It was in mid-September that we welcomed our students back to campus after a short holiday, and what better way to start the fourth and final term of the 2023 academic year than with an educational tour, this time to the Kgalagadi Transfrontier National Park.
It was with great excitement and anticipation that we departed from Uizip, and it was that same excitement coupled with great teamwork that helped the students swiftly set up camp on their arrival at the Kgalagadi campsite – no easy task in 30C heat and a very tempting swimming pool nearby! But with all the practicalities out of the way, they were ready to fully immerse themselves in nature and enjoy the adventure ahead.
The Kgalagadi educational tour is designed to give our students practical experience in the academic modules that they had been studying during the year, namely Conservation Ecology, Data Collection, Handling & Interpretation, Habitat Threats, Personal Development and Fieldcraft & Tracking.
Unforgettable Animal Encounters
Our first evening in the Kgalagadi was spent on a two-and-a-half-hour game drive filled with wildlife sightings that at times required some eagle-eyed spotting in the dark. We encountered owls, springbok, gemsbok, and blue wildebeest as well as some of the canines found in the park; jackal, Cape fox, and bat-eared fox – an excellent first night!
With two game drives daily, the students were able to enjoy the full splendour of the park while gaining invaluable knowledge about their surroundings. Each student was tasked with documenting their sightings scientifically and presenting them to the rest of the group in the form of a field guide. The activity was as informative as it was fun, but most importantly it showed us their ability to collect, process and present their observations in the field.
As the tour progressed, we witnessed several unique animal and bird species on our game drives, including some impressive big cats. We were fortunate to have had close encounters with lions, cheetahs as well as leopards. An exciting highlight was seeing a pride of lions feasting on an eland carcass – a reminder to respect these powerful animals in their own habitat! We also had sightings of some of the smaller cat species, including the African wildcat, genet, Cape ground squirrel, and meerkat.
The avid and budding birdwatchers in the group were treated to various unique bird sightings! We saw the big bird species like ostrich, kori bustard and the martial eagle, and delighted in the smaller bird sightings like the pygmy falcon and little weavers. Added to our list were the well-camouflaged Namaqua sandgrouse, the colourful bee-eaters, the impressive secretary bird and the cheeky yellow-billed hornbill. Bird diversity forms part of our course, and we trust these sightings sparked a passion for birding amongst all our students.
Leadership Skills in Practice
Earlier in the week upon arrival at the camp, students were divided into different groups, each tasked with various kitchen and campsite duties. These were all used to teach valuable organisational skills, delegation, and the importance of teamwork and accountability – a very practical way in which the AEL develops well rounded young adults.
Lessons learnt, memories to last a lifetime.
The week in the Kgalagadi seemed to fly by, and all too soon it was time to pack up camp and head back to our Uizip campus.
We aimed to give our students the full Kgalagadi experience, not only as tourists but as future custodians of nature. With countless wildlife sightings and memorable nights under the desert stars sharing stories around the campfire, we’re happy to say that we achieved our goal and made it an unforgettable experience for our students!
This is one of two educational tours included in our academic year programme. Read about the Richtersveld tour here.
