Embarking on an academic journey that seamlessly blends theory with practical training can be a game-changer for students transitioning from high school to tertiary education or the world of work. The Academy for Environmental Leadership’s recent tour to the Richtersveld region perfectly illustrates this dynamic approach. From exploring different landscapes to delving into sustainable farming in arid environments, students could experience their classroom knowledge get applied in real life. Our academic tours embody the three pillars of our unique academic year: academic studies, fun & adventure and personal development —download our prospectus to find out more.
The Journey Begins
The Richtersveld Academic Tour kicked off with travelling from our Uizip campus to Alexander Bay. This wasn’t your typical road trip, but more an exploration of the differing environments along the route like Savanna, Grassland, Nama-Karoo, Succulent Karoo and Desert. The students could observe the changes in plant growth, different types of species and richness of plant life, and how both the living- and non-living components of these ecosystems work together and adapt to survive within their environment.
Getting Down to Real-World Impact: Sustainable rehabilitation after mining activities
The tour itinerary was brimming with insightful visits that left a lasting impression on students and lecturers alike. One such visit was to the Alexcor Mine, where they were introduced not only to open-pit mining and how mining activities impact the environment, but also what rehabilitation efforts are in place and possible mitigation measures for sustainable rehabilitation where mining is still taking place.
Farmers of the Desert: Learning About Sustainable Farming
A visit to the Beauvallon Farm exposed students to how sustainable crop farming is done in an arid environment. From cultivar selection to precision fertilization and the unique challenges faced by desert farmers, valuable insight was gained into arid agriculture.
Exploring Nature’s Strength: Richtersveld National Park and More
Ai Ais Richtersveld National Park became a living outdoor classroom where students discovered how different plant species adapt to survive within their environment. They also got to see what happens when nature is overused and how challenging it is to protect and rehabilitate different plants and animals. Undoubtedly one of the most spectacular moments of the tour, was witnessing the Namaqualand flowers in full bloom after a good rain season!
Kommagas Veld Visit: A Closer Look at Desert Plants
During their Kommagas veld drive, the acclaimed Namaqualand tour guide Dudley Wessels shared his passion for and knowledge of the area and its unique succulent karoo plants with the students. From learning the local names of the plants and how they are uniquely adapted for this environment, to how people use these plants and the risks of using more than necessary and not leaving enough for nature itself were discussed.
A Spotlight on Aquaculture and Sustainability
At the Viking aquaculture abalone farm, students got to learn how understanding an organism’s biology can help to farm it optimally. They were also exposed to different measures to make aquaculture sustainable, making them think more about how humans and nature can work together.
Join us for Part 2 (coming soon) of this exciting journey, where we’ll delve into more of the incredible experiences that students had during their exploration of the Richtersveld region. Stay tuned!