9 Days in Africa… South African Wildlife Trailing Intensive

Contact Kersey Lawrence at [email protected], and Lee Gutteridge at [email protected] for more information and to reserve your place.

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9 Days in Africa… South African Wildlife Trailing Intensive

With

Senior Trackers

Lee Gutteridge & Kersey Lawrence

In The Greater Kruger Park Ecosystem


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Duration: 9 days/8 Nights

Dates: Arrival on 18th of January, departure on 26th of January 2019

Cost: $2000 per person, maximum of only 4 people

Open to all levels of experience, from beginner to expert, although a working understanding of Track and Sign will be of benefit.

Serious tracking interest required. South Africa is known for its wonderful array of wildlife, including the infamous 'Big Five'. Imagine being mentored by experts, honing your trailing skills on the meandering trails of African lion, Cape buffalo, white or black rhinoceros, African elephant and even the elusive leopard.

The African “Big Five”: lion, elephant, leopard, Cape buffalo, and rhinoceros


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You will walk in the ancient footprints of our ancestors, in the probable birthplace of

tracking…their stone tools litter the ground, showing us that they were once here!

During the Intensive two expert trackers will guide you and protect you, as you

explore the dry African thorn-veld. Lee and Kersey are both Senior Trackers and

Evaluators on the internationally renowned CyberTracker system of evaluating

trackers. What this means is that they have earned Specialist level qualifications,

the highest level that can be earned, in BOTH Track and Sign and Trailing.

Remember, this is a Trailing Intensive, and a working knowledge of Track and Sign will

be expected. We will not be assessing trailing on this intensive, as this is purely about the learning opportunity, and the chance to improve your skills as a Trailer.

Trackers on the trail of an African lion, and the footprint of a white

rhinoceros, two animals which we will most likely have the opportunity to trail


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On our program we will focus on mainly the Trailing aspect of Tracking, but, what is Trailing compared to Track and

Sign? Trailing, by comparison, is most typically associated with large mammals, especially here in Africa where ecotourism safaris to view and photograph the Big 5 comprise so much of the economy. Trailing includes the ability to find a fresh trail (a line of footprints), identify the animal according to species, group number, sex, and sometimes to the individual animal, and follow the trail through differing difficulties of substrates, interpreting pertinent behaviours along the trail, using all our senses to remain safe and undetected. The ultimate goal of trailing is to find the animal and observe the creature in question. Ideally, we do this without alerting the creature to our presence. Track and Sign is the study of actual tracks, their shape and form, their subsequent identification to species level and the deeper understanding of associated behaviours from the signs seen on the ground. It is also the interpretation of sign of types other than footprints, such as scat, digging signs, feeding signs, tooth marks, claw scrapes and much, much more. Track and sign also includes aspects left behind by bird life, such as in the case of discarded feather identification, nest structures, skulls, or even egg shell pieces found on the forest floor. Invertebrates are also included here. Nests, egg cases, webs, cocoons, and earthen structures can all be found within this group of creature’s signs. However, typically one would not trail a bird or insect (although occasionally we do). Reptiles and amphibians also leave interesting sign behind in nature, and must also be included. Even certain climatic conditions will leave signs, such as the circular patterns of a dust devil (whirl-wind) on desert sand. Humans also leave sign to be interpreted by a tracker. Track and Sign identification and interpretation has been likened to the A,B,C’s of tracking; it’s the foundation of learning the component parts of an ecosystem and animal identity and behaviour. We couldn’t learn to read without first learning the A,B,C’s! Trailing is where we put it all together into sentences and paragraphs that tell a story; the story of the animal that we are following. Who is it? Where is it going? Where has it been? What is it doing? Why? Who and what else is it interacting with on the landscape, and how is the landscape causing the animal to move?


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A red-billed oxpecker sitting on a rhino (one-of our early warning systems in the bush) and a giraffe which we found on a guided walk

How does a typical day on the program look?

On a typical day during the program we will wake up before sunrise, have a cup of coffee and a light breakfast of fruit and toast, before departing for our early morning trailing session. We may drive out from camp looking for a fresh trail to follow or we might walk directly from camp and explore the immediate vicinity of our base area for a trail. On many mornings, we begin “reading the newspaper” left daily in the fine sand within the fenced area of our camp, looking at where rodents and lizards, invertebrates, birds, and Sharpe’s grysbok (a dwarf antelope) have walked around our tents. Upon exiting our gate, we may immediately pick up the trail of the resident male leopard on his patrol, a pride of nomadic lions, or a herd of elephants! We frequently hear the sounds of these creatures, the whooping of spotted hyenas, and more, as we sleep safely in our camp at night. The ‘Wild’ on our doorstep! After a three or four-hour morning session in the field we will return to camp for a hearty cooked brunch. Mid-day, after brunch, we usually take some time for ablutions, and then ready ourselves for a hands-on learning activity, or possibly some free time or a trip to the local town for supplies. Presentations and discussions may also take place during the midday. In the afternoon we will head out on another excursion, walking out to a trail or using our vehicle to do so. On a couple of afternoons, we may do a game drive on our open safari vehicles, which may extend into the evening. As night falls we will eventually start


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heading towards camp, spotlighting in the darkness from our vehicles, looking for nocturnal animals. Back in camp, we will have a wholesome evening meal, often cooked over the camp fire in the style of a traditional South African “braai”, or barbeque. On some evenings there will be a presentation, lesson or DVD, focussing on various aspects of tracking in the African bush or on the dangerous game we are following. You can realistically expect a 10 to 12-hour day on most days, intensively tracking wildlife, learning about animal behaviour and enjoying the sights and sounds of Africa!

A tracker looks for a fresh trail from the ‘tracker seat’ while on safari, and the

track of a big male lion dried into the mud

Costs include:

• Wholesome food (some dietary requirements can be catered for)

• Clean accommodation with ablution facilities

• Professional guiding services of Lee Gutteridge & Kersey Lawrence • Professional tracking instruction by Senior Trackers Lee Gutteridge & Kersey

Lawrence • Safari experiences both on foot and by vehicle to observe animal behaviour

• Presentations and discussions to enhance your learning experience

• Course textbook , a regional field guide written by Lee Gutteridge with an extensive section on tracking


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During this orientation, you will receive your complimentary course textbook for the duration of the course, Bushveld, including the Kruger Lowveld, a South African Field Guide, written by your host, Lee Gutteridge (2008). Bushveld is a comprehensive field guide for the region, and contains most of the information you will need for the area. It includes chapters on ecology, mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, scorpions, spiders, butterflies and moths, tracks and signs, flowers, euphorbias, trees, grasses, and fungi. For the odd bit of information not contained in Bushveld, or for deeper research, a small camp library will be available.

Costs exclude:

• All flights (both international and domestic)

• Visas, passports, and other travel documents • Ground transportation to and from the reserve or meeting point

• Gate fees

• Gratuities for guides, trackers, drivers and reserve staff • Personal effects such as snacks, batteries, toiletries, camera chargers, electrical

adapters, and other supplies • Curios (souvenirs) • Beverages: beer, wine, sodas, etc. (water, a flavoured cold drink, coffee, tea and

hot chocolate will be provided in camp) • Travel insurance • Personal medications and medical insurance while in SA

A brief description of our region, and Our Camp: Our Region - Kruger National Park KNP is South Africa’s first national park, and one of the largest game reserves in Africa. It is part of the Great Limpopo Transfrontier Park, a peace park that links Kruger National Park in South Africa with the Gonarezhou National Park in Zimbabwe, and with the Limpopo National Park in Mozambique, covering an approximate area of 35,000 square kilometres. This vast landscape includes many habitats and species, including the free-roaming and infamous African “Big Five”: lion, leopard, rhinoceros, elephant and Cape buffalo, which everyone wants to see. Our Camp - Ngala Bush Camp, Balule region This is in the greater Kruger National Park eco-system, meaning that it is in a privately-owned area but with no fences between it and the nationally managed KNP. This allows a free flow of wild animals and every day has potential for some new and extraordinary sighting from the small and scaly pangolin to massive herds of migrating African

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peace_park


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elephants. It is one of the newer regions to be opened to KNP and thus, many of the animals are still truly wild and skittish. As our base camp, it is here that we can disembark from our vehicles and walk, exploring the land and its denizens in great detail. Ngala Camp is a proper African Bush Camp. It is a tented camp, all tents are large canvas dome tents that you can stand up in and move about. Each tent is furnished with thick mattresses for sleeping (not camp pads) and a clean sheet, but you will need to bring your own sleeping bag, and a pillow if you desire one. Expect to have a roommate. There are flushing toilets available within a very short walk from each tent, and hot eco-showers. There is a generator in camp that we will use for charging camera batteries and such, as needed. A 7-strand solar-powered electrical fence surrounds the camp and enhances your safety. Situated right on the banks of the scenic Olifants River, we often have lions, leopards, and elephants patrolling right by camp, day and night.

Two of the creatures which we often encounter on our trails are the scrub hare and the

bushbuck.


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About Your Guides and Trackers Kersey Lawrence is the first woman in the world to earn the rank of Senior Tracker Evaluator in the internationally renowned CyberTracker system, and as such she stands as the sole female amongst the few dozen men who have also earned this rigorous qualification. In addition to her decade of guiding experience, Kersey has several degrees in science and education, and is currently completing her Ph.D. through the University of Connecticut, where she also received an award for excellence in teaching. Kersey owns Original Wisdom, an education company offering

both local programs in the USA and study abroad programs in Southern Africa in ecology, culture and tracking. Courses are custom designed according to the academic requirements and adventurous desires of the visiting group leader. Kersey’s passionate approach to interpreting tracks and signs in nature and following trails will amaze and inspire you, as you spend time with her in the Africa she now calls home.

Lee Gutteridge has spent all of his adult life in the African bush, more than 26 years. Lee is currently the highest qualified field guide and assessor in Southern Africa (a Scout guide on the FGASA system, with many additional specializations) and the author of six natural history books to date (pictured below). Lee also holds a diploma in Game Ranch Management. Lee’s company, Nature Guide Training began over 15 years ago as a training school for field guides in the safari industry in Southern Africa and has a reputation as an industry leader whose graduates are employed by some of the finest lodges. As a respected guide and guide trainer, assessor, a Senior Tracker

Evaluator and a wildlife author, Lee will educate and inspire you with passionate tales of African animals, wildlife trails and close escapes.

Lee and Kersey have been working together in Africa since 2008, designing and implementing study abroad, ecotourism, and tracking intensive programs. Original Wisdom and Nature Guide Training work together to provide you with a truly exceptional, professionally guided, life-changing, educational experience. Thousands of participants have experienced Africa like never before. Will you join us?


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More information about Kersey Lawrence and Lee Gutteridge can be found at

OriginalWisdom.com & NatureGuideTraining.com.

On our websites, you can also find information regarding our history, philosophy, venues, and programs.

For a suggested packing list, go here: http://www.originalwisdom.com/what-to-bring-to-ngala-camp/

For answers to frequently asked questions, please visit:

http://www.originalwisdom.com/faqs-frequently-asked-questions/

For our cancellation policy, see: http://www.originalwisdom.com/our-policies/

Despite its placid cow-like appearance, the Cape buffalo is one of the most

dangerous animals to track in Africa

*Please do not book your travel before confirming that this program is full.

*Ask us about places to stay if you are arriving early, staying late, and about the best ways to travel to and from South Africa and Hoedspruit!

http://www.originalwisdom.com/what-to-bring-to-ngala-camp/

http://www.originalwisdom.com/faqs-frequently-asked-questions/

http://www.originalwisdom.com/our-policies/

9 Days in Africa… South African Wildlife Trailing Intensive

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