950.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>Photo 5: Cobus, Gerhard & Foeta</b></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>Photo 6: Our malaria patient</b></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteFlJXR9I/AAAAAAAABaQ/uMbZqklWtAg/s1600-h/Chijojo+Cliffs_s-754878.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394008428670044114" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteFlJXR9I/AAAAAAAABaQ/uMbZqklWtAg/s320/Chijojo+Cliffs_s-754878.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteGBUrEAI/AAAAAAAABaY/P_NITdp4x4g/s1600-h/The+group+at+Chiojo+cliffs_s-756765.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394008436233670658" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteGBUrEAI/AAAAAAAABaY/P_NITdp4x4g/s320/The+group+at+Chiojo+cliffs_s-756765.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 7: Chilojo Cliffs</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 8: Group Photo.</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteG_ixX8I/AAAAAAAABag/zJnqzLfVFTA/s1600-h/IMG_5604_s-759203.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394008452935802818" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteG_ixX8I/AAAAAAAABag/zJnqzLfVFTA/s320/IMG_5604_s-759203.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteHfJt_BI/AAAAAAAABao/njcQ9tmMC_A/s1600-h/Summer+in+the+boabab_s-761217.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394008461420657682" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteHfJt_BI/AAAAAAAABao/njcQ9tmMC_A/s320/Summer+in+the+boabab_s-761217.JPG" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteH__mqXI/AAAAAAAABaw/ShZ0QLW9tN0/s1600-h/Good+night+for+the+second+last+time..._s-762967.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5394008470236604786" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StteH__mqXI/AAAAAAAABaw/ShZ0QLW9tN0/s320/Good+night+for+the+second+last+time..._s-762967.JPG" /></a></p><div class="Section1"><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN-LEFT: 0cm" class="MsoNoSpacing"><b><span lang="EN-ZA">The Outreach runs on its stomach</span></b></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN-LEFT: 0cm" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-ZA">I want to talk about something tonight that is very close to my heart. Secretly it is something that worried me about spending three weeks on the road. Food.</span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN-LEFT: 0cm" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-ZA">I mean, I am a fancy dog. Eating cold bully beef is not my idea of superior cuisine. Make no mistake, nothing wrong with bully and onion from time to time. But then you’ve got to do it up. With a bit of herbs, garlic and so on. And you don’t want it every day.</span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN-LEFT: 0cm" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-ZA">Well, let me tell you something, making the simplest of food for 22 people on the road is not easy. That’s not what the kitchen team is doing. They make exquisite food on the road. The organisation is so good, nobody has had to pop an Imodium as yet. And who do we have to thank? National Luna, fridges that don’t leave you out in the cold. They keep the cold inside.</span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN-LEFT: 0cm" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-ZA">Variety is the name of the game. So much so that I started getting worried that the Bully Beef is never going to happen. But it did. Other nights we had dishes such as goulash, chicken curry, chorizo stew and rice. And braaivleis. Not just boerewors, but even ostrich fillet. We also had a snoekbraai one night. For lunches on the road, we have chicken pastrami sandwiches. Now really, what more can a fancy dog ask for? We’re on day 19 and had fresh mixed salad today. Plus fresh fruit every morning. Scrambled eggs, bacon, French toast, muesli.</span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN-LEFT: 0cm" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-ZA">Frank, you’re my man. And Elmarie, Wilaa, Gwynette and Marguerite, you’re my favourites. I’m moving in. Most dogs get skinny beyond repair in Africa, but I’ve never looked so good. Those bitches back home are going to flip.</span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN-LEFT: 0cm" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-ZA">Today was a good rest day. We just drove to the Chilojo Cliffs here in Ghonarezhou. But what a sight! Check out the pics. Tomorrow Theresa’s last group of ex-students are coming in. I don’t want to talk about it. The end of the Outreach makes me miserable.</span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN-LEFT: 0cm" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-ZA">I’d rather talk about what we’re going to have for dinner tonight. Tuna Lasagne. You see what I mean?</span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN-LEFT: 0cm" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-ZA">This is Buddy barking off.<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div><br /><img style="MARGIN: 0px" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" />Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-40793393761472172532009-10-17T20:12:00.003+02:002009-12-02T09:06:57.650+02:00The spirit of the Outreach<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJELE-sWI/AAAAAAAABYQ/YJNL22qiPzg/s1600-h/DSC_0505_s-752502.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393633471027392866" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJELE-sWI/AAAAAAAABYQ/YJNL22qiPzg/s320/DSC_0505_s-752502.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJEmjkMeI/AAAAAAAABYY/LYMXInWGf_c/s1600-h/Mother+Theresa_s-754436.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393633478403437026" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJEmjkMeI/AAAAAAAABYY/LYMXInWGf_c/s320/Mother+Theresa_s-754436.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJFUXepiI/AAAAAAAABYg/gqIsTaQVows/s1600-h/Women+in+conservation_s-757041.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393633490700772898" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJFUXepiI/AAAAAAAABYg/gqIsTaQVows/s320/Women+in+conservation_s-757041.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJF5L2nuI/AAAAAAAABYo/adsYItGN_V8/s1600-h/christof_s-759346.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393633500584124130" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJF5L2nuI/AAAAAAAABYo/adsYItGN_V8/s320/christof_s-759346.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJGe245jI/AAAAAAAABYw/KqoAJBY3GM4/s1600-h/Africa+is+so+worth+saving_s-761268.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393633510696740402" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJGe245jI/AAAAAAAABYw/KqoAJBY3GM4/s320/Africa+is+so+worth+saving_s-761268.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJHNBnGxI/AAAAAAAABY4/r7N5Z5umLDI/s1600-h/DSC_0526_s-763901.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393633523089742610" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJHNBnGxI/AAAAAAAABY4/r7N5Z5umLDI/s320/DSC_0526_s-763901.JPG" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJHgawV3I/AAAAAAAABZA/MMjJX8UGMBQ/s1600-h/DSC_0517_s-766148.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393633528295479154" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJHgawV3I/AAAAAAAABZA/MMjJX8UGMBQ/s320/DSC_0517_s-766148.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJIGEDguI/AAAAAAAABZI/rIZmEQ-r-II/s1600-h/IMG_5756_s-768138.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393633538400813794" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJIGEDguI/AAAAAAAABZI/rIZmEQ-r-II/s320/IMG_5756_s-768138.JPG" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJIXKNOtI/AAAAAAAABZQ/s4h8lutAD1E/s1600-h/P1030862_s-769706.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393633542990019282" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJIXKNOtI/AAAAAAAABZQ/s4h8lutAD1E/s320/P1030862_s-769706.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJIxUzOsI/AAAAAAAABZY/oK6kyuSser0/s1600-h/Camping+at+Chipinda+Pools_s-771757.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393633550013774530" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StoJIxUzOsI/AAAAAAAABZY/oK6kyuSser0/s320/Camping+at+Chipinda+Pools_s-771757.JPG" /></a></p><strong>The spirit of the Outreach </strong><p>Chamunorwa Rambanapasi was one of the ex-students that were supposed to meet with Theresa in Hwange. He is a very diligent senior wildlife officer and waited patiently for his station commander to arrive at the station before he could leave. He would not leave it unmanned. <p>Unfortunately his station master got held up due to circumstances out of his control and in the end Chamunorwa left too late. By the time he got to Hwange, we have already been gone for a few hours. He knew our destination was Mushandike Campsite near Masvingo and drove through the night to catch us. <p>He arrived at three in the morning and patiently waited outside the camp while we all slept. When he realized the students at Mushandike had their training the previous day and we were basically packing up to go on to Gonarezhou, he was prepared to come with us. That is how valuable a meeting with SAWC is to them and their career. Theresa then said no, she will have a special one-on-one meeting with him. He gothis update and she got her information and he happily drove back to his station in Hwange, 550 kilometres away. That is the spirit of the Outreach. <p>Another interesting fact is the amount of women in conservation. At Mushandike alone, we had three men (including Chamunorwa) and four women. A lot of people say it is because women want to prove<br />themselves in a man's world. They are just as capable to be field rangers. To walk patrols. To apprehend poachers. I believe they are, but I personally think it is because all women are<br />instinctively mothers. And mothers are caregivers. They want to protect, conserve and ensure a brighter world for what is theirs. The concept of conservation comes naturally to them. It is part of their make-up. <p>Be that as it may, we'll take that debate further later. After Chamunorwa and Theresa finished their discussions, we drove via Masvingo to Gonarezhou and set up camp at Chipinda Pools on the river.<br />Tomorrow we'll tackle an other chapter of the Outreach. </p><p>This is Buddy barking off. </p><p><em>NEWS FLASH!! NEWS FLASH!! Returning to Hwange, Chamunorwa found out<br />that he is the only advanced student selected by the Zimbabwe Wildlife<br />Authority to attend the Transfrontier Conservation Management<br />qualification at SAWC in 2010. </em><p><em>Woof, I say to that!</em></p><p></p><br /><p><img style="MARGIN: 0px" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" /><br />Download GPS Tracks for today: <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/october17.kml" target="_blank">Google Earth Format</a> & <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/october17.gpx" target="_blank">GPX Format</a></p>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-22013064467449112802009-10-16T20:07:00.004+02:002009-10-16T21:05:27.859+02:00Mushandike College<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sti2cAq5MxI/AAAAAAAABXw/BF0B8Q3WW6k/s1600-h/P1030817_s-764429.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393261146108670738" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sti2cAq5MxI/AAAAAAAABXw/BF0B8Q3WW6k/s320/P1030817_s-764429.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sti2cegcMYI/AAAAAAAABX4/yaGLvFuvECA/s1600-h/P1100665_s-765880.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393261154117890434" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sti2cegcMYI/AAAAAAAABX4/yaGLvFuvECA/s320/P1100665_s-765880.JPG" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sti2c-aEcdI/AAAAAAAABYA/13YixL17rQE/s1600-h/P1100674_s-767311.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393261162681102802" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sti2c-aEcdI/AAAAAAAABYA/13YixL17rQE/s320/P1100674_s-767311.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sti2dJe7_0I/AAAAAAAABYI/TPI0cOjZzic/s1600-h/P1030822_s-768596.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393261165654310722" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sti2dJe7_0I/AAAAAAAABYI/TPI0cOjZzic/s320/P1030822_s-768596.JPG" /></a></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;">Today the college met with 6 past students representing 5 conservation areas. Two of these students are currently as Mushandike College furthering their studies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </span>Three of the other four have been promoted since training at SAWC. The other students have not been promoted, but have added responsibilities.</span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;">One of the former students, is a Black Rhino monitor, and she feels passionate spending her day and nights protecting these extremely rare species. Sadly with the political turmoil in the country the Rhino population has dropped from 60 to a mere 5 in that area. It is infectious to hear Sibomiso talk about her passion for Rhino's and conservation, even in difficult circumstances. </span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;">Theresa Sowry visited Mushandike College at the beginning of the year and on return to the college eon the outreach remarkable are noticed under the new management. </span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;">Changes include a substantial vegetable garden that feeds the students as fresh vegatables are not widely available across Zimbabwe. This vegetable garden will also overtime a sustainable income stream for the college. </span></p><p style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 10pt" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family:Calibri;font-size:100%;">The Mushandike College and people like Sibomiso gives hope for the future of conservation in Zimbabwe.</span></p>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-40395923541083014992009-10-16T20:01:00.004+02:002009-12-02T09:14:24.552+02:00How does the Outreach get out there?<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sti09raHKGI/AAAAAAAABXg/Lyr-iqFfei4/s1600-h/Hendrik+staan+nie+meer+stil+nie_s-785996.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393259525493434466" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sti09raHKGI/AAAAAAAABXg/Lyr-iqFfei4/s320/Hendrik+staan+nie+meer+stil+nie_s-785996.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sti095Nz-RI/AAAAAAAABXo/LI-HCMHMmNo/s1600-h/Hendrik+Melk+staan+vir+%27n+oomblik+stil_s-787555.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393259529199941906" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sti095Nz-RI/AAAAAAAABXo/LI-HCMHMmNo/s320/Hendrik+Melk+staan+vir+%27n+oomblik+stil_s-787555.jpg" /></a></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-size:100%;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">How does the Outreach get out there?</span></span></span></b></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><br />Gerhard is our front man. That you already know. Klipbokkop Mountain Resort near Worcester is the base where he and his wife Elmarie plan everything. Most people also know that. What al lot of people don’t realize is that Klipbokkop is the backbone of the Outreach.<br /><br />In association with Toyota South Africa and all our other generous sponsors, the planning and preparation start there. Gerhard and the Goodyear 4x4 Academy has refined 4x4 driving to an art. The approach is not to bundu bash and see how high, far and fast you can burn your beast, it is to be able to drive responsibly to get to places you need to get to for a reason, without leaving bleeding gaps in mother earth. Gerhard, Elmarie and all their people at Klipbokkop are nature lovers and offer a service to help and support conservation and the environment.<br /><br />Gerhard’s outreach has started long ago. Over the years he worked hard to qualify himself to understand the bush, how to get in and out and with the aim of helping to make life and the earth a better place for all.<br /><br />To really explain it I want to introduce you to Hendrik Melk. It sounds like a character from some literary novel, but this character is real. Originally from Kimberley, he ended up in Worcester by chance, but liked the place so much, he stayed. His paths crossed Gerhard’s and Gerhard saw someone that he liked.<br /><br />At that stage Hendrik only had a learner’s licence, but today he is a 4x4 instructor at Klipbokkop. He is also in charge of the maintenance team. More importantly, he is the backbone of the Outreach when it comes to making things happen. He knows where everything is and he knows how to make everything work. He is really a watchdog, and that’s why I like him so much. He’s a lot like me.<br /><br />When one of the trailer’s wheels gave a jiggle, who was there first? Hendrik. When someone got stuck in a river bed, who got him out? Hendrik. Who is always laughing and enjoying the Outreach the most? Hendrik.<br /><br />But the reason I like him the most, is because, although he never stands still, he always has time for me. He makes sure I get the best bones before the hyenas get it.<br /><br />Today we travelled a quick 550 kilometres to Masvingo where we also camped the first night. It’s like home from home being back here. Time has gone so quick, but somehow it feels like months ago since we’ve been here.<br /><br />Actually I’m really a worried dog right now. I’ve realized that there are only a few days of the Outreach left. How on earth am I going to say goodbye to all these great people when the trip ends?<br /><br />This is Buddy barking off, wondering if anybody’s got a suggestion for a good therapist?<br /><br /></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"></span></span></b></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"></span></span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-ZA" lang="EN-ZA"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;font-size:100%;"></span></span></p><p><img style="MARGIN: 0px" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" /> </p><p><br />Download GPS Tracks for today: <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/october16.kml" target="_blank">Google Earth Format</a> & <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/october16.gpx" target="_blank">GPX Format</a> </p>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-37073020812733727692009-10-15T20:44:00.003+02:002009-10-15T20:57:54.816+02:00The relativity theory in Africa<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Stdv1qtXwcI/AAAAAAAABXI/nBqsi_H-5z8/s1600-h/Image15_008.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Stdv1qtXwcI/AAAAAAAABXI/nBqsi_H-5z8/s320/Image15_008.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392902046587797954" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Stdv1UnJEqI/AAAAAAAABXA/UuwlY1w16zc/s1600-h/Image15_007.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Stdv1UnJEqI/AAAAAAAABXA/UuwlY1w16zc/s320/Image15_007.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392902040656089762" /></a><div><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Stdv1UnJEqI/AAAAAAAABXA/UuwlY1w16zc/s1600-h/Image15_007.JPG"></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 1: Former Students of the SAWC</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 2: Stephen playing drums with community children.</span></b><br /><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StdtmI1yDsI/AAAAAAAABWA/E8pSyrSL5A4/s1600-h/Image15_001-780197.jpg"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StdtmI1yDsI/AAAAAAAABWA/E8pSyrSL5A4/s320/Image15_001-780197.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392899580774977218" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StdtmmqzcRI/AAAAAAAABWI/nJVREEGydeY/s1600-h/Image15_004-782233.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StdtmmqzcRI/AAAAAAAABWI/nJVREEGydeY/s320/Image15_004-782233.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392899588781994258" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 3: The end of the curios line</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 4: Mana scores five stars for game</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StdtnAmIdSI/AAAAAAAABWQ/7jTuTHy2X2E/s1600-h/Image15_002-784053.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StdtnAmIdSI/AAAAAAAABWQ/7jTuTHy2X2E/s320/Image15_002-784053.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392899595741721890" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StdtnjFtt_I/AAAAAAAABWY/icxvz0WJyNo/s1600-h/Image15_003-786129.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StdtnjFtt_I/AAAAAAAABWY/icxvz0WJyNo/s320/Image15_003-786129.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392899605000992754" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Community Children having fun with the Enviro Picture Building Game.</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StdtoFKEJTI/AAAAAAAABWg/3_gdOzyRp5A/s1600-h/Image15_006-788242.JPG"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StdtoFKEJTI/AAAAAAAABWg/3_gdOzyRp5A/s320/Image15_006-788242.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392899614146045234" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StdtorwUviI/AAAAAAAABWo/nPPKnOvXYXs/s1600-h/Image15_005-790102.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StdtorwUviI/AAAAAAAABWo/nPPKnOvXYXs/s320/Image15_005-790102.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392899624507063842" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 7: Respect the Enviroment - Group photos with community children.</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">relativity theory in Africa</span></p> <div> </div> <div>I think all the dogs in Africa must have the same father. They are all light brown, medium sized dogs with long faces and tails. Breed? Canis Africanus. </div> <div> </div> <div>They are very nice and friendly, but can't talk. I mean like you and I can talk. When I introduced myself to one for the first time, he growled at me. I had to switch over to dogspeak to calm him down. Now really...</div><div><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>I envy them for the big backyard they can run in, but the problem is most of them can't really run. Like their owners they are always hungry. Underfed and weak. Relative to them I have a king's life. Come to think of it, relative to any other dog, I have a king's life. </div><div><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>All this makes me think of another example of relativity that I experienced over the last few days on the Outreach. If you go from Mana Pools to Hwange, it seems that you are going from none-graded accommodation to five star. Mana is basic. Very basic. The ablutions are clean, but deteriorated. And apart from a few water taps, there's nothing else in the campsite. Yet, if you want a wild African experience, Mana is five star. At night you hear lion prides from both sides of the Zambezi competing to be heard. Hyenas not only make themselves heard, they come right up to your tent, sniffing for something to scavenge. Somehow they stayed far away from me. Fear I guess...</div><div><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>One night we got very excited when a hippo cruised through the camp. The next moment the main show started when a lion chased the hippo and the hyenas started laughing. Nervous cowards.</div><div><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>However, let me get back to relativity. After Mana Pools, Hwange's neat camp, thatched huts and everything looked superior. But if you know had to go from the Kruger National Park to Hwange, the place might seem rather bleak, basic and run down. It is so sad to see how a flagship could deteriorate like this. </div><div><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>Another interesting thing happened yesterday when we went to Vic Falls to fill up with fuel. Just outside town they have these African Craft stalls. But due to the lack of tourists coming to Zim lately these enterprises have died. I feel sad for the guys not making a few bucks out of the tourists anymore, but I feel happy for the trees. Now that there is less demand, fewer trees are being cut down to make giraffes, hippos and masks. Which brings us to a new type of curios they are selling in town these days. Now that the rand is accepted as local currency, nobody wants to deal in zillion dollar Zim notes anymore. But they are being sold as curios. Soon there will be none left, so the price is going up. The biggest one, a 100 000 trillion dollar note will fetch as much as US$10 these days.</div><div><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>It's all a question of relativity, you see. </div><div><br /></div> <div> </div> <div>This is Buddy, barking off. </div> <img style="margin:0 0 0 0" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" /></div>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-28981896126914394322009-10-14T20:41:00.005+02:002009-10-15T21:08:30.352+02:00The paradigm shift to heal Africa (at no extra cost)<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StYfZWoxwrI/AAAAAAAABVY/hcwJpdcevxE/s1600-h/Allan+loves+grass+under+his+feet_s-725390.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392532124256551602" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StYfZWoxwrI/AAAAAAAABVY/hcwJpdcevxE/s320/Allan+loves+grass+under+his+feet_s-725390.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StYfZhmgg8I/AAAAAAAABVg/vBnCl1LSUd0/s1600-h/This+was+a+dry+river+bed+not+too+long+ago_s-726815.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392532127199822786" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StYfZhmgg8I/AAAAAAAABVg/vBnCl1LSUd0/s320/This+was+a+dry+river+bed+not+too+long+ago_s-726815.jpg" /></a><p></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 1: Allan loves grass under his feet</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 2: This was a dry river bed not too long ago</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StYfawtb68I/AAAAAAAABVw/HDBrLFjOXmg/s1600-h/The+mobile+kraal_s-731373.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392532148435282882" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StYfawtb68I/AAAAAAAABVw/HDBrLFjOXmg/s320/The+mobile+kraal_s-731373.jpg" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StYgRV0o15I/AAAAAAAABV4/GAM_KXqDg48/s1600-h/Allan%27s+humble+abode_s.jpg"><img style="WIDTH: 320px; HEIGHT: 213px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392533086110537618" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StYgRV0o15I/AAAAAAAABV4/GAM_KXqDg48/s320/Allan%27s+humble+abode_s.jpg" /></a><br /></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 3: The mobile kraal</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 4: Allan's humble abode</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"></p><div class="Section1"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Stdyoq7GnfI/AAAAAAAABXY/0MhEpT-PqwI/s1600-h/P1030719_s.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Stdyoq7GnfI/AAAAAAAABXY/0MhEpT-PqwI/s320/P1030719_s.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392905121841978866" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StdyoQ1Yd1I/AAAAAAAABXQ/tJ4sLWBdFt4/s1600-h/P1100583_s.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StdyoQ1Yd1I/AAAAAAAABXQ/tJ4sLWBdFt4/s320/P1100583_s.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392905114838660946" /></a></div><div class="Section1"><br /></div><div class="Section1"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StdyoQ1Yd1I/AAAAAAAABXQ/tJ4sLWBdFt4/s1600-h/P1100583_s.JPG"></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo 5: Johan Botha asking a question</span></b></div><div class="Section1"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo 6: At the new water pools with the convoy.</span></b><br /><p class="mobile-photo"></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b>The paradigm shift to heal Africa (at no extra cost)<o:p></o:p></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">For many years, we have been developing our understanding of what is good for the earth. Scientific research to the nth degree has been done by many, many clever people. We’ve worked out that overpopulation of animals is killing the land. Overgrazing removes all the grass. Barren soil gets rushed off to the see with every flash flood. Erosion follows. The world eventually will turn into one big desert.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">So the logic that kicks in says there are too many animals. Domestic or wild. Culling needs to kick in. Give the land time to rest. What if we are wrong? What if we actually need more animals? Is it possible that an increase in livestock and wildlife can solve the problem?<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The Outreach today visited the Holistic Management Centre near Victoria Falls and we were stunned. Allan Savory is busy proving that we all need to make this paradigm shift. His land is a wild piece of pristine Zimbabwean bush with the Big Five on it. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">A few years ago it wasn’t like that. Instead of culling wildlife, he looked at it differently. First of all, he realized that land being ‘rested’ by taking the animals off it, ends up with grass drying in the winter. It doesn’t go back to the soil, it oxidises and turns a grey-black colour and hard. Without any meaningful nutrients. The land doesn’t rest, it slowly dies. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">What needs to happen is that the grass needs to be churned over and chopped to form a blanket on the ground. A blanket that will hold water and let it seep slowly into the earth to feed the roots. There are machines capable of doing that, but it uses al lot of diesel, increasing your carbon footprint. Then fertiliser would have to be added artificially. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">There is another way, though. Cattle. Yes, he uses cattle for conservation. What he does is to allow as many cattle he can find to graze his land. At the moment he has 400 head, but would love to go up to 1 000. The secret, however, is that the cattle is herded tightly by 12 herders and they don’t stay long in any given area. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">The herd takes up just over a hectare at any given time and stay on a stretch of about four to five hectares for three to four days. Just long enough to trample the earth that allows the grassroots to spread. Long before the cattle have eaten up all the grass, but left a blanket of grass covering the area, plus urine and dung as fertiliser, the herders move them on to the next piece. At night they put them in a mobile kraal to protect them from predators. As soon as they move into the next area, the kraal is moved as well. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">When the rains come, the water doesn’t run away. It is absorbed by the ground cover and feeds the roots. The excess water goes underground and feeds the nearest river. Allan has a natural spring on his farm. That used to be the only source of water for the game. Elephant paths used to lead towards it from all directions. We followed what used to be a dry river bed not too long ago over a kilometre and a half and there was still water in it. The elephant paths are overgrown these days, because the elephants have so many more drinking places to choose from. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Due to the fact that the cattle are so tightly herded, it is easy to control and visitors to the farm will never know they are there. That means that there is no reason why other parks and game reserves can’t use this method to heal their land. But more importantly, it can be used by all the many cattle farmers in all the rural areas of Africa. They already know how to herd; they just need to be taught the secret of timing. Of not leaving them too long in any given space. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">It’s not rocket science. Just a shift in thinking. And this is just a basic explanation of Allan’s holistic approach. To find out more, visit www.savoryinstitute.com<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Well, just before we drove back, I decided to do my bit for healing the land. Hey, Allan, check out that grass patch behind tree number three. The grass will be greener there. <o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">This is Buddy barking off.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><img style="MARGIN: 0px" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" /></div>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-50886589572361952172009-10-13T20:41:00.003+02:002009-12-02T09:15:46.469+02:00With my own two hands<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StTKcYTubII/AAAAAAAABU4/8_0sAQgoSao/s1600-h/With+our+own+two+hands_s-741576.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392157242779659394" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StTKcYTubII/AAAAAAAABU4/8_0sAQgoSao/s320/With+our+own+two+hands_s-741576.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StTKc5MRh2I/AAAAAAAABVA/rviDzdMpnLY/s1600-h/I%27m+gonna+make+it+a+better+place_s-743130.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392157251606775650" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StTKc5MRh2I/AAAAAAAABVA/rviDzdMpnLY/s320/I%27m+gonna+make+it+a+better+place_s-743130.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo 1: With our own two hands</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo 2: I'm gonna make it a better place</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StTKdAB1SnI/AAAAAAAABVI/gwT8eS4YG_U/s1600-h/Jennifer+collecting+organisms_s-744550.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392157253442030194" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StTKdAB1SnI/AAAAAAAABVI/gwT8eS4YG_U/s320/Jennifer+collecting+organisms_s-744550.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StTKdjNvuYI/AAAAAAAABVQ/NzDIKtVZeJU/s1600-h/Fishing+for+answers_s-746356.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5392157262887238018" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StTKdjNvuYI/AAAAAAAABVQ/NzDIKtVZeJU/s320/Fishing+for+answers_s-746356.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo 3: Jennifer collecting organisms</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo 4: Fishing for answers</span></b></p><div class="Section1"><p class="MsoNormal"><b>With my own two hands</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">I know what you’re thinking. How can I be talking about my hands? Maybe I’m a talking dog, but hands? Aikona. You’re right; I’ve got four paws and am very proud of them. </p><p class="MsoNormal">In this case, however, it is artistic license. A figure of speech.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In fact it is not even that. It is about a Jack Johnson song. Now you’re thinking the heat must have gotten to this dog. What has a Jack Johnson song got to do with the Toyota Enviro Outreach? Everything actually. Let me explain.</p><p class="MsoNormal">While driving towards Hwange from Mana Pools, Gerhard slipped a CD into the player. Yip, the song was With my own to hands by Jack Johnson. I pricked my ears:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>I can change the world<o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>With my own two hands<o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Make it a better place<o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>With my own two hands<o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Make it a kinder place<o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>With my own two hands</em></p><p class="MsoNormal">Look at the ex-students from SAWC that visit at every park. Their worlds change when they see Theresa. After her workshops they can go and make their place a better place. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The song continues:</p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>I can make peace on earth<o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>With my own two hands<o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>I can clean up the earth<o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>With my own two hands<o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>I can reach out to you<o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>With my own two hand</em></p><p class="MsoNormal">Look at Jennifer Newenham doing water quality assessment in the rivers of the parks we visit. It is a rapid assessment technique which looks at aquatic macro invertebrates. The method determines a total score related to the organisms’ tolerance of water quality. Organisms with a high rating are sensitive to poor water quality and those with a low rating are tolerant of poor water quality. If the water quality is poor, she makes recommendations to the park. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>I’m gonna make it a brighter place<o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>With my own two hands<o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>I’m gonna make it a safer place<o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>With my own two hands<o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>I’m gonna help the human race <o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>With my own two hands.</em></p><p class="MsoNormal">Bryan Haveman from WESSA uses his own two hands to play the Enviro game with the communities. Suddenly they understand the balance between man and nature better, making their place a safer, brighter place.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>I can hold you <o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>In my own to hands<o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>And I can comfort you<o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>With my own two hands<o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>But you’ve got to use<o:p></o:p></em></p><p class="MsoNormal"><em>Use your own two hands</em></p><p class="MsoNormal">That’s the crux of it all. The Toyota Enviro Outreach would have been meaningless if the people we visit didn’t reach back to us. All we can say is that they grabbed our hands with all their hands. </p><p class="MsoNormal">With our own two hands<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">Our own two hands</p><p class="MsoNormal">Now all of this brings me to the simple, yet effective mathematics of the Toyota Enviro Outreach:</p><p class="MsoNormal">2+2=4<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">And<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">4x4=Conservation</p><p class="MsoNormal">This is Buddy thanking Jack and barking off ‘till tomorrow</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div><br /><p><img style="MARGIN: 0px" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" /><br />Download GPS Tracks for today: <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/october13.kml" target="_blank">Google Earth Format</a> & <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/october13.gpx" target="_blank">GPX Format</a></p><p> </p>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-6571134010811238632009-10-12T20:43:00.002+02:002009-10-12T21:07:31.549+02:00The road less travelled<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StN5k2XIc0I/AAAAAAAABUI/XYwlRdQiL5Q/s1600-h/The+musicians+from+Mana+Pools_s-703436.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391786852867404610" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StN5k2XIc0I/AAAAAAAABUI/XYwlRdQiL5Q/s320/The+musicians+from+Mana+Pools_s-703436.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StN5lYW6b5I/AAAAAAAABUQ/qCeIi9BzG0Y/s1600-h/P1030650_s-705509.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391786861993291666" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StN5lYW6b5I/AAAAAAAABUQ/qCeIi9BzG0Y/s320/P1030650_s-705509.JPG" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo 1: The musicians from Mana Pools</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo 2: Live RSG broadcast with the singing of the local rangers</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StN5lpGhMtI/AAAAAAAABUY/qKxT3MCbeFI/s1600-h/Negotiating+a+campsite_s-706934.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391786866487931602" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StN5lpGhMtI/AAAAAAAABUY/qKxT3MCbeFI/s320/Negotiating+a+campsite_s-706934.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StN5mI5rdnI/AAAAAAAABUg/p7geURAjPys/s1600-h/P1100466_s-708745.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391786875024012914" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StN5mI5rdnI/AAAAAAAABUg/p7geURAjPys/s320/P1100466_s-708745.JPG" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo 3: Negotiating a campsite</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo 4: Jurgens Trailers carrying the extra load</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StN5m4a2xdI/AAAAAAAABUo/NJFGActRcfU/s1600-h/En+route+to+Hwange_s-711938.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391786887779632594" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StN5m4a2xdI/AAAAAAAABUo/NJFGActRcfU/s320/En+route+to+Hwange_s-711938.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StN5nZF3C_I/AAAAAAAABUw/CbTv2Eoluf8/s1600-h/At+the+end+of+another+perfect+day+in+Africa_s-713736.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391786896549940210" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StN5nZF3C_I/AAAAAAAABUw/CbTv2Eoluf8/s320/At+the+end+of+another+perfect+day+in+Africa_s-713736.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Photo 5: En route to Hwange</b></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Photo 6: At the end of another perfect day in Africa</b></span></p><div class="Section1"><p class="MsoNormal"><b>The road less travelled</b></p><p class="MsoNormal">The corny, but very true saying you often see at nature conservation places states that you should take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints. When we left Mana Pools this morning, however, we left something more behind and took something more away. Friendship. </p><p class="MsoNormal">When we were packed and ready to leave this morning, about the whole staff compliment of the park came marching on, singing songs of thanks and gratitude. Saying goodbye to Norman and his wife, Nyasha felt like leaving old friends behind. Whatever the Outreach came to do in terms of meeting old SAWC students, helping with water analysis, community environment training and more, was to them almost secondary to the mere fact that likeminded people came to the park. And cared. And talked. And shared. </p><p class="MsoNormal">It was an eye opener to witness the love all these people have for nature and wildlife. They are not doing it for money, because there hardly is any money. Sometimes they only eat beans and cabbage, but they won’t leave their park. Norman made an interesting statement just before we left. Maybe the poverty and lack of funds is a blessing in disguise for Mana Pools. Because it keeps development away. It’s a wild place. Very much the way Africa was created. It is one of the few remaining places like that left on the continent. </p><p class="MsoNormal">So with pensive minds we started the trek towards Hwange to see what we’ll find there. Theresa is expecting another six ex-students, but before she can spend time with them, we had to get there. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The route was via the Kariba road and travelling on that road makes you happy to be in a Toyota. It’s hard going. Potholes, sand and dried mud grooves in the better parts. We travelled for 282 kilometres on it today and only had three other vehicles sharing the road. The plan was to sleep over en route at Chizerera National Park. </p><p class="MsoNormal">About 100 kilometres from the park, the one trailer that Richard was towing suddenly locked its left wheel. It was no fault of the Jurgens XT 140. Blame it on the stone, as Kris Kristofferson sings. One of the almost boulders in the road ripped the braking cable off and the brake drum in the left wheel ceased up. Gerhard, Frank and Richard managed to get the damaged drum out and reassembled the wheel to get us going again. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The problem now was that there was no chance to make the gate of Chizerera before closing time. We stopped at sundown and via some great negotiations from Stephen Midzi, we got permission from the local chief to camp wild on his ground. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Nothing stops the Outreach. The tents are pitched. The kitchen is humming. Tomorrow we go to Hwange.</p><p class="MsoNormal">See you there. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div><br /><p><img style="MARGIN: 0px" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" /><br />Download GPS Tracks for today: <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/october12.kml" target="_blank">Google Earth Format</a> & <a href="http://www.blogger.com/october12.gpx" target="_blank">GPX Format</a></p>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-64632050864122978982009-10-11T20:25:00.001+02:002009-10-11T20:54:12.699+02:00Tarzan and Jane on the Outreach<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIk-xxbobI/AAAAAAAABSw/xK8bGjA5YUw/s1600-h/OGM_2450_s-711708.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391412364847063474" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIk-xxbobI/AAAAAAAABSw/xK8bGjA5YUw/s320/OGM_2450_s-711708.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIk_iPcIkI/AAAAAAAABS4/HQF0FWTaxg0/s1600-h/Olivier+getting+leave+samples_s-714406.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391412377857827394" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIk_iPcIkI/AAAAAAAABS4/HQF0FWTaxg0/s320/Olivier+getting+leave+samples_s-714406.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo 1: Fig tree</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo 2: Olivier cutting off a tree sample</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIlALe6OYI/AAAAAAAABTA/toTHD6GMd4s/s1600-h/Pressing+the+leaves+of+a+Natal+Mahogany_s-715991.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391412388928567682" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIlALe6OYI/AAAAAAAABTA/toTHD6GMd4s/s320/Pressing+the+leaves+of+a+Natal+Mahogany_s-715991.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIlAaLSL8I/AAAAAAAABTI/IVWf9bXRI4I/s1600-h/Bar-coding...+Any+ape+can+do+it._s-717480.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391412392872783810" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIlAaLSL8I/AAAAAAAABTI/IVWf9bXRI4I/s320/Bar-coding...+Any+ape+can+do+it._s-717480.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Photo 3: Pressing the leaves of a Natal Mahogany</b></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Photo 4: Bar-coding... Any ape can do it.</b></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIlA5JxuQI/AAAAAAAABTQ/avqa9lEJF3Q/s1600-h/DSC_0308_s-719768.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391412401187961090" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIlA5JxuQI/AAAAAAAABTQ/avqa9lEJF3Q/s320/DSC_0308_s-719768.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIlBeO9RoI/AAAAAAAABTY/XufxZNbUqpc/s1600-h/OGM_2416_s-721755.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391412411141801602" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIlBeO9RoI/AAAAAAAABTY/XufxZNbUqpc/s320/OGM_2416_s-721755.JPG" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo 5: Michelle & Olivier pressing samples</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Photo 6: Outreach, voorwaarts, mars!</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIlB1990lI/AAAAAAAABTg/DRsBYV0uZHY/s1600-h/eland-723599.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391412417512985170" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIlB1990lI/AAAAAAAABTg/DRsBYV0uZHY/s320/eland-723599.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIlCcKI0LI/AAAAAAAABTo/VWmWOkpT4sc/s1600-h/P1100394_s-725645.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391412427764584626" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIlCcKI0LI/AAAAAAAABTo/VWmWOkpT4sc/s320/P1100394_s-725645.JPG" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIlC9YDsZI/AAAAAAAABTw/L0qZ2ZaTTO4/s1600-h/IMG_5454_s-727705.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391412436681339282" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIlC9YDsZI/AAAAAAAABTw/L0qZ2ZaTTO4/s320/IMG_5454_s-727705.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIlDZCcfbI/AAAAAAAABT4/E4LZf4qplQY/s1600-h/Leeu_s-729285.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391412444106882482" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIlDZCcfbI/AAAAAAAABT4/E4LZf4qplQY/s320/Leeu_s-729285.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIlDlaK27I/AAAAAAAABUA/sPpRlQ2qdaQ/s1600-h/Outreach+11+Oktober+062_s-730857.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391412447427615666" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StIlDlaK27I/AAAAAAAABUA/sPpRlQ2qdaQ/s320/Outreach+11+Oktober+062_s-730857.jpg" /></a></p><div class="Section1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Tarzan and Jane on the Outreach</span></p><p class="MsoNormal">They are the tree people. I love the tree people. Because a tree is a treasure to a dog. But those three people are only two. </p><p class="MsoNormal">They are Professor Michelle van der Bank from the University of Johannesburg and Olivier Maurin from Ferney-Voltaire in France. They also treasure trees. So much so that they are in the process of DNA bar-coding 20 000 plus species of trees in Africa.</p><p class="MsoNormal">This means that they are identifying the unique short DNA sequence used to identify species. The purpose for that is to set up a data base which custom officials can use to control the illegal trade of trees across borders. They can even identify plants (normally used for medicinal purposes) in a crushed powder form. </p><p class="MsoNormal">All DNA material is housed in a DNA bank at UJ where it is available for research around the world. Since the start of the Outreach Michelle and Olivier have added over a 100 new unique species to the data bank. They hope to at least double that before the end of the 2009 Toyota Outreach. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Another advantage of having been on the Outreach is that they managed to set up formal collaboration at Cape Maclear with Malawi Parks and Wildlife who will send two staff members next year to UJ for training in DNA bar-coding.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Finding and bar-coding trees in the wild African bush are not the easiest thing in the world. Today they worked in a sweltering 40ºC with any member of the Big Five always somewhere close by. Michelle has been challenged by black mambas, charged by buffalo and rhino. In which case she always managed to get leaves right from the top of the nearest tree for DNA bar-coding. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Today I had the privilege of helping the tree people doing a DNA bar-coding on a Natal Mahogany. They worked on the leaves, while I marked the trunk. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Merci beaucoup de m’avoir accepté dans l’equipe Outreach des “barcodeurs” des arbres d’Afrique. For those not in the know, Olivier has just empowered me with my fifth language. That means: Thanks very much to have been accepted in the Outreach Bar-coding team of the trees of Africa.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Au revoir</p><p class="MsoNormal">Buddy</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p> </p></div><br /><img style="margin:0 0 0 0" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" />Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-67098164411063568042009-10-10T20:19:00.005+02:002009-10-10T20:50:02.348+02:00Full marks at halftime<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDRw2RAwPI/AAAAAAAABOY/mogeWGV5R-s/s1600-h/A+day+visitor+in+the+camp_s-770948.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391039391093276914" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDRw2RAwPI/AAAAAAAABOY/mogeWGV5R-s/s320/A+day+visitor+in+the+camp_s-770948.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDRxfWZMLI/AAAAAAAABOg/OTZJqbyzJxI/s1600-h/Norman+Monks+addressing+the+Outreach_s-773642.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391039402121703602" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDRxfWZMLI/AAAAAAAABOg/OTZJqbyzJxI/s320/Norman+Monks+addressing+the+Outreach_s-773642.jpg" /></a></p><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 1: A day visitor in the camp</span></b><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 2: Norman Monks addressing the Outreach</span></b><br /><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDRyAx3f_I/AAAAAAAABOo/cwIBCiSMpEQ/s1600-h/Theresa+assesing+ex-students_s-775951.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391039411095306226" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDRyAx3f_I/AAAAAAAABOo/cwIBCiSMpEQ/s320/Theresa+assesing+ex-students_s-775951.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDRymer98I/AAAAAAAABOw/mFeghbtEoMk/s1600-h/Richard+and+Naphtal+Dube+in+discussion_s-778426.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391039421215406018" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDRymer98I/AAAAAAAABOw/mFeghbtEoMk/s320/Richard+and+Naphtal+Dube+in+discussion_s-778426.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDUnfNUz8I/AAAAAAAABSo/WKOkxJIG0NQ/s1600-h/Richard+and+Naphtal+Dube+in+discussion_s.jpg"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: bold; ">Photo 3: Theresa doing training needs analysis with ex-students, now Park Managers</span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 4: Richard and Naphtal Dube in discussion</span></b></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDRzImml-I/AAAAAAAABO4/LPgIKJxGv2I/s1600-h/Learning+about+the+Enviroment+through+a+game_s-780345.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391039430375413730" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDRzImml-I/AAAAAAAABO4/LPgIKJxGv2I/s320/Learning+about+the+Enviroment+through+a+game_s-780345.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDRzpwRrVI/AAAAAAAABPA/D43Hc4f3WXE/s1600-h/Local+Community+with+Rangers_s-782406.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391039439274356050" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDRzpwRrVI/AAAAAAAABPA/D43Hc4f3WXE/s320/Local+Community+with+Rangers_s-782406.JPG" /></a></p><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 5: Learning about the Enviroment through the Enviro Picture Game</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 6: Environmental Education with local community</span></b><br /><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDR0KfE9aI/AAAAAAAABPI/X-E0XMrTpXg/s1600-h/Cobus+at+midday_s-784687.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391039448060589474" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDR0KfE9aI/AAAAAAAABPI/X-E0XMrTpXg/s320/Cobus+at+midday_s-784687.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDR0lp1EHI/AAAAAAAABPQ/C8nazJDHZrs/s1600-h/Midzi+at+midday_s-786457.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391039455353442418" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDR0lp1EHI/AAAAAAAABPQ/C8nazJDHZrs/s320/Midzi+at+midday_s-786457.jpg" /></a></p><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 7: Cobus at midday</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 8: Midzi at midday</span></b><br /><p class="mobile-photo"> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDR1oilbKI/AAAAAAAABPg/ceLif1DvnM4/s1600-h/theresa_s-790613.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391039473308232866" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDR1oilbKI/AAAAAAAABPg/ceLif1DvnM4/s320/theresa_s-790613.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDR2H-4n0I/AAAAAAAABPo/1BvqrN7mdrc/s1600-h/OGM_2338_s-792356.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391039481748430658" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDR2H-4n0I/AAAAAAAABPo/1BvqrN7mdrc/s320/OGM_2338_s-792356.JPG" /></a></p><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 9: Theresa Sowry</span></b></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 10: Hendrik Melk with one of the solar panels to charge the National Luna Fridges</span></b><br /><div class="Section1"><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDR1GhFxAI/AAAAAAAABPY/m6ciO0Y4iGA/s1600-h/Francis+Davies_s-788568.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5391039464175158274" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDR1GhFxAI/AAAAAAAABPY/m6ciO0Y4iGA/s320/Francis+Davies_s-788568.JPG" /></a></div><div class="Section1"><br /></div><div class="Section1"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/StDR1GhFxAI/AAAAAAAABPY/m6ciO0Y4iGA/s1600-h/Francis+Davies_s-788568.JPG"></a><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Photo 11: Francis Davies collecting WESSA resources for Lower Zambezi Environmental Education in Zambia</span></b><br /><p class="MsoNormal">If this was a rugby match, the coaches and all the players would have been very happy. It’s halftime and there are no injuries. More importantly, there are loads of points on the board. But this is much bigger than a rugby match. Even bigger than the World Cup in the long run. This is about the survival of Africa. And the coaches and players are all very happy.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I chatted to Richard Sowry, one of the coaches. He is on board as a wildlife manager. Back home he is a section ranger at Kingfisherspruit in the Kruger National Park and also vice chairman of the Game Rangers Association of Africa.</p><p class="MsoNormal">His biggest take on the Outreach thus far is that everybody, including South Africa, in essence has the same problems. Sometimes you feel you are alone, but then when you get together with key people in other parks, you realize it is the same pudding, just a different sauce. The advantage of the Outreach is that by getting together, everybody rather starts thinking solutions.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The problem in essence is a lack of resources. The chief warden of Mana Pools, Norman Monks mentioned today that their top working vehicle, a Toyota Land Cruiser, is seriously in need of new suspension but there is no budget for it. He is now trying to modify shocks from his own personal car to get the Cruiser going. That’s when Richard stopped him and said he’s got a spare set in his garage at home. He’ll make a plan to get it up to Norman. That is the kind of thing the Outreach does.</p><p class="MsoNormal">That’s when Theresa joined us next to the fire and I asked her how the Outreach has worked for her so far. She ruffled my ears and smiled. No wonder her students love her so much.</p><p class="MsoNormal">In total, she had 21 students visiting so far. The great news is that they all are better off since their time spent at SAWC. Most of them have been promoted to senior posts and are coping well. She did an assessment on all of them and this valuable information will be fed back to the SAWC and the Director Generals of the countries visited. Her reports will state that all of them should come back to SAWC for advanced training. It will then be up to the DG’s to allocate funds.</p><p class="MsoNormal">She has identified that the main training needs are advanced law enforcement (including crime scene investigation), geographic information systems (GIS) and country based natural resource management. In addition the students indicated that they need more training on how to deal with conflict issues in communities, including human/wildlife conflict and also getting involved with management decisions in parks.</p><p class="MsoNormal">She is so grateful for the opportunity to talk to old students and rekindle relationships. Thanks to the Toyota Outreach she has seen and heard wonderful things. Like Paston Simkoko from Malawi said: After SAWC I was promoted to assistant Park Manager, heading up the Northern section of Nyika National Park in Malawi. I would sincerely like to thank the SAWC for the training and assistance to me and all the other students.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Well that’s the good news so far. Oh yes, one last thing, Stephen Midzi found some lion spoor in the camp this morning. Apparently the king of the bush visited at three last night. Boy, can he be glad I’m such a sound sleeper...</p><p class="MsoNormal">This is Buddy the blogger, barking off.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div><br /><img style="MARGIN: 0px" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" /> </div>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-18597203737933994322009-10-09T22:20:00.003+02:002009-12-02T09:31:30.656+02:00Halfway at the Eden of Africa<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss-b9EcGM_I/AAAAAAAABNo/1vl8Jas92e0/s1600-h/The+winners+of+the+Enviro+Pictures+Game_s-760515.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390698752451687410" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss-b9EcGM_I/AAAAAAAABNo/1vl8Jas92e0/s320/The+winners+of+the+Enviro+Pictures+Game_s-760515.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss-b9ztuRxI/AAAAAAAABNw/wShZyRQqZDo/s1600-h/En+route+to+Mana+Pools_s-762987.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390698765142083346" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss-b9ztuRxI/AAAAAAAABNw/wShZyRQqZDo/s320/En+route+to+Mana+Pools_s-762987.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss-b-aYU4NI/AAAAAAAABN4/XfysKYZAlDE/s1600-h/Slash+and+burn+in+Malawi_s-765229.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390698775521321170" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss-b-aYU4NI/AAAAAAAABN4/XfysKYZAlDE/s320/Slash+and+burn+in+Malawi_s-765229.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss-b-7ar3CI/AAAAAAAABOA/LswNlpfw4Fw/s1600-h/The+Outreach+reaches+halfway_s-767198.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390698784389585954" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss-b-7ar3CI/AAAAAAAABOA/LswNlpfw4Fw/s320/The+Outreach+reaches+halfway_s-767198.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss-b_s1LgkI/AAAAAAAABOI/VN_764HX02E/s1600-h/Sunset+over+Eden_s-770126.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390698797654049346" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss-b_s1LgkI/AAAAAAAABOI/VN_764HX02E/s320/Sunset+over+Eden_s-770126.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss-cAD3j-SI/AAAAAAAABOQ/TeVS5qDQtKc/s1600-h/Stephen+Midzi+greeting+old+friends_s-772760.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390698803838056738" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss-cAD3j-SI/AAAAAAAABOQ/TeVS5qDQtKc/s320/Stephen+Midzi+greeting+old+friends_s-772760.jpg" /></a></p><p class="MsoNormal">At 8.15 pm it is 36ºC. It is very much in the shade, because it is all dark. Yet it is better than four this afternoon when we arrived. Then it was 42ºC in the shade. The hottest day so far on the Toyota Outreach. No, we are not in Hotazel; we are in the Eden of Africa, Mana Pools, Zimbabwe. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Sitting around the fire, but far away from it, I thought it a good idea to get some key players’ perspectives on the success rate of the Toyota Outreach at this halfway mark of the expedition. So in no specific order, I asked them a few questions. They had so much to say about the successes so far, I can write a doctorate about it. But I’ll condense it into a blog or two to give you an idea of how well this expedition is doing. For now, I’ll concentrate on two experiences.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Talking to Bryan Haveman first, he equated the experience to the four pillars of WESSA. He noticed the biodiversity loss in Malawi. A massive poaching problem at Kasungu. With sadness he noted the huge amount of hardwood, like leadwood and kiaat, going to somewhere like China.</p><p class="MsoNormal">The second pillar is energy. Bag upon bag of charcoal is being produced from indigenous wood. Saplings are being cut for firewood. Deforestation kills the balance. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Water forms the third pillar. Although 20% of Malawi is under water, they have a problem. The seriously overpopulated country uses the lake for everything. Swimming, washing themselves, their clothes and dishes. The result? Cholera. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Too many people equals too much waste if it is not exposed of in the right way. The people say they bury or burn it. Not nearly the best, but at least an effort. </p><p class="MsoNormal">However, being on the Outreach gives WESSA the opportunity to educate. They have played the Enviro Picture Building Game with two communities so far. Both times it evoked the right response. Proof that it works. Both groups expressed a wish that they have experienced this a long time ago. For the first time they understand the interaction between communities and nature reserves. Progress, progress, progress, Bryan expressed and nodded his head.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“Howzit Bra,” I heard from my other side.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I turned around and there was Stephen Midzi. He is an invisible, happy, loud kind of guy. You know what I mean? He is a section ranger at Vlakteplaas in the Kruger National Park and an ex-student of the SAWC. He started off in conservation as a guide in Zimbabwe at Hwange, Ghonarezhow and Save Valley Conservancy before moving over to the Kruger. </p><p class="MsoNormal">“What does the Toyota Outreach mean to you?” I threw at him.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“It is a very noble initiative to go out there and see how successful the training is. It is well respected by all the ex-students. They realize their time at the college wasn’t theory and a piece of paper afterwards. It lives through this kind of contact and progress.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“The most beautiful thing of all is that the Outreach brings conservation beyond borders to life. It lets us break down manmade borders and focus on what is natural. It lets us focus on what we are in this for. We are Africans. We have to create something sustainable for generations to come. The Outreach helps us all to be there and do it. And not just read about it in some textbook.”</p><p class="MsoNormal">“Thanks Bra,” was all I could add. Steve, like everyone else on the Outreach is in this for real. To make a difference. </p><p class="MsoNormal">There is so much more, but for now let’s call it a day. I’ll leave you with some words of my own: Ndatenda Charzoo nokuteerera kwamaita tichataura zvakare pamazuva anotevera. For those not in the know, I have just mastered my fourth language. Thanks to Stephen. That is Shona for:</p><p class="MsoNormal">Thanks for listening. We will talk again in the next few days.<br /></p><p><img style="MARGIN: 0px" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" /><br />Download GPS Tracks for today: <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/october9.kml" target="_blank">Google Earth Format</a> & <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/october9.gpx" target="_blank">GPX Format</a></p>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-61304948742241253152009-10-08T21:44:00.004+02:002009-10-09T21:57:14.132+02:00but what's the environmental component of this?<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss5ByeLJAaI/AAAAAAAABNI/fdclnbiVKQo/s1600-h/Image_001-741845.JPG"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss5ByeLJAaI/AAAAAAAABNI/fdclnbiVKQo/s320/Image_001-741845.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390318139358118306" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss5BzLUThHI/AAAAAAAABNQ/n60eOn6AAmg/s1600-h/Image_002-743940.JPG"><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss5BzLUThHI/AAAAAAAABNQ/n60eOn6AAmg/s320/Image_002-743940.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390318151476151410" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss5BzkDSXRI/AAAAAAAABNY/PyVitrcUrH0/s1600-h/Image_003-746168.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss5BzkDSXRI/AAAAAAAABNY/PyVitrcUrH0/s320/Image_003-746168.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390318158115659026" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss5B0NeoVKI/AAAAAAAABNg/e82YEeHAK2w/s1600-h/Image_004-748255.JPG"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ss5B0NeoVKI/AAAAAAAABNg/e82YEeHAK2w/s320/Image_004-748255.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5390318169236198562" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>Environmental Education sessions with the local community at Kasungu National Park</b></span></p><div class="Section1"> <p class="MsoNormal">In a recent comment we were asked what we are actually doing. Theresa Sowrey, Executive Manager of the Southern Africa Wildlife College (SAWC) summarises the main objectives of this outreach and what has been done so far. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">The main objectives of this outreach:</p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><p class="MsoNormal">1. To conduct a monitoring and evaluation exercise on past SAWC students. This will determine if the training they received at the college is begin implemented back in their work places.. A training needs analysis is being conducted per park visited.</p><p class="MsoNormal">2. Environmental Education to communities surrounding the park we visited is being conducted and past students are being trained on how to conduct the environmental education sessions once the Outreach leaves their country.</p><p class="MsoNormal">3. expose Parks & Wildlife staff to the conservation network which has been established by conservationist across Africa via the GRAA</p><p></p><p class="MsoListParagraph" style="text-indent:-18.0pt;mso-list:l0 level1 lfo1"><o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">SAWC is extremely excited to announce that 18 past students have been located in Malawi. All 18 students have been promoted since receiving the training. This is wonderful news!! <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">Major ecological issues discussed included severe population sizes, bordering and encroaching national parks leading to the unsustainable utilisation of natural resources. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">These issues were discussed in open sessions and training to address possible sustainable solution including responsible tourism were discussed. <o:p></o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> <p class="MsoNormal">If any of the readers have more questions, please feel free to ask and we will try and respond as we can.<o:p></o:p></p> </div><br /><br /><p><img style="margin:0 0 0 0" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" /><br />Download GPS Tracks for today: <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/october8.kml" target="_blank">Google Earth Format</a> & <a href="http://www.blogger.com/october8.gpx" target="_blank">GPX Format</a></p>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-27048847815979947162009-10-07T20:36:00.001+02:002009-10-07T20:46:13.089+02:00The day oom Willie did water 4x4<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sszg8CWQmcI/AAAAAAAABMA/Vj-G20HeALs/s1600-h/Image7_001-712296.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389930176082647490" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sszg8CWQmcI/AAAAAAAABMA/Vj-G20HeALs/s320/Image7_001-712296.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sszg8W_Jh6I/AAAAAAAABMI/appWcXnkrIA/s1600-h/Image7_002-713908.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389930181622859682" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sszg8W_Jh6I/AAAAAAAABMI/appWcXnkrIA/s320/Image7_002-713908.JPG" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sszg85CF2GI/AAAAAAAABMQ/hRTUDS41YsM/s1600-h/Image7_004-715260.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389930190762006626" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sszg85CF2GI/AAAAAAAABMQ/hRTUDS41YsM/s320/Image7_004-715260.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sszg9HdkxmI/AAAAAAAABMY/bwjZVUsQaco/s1600-h/Image7_005-716768.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389930194635376226" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sszg9HdkxmI/AAAAAAAABMY/bwjZVUsQaco/s320/Image7_005-716768.JPG" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sszg9vEXd4I/AAAAAAAABMg/G5CflVErV1E/s1600-h/Image7_006-718275.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389930205267064706" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sszg9vEXd4I/AAAAAAAABMg/G5CflVErV1E/s320/Image7_006-718275.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sszg930UszI/AAAAAAAABMo/mlM6jXVcROM/s1600-h/Image7_007-719728.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389930207615693618" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sszg930UszI/AAAAAAAABMo/mlM6jXVcROM/s320/Image7_007-719728.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sszg-cQOb4I/AAAAAAAABMw/l3yyKOKSTeY/s1600-h/Image7_009-721069.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389930217396400002" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sszg-cQOb4I/AAAAAAAABMw/l3yyKOKSTeY/s320/Image7_009-721069.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sszg-q3TidI/AAAAAAAABM4/eLbafSnstlI/s1600-h/Image7_008-722368.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389930221318408658" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sszg-q3TidI/AAAAAAAABM4/eLbafSnstlI/s320/Image7_008-722368.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sszg-y-RoSI/AAAAAAAABNA/Bj0dRhVIdwA/s1600-h/Image7_003-723698.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389930223495127330" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Sszg-y-RoSI/AAAAAAAABNA/Bj0dRhVIdwA/s320/Image7_003-723698.JPG" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo">A lot of new things happened today. I am now a captain. Captain Buddy of the Venda Solidarity. Not quite the USS Nimmets, but I’m getting there. We went over to the closest island like real tourists, but it was great. </p><div class="Section1"><p class="MsoNormal">You cannot believe this lake. It is 750 metres deep at its deepest and at that point it is 300 metres below sea level. Apparently it is quite dark down there, but I didn’t go and check it out. Where we were cruising, the water was as clear as crystal. With all the locals washing themselves, their clothes and dishes in the lake, it is a wonder. They say it is because there is so much water. Other than that, there are over a 1 000 different types of fish in it and you won’t find any one of them anywhere else in the world. While moored at the island one of our guides caught a small little bright blue fish with his hands. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Suddenly we heard the beautiful, chilling cry of fish eagles around the western side of the island. We immediately mobilised and sped at 3 knots per hour towards the cries. Then it happened. One of them swooped down, braked in the air and picked up a late afternoon snack from the water. The people on the boat all shrieked. They have never seen anything like this before. Neither have I, but I kept my mouth shut. Humans, sometimes...</p><p class="MsoNormal">Meanwhile Theresa was also beaming with pleasure back on terra firma. Six old students came to her workshop and they have all been promoted to higher ranks in their different parks and fields of wildlife and conservation. What they were taught at the SAWC is working. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The best part of the day, however, was brought to us by oom Willie. He and a couple of the other guys went swimming on the rocky side of the shore. There was a neat, smooth rounded rock in front of him when he decided it was time to get out. Smooth is the operative word. Every attempt got him about halfway out of the lake before he started spinning in the algae. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Eventually I had to show him how it was done. Being a canine on all fours has some serious advantages. On all 4x4’s he roared out onto dry rock, turned around, studied the horizon and pretended nothing has happened. Respect oom Willie, it is great to have you with us. It is great to see how the real guys still do it. For those not in the know, oom Willie has been involved in all nine trips done so far, but he retired during the year. That was not going to stop him, however. He is still here, doing his job and giving the Outreach his experience. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Tomorrow is a long day, driving back to Harare in Zimbabwe. We are getting up at four so now it’s time for Howling Moon. No, that is not a ritual. Nor is it a lost Red Indian in Malawi. It’s our tents. Supplied by Campworld. They make a long night short. <?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">See you other side of the border.</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div><br /><p><img style="MARGIN: 0px" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" /></p>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-90999675657389656542009-10-07T18:20:00.001+02:002009-10-07T18:31:24.717+02:00Random Photos from First Week<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBiyyOoTI/AAAAAAAABKI/PNG31KGUDQs/s1600-h/Image_001-775147.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389895657547800882" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBiyyOoTI/AAAAAAAABKI/PNG31KGUDQs/s320/Image_001-775147.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBjN_-8PI/AAAAAAAABKQ/HdYpD1FIfpw/s1600-h/Image_002-776660.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389895664853250290" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBjN_-8PI/AAAAAAAABKQ/HdYpD1FIfpw/s320/Image_002-776660.JPG" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBjS7dacI/AAAAAAAABKY/bQbcXP22QsY/s1600-h/Image_003-777955.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389895666176453058" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBjS7dacI/AAAAAAAABKY/bQbcXP22QsY/s320/Image_003-777955.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBj1CqD8I/AAAAAAAABKg/lF3HRZipJmg/s1600-h/Image_004-779291.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389895675333447618" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBj1CqD8I/AAAAAAAABKg/lF3HRZipJmg/s320/Image_004-779291.JPG" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBkXM_YII/AAAAAAAABKo/fg-3G34_PtE/s1600-h/Image_005-781124.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389895684503593090" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBkXM_YII/AAAAAAAABKo/fg-3G34_PtE/s320/Image_005-781124.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBkkB4uiI/AAAAAAAABKw/egrFh_rfQRY/s1600-h/Image_006-782562.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389895687946680866" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBkkB4uiI/AAAAAAAABKw/egrFh_rfQRY/s320/Image_006-782562.JPG" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBlIMnBbI/AAAAAAAABK4/mtJgYVrv9mg/s1600-h/Image_007-784284.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389895697655334322" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBlIMnBbI/AAAAAAAABK4/mtJgYVrv9mg/s320/Image_007-784284.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBlb6NDfI/AAAAAAAABLA/ZDWmLV-AvDA/s1600-h/Image_008-785747.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389895702946844146" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBlb6NDfI/AAAAAAAABLA/ZDWmLV-AvDA/s320/Image_008-785747.JPG" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBlz89QYI/AAAAAAAABLI/6xWFkagIaP0/s1600-h/Image_009-787019.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389895709400842626" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBlz89QYI/AAAAAAAABLI/6xWFkagIaP0/s320/Image_009-787019.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBmAVeCcI/AAAAAAAABLQ/sQ5gYFM1LM0/s1600-h/Image_011-788716.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389895712724879810" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBmAVeCcI/AAAAAAAABLQ/sQ5gYFM1LM0/s320/Image_011-788716.JPG" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBmnxy5GI/AAAAAAAABLY/smIh53zDkRc/s1600-h/Image_010-790197.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389895723312669794" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBmnxy5GI/AAAAAAAABLY/smIh53zDkRc/s320/Image_010-790197.JPG" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBnI9ycWI/AAAAAAAABLg/Uwa_MM16YCM/s1600-h/Image_012-792117.JPG"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389895732221342050" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszBnI9ycWI/AAAAAAAABLg/Uwa_MM16YCM/s320/Image_012-792117.JPG" /></a></p>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-3920991526512959992009-10-06T20:55:00.001+02:002009-10-06T21:12:18.605+02:00Being at the right place at the right time<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SsuTuyAAgkI/AAAAAAAABJw/yDOT0VEt9UU/s1600-h/Image6_001-711349.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389563810984002114" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SsuTuyAAgkI/AAAAAAAABJw/yDOT0VEt9UU/s320/Image6_001-711349.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SsuTvm2Ni1I/AAAAAAAABJ4/kOodZtcwdaU/s1600-h/Image6_002-713858.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389563825169992530" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SsuTvm2Ni1I/AAAAAAAABJ4/kOodZtcwdaU/s320/Image6_002-713858.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SsuTwBUKDCI/AAAAAAAABKA/BmDJH6TxMDI/s1600-h/Image6_003-716092.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389563832274914338" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SsuTwBUKDCI/AAAAAAAABKA/BmDJH6TxMDI/s320/Image6_003-716092.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Photo 1: That’s what a GDP of $312 per capita means.<br />Photo 2: The skeleton of the Golden Sands Reception<br />Photo 3: I’ll swim when I get to Lake Malawi</span></strong> </p><div class="Section1"><p class="MsoNormal">We started working our way back south on a long roundabout route today. I felt like a swim in the river first with the elephants, but hey, those big okes are messy. But I knew we were on our way back to Lake Malawi, so it was ok really. </p><p class="MsoNormal">I woke up in Lilongwe when the whole convoy came to a screeching halt. It was a minibus taxi that decided to cross a big intersection, couldn’t find enough space to manoeuvre in and blocked the whole intersection. What interested me the most was not the commotion, but the amount of words written on the side of the taxi, under the word, taxi. I couldn’t find my notebook in time, so I couldn’t write them all down. Whether the words mean taxi in 17 dialects or whether they are 17 destinations are both possibilities. You see what travelling in Africa does to a city dog? You learn patience. You wait. You keep yourself busy. Eventually the taxi managed to get out of our way and we moved on. No problem.</p><p class="MsoNormal">I looked out the window and realised something. This Lilongwe is a typical overfull African city, but yet it is different. Something is not the same to what we are used to. Then I realised what it was. It was clean. There were very few papers lying around or blowing in the wind. </p><p class="MsoNormal">As we drove out into the rural areas, I realised the same applies there. I asked Gerhard about it and he thought maybe they are too poor to buy anything with plastic or wrapping paper around it. Or maybe they just re-use the paper and wrapping, because of poverty.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Somehow Malawi is like the orphan of Africa to me. Everybody makes a big thing about a lot of countries, but somehow these people are being overlooked. Everywhere you look you see people. Some fortunate ones in cars. Some less fortunate on bicycles, but most on foot. They walk miles just to get water. They walk miles looking for food. They don’t always find it. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Malawi is a small country. It is only 118 000 km² in size with over 20% under water. Yet it has a population of over 15 million, resulting in a density of 128 per square kilometre. But that is not the big problem. It is the gross domestic product per capita. Only $312. </p><p class="MsoNormal">That doesn’t look too good, but what does look good is that they are not throwing their hands in the air. Especially when it comes to balancing the environment between people and nature. With such a high density, 11,1% of the land is proclaimed as national parks. That is why it is so important to work with the communities and make them understand that environmental conservation is the only way forward. </p><p class="MsoNormal">What looks even better is that a great jump forward has taken place. Dr Leonard Sofu, the director of Malawi’s national parks had a meeting with representatives from the World Bank. They have agreed in principle to donate money to get the parks back to life, especially to make them attractive tourist destinations. If you look at what is left of the Golden Sands campsite in Lake Malawi National Park where we are staying, you will understand. The reception room is only a skeleton and flushing toilets don’t flush unless you add you own water into them. </p><p class="MsoNormal">But the best news of all is that, because the Toyota Outreach was at Kasungu National Park with Dr Sofu, he invited Theresa to a meeting in Lilongwe today regarding the issue. The deal was clinched and Jennifer Newenham will champion the tourist development on behalf of the parks. Talking about being at the right place at the right time.</p><p class="MsoNormal">Well, I’m also now making sure I’m at the right place at the right time. Right next to the fire where dinner will be served.</p><p class="MsoNormal">This is Buddy the blogger barking off. </p><p class="MsoNormal"><?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p> </p></div><br /><p><img style="margin:0 0 0 0" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" /><br />Download GPS Tracks for today: <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/october6.kml" target="_blank">Google Earth Format</a> & <a href="http://www.blogger.com/october6.gpx" target="_blank">GPX Format</a></p>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-22437529714088049932009-10-05T21:18:00.001+02:002009-10-05T21:27:54.432+02:00Let the games begin<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SspH8mFrw5I/AAAAAAAABJQ/hzup1imtP8c/s1600-h/Image5_001-774140.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389199010444329874" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SspH8mFrw5I/AAAAAAAABJQ/hzup1imtP8c/s320/Image5_001-774140.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SspH9eXCk8I/AAAAAAAABJY/IJkheAjx1UM/s1600-h/Image5_002-776679.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389199025549513666" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SspH9eXCk8I/AAAAAAAABJY/IJkheAjx1UM/s320/Image5_002-776679.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SspH-GAYiPI/AAAAAAAABJg/fI8bf21irW8/s1600-h/Image5_003-779487.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389199036191901938" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SspH-GAYiPI/AAAAAAAABJg/fI8bf21irW8/s320/Image5_003-779487.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SspH-oc1zKI/AAAAAAAABJo/5AtKpxYyhyo/s1600-h/Image5_004-781925.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389199045438065826" border="0" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SspH-oc1zKI/AAAAAAAABJo/5AtKpxYyhyo/s320/Image5_004-781925.jpg" /></a></p><div class="Section1"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:85%;"><strong>Photo 1: Conservation is a hungry business<br />Photo 2: Hallo fans! Buddy loves kids<br />Photo 3: The jigsaw of the environment<br />Photo 4: Dr Leonard Sofu, director of Conservation and Wildlife in Malawi</strong></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">I woke up last night around two with an unearthly noise reverberating in my sensitive ears. That hippo, it flashed through my brains. It was full moon and the plains were empty. Then like a top notch watchdog I pinpointed the source of the noise. Oom Willie in the tent next door was lying on his back. I growled once, oom Willie turned on his side and I went back to sleep until six. </p><p class="MsoNormal">At breakfast there was a different kind of excitement. Theresa Sowry, executive training manager of SAWC was looking at her watch every ten seconds. Then it happened. Two bakkies (Hiluxes, of course) with Malawi Parks board markings on the doors pulled into the campsite. Two women and ten eager looking men got out and off the bakkies. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Theresa ran to them. Everybody shrieked. She hugged the first one. Then the second. They all grabbed her. Theresa’s old students from the college.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“You promised you’ll come,” one of them said. </p><p class="MsoNormal">“It took a while, but a promise cannot be broken,” she answered.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“We knew you would come.”<?xml:namespace prefix = o /><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal">“Hallo Buddy,” I then heard from behind me and saw this very distinguished gentleman smiling at me.</p><p class="MsoNormal">“I am Dr Leonard Sofu, director of Conservation and Wildlife in Malawi and I’m a big fan of yours,” he then said and we formally shook hand and paw. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Wow, the big guy himself! Nothing less for Buddy. He then delivered a great talk on the state of wildlife, conservation and the environment in Malawi. Afterwards Theresa and the old students started workshopping. For the first time she could see how they are doing in their own workplaces. Everyone had a pile of questions and Theresa had answers. Lunchtime came and went. The kitchen crew waited. They arrived an hour late. There was just too much to talk about. Too little time. </p><p class="MsoNormal">After lunch it was Bryan Havemann from WESSA’s turn. We drove to Linyanwa Village just outside Kasungu National Park for a workshop with the local community on environmental care in harmony with wildlife. </p><p class="MsoNormal">The project was an eye opener. They use a system that looks a bit like a jigsaw puzzle. After splitting the community leaders present into two groups that will compete against each other, Bryan and his team read out a question to them on an environmental issue. Whichever group answers first can place the visual piece on a board and are awarded a point. </p><p class="MsoNormal">Gradually a picture appears on the board with some elements environmentally positive and some negative. Step by step the negative elements are being replaced by positive solutions. For example eroded ground disappears and planted vegetation takes its place. It’s a game about balance. .</p><p class="MsoNormal">Maybe a simple game to you, but enlightenment to the villagers. Their eagerness and enthusiasm brought a lump to my throat. And hope in my heart. </p><p class="MsoNormal">This is Buddy, a very happy hound barking off</p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p><img style="MARGIN: 0px" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" /></p></div>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-42404903029668136862009-10-04T21:24:00.003+02:002009-10-07T18:55:27.011+02:00The transit is over.<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ssj3d0SlrKI/AAAAAAAABI4/ou_RB4s90Kg/s1600-h/Image4_003-735654.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388829045773675682" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ssj3d0SlrKI/AAAAAAAABI4/ou_RB4s90Kg/s320/Image4_003-735654.jpg" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ssj3ebBKPgI/AAAAAAAABJA/Hcgni_A8QsM/s1600-h/Image4_002-737295.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388829056169557506" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ssj3ebBKPgI/AAAAAAAABJA/Hcgni_A8QsM/s320/Image4_002-737295.jpg" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ssj3eyYJehI/AAAAAAAABJI/2KlnR8GHcWs/s1600-h/Image4_001-739254.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388829062439991826" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ssj3eyYJehI/AAAAAAAABJI/2KlnR8GHcWs/s320/Image4_001-739254.jpg" /></a> <a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszGT8AgpqI/AAAAAAAABL4/9eNdzE1jTZY/s1600-h/Image_001.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SszGT8AgpqI/AAAAAAAABL4/9eNdzE1jTZY/s400/Image_001.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5389900899883722402" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><strong><span style="font-size:85%;">Photo 1: Lake Malawi is not the biggest piece of water in the world. Apparently...<br />Photo 2: Still in transit from Cape Maclear to Kasungu National Park<br />Photo 3: A view with a room at Kasungu<br />Photo 4: Amazing new Howling Moon tents! </span></strong></p><div class="Section1"><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN-LEFT: 0cm" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-ZA">Well Gerhard didn’t lie. When I woke up this morning I saw the biggest piece of water in the world. Lake Malawi. So I said so. Gerhard started chuckling again. Apparently the sea is bigger. I’ll go there one day, soon.</span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN-LEFT: 0cm" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-ZA">For now, however, we packed up again to start the last leg of our transit. All the way to Lilongwe airport where we picked up Frank Carlisle, the most important man on the trip. He’s in charge of the food. I had a long chat with him on the next leg of the journey to make sure he understands my diet. He understands. But I must say Elmarie, Theresa, Gwynette, Wilna and Marguerite did a great job without the chief of cuisine on board. </span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN-LEFT: 0cm" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-ZA">Wow, another great thing happened today. We didn’t have to cross a border and managed to set up camp in daylight. Maybe it should have been better if we arrived after dark, because I’ve seen these footpaths coming up from the water in front of us. There are no fences around the camp. Nada (oops, where not in Mozambique, anymore). I thought it might be locals, but were told it’s a hippo path right in front of where we are supposed to sleep. Rather, where the people are going to sleep. I’ve been told hippos are the biggest killers of all the animals in Africa. No hippo will get hold of me. I’ve also been told there is an elephant bull in musk, wiping out whatever comes in front of him. Aw well, I guess I’ll have to be brave. Be a watchdog. Gee, some of these guys can snore. </span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN-LEFT: 0cm" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-ZA">So, after travelling 2394km kilometres, we are at the most northern point of our expedition in Kasungu National Park in Malawi, bordering Zambia. Tomorrow the real reason for travelling all this way starts. We are going to meet up with some former students of the SAWC and start bar-coding trees. I think I will be helping the tree people, because I am Buddy and I can sniff a good tree a mile away. </span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN-LEFT: 0cm" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-ZA">This is Buddy barking off.</span></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN-LEFT: 0cm" class="MsoNoSpacing"></p><p style="TEXT-INDENT: 0cm; MARGIN-LEFT: 0cm" class="MsoNoSpacing"><span lang="EN-ZA"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p></div><br /><br /><p><img style="MARGIN: 0px" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" /><br />Download GPS Tracks for today: <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/october4.kml" target="_blank">Google Earth Format</a> & <a href="http://www.blogger.com/october4.gpx" target="_blank">GPX Format</a></p>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-27887808746492826602009-10-03T21:22:00.001+02:002009-10-03T21:30:25.238+02:00How big is this place called Africa?<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SselGmiLjNI/AAAAAAAABIw/ESWzOtdEyfE/s1600-h/Image3_001-714111.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SselGmiLjNI/AAAAAAAABIw/ESWzOtdEyfE/s320/Image3_001-714111.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388457012013796562" /></a></p><div class="Section1"> <p class="MsoNormal">Tete... So we woke up in Tete. Remember, we arrived in the dark and I didn’t really see much. It’s the first time in my life I’ve seen such a big stretch of water. We slept at a place called Chico’s on the western banks of the Zambezi. Now that’s water. It makes the Vaal River look like a water feature in a Melville garden.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">But just going back a bit, Chico’s makes the meanest, bestest peri-peri chicken in the world. And believe me, I’m a peri kind of dog. Bon Vindo they said when we arrived. Aw c’mon, don’t tell me you didn’t get that? Welcome!</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This Chico’s has a great bar with a cool view of the Zambezi. Check out the picture. Check out the National Luna Fridge in the front. Cool view. Get it?</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This morning after breakfast we pulled out of Chico’s. Boa Viagem all the guys said, waving us goodbye. Yes (sigh) that means farewell. But I’ll be back. Hasta la Vista... Oops wrong language.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">After about three hours of driving I started wondering how big this continent really is. To while away the kilometres, I started to talk to Gerhard Groenewald. He’s a great guy. The main man. In charge of the Toyota Outreach. I like riding with him. He handles that Toyota Fortuner so smoothly, I never wake up when he swerves between potholes.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I mentioned to him that that piece of Zambezi I saw must surely be the biggest piece of water in the world. He let rip with that double bass chuckle of his. What? I wanted to know.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">“Buddy, dear Buddy,” he answered. “Wait till we get to Cape Maclear in Malawi. Then you’ll see big. Some people call it the Malawi Inland Sea.”</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Thanks to the immense thoroughness of the bureaucrats we, yet again, didn’t manage to get to Cape Maclear in daytime. In front of me where I am lying next to the fire, I see this total darkness, stretching as far as the eye cannot see. They tell me it is the lake.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">I’ll see in the morning, and if it is true, I’ll post a picture.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This is Buddy barking off.<o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p> </div> <br /><p><img style="margin:0 0 0 0" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" /><br />Download GPS Tracks for today: <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/october3.kml" target="_blank">Google Earth Format</a> & <a href="http://www.blogger.com/october3.gpx" target="_blank">GPX Format</a></p>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-49907304126775811342009-10-03T07:38:00.003+02:002010-01-13T12:11:46.123+02:00Hey Africa, tell me how you do it<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SsbkxZdU4rI/AAAAAAAABIY/xE1jaezXjNM/s1600-h/Image2_001-777516.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SsbkxZdU4rI/AAAAAAAABIY/xE1jaezXjNM/s320/Image2_001-777516.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388245541493990066" /></a> <a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ssbkx9O-fuI/AAAAAAAABIg/E-FGXo6Ivzk/s1600-h/Image2_003-779510.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ssbkx9O-fuI/AAAAAAAABIg/E-FGXo6Ivzk/s320/Image2_003-779510.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388245551097478882" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>Photo 1: Musoko's fresh meat. And Marguerite standing in the door</b></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>Photo 2: Don't always bargain on petrol</b></span></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ssbkyrww2JI/AAAAAAAABIo/bqMMJWSHjKw/s1600-h/Image2_002-781875.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/Ssbkyrww2JI/AAAAAAAABIo/bqMMJWSHjKw/s320/Image2_002-781875.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5388245563587221650" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><b>Photo 3: Cellphones definately had an effect </b></span></p><div class="Section1"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA">When in Africa, don’t make too many plans. Things have a habit of changing. We left Masvingo at 7.30. As planned. We drove towards Harare. As planned. There is a good by-pass road, going around the city, but nobody uses it. Because the army has a road block on it, stops every single vehicle and searches everything in it. So everybody drives through the overfull city. It’s quicker.</span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA">It is so sad to see what has happened to Zimbabwe. The country is in a stranglehold. For instance, when a vehicle breaks down or has an accident next to the open road, it is just left there. In no time, it will get stripped to a bare carcass that will just lie there and rot away.</span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA">Yet, there seem to be a sense of optimism amongst the people. As if a new beginning is about to take place. Yesterday we stopped in Musoko and while checking out the scene, Coetzee Zietsman, our movie man lost his sunglasses. It dropped off his head while walking around. A local Zimbabwean immediately ran to the glasses, picked it up and took it back to its rightful owner. He smiled at Coetzee, waved and walked away without waiting or begging for a reward. Coetzee had to run after him to give him R10. Yes, when travelling in Zim, forget about local currency or even American Dollars. They want South African Rand.</span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA">But wait, back to our plans. We were aiming for Tete in Mozambique and should have made it there at around six last night. Until we got to Nyamapanda Borderpost where we were going to leave Zim. All the paperwork was done in no time. Stamps being whacked into passports at a pace. The one official after the other filled in these dog-eared (I don’t like that expression, really) books with columns and columns of information about every passport holder. I started wondering what they were doing with all that stuff. I wonder what they do with all the full books.</span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA">Then somebody from somewhere decided we cannot go through. We needed police clearance papers for our vehicles. We didn’t need them the day before when we left Zim, but that didn’t seem to matter. Suddenly about ten very unofficially looking officials were deciding about our fate.</span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA">While all this was taking place, I went for a stroll. You see, as the top dog, I don’t need a passport. I’m a VIP, giving me diplomatic immunity. I walked backwards and forwards between Zim and Mozambique and broadened my Portuguese. I met a donkey and a goat along the way, but they weren’t much in the sense of conversation.</span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA">Eventually we had all the papers. Until yet another official decided he is not accepting it. So we waited a bit more. Patience is the biggest virtue in Africa. We outwaited them, meaning we outwitted them. We were supposed to be in Tete at six. We left Zim at ten past six.</span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA">Yip, don’t make too many plans in Africa.</span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA">This is Buddy barking off.</span></p></div><p><img style="margin:0 0 0 0" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" /><br />Download GPS Tracks for today: <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/october2.kml" target="_blank">Google Earth Format</a> & <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/october2.gpx" target="_blank">GPX Format</a></p>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1090492716873538781.post-47442149322489525402009-10-01T22:59:00.001+02:002009-10-01T23:12:29.674+02:00Buddy across the border<p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SsUZOW9EcfI/AAAAAAAABIA/Gcc7AEsLuZo/s1600-h/Image_001-733595.jpg"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SsUZOW9EcfI/AAAAAAAABIA/Gcc7AEsLuZo/s320/Image_001-733595.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387740263689253362" /></a> <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SsUZO1pM3xI/AAAAAAAABII/_ySo2Yzo-Lg/s1600-h/Image_003-734882.jpg"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SsUZO1pM3xI/AAAAAAAABII/_ySo2Yzo-Lg/s320/Image_003-734882.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387740271927418642" /></a></p><p class="mobile-photo"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SsUZPOSmmQI/AAAAAAAABIQ/KaGwfn_67x8/s1600-h/Image_002-736506.jpg"><img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_kytasohpwSI/SsUZPOSmmQI/AAAAAAAABIQ/KaGwfn_67x8/s320/Image_002-736506.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5387740278543522050" /></a></p><div class="Section1"> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA">The first thing I want to ask you is: Do you have any idea how early four o’ clock in the morning is? Even way up north it is two hours before the sun starts showing itself. Well, I got up, got in Toyota number One and went straight back to sleep. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA">We drove outside the Kruger all the way up to Punda Maria. Apparently. When we entered the Kruger National Park, I woke up. Things got going. Although we only travelled 70 kilometres through the park, we saw lots of animals. I hate those baboons, they look too much like humans, but can’t even talk. Unlike me. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA">In any case, how many dogs do you know that have crossed two international borders in one day? Me. Those guys on the Mozambican side were great. I even learnt about obrigado...How many trilingual dogs do you know? Me. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA">In Moz things really lit up. Thick sand, low range, diff locks, technical stuff, really. But those Toyota’s made me proud to be their top tog. Except for a little huffing and puffing when we got stuck in the Limpopo River. Do you know of any dogs that have done a full-on river crossing across the Limpopo? Me. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA">The border post between Mozambique and into Zim was quite a lengthy affair and made us arrive rather late at Masvingo where we set up camp in the dark on the banks of the Rundu River. There are hippos and crocs all over the place. Apparently. I am not checking. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA">I’m rather tired after 17 hours through Africa and if you’ll excuse me, I’ll sign off now.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA"><o:p> </o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNoSpacing" style="margin-left:0cm;text-indent:0cm"><span lang="EN-ZA">Blog you later.</span></p><p><img style="margin:0 0 0 0" src="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/buddysignoff.gif" width="280" height="120" /><br />Download GPS Tracks for today: <a href="http://www.klipbokkop.co.za/garmin/october1.kml" target="_blank">Google Earth Format</a> & <a href="http://www.blogger.com/october1.gpx" target="_blank">GPX Format</a></p><br /><br /><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p> </div>Christofhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04101941590761270749noreply@blogger.com2