Conservation Project in Swaziland

Before even starting the conservation project we had two days in Hlane Royal National Park, looking for lion, elephant and rhino.  This was the first time that we were camping and some were concerned about the proximity of the wildlife - there was only a very small barbed wire fence separating us from a herd of elephant.  There were also a couple of small scorpions living in one of the showers, but these scurried away once the water was turned on.

Rhino were waiting for us when we first drove into the campsite, there were eight white rhino around the water hole, lounging in the mud or scratching themselves on a rubbing post.  We were very lucky to have seen so many on the first day.  Africa, our African guide for the day was waiting for us and we all set off to see what we could see.  Lion were high up on the list so we went straight to where the lion were often seen.  It was touch and go looking for them but eagle eye Jess spotted one of the lionesses from an extraordinary distance and just as we were leaving we heard the roaring of a male which we found as the sun was setting over the African sky.  Magical.

Early in the morning there was a game walk to track white rhino.  We were advised to make sure we were down wind of the rhino as well as always keeping an escape route in mind!  So we spent most of the time eyeing up suitable trees just in case a rhino decided to charge.  At one point we were within 20m of two rhino and got the world record for holding our breath and then our second game drive looking for lion was really exciting as we were within 5m of a lioness crunching bones from lasts night's kill.  There were three if them demolishing a nyala carcass, we were watching them finish the last morsels.

It was then onto Mbuluzi Game Reserve for our conservation project.  We had been asked to do a giraffe survey in the southern section of the reserve as they needed to know the ratio of male to female and adult to juvenile, it was going to be tough going for the next few days.  On top of that we had also been asked to walk the trails in the reserve to check that they were free from fallen trees and clearly marked.  The campsite was pretty rustic; in the middle of nowhere, no electricity and we had to cook over a fire.  All new stuff for the girls.  Anything could have walked into the campsite - and it did.  On the last night we had a herd of zebra and eight giraffe.

For three days we surveyed the giraffe in the southern section of the reserve.  To begin with it was pretty difficult to see the difference between one giraffe and the next, but Lexi managed to get to grips with it all and after two days was a giraffe identifying expert.  Lexi and I were also very lucky to see two males fighting, which was a first for me.  Meanwhile, Ellen, Bex, Lydia, Domenica and Jess walked the trails checking the routes and keeping an eye out for crocodiles along the river bank.  There were a few unmarked trails which could have confused them but they had Ellens map reading skills.....

The manager of Mbuluzi was delighted with the work that we have done in the reserve and the giraffe results will be used for translocating animals into and out of the reserve.

Last night of camping in the bush before returning to Shewula to complete the community project. Will just check around the tents for unexpected guests....