AVG TEMP:
27 ˚C
WHAT’S NEW ON THE GROUND? LANGUAGE LESSON:
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Zulu: ‘Ubenosuku oluhle’ Means ‘Have a nice day.’
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Gloria Wong joined our family as Lodge Manager for Dumela. She hit the ground running after joining us in December and we are looking forward to seeing what wonderful work Gloria will do in 2019 (and beyond) Fleur Visser is another great addition to our team. Fleur joins us as Research Internship Supervisor and Researcher. We are very excited to develop our internships in the Greater Kruger area •
m Our volunteers have been going on many exciting game drives, in Buffaloland, Klaserie and Balule Private Game Reserves. •
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Our volunteers were lucky enough to spot a rhino with her adopted calf, which she decided to mother because the calf’s own mother was pregnant again. This was a great opportunity to record this behavior and give better insight into the relationship between individuals Other than the regular zebra and wildebeest sightings, we spotted a single hippo bathing in a water hole who gave us a lovely display of his impressive might One of our volunteers recalled an once-in-a-lifetime experience where an elephant came to say hello at our tented camp. Spectacular!
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Through our research on African wild dogs, we are looking to keep track of their movements and territories, breakdown of age and sex, behaviors, group dynamics, and identification of the packs and individuals In the last three months we have seen 3 different packs within 2 different reserves. One pack of 23 was the most impressive - named the Zasendle pack, they’ve been seen very regularly We have watched 13 small puppies grow into sub-adults big enough that they are difficult to differentiate from the adults. Up until recently we knew very little about these packs and individuals, but thanks to a recent intern we now have over 60 identikits of the wild dogs This helps greatly with our data collection, and is appreciated by our partner (The Endangered Wildlife Trust) who we send our data and Identikits to To get to spend so much time with these amazing animals has helped us gain a much better understanding of them
For our Reading Club, the book levels have been reassessed and reclassified and we have introduced a ‘dream board’ and a ‘motivational chart’ as new ways to increase the students’ motivation Gift bags were put together and certificates created for each child, as well as the teacher A fantastic 252 books were read, 13 reading levels progressed and 96 reading certificates handed out. What an amazing achievement thanks to our passionate volunteers, staff and of course, the committed little learners An agreement with Maripe High School has allowed us to expand our Farmers of the Future community gardens A staggering 4220 seedlings were planted One of the classrooms at the school has been transformed to a workshop room for our farmers, having been cleaned, sanded, painted and refurbished
“I wish everyone could get an experience like that just once in their life. Nothing fancy, action packed or difficult – “Just” sitting in the bush watching a beautiful pre-historic like animal have a little breakfast.”
– Photography Volunteer
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This quarter our photographers had the opportunity to get more involved than ever with our community projects. They attended and photographed the end of year celebration for our Reading Club, capturing the children's smiles and joy when receiving their wellearned reading certificates But that wasn’t all, they also took part in the annual World Clean Up Day, which was a huge success, not just here in Hoedspruit but across all of African Impact’s locations One of the most spectacular highlights for our volunteers was the witnessing of an impala hunt and kill by a hyenas. What a rare opportunity - the training in low light photography was proven very beneficial For the end of the year we’ve added up all photos submitted in 2018 by our photography volunteers to aid our conservation initiatives, bringing the year to a close with 9636. This is an outstanding number, where the quality very much matches the quantity. It certainly proves the amount of work our volunteers have put into their own development. Such great way to end the year
“After years of travel I have only ever visited the same place once. That is, until now. There are some places in the world that feel so intriguing you just can’t get enough. Here in the bush in South Africa with African Impact is one of those places. Try as you might, this place just will not let you go, I first visited South Africa with African Impact last year. I initially came for four weeks to do the photography project but loved it so much I ended up staying for six weeks. I had only been home for a month when my feet began itching and I knew it was time to start planning another trip. Learning more about photography was at the top of my list but there was so much more. The people, the animals, the landscapes and the food all touch you in ways you cannot even explain. And African Impact brings all of these things together and makes them sing with their staff. Not only are they helpful and knowledgeable but they are also extremely caring. One visit to see them could never be enough. ’ - Toodie May, Photography volunteer, US
Until next time…