• Call us on: +44 (0)117 253 0888
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Join our Facebook Group
  • Subscribe to our RSS Feed
  • Search Site

  • Blog
  • Amanzi Travel

You are here: Volunteering in Africa and Asia / 2013 / January

Archive for month: January, 2013

Expect the unexpected in the African bush – lioness v warthog

21 Jan 2013 / 0 Comments / in Africa, Animals, Field Guide Course, Gap Year, Wildlife conservation/by Gemma
FGASA Level 1 Field Guide Course in South Africa

The lioness v the warthog

“Expect the unexpected” – that’s what we say when you book yourself on to this 55 day Field Guide Course in Kruger National Park, South Africa, or Botswana. It is specifically structured to maximise your practical experience in the bush, and Sometimes you don’t even have to venture out of the confines of the wilderness camp to experience nature at its finest.

This is certainly what happened to Kassie, 26, a recent FGASA Level One student, at the Selati camp, when a lioness bagged herself a meal right in front of the lecture hall.

Field Guide training in South Africa, FGASA Level 1

Sharing stories around the campfire

“We were in the ‘classroom’ discussing our mini presentation on the history and culture of South Africa, when suddenly we heard a loud squealing sound. We all stopped mid-sentence and stared at each other’s shocked faces. Just as we were all questioning our own ears, suddenly there it was again! This time there was no mistake, it was most definitely something screaming for its life and it was close. It was coming from the dry Selati Riverbed right in front of the classroom – which is nothing more than a concrete floor, four pillars and a roof.

Margaux, one of our instructors, told us to stay put while she went to investigate. Her husband JP, the head instructor at Selati, came running from their tent at the other end of camp. ‘Margi, what’s happening?’ he was shouting in his broad South African accent. They briefly spoke in Afrikaans then quickly, but carefully, went down to the river bed.

We all stood watching with eager faces, twitching, waiting for that sign that would let us know we could come closer and see what was making that awful noise that was exciting us so much!

Then finally it happened. JP twitched his finger, which sent me sliding down the bank to see what was happening. I was crouched behind them, and then with a whisper as we were hiding behind some vegetation on the bank, he stretched out his finger and said ‘There, by the rocks, there is a lioness!’

FGASA Level 1 Field Guide Course with Amanzi Travel

The unexpected visitor near camp

We crawled along the sloping bank towards the lioness, but still remaining at a safe distance. She had pinned down a poor unsuspecting warthog by some rocks, which held a small pool of water. The poor thing must have been taking an afternoon drink in the hot sun before 130kg of teeth and claws jumped on it…”

So, if you’re one of these adventurous types, wanting to experience the excitement of the bush whilst gaining a greater understanding of how to interpret the ecology, this practical Field Guide Course is such a fabulous opportunity. Students should expect the unexpected, while taking part in game drives and bush walks where they will see Africa at its very best.

“A profound experience that taught me to see nature instead of only looking at it. I now have a better understanding of all interacting parts that form an ecosystem and how they are connected. An exciting new world has opened up!” Jaap

Do you have your own story, of an unexpected incident in Africa?

Page 1 of 41234

Follow Us!

Follow Us on FacebookFollow Us on TwitterFollow Us on YouTubeFollow Us on E-mail

Recent Posts

  • Great White Shark Volunteer Project – Life as a Volunteer!
  • Rhino & Elephant Sanctuary – Going from Strength to Strength!
  • Imagine being paid to take people out into the wilds of Africa!
  • Rhino and Elephant Conservation – Family Volunteering
  • WIN THE TRIP OF A LIFETIME!

Categories

  • Africa
  • Amanzi Travel Photo Competition
  • Animals
  • Asia
  • Bear Bile Farming
  • Big 5 Reserve
  • Big Cat
  • Big Cat Conservation
  • Borneo
  • Borneo Malaysia
  • Botswana
  • Cambodia
  • Cheetah
  • Chiang Mai
  • Chimpanzee
  • Christmas
  • Community projects
  • community volunteer
  • Competition
  • Courses
  • Ebola
  • Elephants
  • Family Volunteering
  • FAQs
  • FGASA
  • Field Guide
  • Field Guide Course
  • Field Guide Training
  • Fundraising
  • Game Ranger
  • Gap Year
  • Group Travel
  • Halloween
  • Horses
  • Immigration
  • Indonesia
  • Inspiration
  • internship abroad
  • Kilimanjaro
  • Kruger Photography
  • Launch Competition
  • leopard
  • Lion
  • Luxury
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Marine conservation
  • medical volunteer
  • Moon Bears
  • Mountain Gorillas
  • Naankuse
  • Namibia
  • Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Orang-utans
  • Overland tours in Africa
  • People
  • photography course
  • Rhino
  • Safari Guide
  • Sanctuary
  • School Trips
  • Shark Conservation
  • Shark Volunteer
  • South Africa
  • South East Asia
  • Special Offers
  • Sports Coaching
  • Sun Bears
  • teaching volunteer
  • Thailand
  • Tiger
  • Tips and Ideas
  • Top Tips
  • Travellers tales
  • Turtle Conservation
  • Uganda
  • Uncategorized
  • Valentines
  • Vervet Monkey
  • Vervet Monkies
  • Veterinary
  • Volunteer
  • Volunteer Experiences
  • Volunteering
  • Wild Dogs
  • Wildlife conservation
  • Wildlife Rehabilitation
  • Wildlife Training
  • Work in Africa
  • World Lion Day
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Archives

  • February 2018
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • June 2016
  • March 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • December 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012

Categories

  • Africa
  • Amanzi Travel Photo Competition
  • Animals
  • Asia
  • Bear Bile Farming
  • Big 5 Reserve
  • Big Cat
  • Big Cat Conservation
  • Borneo
  • Borneo Malaysia
  • Botswana
  • Cambodia
  • Cheetah
  • Chiang Mai
  • Chimpanzee
  • Christmas
  • Community projects
  • community volunteer
  • Competition
  • Courses
  • Ebola
  • Elephants
  • Family Volunteering
  • FAQs
  • FGASA
  • Field Guide
  • Field Guide Course
  • Field Guide Training
  • Fundraising
  • Game Ranger
  • Gap Year
  • Group Travel
  • Halloween
  • Horses
  • Immigration
  • Indonesia
  • Inspiration
  • internship abroad
  • Kilimanjaro
  • Kruger Photography
  • Launch Competition
  • leopard
  • Lion
  • Luxury
  • Malawi
  • Malaysia
  • Maldives
  • Marine conservation
  • medical volunteer
  • Moon Bears
  • Mountain Gorillas
  • Naankuse
  • Namibia
  • Namibia Wildlife Sanctuary
  • Orang-utans
  • Overland tours in Africa
  • People
  • photography course
  • Rhino
  • Safari Guide
  • Sanctuary
  • School Trips
  • Shark Conservation
  • Shark Volunteer
  • South Africa
  • South East Asia
  • Special Offers
  • Sports Coaching
  • Sun Bears
  • teaching volunteer
  • Thailand
  • Tiger
  • Tips and Ideas
  • Top Tips
  • Travellers tales
  • Turtle Conservation
  • Uganda
  • Uncategorized
  • Valentines
  • Vervet Monkey
  • Vervet Monkies
  • Veterinary
  • Volunteer
  • Volunteer Experiences
  • Volunteering
  • Wild Dogs
  • Wildlife conservation
  • Wildlife Rehabilitation
  • Wildlife Training
  • Work in Africa
  • World Lion Day
  • Zambia
  • Zimbabwe

Archives

  • February 2018
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • April 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • June 2016
  • March 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • December 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013
  • August 2013
  • July 2013
  • June 2013
  • May 2013
  • April 2013
  • March 2013
  • February 2013
  • January 2013
  • December 2012
  • November 2012
  • October 2012
  • September 2012
  • August 2012
  • July 2012
  • June 2012
  • May 2012
  • April 2012
  • March 2012
  • February 2012
  • January 2012

Tags

Africa Amanzi Travel animal conservation Botswana cheetah cheetah conservation conservation volunteer Desert Elephant FGASA Level 1 Field Guide Course Gap year gap year africa Gemma Whitehouse Hoedspruit Kenya leopard lion conservation medical volunteer Namibia overland africa overland tours overland trips africa Philanthropy rhino conservation rhino poaching South Africa sports coach volunteer teaching teaching volunteer Travel travel top tips veterinary Victoria Falls volunteer volunteer Africa volunteer in Africa volunteering volunteering in Africa wildlife wildlife conservation wildlife conservation volunteer wildlife volunteer wildlife volunteer abroad Zambia Zimbabwe
© Copyright - Volunteering in Africa and Asia
  • scroll to top
  • Follow us on Twitter
  • Join our Facebook Group
  • Subscribe to our RSS Feed