Each year we run a number of safaris to the National parks for underpriviledged children. Our aim on this trip is to raise the young adults awareness and basic understanding and respect for nature. This year Grace, Tony, Joannel and Rita had the task of taking 23 kids from the Pen organization to the Pilanesberg Game Reserve and had this to share...
Friday 26th June 2015
We arrived at the childrens home at 09h30 on Friday morning; we were greeted by lots of smiling, excited faces.
The children split themselves into two groups, namely boys and girls and they themselves packed the luggage into the luggage compartment. After a safety briefing we were off!! The children were happy , looking forward to the days ahead and sang songs as we made our way to Pilanesberg National Park.
We arrived at Manyane Gate to be greeted by a small herd of impala. The children grew quiet and all got out their cell phones to take photos. We got to our camp sites and gave the children a demonstration on how to put the tents up. They then got busy and put up their tents and settled in. Whilst they were busy we cooked lunch; boerewors rolls with fruit and custard to follow.
After washing up we all went on a game drive. The children were so happy to see all the different animals, listening intently to us and asking lots of questions. We were fortunate enough to see a couple of elephant bulls and a white rhino and calf.
When we arrived back at camp the boys made a big camp fire whilst a couple of the care givers assisted us in preparing dinner; a braai with steak, chicken, pap, mielies and gem squash. It was the boys turn to do the dishes and whilst they did the dishes we put bananas and chocolate on the braai. An excellent first day.
Saturday 27th June 2015
The group woke up at 05h30, and had hot chocolate/tea, rusks before departing on game drive at 06h15. On drive, we saw many giraffes, zebras, wildebeest, and impala. We came across a giraffe carcass, and had excellent sightings of jackals scavenging. Many of the animal and bird sightings were a first for the children, and one of the girls showed a keen interest in birding. While giving information about some of the common trees, another young lady mentioned that she was fascinated by trees, so we made a point of discussing as many interesting trees as possible. We returned to camp around 08h00, and had cereals and yoghurt. The girls did the dishes in the morning before drive, so it was the boy’s turn to do dishes after the cereals.
Just before 09h00, we walked across to the reception to confirm that Miriam was ready to show the group around the camp, but there was a delay in getting someone to assist. Eventually we got the receptionist, Desiree to discuss the ins and outs of her duties, and got hold of Miriam. They were only ready for us at 10h00, and since we had the children ready for the walk around the camp at 09h00, we decided to do some fun activities with them until 10h00. We discussed the importance of conserving non-renewable resources with a demonstration aided by the ground sheet. The children had a lot of fun while learning about this. We still had a bit of spare time, so decided that we would spend some time bird watching in the camp. Joannel, Grace and Rita slit the children into the groups, and had quiet time while noting which birds were seen. After about 10 minutes of sitting and observing, all the children came together as a group, and had one person from each group to present which birds they saw. The children were very interested in learning about the different birds they saw, and would often ask us to identify new birds in the camp or on tour, so the birding activity was a huge success. At 10h00, Tony went with the children and caregivers to be shown around by Desiree, and then Miriam. They learnt a great deal about the various aspects of running a camp, and the different skills that are required in each department. Grace, Joannel and Rita stayed behind to make brunch. Brunch was scrambled eggs, fried potatoes, baked beans with onions and peppers. Brunch was served when the children got back from their camp tour around 11h10. The boys did the dishes, while the girls learnt an educational song about rhinos. They were a bit shy to sing at first, but really enjoyed the song, and when the boys were done with the dishes they sang the song to everyone. After that, there was free time from about 12h00 until 13h00. During free time some of the girls took a nap, while the boys were playing soccer. A family of warthog came into the camp area, and the girls and boys were very excited to be able to see them this close.
At about 13h15, we departed for Manyane gate, to meet with Steve Dell, the ecologist from Pilanesburg. We drove behind him to the boma, where he gave a very education talk about various aspects of what he does as an ecologist, as well as which subjects to choose in school in any of the learners were interested in following a career in conservation. Mr. Dell also spoke about many of the challenges that conservationists face, and highlighted rhino poaching as one of the more serious situations at the moment. He mentioned how dangerous it was for anti-poaching staff, and how violent the war on poaching is. A great deal was learnt about the history of the park, how it was established, the biomes that exist in the park , and the challenges that park officials faced when re-introducing game into Pilanesburg in the early days.
After the talk with Mr. Dell, we continued on game drive. There was a fantastic lion sighting, and the children were thrilled to see the lions, as well as lion cubs. It was a very cold afternoon, and the lions were mostly lying in the long grass. The cubs were extremely playful though, and it was a very special sighting for the youngsters. We made our way back to camp via a hide, and were back at camp around 17h15.
There was free time until dinner, and not much assistance was required from the children. Dinner was served at 19h30, and the caregivers as well as the children thoroughly enjoyed the beef stew and rice. When dinner grew to a close, we went around the circle of learners, caregivers and guides and asked everyone to mention the highlight of the weekend so far. Many of the learners were enjoying being out camping in the park, some were happy to have had fun learning the rhino song, while the caregivers were very excited about the food we were providing them and enjoyed it a lot. Some of the children focussed on specific sightings, such as the elephants, or the lions, but everyone was having a great time.
After dinner, the girls did the dishes, and the caregivers had some tea while the boys started enjoying roasting marshmallows around the fire. When the girls were done with the dishes, they sat closer to the fire and enjoyed the marshmallows. Most of the girls and ladies went to bed around 21h00, while some of the boys and caregivers were still awake quite late, enjoying sitting around the fire.
Sunday 28 June 2015
It is the last morning of the field trip with the kids in Pilanesberg, they slept in a little bit because they were so tired from the previous day and night activities so we gave them a little bit of rest.
So they all woke up at 06:30, had breakfast at 07:00 breakfast was: Jungle Oats, French toast, Cereals and yogurt. After the breakfast the boys did the dishes after that was finished we went out for the last time into the Pilanesberg Park for the last game drive of the field trip.
Left around 08:30 we went to a bird hide called Mankwe hide were we saw some Zebra, Hippos, Water Terrapins, Pied Kingfisher, Giant Kingfisher, Common Darter, and Crimson Breasted Shrike.
We spend some time at the hide, after the hide we went to the Pilanesberg Centre were we had to change a flat tyre, the guides showed the kids how to change a truck tyre.
After we changed the tired we went to our last waterhole hide were we took some group photos with the kids and the Sunway Trucks in the back ground that was around 12:00. Then we took a slow drive back to camp.
When we arrived at the camp we started breaking up camp taking down the tents, while the kids where taking down the tents, Rita and Grace where preparing a packed lunch for the kids and care takers for the road back home.
We had to say good bay for the camp site and Pilanesberg at 14:30, then we took the long road back home,for the kids it was sad to leave the nature environment, back to the City rush.
We arrived at the kids houses around 16:00 and we the guides had to say Good Bay to them.
Then we took the road back to the office.