See if you can count the number of Giraffe in this pic?

This picture was taken at one of our wildlife volunteer projects in northern Kwa Zulu Natal. An awesome scene with a whole family group of Giraffe foraging in a small area.  New leave growth on the acacia trees are favoured by Giraffe and therefore this congregation of animals in one area. See if you can identify the correct number of animals in this picture? (Click on pic to see larger version)

Work Travel SA support our partner organisation to fund an ecological report for land owners to assist them in managing the elephant population on this private reserve. Wildlife volunteers accompany the conservation manager to monitor elephant behaviour on a daily basis, and to collect observational data on the two resident family herds.

Flooding around Kruger National Park

South Africa’s Kruger National Park has reopened its gates and is mostly back to normal after last week’s floods, which saw park officials having to evacuate 60 tourists who were stranded while out on safari drives.

In a statement issued on Monday, South African National Parks (SANParks) said that all gates to the park were now open, as well as almost all tarred roads within the park, and that most of the park’s safari camps were open and operational.

Kruger National Park is South Africa’s largest wildlife reserve, covering almost 19 000 square kilometres – roughly the size of Wales – and is also the country’s premier safari destination, drawing around 1.3-million visitors from around the world every year.

SANParks said it was busy repairing the damage caused by the floods, adding that some services “might still be down or disrupted during this period. We apologise for inconveniences that might be experienced, and we promise to do everything in our power to minimize the disruptions”.

Kruger National Park spokesman William Mabasa told news agency AFP that the park’s animals were not affected by the flooding, and that no deaths or injuries to the park’s visitors were reported, although six tourists whose car was washed away had received treatment from the park’s doctors.

SANParks urged guests “to use water sparingly, as camps/gates and picnic spots in many areas operate on emergency pumps and boreholes with limited capacity. Guests are Satara also requested to use electricity sparingly, as the Eskom supply line at Balule was washed away and the camp is operating on a standby generator.”

Article Courtesy of SouthAfrica.info

Northern KZN Camp for Turtle Monitoring

Turtle monitoring is not always the ideal volunteer job in paradise as most marine volunteers may think. Turtle monitoring is an exhausting task which requires many hours of dedicated work by our marine volunteers, mostly in an isolated area or remote coastal location. Monitoring turtle nest sites is mainly a night time activity when turtles are most active, which means marine volunteers have to be prepared to make do with a lot less sleep! Counting hatchlings, collecting biometric data and marking nest sites can however be an extremely rewarding experience, especially considering the conservation benefit to both loggerhead and leatherback turtles which are both found in the area.  Marine volunteers stay inside the coastal reserve near the southern border of Mozambique.  Days are spent around camp entering data onto computers, doing camp chores or just enjoying the tropical summer weather and the surrounding African bush veld.  A huge bonus is that the marine volunteer camp is ideally located right on the beach!  Volunteers can swim in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean right at their door step and enjoy the cool evening breeze in the late afternoon…

Diving Sodwana Bay – South Africa’s Underwater Paradise

 

While every diver in South Africa knows Sodwana Bay, it is still a relatively well kept secret on the international diving scene, compared to destinations like the Red Sea, Great Barrier Reef and Indonesia. Despite this, the various reefs in this tiny coastal town in KwaZulu-Natal, less than 200km from the border with Mozambique, is comparable with many of the world’s most vaunted destinations.

Having personally conducted surveys of divers in the area earlier this year, I found that the large majority of divers – both local and foreign – voted Sodwana as one of their top 3 favourite dive destinations. So what makes the reefs here so special?

As one of the most southerly coral reef systems on the planet, Sodwana lies right at the edge of the range of many tropical reef species, while this part of the western Indian Ocean is relatively isolated from other tropical reefs. Situated in the heart of the isiMangaliso Wetlands Park in a Marine Protected Area, the diversity on these reefs is virtually unparalleled; diving in Bali for six months I saw many fish on the reefs, but I would also see the same species all the time – the Angelfish, Butterflyfish, Parrotfish and other common reef dwellers like Coachmen, Moorish Idols and Damselfish making up the vast majority of sightings.

The sheer diversity of species on the reefs in Sodwana Bay never ceases to amaze and virtually every dive throws up another species that slipped under the radar on previous dives. The unique reefs, which unusually consist of about 80% soft corals, will amaze even the most experienced and well-travelled diver. Not only this, but the number of different dive sites here mean that you will never get tired of diving the reefs – each dive provides a novel experience and Two Mile Reef alone is home to 15-plus individual sites.

‘Caves and Overhangs’ boasts stunning topography, with beautiful swim throughs and caves where shy species like the Shortspined Porcupinefish hide out during the day, while ‘Stringer’, just south of Two Mile, is a paradise for Stingrays and Honeycomb Moray Eels, hunting amongst the crevices in tandem with Potato Bass and other large predators.

‘Anton’s’, at the southern tip of Two Mile, bursts with activity and I have been lucky enough to see the exquisite, prehistoric Bowmouth Guitarfish – related closely to both rays and sharks – on this reef, as well as the uncommon and alien-looking Unicorn Filefish.

For the more experienced diver, the further reefs in Sodwana offer the chance to come across a number of larger sharks including Bull, Tiger, Ragged-Tooth and Scalloped Hammerhead and even (if you’re lucky) the shy and elusive Leopard Shark.

Manta Rays, Barracudas and several species of turtle are regularly sighted on all of the reefs, while the macro life is equally as stunning. Sodwana rivals Indonesia as a Mecca for nudibranchs – colourful, intriguing and often miniscule sea slugs including the fabulous Spanish Dancer – while other hidden treasures include the peculiar Frogfish (a type of anglerfish that is an expert at camouflage), Paperfish and even seahorses.

Boat trips to Five, Seven and Nine Mile also offer a good chance of being able to slip into the water and snorkel with Whalesharks – the ocean’s gentle giants – or playful pods of dolphins, while between August and October Humpback Whales calve in the waters of the Bay, providing world-class whale watching.

With visibility ranging from 10 to 50m, divers can usually expect 25m-plus, crystal water in calm conditions, while rougher days offer the added experience of a thrilling ‘rubber duck’ surf launch in the trusty hands of an experienced skipper…  The unique reefs, which unusually consist of about 80% soft corals, will amaze even the most experienced and well-travelled diver; Sodwana Bay truly is a diver’s paradise.

Contact us now for more information on the the Coral Reef Conservation Project !

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8 Rhino Carcasses found in Kruger

Eight rhino carcasses have been found in the Kruger National Park, SA National Parks said on Wednesday.

“Yesterday [Tuesday] on patrol, eight rhino carcasses were found. Three carcasses were found in Lower Sabie and five in the Pretoriuskop section of the park,” said spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli.

He said all the carcasses were of adults which had been shot and dehorned.

“They [officials] are busy with investigations now although there are a few leads they are working on as we speak,” said Thakhuli.

Last year, about 443 rhino were killed for their horns, with 333 killed in 2010.

Another sad day for animal lovers in South Africa.

(News 24)

How about applying for a Hospitality Internship in South Africa?

WTSA places young (or sometimes older) international participants in hotels, Guest Houses, Bed and Breakfasts and Back Packers Lodges throughout South Africa!

Do you want to have the unique chance to experience South Africa as more than just a tourist and to share your own traditions and culture with people from South Africa? Then maybe working in the hospitality industry may be for you! Placements are available around the country in scenic tourist locations such as private game reserves, coastal resorts, boutique hotels, country houses and the wine lands.

All our establishments have been screened and vetted by our staff and you are assured of reputable establishments offering a rewarding experience with specific task management and work objectives.

WorkTravelSA arranges basic, entry-level position unless you have relevant and applicable study or work experience! Having experience can definitely influence the nature of your position.

With most positions you are given exposure to all operations and management of the establishment. Duties and responsibilities could include management, general supervision and daily operations, standard bar and waiter services, housekeeping, light maintenance work, food preparation, driving, guest excursions and entertainment. Most placements also incorporate local community or conservation initiatives with which you will be required to assist.

You would need to commit to a minimum of 12 weeks, regardless of the length of time you intend to travel afterwards. The maximum work period is 24 weeks!

So if you are interested and meet the following criteria email us at hospitality@worktravelsa.org for more information!

• Want to volunteer for at least 12 weeks,
• Do not mind performing menial or physical tasks,
• Have no difficulty adapting to new situations,
• Are flexible,
• Have no problem working in teams,
• Have no difficulty following orders and instructions,
• Do not mind being away from big cities.

If you are independent enough to live on your own, have an open mind, and have good English ability, then you are a good candidate. We are looking forward to welcoming you in South Africa!

Comments from past participants:

“Yes I would recommend it because it was one of the best experiences in my life. I had a lot of fun”……………………. Lukas from Germany

“Wow, what a fantastic time, I loved being in Plettenberg Bay”……… Carolina from Brazil

“Yes I would recommend it as it was such a good experience and I would never miss going to another country to get to know new people and new cultures”……………………Sophie from Germany

“Best time of my life”…………………… Laura from England

“Yes I would recommended it because my working time in the backpackers was an experience I will never forget, it feels like home after 3 months and I will definitely do it again”…………..Malte from Germany

What to expect as as Social Care Volunteer

Are you interested in a gap year after school? Do you wish to gain work experience to add to your CV? Do you have a passion for working with young children? Then why not choose to become a Social Care volunteer in South Africa..

During your time as a  Social Care volunteer you will partake in the normal every day life of a South African, explore the culture and people of South Africa with a different perspective than that of a holiday tourist. As a Social Care volunteer you will be working within various crèches, orphanages, Pre Schools and Primary schools. The ages of the children within the various crèches, orphanages and Pre Schools vary between 2-6 years, and the Primary School  children are between the ages of 6-13 years. Teaching experience and qualifications in social work are not a prerequisite. We need vibrant, hard working volunteers who express a genuine love and desire to work with children. These volunteers should come with exciting ideas in order to help the teachers plan and prepare daily activities for the children to enjoy.

If you are a qualified and/or experienced physiotherapist or an occupational therapist, then we are able to offer you a special social care project. This project is situated in the vibey town of Stellenbosch.

A typical day for a Social Care volunteers starts at approximately 08:00 am with a collection shuttle at your volunteer accommodation.  After a short and scenic drive you will reach your social care project between 08:30am and 09:00am. Your volunteer work generally* finishes shortly after the children’s lunch break, meaning your transport back to your accommodation will occur between 13:00pm and 14:00pm.

The daily social care activities range from handcraft work, painting, reading, writing, exercise therapy to changing of nappies. In some projects you are also required to support the staff with “soup kitchens” to help feed the less fortunate. Volunteers may also request to join the staff of the projects to their weekly church visits.

Weekends are free to enjoy and explore the beauty of Cape Town and nearby locations. Your volunteer support person will assist you in the planning of these excursions and introduce you to your local supermarkets and places of interest, allowing volunteers to experience the true South Africa.

Social Care volunteer work is needed throughout the year with new volunteers arriving on the 1^st or 15^th of each month.If you need more information,  feel free to contact us anytime via email or facebook.

* These hours may vary according to the individual needs of the project.

405 RHINO POACHED THIS YEAR

Poachers have killed a record 405 rhinoceros in South Africa since the start of the year, the national parks board said on Tuesday.

“The number of rhino poached is up by approximately 21.6% from the 333 of the previous year,” said South African National Parks (SANparks) in a statement posted on its website.

Rhino killings have spiked from 13 in 2007 as poachers hunt for rhino horn, made of the same substance as human fingernails.

It is popular for use in Asian medicinal treatments – especially in China and Vietnam, where it is believed to cure cancer despite scientific evidence to the contrary.

Authorities arrested 210 people for poaching in 2011, compared to 165 in 2010, according to SANparks.

Booming demand has driven the price up to record levels of half a million dollars for the largest horns, according to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species.

The conservation bodies have responded to the surge by dispatching army troops to fight poachers and stepping up arrests.

Authorities have struggled to stop poaching syndicates that use helicopters, night vision equipment and high-powered rifles to hunt their prey.

(News 24.2011)

POACHER CAUGHT

A suspected rhino poacher was arrested in the N’wanetsi section of the Kruger National Park (KNP), SA National Parks said Monday 12 December 2011

SANParks and SA National Defence Force members came across three armed suspected poachers and a shoot-out ensued on Sunday afternoon, spokesperson Reynold Thakhuli said. “This led to one suspect being wounded and arrested. The other two managed to escape back into Mozambique. We are liaising with our counterparts on that side to be on the lookout for the other two men.” A hunting rifle and four fresh rhino horns were recovered. One rhino carcass was found, while the second was being sought. The man was in hospital under police guard and expected to appear in court soon. “We will be on high alert for poachers this holiday season. We will not leave any stone unturned. Since January this year, 431 rhino have been killed and 244 of them in the KNP,” Thakhuli said. Seventy-eight suspected poachers were arrested in the Kruger National Park this year.

(News24. 2011 )