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Author: Bushwise Student

  • Nearing the end of the course

    BY: Lorena Peter

    Camp manager blogs are written by our current students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week.

    “This is it!” I thought. We were in the final leg of our Bushwise journey, with only one week to go before our last off-week and one more test before our big CATHSSETA NQF 2 exam. 

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    My week as camp manager happened to be an important week at Bushwise. It started off with assessments on identifying animals by sight and sounds on Monday. 

    Tuesday was one of the hottest days we had experienced during our time there. The international students had spent all day in Hoedspruit at the traffic department to do our driver’s tests. It was an important step towards becoming field guides.

    Our South African friends back at camp had started the day with their first mock assessment drives. They were tasked with planning routes and delivering guided experiences for fellow students acting as guests. 

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    Photo by: Ben Klunder

    We experienced hot days throughout the week followed by thunderstorms at night. Luckily, our mock assessment drives weren’t affected. We were excited to see all the insects and frogs appear and to be able to identify them! 

    My experience at Bushwise has been one big adventure so far, with only a few hiccups along the way as all good adventures go. But overall, it’s honestly been a life-changing experience and I’ll always cherish the memories I’ve made in the Lowveld. 

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    Photo by: Donald Fraser

    Coming from a small town in Switzerland where there isn’t much wildlife and with the cold winter months approaching, I’m glad to be in the African bush. Nothing beats the sounds of the wild, the picturesque sunsets and sunrises, and the vast landscapes! 

    Joining Bushwise was a lifelong dream come true. I got to gain knowledge and understanding of a place I love most in the world – the African wilderness – and I couldn’t have asked for a better host than Bushwise. 

    I look forward to seeing where everyone ends up after completing the course!

    Travel to South Africa for a Bush adventure like Lorena. Sign up for a Bushwise course now.

  • An international student shares their experience as a camp manager

    The images in this article were taken pre-COVID-19. 

    BY: Corina Rewijk

    Camp manager blogs are written by our students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week.

    After two busy weeks of Track and Sign, and Advanced Rifle Handling training, my week as the camp manager was just as busy! I came to South Africa all the way from the Netherlands, only knowing about five bird species and one South African tree. With Bushwise, I can say my knowledge about the bush improved by 500%!

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    On Monday, the rest of the international students and I went to Hoedspruit to do a theoretical exam for our Professional Driving Permit (PDP) licenses, which allows us to drive guests during placements. It’s an important test to pass, and I found it difficult to study again because it’s been a long time since I got my driver’s license!

    The next two days were all about 4×4 driving and how to safely drive and recover the game vehicle in the bush. Donovan, a staff member from Marking Africa, took us into the Greater Makalali Private Game Reserve, where we practised starting up a stalled vehicle and driving downhill. 

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    We also had to change a tyre and recover the vehicle from the sand. It was very interesting and made us realise that a lot can happen in the bush. The most important lesson about going on a safari drive is to always keep your guests and yourself safe.

    The other days were spent practising bird identification using sounds and sight. We need to know at least 230 birds by sight and 122 by sound, which is not something you learn in a few days! 

    Our new morning routine is to have coffee and play bird sounds. It’s been really helpful, because now we don’t just hear a bird singing, but we are also able to recognise what type of bird it is.

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    And with the tree assessment coming up soon, everyone got a bit stressed. So we went back to the game reserve and had to identify 50 trees. Since it’s the end of winter in Limpopo, most of the trees don’t have any leaves or flowers, which makes it even more difficult. Luckily for us, we’ll get another chance to practise our tree-sighting skills next semester.

    Looking back at the past three months, I realise how much we’ve learned, and how much there is still to come. But for now, we’re starting our well-deserved off week, to unwind and prepare ourselves for the last two semesters.

    Travel to South Africa and up your wildlife knowledge in the heart of the African bushveld!

  • Being a leader

    BY: Spencer Gallant

    Camp manager blogs are written by our students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week.

    I was excited to be the camp manager and get the chance to show my leadership skills. I’ve always seen myself as someone who leads by example, and I was ready to show that in my new role. 

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    We spent the week split into two groups. One group went off to Track and Sign training and the other group, which I was in, tried out rifle handling. Since we spent the majority of the week studying two different subjects, the students remained divided into their groups even while we were all on camp. This meant we didn’t get to spend much time together as one big group, but I still had fun as the camp manager. 

    On Tuesday and Wednesday, my group went to the shooting range in Tzaneen to get our rifle competency training. I was very nervous because I had never shot a gun in my life, and was more focused on the shooting than being the camp manager!  

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    Photo by: Carl Louis Steenkamp

    This image was taken pre-COVID-19.

    I loved heading out of camp and getting a change of scenery, but Friday was the best day of the week. We went to practise shooting the rifles ourselves at a private farm nearby. And, even as someone who has never used a firearm before, my nerves quickly turned to excitement as the day went on. When it was my turn to shoot, the nerves were completely gone and I was very accurate! 

    The energy and positivity everyone had at the range was so great that it became one of my favourite days of the entire course. I had so much fun. 

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    On Saturday, we had a mock bird assessment to test our knowledge. Birds have gone from being a topic I wasn’t much interested in at the beginning of the course, to a hearty passion of mine as soon as I learned more about them. It was great to see how I’ve progressed since I started the course. 

    I did well in the test, and got another chance to lead by helping my fellow students with their bird knowledge. 

    All in all, this week went by smoothly. Even though I  only got to be the camp manager for one week and didn’t get to do as much as I would have liked to, I did the best I could with the time I had and that’s all anyone can do!

    Do you want to practise your leadership skills out in the safari too? Join a course now.

  • Exciting moments in the bush

    This image was taken pre-COVID-19. 

    BY: Brandon Eckelberry

    Camp manager blogs are written by our students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week.

    My week as camp manager included some awesome sightings. To start, we had staff from the Hoedspruit Reptile Centre give us a presentation on snakes and other reptiles. 

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    I got to help dissect the carcass of an olive grass snake. It was really cool to see the inside of the snake, and while we were dissecting it, we discovered a skink’s tail in its stomach! If that sounds a bit gruesome, not to worry; the skink might have released its tail and most likely escaped the snake attack. 

    As we examined further down the snake’s body, we discovered that it had experienced a blunt force injury, like something stepping on it. The organs near the snake’s tail were fatally damaged. 

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    When we were done with the dissection, the trainer brought out live snakes. He had three snakes with him: a puff adder, a boomslang and a snouted cobra.

    But that wasn’t the end of the week’s wild experiences. The next thing I found exciting was spotting a leopard on campus, not once, but twice in three days! 

    The first sighting was about 10:30 at night. I was coming back to campus with fellow students Tilly, Megan and Mathew. As we drew closer, we spotted a female leopard on the road. We watched, with a flashlight, as it moved slowly into the bush, and it watched us for a good 10 minutes, too! 

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    On the second sighting, a few of us were outside on the porch when we heard a duiker cry out. We knew it had been attacked. One of the students, Spencer, has a trail camera. So a few of us walked down to spot the kill and set up the camera. Within 30 minutes, a leopard came and took the duiker into the thicket.

    I had a good time as camp manager and learned a lot from the experience. I’m excited to see how much more I can still learn. 

    Want to have a wild bush experience like Brandon? Get in touch with us.

  • Another busy week in the bush

    BY: Ross de Villiers

    Camp manager blogs are written by our students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week.

    Taking over the duty of camp manager was an exciting opportunity for me. I got to experience what it’s like to be in a leadership position. Our group is a tight-knit bunch, so everyone performed their duties to the best of their ability, which made my job easier.

    Duties as camp manager

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    As the camp manager, you’re required to check the group’s temperature twice a day, once in the morning and again in the evening.You must also ensure that all duties around camp are done. 

    One of the most fun tasks as the camp manager is that you get to host an event of your choice on the Wednesday evening. On my hosting night, our group watched a funny movie and enjoyed hot chocolates. We had a blast!

    Tracking and shooting

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    This image was taken pre-COVID-19.

    We had a very busy and exciting week ahead of us. The students were split into two groups. Group A was tasked with learning their tracks and signs at Colin Patrick Trainers, and group B set off to the shooting range in Tzaneen to acquire their rifle competency certificates. 

    The week of tracking has been one of the many highlights of the course so far.

    The bush walk

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    This image was taken pre-COVID-19.

    On Sunday, four of us went on a bush walk with Jack Hutchinson, a Bushwise trainer. On the walk, we encountered a black rhino and her young. 

    It was exhilarating to see a rhino in real life and it made me realise just how grateful I am to be having this experience.

    We’re hoping that next time we’ll see a leopard! 

    Want to learn more about the Bushwise course Ross is taking? Head over to our website.

  • Find your passion with Bushwise

    BY: Sarah Bennet

    Camp manager blogs are written by our students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week.

    A really curious fact for those of us into wildlife is that the spotted hyena is immune to anthrax and rabies.

    It took me a while to figure out what I wanted to write about for this blog. In the end, it had to be about this, the spotted hyena – a species I’ve become passionate about since joining Bushwise.

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    PHOTO BY: Sarah Bennet

    At the beginning of our second semester, we were given an assignment to do a presentation on a mammal species (chosen at random out of a hat). This presentation had to be roughly between ten and 12 minutes long, and was due for the end of the semester.

    I picked the spotted hyena, an animal I hadn’t given much thought to before. My first thought when I pulled the name was of Shenzi, Banzai and Ed, the three hyenas from The Lion King. My second thought was that hyenas are dirty, mischievous scavengers, who steal food from other animals and don’t do anything for themselves.

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    PHOTO BY: Sarah Bennet

    But, to my surprise, hyenas are incredibly smart creatures. The spotted hyena is one of the most successful pack hunters in the wild, and has complex social structures. 

    Studies on this species’ social intelligence show it rivals that of primates. Everything from their complex reproduction process to the chemical makeup that affects their social system, became so interesting to me. 

    I shared my newfound knowledge with anyone who would listen, even though I would be putting it into my presentation anyway. I wanted everyone to know how cool spotted hyenas are. 

    My presentation contained way too much information, because I didn’t want to leave anything out, and I ended up being cut off 15 minutes in to give the other students a chance.

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    PHOTO BY: Matthew Nash

    I hold such passion in my heart for these amazing mammals. And luckily for me, we had a small clan that lived around our campus. We would see them hanging out by the cruisers every night, hear them calling out as we would fall asleep, and find their tracks around the camp every morning.

    Every time I see or hear a spotted hyena, I will always be reminded of Bushwise and the memories I’ve created here, which have a special place in my heart.

    Visit the Bushwise website to learn how you can develop your wildlife passion like Sarah has.

  • A practical guide to packing for a field guide course

    BY: Kevin Lefevre

    Camp manager blogs are written by our current students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week.

    Knowing exactly what to pack for any trip can be a mission. I have to admit, I struggled getting my luggage sorted for the six months of the Bushwise Field Guides course. 

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    PHOTO BY: Christian Rabie

    Nobody likes to carry unnecessary things in an already heavy backpack. So, in addition to the list of things to pack that Bushwise provides, here are a few tips from a student’s perspective.

    1) Leave some items for local shopping

    The town closest to the Balule campus is Hoedspruit. Although not massive, it has character and there’s an array of shops to peruse. I found that prices are often cheaper here than back home, especially for international students. Some shops to check out include:

    1. The Great Outdoors for camping gear 

    2. Pick n Pay for overall shopping

    3. Ruggedwear for bush clothing 

    Since we wear our uniforms every day, it’s a good idea not to overpack on leisure wear, and buy extra uniforms instead. And the plus side is that uniforms get washed for you on campus.

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    Leave the fancy suitcase at home, too, and take a sturdy backpack that can stand a beating. Choose one with good back support for walking with, and make sure you can carry everything by yourself.

    The local Postnet is a great delivery point when shipping in extra gear. And this can be useful when you miss something you left back home. 

    2) Pack books for downtime

    When you arrive on campus, you’ll receive a number of books that will assist you throughout the course. The campus library also offers a range of reading material and is available at all times. 

    My advice to you is to only pack books for leisure reading. Don’t bring loads of nature books from your own collection. The wifi on campus works well for being in the bush.

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    Take comfortable clothes. The amount of times I repacked my bag, thinking, ‘should I take this?’, or ‘do I look cool in that?’ is ridiculous. Remember, you’re going to do a nature-course with like-minded people. Nobody cares if you bring five pairs of walking shoes. 

    Pack one of each essential item of clothing and wear neutral-coloured clothing that you feel comfortable in. 

    3) It’s in the little things

    Here are some items to include if you want to pack smart: 

    1. a microfibre towel

    2. hydration backpack instead of a water bottle

    3. a small torch that’s easy to carry, or a headlight

    4. earphones over headphones 

    5. a multi-tool instead of a sheath knife

    6. a good sleeping bag (South Africa can get very cold in winter) 

    Compare your gear with your fellow students, and make a list of what you feel you’re missing. You will have enough opportunities to buy the remaining things in town. Keep in mind that you have to take everything back home with you when you leave, so don’t buy too much to carry!

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    In the end, you can only prepare so much for an adventure. Don’t forget to stop to enjoy the excitement.

    Ready for your bush adventure? Browse through our courses and read our FAQs to see what other students want to know before going abroad.

  • Camp manager: fun, chores, hyenas and more

    PHOTO BY: Callum Evans

    BY: Quintin Swart

    Camp manager blogs are written by our students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week.

    Managing the camp for this bunch of hooligans isn’t as bad as I thought. So far no real problems have come up. Hopefully it stays that way.

    Bushwise has done an excellent job of bringing together a group of like-minded individuals. We began creating strong bonds from the first day, which is important considering the fact that we’ll be stuck together for the next six months. A tight knit group will be a massive advantage.

    But although we’re well and settled now, from week two everyone has become somewhat homesick, but the support from the group has managed to pull some people through and they seem to be doing a lot better.

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    Being a camp manager is not all fun and games. I’ve found it tedious at times, since the majority of the work is temperature checks twice a day as a COVID-19 safety protocol, switching of lights after everyone has gone to bed and making sure the fire has been killed. This is quite a challenge especially when you have a sleep routine that does not allow late nights. But the job must be done.

    First sleep out 

    I had the pleasure to be camp manager during our first sleep out on Makali Private Game Reserve. This added the responsibility of having to get all the supplies and gear necessary for us to survive the night. And what a night it was. Once the fire was started, we gave our favourite American classmate his first proper braai lesson. 

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    PHOTO BY: Christian Rabie

    Stories were told and some of the students kept on getting the giggles. One of our trainers, Darren, has taken to calling them the “whoo crew”. We even had our first night sky lesson. Everyone managed to learn how to identify the constellations, including Scorpio and the Southern Cross.

    21:00 came on quick, with it the first night watch shift started. After listening to Vaughan and the other trainer’s stories of amazing encounters, we were ready. Everyone had this sense of anxiety and excitement. Shift one already provided us with the sounds of the bushveld at night, starting with lions roaring in the distance. 

    Soon after, hyenas started. It sounded like they were getting closer too. It was evident that they were coming to investigate us. After listening for hours waiting to know what will come, Hunter called out three pairs of eyes shining through the bushes. Naturally, we wanted a better view so we moved towards our audience. Sure enough the monster from the bush emerged. It was a spotted hyena. 

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    Discovery documentaries do not do them justice. These animals are big. We assume it was a female. She moved with speed and disappeared back into the bush as fast as she appeared. We aren’t sure what happened with the other two.

    The rest of the shifts were uneventful. Dawn came and a new day started, along with the last few hours of my week as camp manager. 

    Want to hear about more student camp manager weeks? Check out the Bushwise blog.

  • Challenges and opportunities as a camp manager

    BY: Zoe Zietsman-Brits

    Camp manager blogs are written by our students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week.

    I’m terrified of hyenas. And I never thought I’d be so close to being hyena chow (that’s how I felt out in the bush, at least). But my time in the bush has tested my fears, strengths and weaknesses. This was especially true during my week as camp manager.

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    My first day as camp manager was so fun. I quickly got the hang of what it’s like to be a manager of a lodge or a safari. I’ve also found it rewarding to watch and learn about the things that challenge us, and the things that help us to flourish. As the days went on I discovered how being a camp manager is not for the faint of heart, at least, this was true for me

    As the week continued, it got more difficult to keep up with my duties. I found myself stressed and all over the place. Luckily, I had a great group of friends who helped me. They would remind me of my duties, help ensure everyone else’s duties were done and of course, checked that we had enough milk and cereal. 

    Despite the challenges, being camp manager was a privilege. I can now build on what I’ve learnt and flourish in that department. 

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    The wildlife sightings were exciting during my week as camp manager. There were lots of close encounters, primarily of the Big Five. But my opinion on hyenas hasn’t changed. They are beautiful, but savage in my opinion. I would not like to cross paths with them!

    I know everyone else will do great as camp manager even if it’s not their strong suit. Come to Bushwise and find out for yourself!

  • Do whatever makes you feel alive

    BY: Emily Elliott

    Camp manager blogs are written by our students who each get a chance to lead and manage a group (of their fellow students) for a period of one week.

    Waking up in the morning has been no small feat. Friday topped the charts, with temperatures plummeting across South Africa. It felt like the coldest day of the year. We all had to bundle up against the bone-chilling cold for our early morning drives. But with spirits high, coffee in hand and our rusks in tow, we carried on!

    Our designated guides drove us all over the reserve as we started to explore more of what will be our home for the next six months. Later on, the highly anticipated sleep-out would give us an opportunity to explore the northeastern part of the reserve.

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    We piled into the back of the vehicle with our sleeping bags, backpacks and pork chops. Our classmate and brilliant camp chef, Sibo, was ready to put the chops to use. We raced to claim our sleeping spots, some close to the fire, others daring to venture beyond our little semi circle. With the sun setting and fire built, we gathered around drinking coffee and taking photos, documenting what would become a night we would never forget. 

    For dinner, the braai masters took charge and dished up some of the tastiest pork chops and garlic bread this side of the Mohlabetsi River. After a few rounds of roasting marshmallows and sharing stories around the fire, we hopped into our sleeping bags. We rotated night watch shifts, with groups of two to three students taking on an hour and a half each time.

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    I was tasked with the 1:00 to 2:30 block, along with Christian and Ross. We made a solid team. Not even the bravest hyaena dared to approach us too close, even with the tantalising aroma of leftover pork chop in the air. When our watch ended we gently nudged the next two students awake for their turn.

    But the real magic happened just before sunrise. Peeking out from my cosy sleeping bag, I was greeted with millions of stars speckled across the night sky. We talked about the moment. That’s when the reality of living and studying in the bush hit us. It is worth making time and pursuing things that make you feel alive. And then do it with all your heart. 

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    Learn how you can get your hands on some of those mouth watering pork chops by visiting the Bushwise website.