African Conservation Experience: Wildlife Tracking Course in South Africa and Botswana - African Conservation Experience

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Wildlife Tracking Course in the stunning Botswana wilderness

  • Tuli Conservation ProjectIn the Tuli Block of Botswana volunteers work alongside experienced rangers to establish a baseline ecology study of the wildlife in this vast and unfenced trans frontier region.
  • Zingela Predator Conservation ProjectAt Zingela, you can study some of Africa's most elusive and persecuted predators, focussing on cheetah conservation, leopard and brown hyena studies.
  • Phinda Wildlife Research ProjectAs a 'Big 5' safari reserve, Phinda offers superb wildlife viewing while you conduct field research on the populations of lions, leopards and elephants, amongst other species.
  • Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation CentreVolunteering at the Moholoholo Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre in South Africa gives you hands on experience in animal care, rehabilitation and hand rearing of wildlife. Join an experienced and dedicated team caring for injured and poisoned wildlife.
  • Khulula Wild Care
  • Game Capture TeamJoining the Game Capture Team lets you participate in the exciting work of capturing and relocating many wildlife species, including rhinos, buffalo, giraffe and large herds of antelope - this is hands-on and adrenaline fuelled work!
  • Hanchi Conservation ProjectWhile volunteering at Hanchi, you assist in the management of a 9,000 hectare reserve from horseback, which operates a breeding programme for rare antelopes as well as a cheetah sanctuary and predator study.
  • Shimongwe Wildlife Veterinary ExperienceThe Wildlife Veterinary Experience gives you the opportunity to work alongside experienced wildlife vets in South Africa, accompanying them on all wildlife cases and learning first hand and up close about this exciting work.
  • Nholwasi Community ProjectAn immensely rewarding experience, working with local children to promote sustainable and long term conservation, enrich their lives and work with the children of the future.
  • The Dolphin and Whale Research CentreAt the Dolphin and Whale Research Centre you assist renowned marine scientists studying the populations of humpback and bottlenose dolphins, byrde whales, humpback whales, and southern right whales, along South Africa’s coast.
  • Mauritius Dolphin Conservation ProjectAs a volunteer at the Mauritius Dolphin Conservation Project you assist with monitoring and controlling the impact of eco tourism on the local populations of spinner dolphins, melon headed dolphins and bottle nosed dolphins.
  • Tutuka Family Conservation ProjectWork with your family to bring your children's learning to life. Contribute to the conservation research of a Big 5 reserve and join our local community project.
  • Game Ranger Guide CourseThe Game Ranger Guide Course gives you a thorough introduction to the wildlife and habitats of South Africa and Botswana.
  • Wildlife Tracking CourseLearn advanced tracking skills and interpret animal behaviour while following wildlife through the wilderness of Botswana’s Tuli Block. This is a tough and adventurous experience.

Held in the stunning Botswana wilderness, the Wildlife Tracking Course is an opportunity for you to experience the thrill of tracking Africa's big game while living in a raw and wild environment.

You will learn how to be safe in the bush and how to find animals without impacting on the natural ecosystem in which they (and you for the 2 weeks!) live. An intensive experience, the tracking course requires you to be fit and to have a good level of stamina, but affords you the chance to get close to animals such as elephants and hyenas on ground level!

Paw Print

Course Outline

Week 1 - Introduction and Track Identifications

  1. Day 1 — Transfer, orientation and social
  2. Day 2 — Lectures and practical on safety with exercises. Introduction to the course outlines and objectives
  3. Day 3 — Introduction to tracking techniques, the role of the tracker and spotlighting techniques. Track identification, animal behaviour, movements, social structures etc
  4. Day 4 — Survival techniques and applications. Track identification, animal behaviour, movements, social structures etc
  5. Day 5 — Track identification, animal behaviour, movements, social structures etc
  6. Day 6 — Revision from books. Practical test on track identifications in the field. Braai and celebration.
  7. Day 7 — Day at leisure

Week 2 - Trailing Component

  1. Day 8 — Introduction, techniques and application of tracking and trailing an animal on foot from the tracks and signs that it has left behind
  2. Days 9-13 — Each individual will lead the group on a trail of a high profile animal - a full day is allocated to each individual. Coaching will take place during the trailing and if the tracks cannot be pursued further and there is still time in the day, extra educational components will be given. Followed on Sunday night by a braai and celebration
  3. Day 14 — Pack up camp and transfer back to airport

Requirements

A maximum of 8 participants may take part per course

Participants must have a good level of physical and mental fitness to join this course, and ACE staff will talk to you about this on application. Although often at a slow pace, the walking is long and arduous and involves a lot of climbing up rocky outcrops. If participants are deemed not to be fit enough part-way through the course, they will be asked to join the Tuli Conservation Project for the rest of their stay.

IT WILL BE A VERY DEMANDING COURSE REQUIRING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL STAMINA

Location and Accommodation

The course will be held in the Tuli wilderness area in Southern Botswana, where we can track leopard, hyaena, elephant and possibly lion. We will drive into the bush with all participants, staff and all our required equipment for the two weeks and set up camp in a predetermined location. Participants will assist in the set-up of the camp, which will comprise of 2-man dome tents. Sleeping mats will be provided. Water will be obtained from a water trailer that we take in with us and lighting will be limited to paraffin lamps and torchlight.

Ablution facilities will be very basic and will comprise of long-drop toilets and cold bucket showers in summer and fire-heated water in winter.

Nights may be spent out on the ground with a watch fire and basic sleeping materials if we cannot make it back to the camp by nightfall during a trailing exercise.

Accreditation

Students who obtain over 70% in the two components of the course will be awarded a CyberTracker Tracker Level 1 Certificate. 

Food and Meals

Meals will be basic and may be eaten at unusual times of the day! All cooking is done on an open fire and it will not be possible to have any fresh fruit or vegetables. Meat required for the course duration will be sealed in cooler boxes with dry ice until required. Military-style survival food packs (rat packs) will be carried in case we cannot make it back to the camp by nightfall during trailing exercises.

Clothing and Equipment

Participants must wear neutral (khaki or beige), hard-wearing clothing and good sturdy walking boots. You will be provided with 2 khaki shirts. A full kit list will be provided, but in particular it is important that you bring a good, powerful torch.

Dates and Costs

The cost for the course is £1495, and includes return transfers from Johannesburg airport to the course site, all meals, accommodation and logistical back-up.

Start dates for the 2010 courses are:

  • 13th April 2010
  • 20 July 2010
  • 28th September 2010

Start dates for 2011 courses are:

 

  • 12th April 2010
  • 19th July 2010
  • 27th September 2010

 

Factbox! 

Duration:    2 weeks
 
Cost:         £1495 (2010) – includes transfers, full tuition, all meals and accommodation. We also do a ‘package’ cost of £2600 (2010) which includes return flights from London to Johannesburg also. Add a conservation placement to your course and receive a £100 discount on the course! 
 
Accommodation:    Basic bushcamp. Tents, open fire cooking, long-drop toilets and bucket showers
 
Time of year:    See start dates above. Courses are confirmed at least 8 weeks before departure.

 

Apply Now!

Find ACE at these domain names: www.conservationafrica.net, www.conservationafrica.co.uk

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