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Location
All training will take place on the 23 000 Ha Entabeni Private Game Reserve, on the Eastern end of the Waterberg Escarpment. This magnificent reserve has a wonderful array of fauna and flora, including the infamous ‘Big Five’.
Diversity on the reserve is astounding, with more than 55 mammal species, 350 flowers, 70 grasses, 200 trees, 410 birds and innumerable insects, reptiles and amphibians.
Ancient cycads, thousands of years old, lay waiting to be discovered amongst huge sandstone monoliths. Cold clear streams cut paths through the rocks which were laid down by ancient waters, before the time of even the most primitive multicellular animals.
The reserve is dramatically dissected into northern and southern halves by sheer 600m cliffs, which only the Verraux’s Eagles and Cape Vultures can call their home.
Our camp is situated in the midst of the reserve so visits by lions and other beasts are an expected and accepted part of every day, and we in turn are accepted by them.
The reserve is one of those places where you do not need to search for animals, as plains game is plentiful, with 15 different antelope species. Lions are seen almost daily, and are such successful hunters that they can afford to leave some morsels for the Verraux’s Eagles, which have cleverly filled the scavenging niche on the reserve.
Rhinoceros are common on the reserve, and share the grass of the open savanna with the nocturnally feeding hippopotamus.
Amongst the reptiles are some of the most interesting African species such as the Flap-necked Chameleon, the Lobatse Hinged Tortoise and the cryptically camouflaged Vine or Bird Snake.
The Leopard in the Waterberg mountains are known to be some of the largest on the continent, and these beautiful but secretive animals are seen quite regularly on the reserve. Small antelope such as the nimble Klipspringer sometimes fall prey to them.
Brown Hyaena and Black Backed Jackal are the main members of the clean up crew, with the Hyaena’s detecting prey by scent from distances of up to 14 km away. These tall shaggy predators will often carry large portions of carrion for extended distances back to their den site. |
 Download the application form for the 6-month program
Download the application form for the 25-day course
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