Tala’s rare lady

Working at Tala Private Game Reserve I got to see so many special sightings that are all so memorable but there is one in particular that always stands out. It is not a Rhino, not a lion or leopard, not giraffe but one that many people over look, it’s an Impala. Yes an Impala, a female Impala to be exact.  

Impala’s are very common in South Africa and quite often people that have been on game drives before drive by them without even giving them a second thought. If you are one of these people and have been around Tala Game Reserve you have most likely missed an extremely special and very rare sight. I am talking about Tala’s very special female Impala that is sporting a set of horns. 

Now if you are wondering why this is so rare or special I’ll explain. Normally, only male Impala (Rams) have horns and females (ewes)don’t have horns, but due to a hormonal imbalance caused this particular female Impala, grew a set of horns. The horns do look quite deformed compared to a normal males horns and are much thinner so she does stand out in her herd and can be told apart from the males quite easily. 

You can see some of the pictures of her below. 

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So if you are ever in the Natal are and happen to visit Tala Private Game Reserve be sure to keep your eyes open around the Impala as you may catch a glimpse of one of Africa’s rarest and very special mammals. 

Chapter 1 – Training days

Its been a few months since my last post but life has been rather chaotic since I decided to take that leap and change career paths. Although there has been many ups and downs (mainly ups) the change from Golfer to Ranger, quite honestly has been the best decision I have made. It has been quite tough to follow my dream but I know that it will pay off in the long run. This post will hopefully be the start to many more to come as I will be trying to keep you all up to date on my lifetime adventure, really hope you all will enjoy. So lets get into this!

So the journey begins! Heading off to Zulu Land I couldn’t be more nervous and excited. My emotions running wild we arrived at Phinda Game reserve to start the whole training program. As much as I would love to tell you all the details about it, unfortunately, they ask that we keep there process “top secret” so we don’t ruin it for others. All I can say is that the week that I was there was an amazing experience and one I will NEVER forget. Unfortunately I never quite made the cut and wasn’t what they were looking for in the Andbeyond family. I was rather gutted at the time but as one or two days passed I realised it may have just been for the better as I was already making plans to pursue the dream after been knocked down on attempt 1.

After a week or so of not really knowing which direction to turn and feeling a little lost to say the least I gave Tala Private Game Reserve a call out of the blue. Ashot in the dark really as I had no real qualifications behind me other than I am studying for that line of work. Mike, the GM, was amazing and super helpful, almost offering me something over the phone. It was basically a volunteering or training position with the opportunity to further my experience and learn the ins and outs of a reserve. This turned out to be more valuable than I could have imagined. Head ranger, Divan, welcomed me to the reserve and without a chance to take a breath was thrown into the mix. Learning more and more everyday was exactly what I was looking for and let me tell you Divan’s knowledge is phenomenal. Hanging on his every word I could have not asked to learn more, not only about the bush but also other areas which I quite clearly over looked.

Before I knew it I was part of the team, giving game drives and bush walks. Experience that well is just invaluable and something I will always remember. Typical days generally involved staff runs, game drives, learning the bush and feeding off the knowledge of others. Spending each and every day in the bush has given me some of the most amazing experiences and this is only the beginning. In free time I get to basically do my own thing which generally involved driving or walking the reserve, learning the animals and talking in all the aspects of the wild. A few of the amazing moments include walking with Giraffe, watching Hippos fight, Giraffe necking and possibly the best part of all was to see and spend time with the Rhinos everyday. A huge thanks to Divan, Mike and the whole team at Tala, you all were a huge help to me and I hope it wont be long until I see you all again.

Talking about Rhino’s, the anti poaching team at Tala is amazing. They are extremely passionate about what they do and are real hero’s in my eyes. So getting to spend time with them was so fantastic. Rave Rhino and Wildlife Project is doing great things, so please support them if you can. I will include the link below. Laurence and your team, thanks for everything you do and I will do my best to carry on doing whatever I can for you.

Before this post becomes too long, as I could really go into detail from day to day happenings it would be a lengthy post, I think ill save those for the book. As my journey continues I will keep you posted with stories from the Ranger side of life.

I have had a couple adventures on my off weeks which were amazing too and include a trip  back to Botswana (Khutse) and a couple day trips to Karkloof Conservancy. They were all great but you can see pictures of these on my facebook page.

I will be heading off to Bhejane Training to complete my training for level 1, trails guide, back up trails and dangerous game. I truly cant wait to embark on the exciting times ahead. So keep posted for more stories from my adventures Chapter 2 I’m sure will have some incredible stories.

Check out some of the pictures from the last few months, more are on my facebook page.

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Simple pleasures

There is one thing I never get bored looking at and that is a sunset. This daily event that changes each and every day, quite often going un noticed to many people. I don’t blame you as I often miss it due to being indoors or busy with life in general, but do yourself a favour one day soon and just get to a place where you can just sit and marvel at the amazing view. It’s a great way to end any day and guarantee you wont regret it.

 

 

Although I’d give almost anything to be living out in the wild and to constantly be surrounded by what I love most, the simple pleasures will have to do for now and there are plenty of these moments to appreciate. All you have to do is open your eyes and take notice of what is around you.

These simple pleasures always brings a smile to my face and joy to my soul. Enjoy life and all that it has to offer!

Sunday Bliss

The past weekend was a rather chilly one here in Gaborone with temperatures in the low numbers for most of the day and a wind that resembled something I felt when I was in the snow in Lesotho last year. Ok maybe it wasn’t that bad, but on the day it sure felt like it.

That never deterred me however as I was up and ready to leave for the game reserve before the sun started to peek out from behind the horizon. After a quick check that I had all my camera gear, books and essentials, I headed out on the relatively short drive to the nearby Mokolodi Nature Reserve. Mokolodi is situated on the outskirts of Gaborone and is a place where I often spend many hours driving round, relaxing and trying to get that “perfect” photo. A beautiful place and a great way to spend a Sunday.

As the gates opened I was in the park and off on a mission. Although we never saw too much game, not as much as usual, we did have some great sightings. Impala, as usual being the most common. Giraffe, Kudu, Water buck and Hippo were a few of the others. I may have missed quite a few sighting though as I was really on the lookout for birds and this did not disappoint as I marked off a couple of new species to add to my list, favourite of the day being a pair of small Violet eared Waxbills.

A great day in the reserve by all accounts and as dusk started to creep in I called it a day. A few good photos in the bag and revitalised for the week ahead.

Until the next tale, catch me on Facebook!

Ranger Kid

Ps: I will be holding a fundraiser for Mokolodi Nature Reserve to help support the Bird Sanctuary and Reptile Park. So for more information or any donations please comment or contact me directly. All proceeds are going to a great cause.

African Heartbeat

To wake up under the African sun everyday is truly a blessing. This continent has to be the most beautiful and most diverse place to call home. The cultures, the people, the wildlife and the spectacular landscapes all form, in my eyes, a paradise beyond anything else. The adventures and experiences that a person can have are truly unforgettable, an ever changing horizon filled with possibilities and memories is what invades my mind each and every day. I read this quote once and it just seem to stick with me. “There is a pleasure in the pathless woods. There is a rapture on the lonely shore. There is society, where none intrudes. By the deep sea, and music in its roar. I love not man the less, but nature more.” – Lord Byron. To me there is just something special about this place and I am happiest when surrounded by the African wilderness.

2015 for me, has seen a few amazing adventures. Although most of them were visits to places I had already been they didn’t disappoint, different times of the year brings out an almost unrecognisable difference. The sights, the sounds and the land, always changing, it sometimes makes you realise just how small your existence is, but to leave your footprint in the sand, well, that’s what the adventure is all about.

February saw a weekend getaway to Khama Rhino Sanctuary, always a great place to visit. This place and its wildlife is astounding, huge heards of antelope, an array of birdlife, giraffe and the ever more special and protected Rhino. I say this every time I go there but these guys should be praised, the work they are doing and the efforts they make to protect our beautiful Rhino are incredible. Well done and thank you to the hero’s that you are.

As we sat in the campsite around the fire on the first night in true African style, beer in hand and braai over the coals, it just brought pure joy to my soul. A beautiful star lit sky, great company and wildlife all around. The entire weekend was amazing with some great sightings, loads of fun, maybe a few to many beers at times, but all in all a great weekend. The highlight having to be the waterhole where you can just seem to spend endless time, as the hours feel like minutes while you watch the game come and go, from the big to the small creatures it is just astounding. Thanks to Allan and Susan, couldn’t have asked for better people to go with.

After many more weekends working and the odd day trips to the nearby game reserves we had an epic holiday adventure to look forward to. A return to Kasane in the upper parts of Botswana. April could just not come around quick enough.

Eventually the time came for Clive and myself to set off for Kasane. I had been waiting in anticipation for this trip the entire year. Although a little exhausted from not much sleep we got on the road bright and early and 11 hours later arrived at Sinyati Camp in Lesoma Valley, just a few minutes outside Kasane. A beautiful place to stay and I highly recommend it to anyone traveling to that part of the world.

After a well deserved beer and a, dead to the world, sleep I stepped out of my tent to the orange glow of the Botswana sun. We headed to the Chobe National Park where we spent the next 10 or so hours driving around. The sightings were astounding and we just couldn’t get enough. Through out that week this became routine of waking up early, game driving for hours on end and enjoying the peace and tranquillity that the place has to offer, although at times there was extreme excitement. The sightings all included Lions over a kill, Cheetah, elephant (too many to count), huge amounts of antelope, bird life to satisfy even the most avid of bird watches, crocodiles, hippos and even the odd rare sightings of the secretive animals.

On the last day in the park, I think we both had a slightly heavy heart as neither of us wanted to leave this place but as the sun began to show we were in the park again, not long after our morning coffee stop at the river banks with the on looking and thieving vervet monkeys, we found two of the female lions lazing about under an acacia tree. Not very phased by our presence we hung around a while until a quick lunch called. Rushing back we had to pick up the tracks and find them again which just lead to an even more amazing sight, we ran into the rest of the pride as they all lazed around near the river bank looking out onto the dry and sandy flood plains. It was as if they wanted to put on a show for us on the last day. A heard of sable in the distance caught there beady eyes. Crouching down in the golden brown grass the hunt began, slowly but surely the young male crept closer and closer with the rest of the pride heading off behind the tree line waiting to ambush the already wary sables. Without hesitation the young male launched his attack pushing them out into the flood plain, moving around the heard in an amazing display he pushed them back towards the tree line where the rest of the pride lay in wait. All of a sudden there was complete chaos between the sable as they spread out as the four lions ambushed them. Spotting there target they all locked on and chased at an incredible speed. Luckily for the sable the swat of the lions massive paw narrowly missed and the sable escaped with what I am sure was a rapidly beating heart. As the moment calmed down, the lion, panting and out of breath, lay down on the sandy flood plain as they watched the sable move off into the distance. An incredible experience even though they missed the kill. In complete awe we slowly drove back to camp with the deep orange sunset at our backs. What a way to end an adventure. To Clive and Senyati Camp thanks for the epic memories.

After an amazing time at Kasane we headed back stopping over on the way at a rather remote place, Kubu Island in the Magadigadi Salt Pan. This place with an incredible history is honestly astounding. As you stand at the edge of the pan you look out for as for as the eye can see to the vast amount of nothingness, what looks like islands in the distance is just the mirage playing trick on you. I must say we got caught out as we started to walk into the pan towards what looked like some kind of land structure we ended up walking and walking only to find some different coloured rocks and another mirage off in the distance. As you standing out on the pans you kind of find out why they call it “defining silence” as a very eerie feeling comes over you as the only sound you can hear is your own footsteps and the wind sweeping over the salty ground.

All in all the this year has been a great one and I have had some amazing adventures, I could mention a few other weekend trips that I have been on but it will just add to this already long post. So I will leave it at these two, for now.

So to end off I will leave you with this quote: “I am an African, not because I was born in Africa but because Africa is born in me” – Kwame Nkrumah.

Till the next adventure!

 

Speachless in Africa

There are so many things I enjoy doing in life but I have to say camping has to rate somewhere near the top of the list. To be out in the wilderness with nothing but the bare necessities, far from daily life and all the commotion of city streets for me is one of the most peaceful and tranquil experiences I could wish for. Without cell phones, internet, tv’s life just seems so much more simple. The best times of my life have generally come from these simple moments in life where sitting around a fire under the stars of the African sky with good friends will, for me, beat just about anything else.

A week ago I had that wish come true, although it seemed to take forever to come. A group of us had decided to head off on a weekend adventure to a place barely touched by the outside world. Khutse Game Reserve on the edge of the Kalahari has to be one of the most beautiful places on earth. As we left Gaborone in the early hours of the morning all excited and keen to get away for a few days, I had no idea about what this place had in stall for us and how amazing it was going to be.

As with any roadtrip there are bound to be a few hicups but this trip had a few more up its sleeves just to tease us. First off and about 40km outside Gabs our traveling partners (Team Nissan, consisting of B-Rad, Owen and Kerry) forgot the permits so unfortunatly they had to turn back and go collect them. Not really delaying us (Team Ford, consisting of myself and Allan) but then we ran into our own issues later that morning first by getting to the last town before the turn off where we could get diesel where they had run out the day before so us too had to make a u-turn and go 60km back to fill up. Not deterred in the slightest about this we rushed back to the closest town filled up and met team Nissan again. Having major dejavu we headed back on the same road back to the turn off where a cop just had to be hiding and politely pulled me over to slap me with a small speeding fine.

Finally all the issues seemed to be over and we got going again and turned onto the dirt road which meant we had about 100km to go till the gate. The excitement was now growing km by km. Finally after a few nice big mud puddles and some sandy roads we reached the gate. By this time I was already in awe of this place.

We set out to get to our camp and get all set up for the weekend. Cracking open the first beer was a great feeling as we were now ready to relax and enjoy this magnificent place. We headed out that afternoon for a game drive and I was immediately blown away by the diversity of this place, Wide open pans and thick bush home to so many different creatures. Among the sightings of the afternoon were Gemsbok (Gemsquash as B-Rad refers to them), giraffe, steenbok, ostrich, jackal and so many different bird species. We headed back to camp while the sun was setting and started the fire so we could unwind after a busy day. Sitting around the fire we had to keep on checking the surrounding bush as this place is rather wild we spotted a little African Wild Cat, such an amazing little cat and a rather rare sighting it just made me realize how special this place was.

The rest of the weekend also did not disappoint, many sightings from Puff adders to leopard tortoise to many antelope and again many different birds. Unfortunately we never saw any cats but there will be a next time. Each of the days we went to finish off the afternoon by watching the sunset over one of the pans and this although ive seen so many beautiful sunsets these had to rate as some of the top. Sunset on the one side and a storm off in the distance on the other with a waterhole in between it all with a few giraffe relaxing and having a drink. These types of moments just make me fall in love with Africa over and over. This continent is just truly amazing and i always proud to call it home.

While all of us were now extremely relaxed we sat around the fire again to enjoy an evening braai and a couple drinks while reminiscing of the days and weekends events, there were quite a few moments when all we were doing was looking up at the african sky fulled with stars that you just cant see in many places, this was just pure and simple happiness! I cant speak for every one of us but I was rendered speechless on so many occasions.

The last day came and I must say I was rather sad about leaving the Kalahari but there will definitely be a next time as this place is just to amazing not to come back to. If any of you are contemplating going somewhere this place is a must and definitely one for the bucket list.

Thanks again to B-Rad, Allan, Owen and Kerry for an amazing time, Team Ford and Team Nissan make a great team!

As always I look forward to the next adventure, and please feel free to comment or share!

Till next time

Cheers Jono       

Africa’s Hero

Botswana life, although often very hot and sometimes a rather frustrating place to live does come with quite a few perks. One being the vast amount of places to visit and the abundance of wildlife virtually on your doorstep. This place is constantly surprising me and I have yet to go a day without getting to marvel at at least one of the truly magnificent sights this world has to offer. Sunsets, animals, birds, reptiles, the list really just carries on and on.

This weekend was one of those times where I was just blown away with what Botswana has to offer. After thinking I was going to have a slightly boring weekend at home, I got a call from Allan who was away with his wife Susan at Khama Rhino Sanctuary telling me that it is amazing there and that I should come and join them. Well I think I debated the answer with myself for a whole 2 seconds before I rapidly stuffed some clothes into a bag, grabbed a few beers and hit the road and headed to the Sanctuary. As I was traveling it dawned on me that this would be Rangers (still to be named) first adventure and a spontaneous one of that. Three hours after crashing out of my front door and basically tripping over my own shoe laces I arrived at the sanctuary and was immediately in my element!

Seen as it was a little late and couldn’t go out and explore we set up around the fire, had some awesome chow followed by a few drinks, talks of what was to come and some good laughs before heading off to sleep. I really didn’t get to much sleep though due to my over excited mind.

The next morning, bright and early, we headed out on a sunrise game drive in the Ranger and let me tell you that this place is just, “WOW”, that was my first word out my mouth as we came through the thick bush into the clearing that overlooked a huge savanna plain or Pan as they call it. It was truly a picturesque view the way the sun was hitting the grass giving it a golden tinge. As I looked over the pan I was just filled with this immense happiness, typically that feeling that you get when you fall in love and let me tell you after spending a day driving around this place and sitting at the one water hole for almost two hours, I have definitely fallen for it.

Being a Rhino sanctuary, Rhinos are obviously the main attraction but that is not the only thing to see there although they are very special, beautiful and amazing animals and quite a privilege to get to see them especially due to the current situation surrounding them. I must say, Khama Rhino Sanctuary, you are doing an amazing job and should be classed as an Africa Hero!

Apart from the Rhino which we saw the Black and White Rhino we had a get day of sightings. Kori Bustard’s, Vultures (3 diff species), Springbok, Eland, Kudu, Steenbok, Gemsbok, Hartebeest, Impala, Giraffe, not to mention the wildebeest that were so close you could almost touch them, Zebra and well you just cant leave out the little warthogs. So all in all a great days sightings.

I was really a little upset when we had to leave but I guess it had to end sometime and there will always be a next time because I am guaranteed to be returning in the near future, plus there was a delicious bacon and cheese burger stop off on the road trip home 😉

Thanks again to Allan and Susan for a great weekend and for the invite, great time and awesome memories!

Until the next adventure!

Cheers!