Day 1, Sunday 03 October: Arrival
On arrival at OR Tambo International Airport, Johannesburg, we will be met by EcoLife staff members and transferred to the guesthouse, close to the University of Pretoria.
Day 2, Monday 04 October: Orientation, Pretoria and Lion Park
We start our expedition by attending a morning workshop at the Center for Wildlife Management, University of Pretoria. We meet with Professor Wouter van Hoven who has been involved in the pioneering of wildlife management in Southern Africa, and learn about the latest developments in wilderness management. After lunch we visit a lion park and get up close and personal with lion cubs.
Days 3 and 4, Tuesday 05 and Wednesday 06 October: Community Veterinary Services
After breakfast we travel towards Soweto, the sprawling black city adjacent to Johannesburg to join CLAW, (Community Led Animal Welfare) for two days. This is a world renowned group of dedicated animal lovers and veterinarians who volunteer their professional skills and time to poor Black African townships to create a better awareness for the care of their pets and domestic animals. We spend two days working with the mobile clinic.
Days 5 - 8, Thursday 06 to Sunday 10 October: Veterinary School and Wilderness Training
We check out of the guest house after breakfast. The expedition continues with a visit to Onderstepoort, just north of Pretoria. As guests of the famous Faculty of Veterinary Science of the University of Pretoria we are hosted on an interesting tour of its facilities and campus. After this visit we travel eastwards to a private camp in the Bushveld on the banks of the Loskop Reservoir. This wilderness reserve surrounding the reservoir is a pristine area in which to learn practical bush skills, track wildlife on foot and study wildlife behavior, and is perfect for learning how animals and man utilize plants. Weather permitting we will also do some abseiling.
Day 9, Monday 11 October: Driving to Swadini
After breakfast we depart from the camp by boat to take us back to the bus and depart for the Blyde Canyon. We arrive and check in at Swadini Resort in the beautiful Blydepoort Nature Reserve at the foot of the majestic northern Drakensberg Mountains (Mountains of the Dragon).
Day 10, Tuesday 12 October: Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre and Reptile Park
We visit a world renowned wildlife rehabilitation centre. The care and rehabilitation of a wide range of wildlife species will be experienced and demonstrated first hand. After lunch we visit a reptile park where we get up-close with some local snakes and reptiles. We will also do a snake necropsy.
Day 11, Wednesday 13 October: Kruger National Park
We check out of Swadini and depart for the Kruger national Park. We arrive early afternoon and set up camp in Skukuza Rest Camp.
Days 12– 14, Thursday 14 to Saturday 16 October: Kruger National Park
The biodiversity of this jewel of wilderness area is spectacular, and the ideal area for observing and studying most of the wildlife species Southern Africa has to offer. The greatest attraction of this magnificent Park is the opportunity to experience African game viewing at its best; we enjoy an included sunset game drive to observe the Park’s natural inhabitant’s behavior at night.
Day 15, Sunday 17 October: Drive to Kokoriba Resort
We strike camp and take a final game drive as we exit the Pak en-route to our next destination. We arrive late afternoon at the Kokoriba Resort in the bushveld area of Brits. Here we move in to a youth hostel and settle in.
Days 16 – 18, Monday 18 to Wednesday 20 October: Hands-on Game Capture Course
The successful capture, handling and translocation of wildlife all contribute greatly to the wildlife veterinarian’s program. The next three days are dedicated to observing and learning about and participating in actual game capture operations under the guidance of a veterinarian.
Day 19, Thursday 21 October: Sondela
After breakfast we check out and commence our tour to arrive at Sondela Nature Reserve to set up camp. Optional activities the resort has to offer: horse riding, quad biking, hiking, game drives and relaxing at the swimming pool.
Day 20, Friday 22 October: Elephant project
After breakfast we drive out to Zebula Game Reserve where we meet up with a group of elephants and their handlers. We spend the morning interacting with the elephants and end our visit with a ride on one. Early evening we take part in darting practice and have the chance to test our skills by darting a moving target from a helicopter.
Day 21, Saturday 23 October: Sondela Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre
After breakfast we visit the Sondela wildlife rehabilitation centre and spend some time interacting with the animals in the centre. After lunch we gather to write our final exam and get ready for our graduation ceremony around our last African bush fire.
Day 22, Sunday 24 October: Departure
Alysha will be heading back to Canada to start work at the Critical Care Veterinary Specialty clinic. Melanie will be meeting up with her boyfriend Neal in Cape Town and then on to Ireland before heading back to Canada. You can follow them at: melandnealvolunteersouthafrcia.blogspot.com/
