Once again we have been busy! It doesn’t seem to stop! The gang are all up to their necks in exams at the moment, having covered lectures in mammals, reptiles, ecology, fish and loads more all at a level 2 standard. Now the theory is getting quite challenging, and the guys are studying harder than ever.

Lee has finally completed his paleoanthropology guiding practical and is now a fully qualified “Paleo” guide! Half a day of guiding an assessor in the caves was all it took, and lots of info! Who knows, perhaps we will make this part of the course! Paleoanthropology is a study of the early hominin history of our region, and the world, covering various “cave man” types, and their behaviours and tools. Kerry Slater, a doctor of Primatology herself, completed the assessment for Lee.

Deirdre and Banie both completed the first component of the two SKS wild flower practical’s. They achieved in the high 90’s as a score, so they are well on their way!

We are focussing heavily on our trailing and walking of dangerous game, with two walks a day into rhino, lion, buffalo and elephant. Tim even led a walk the other day and bumped into a male cheetah! The walk culminated in the roar of mating lions, and a brief glimpse, luckily at a distance! We quickly got out of there and returned to the vehicle. Walking into mating lions is not at all recommended so the best thing to do is keep low and get out of the sighting. Banie also had a great walk into rhino at close range with the group, and got in and out, leaving them sleeping in a donga.

Lee’s new book on the Bushveld is in print now in Pinetown, and will be available from the end of the month. If anyone wants a copy please email sarah.g@legendlodges.co.za to place and order with her, for R495,00. The book is over 710 pages, with more than 1600 full colour photographs. It covers mammals, trees, flowers, reptiles, birds, scorpions, butterflies, spiders, moths, cultural history, settler history, geology, habitats of the bushveld, grasses, survival, walking dangerous game and loads more! Please specify whether you would like it signed or not, and to whom it must be addressed!

Adriaan Louw was with us over the last week, completing the tracking assessments for our students, as well as Ian and Banie, who both achieved level 3 along with Jack. Nico achieved level 2 on his trailing to complete tracker level 2 and the rest of the crew got level 1’s. All in all a great week of walking. We are also busy with the VPDA assessments and it is going really well, with lots of walks into lion, rhino, elephant and buffalo taking place with the instructor’s guidance.

We spent a day with Josef Heymans who set up nets and did a morning of bird ringing with guests from the Naboom bird club, and had really close up views of the brown crown tchagra, southern bou bou, crested francolin, white browed scrub robin, pale fly catcher and the kurrichane thrush. An interesting morning was had by all.