This course is intended to give Veterinary students the opportunity to gain some technical knowledge involved in wildlife veterinary practice in South Africa and the immobilisation of wildlife, and uses theory and practical to achieve this aim. Students will receive lectures on a wide variety of topics, and will also be given practical demonstrations and opportunities to practice certain skills.
While the topics are intended to be very practical, this course will not turn a Veterinary student into a “Wildlife Vet”, and this is not the intention.
The knowledge and experience gained during this course should highlight some of the issues facing Wildlife Vets and Conservation in Southern Africa, and the knowledge needed to successfully work in this industry. However, this knowledge and the broad basics will naturally serve as a sound base for future wildlife work anywhere in the world.
Day 1, Thursday
Arrival day – all delegates must arrive at Port Elizabeth airport by 2.30 pm. At 2.30 pm you will be met by Brothers Safaris representative at the “Information Desk” of the airport, in the terminal, and transferred to Amakhala Game Reserve, to the north east of Port Elizabeth (approximately 1 hour drive). Check in to your tented camp and spend the afternoon relaxing/acclimatising.
Since most delegates fly into Johannesburg, we suggest connecting to Port Elizabeth (PE) on flight BA 6241, departing Johannesburg at 11h10 and arriving at PE 12h50 - this is probably the best compromise between reliable airlines and cost. Should anyone need assistance booking this or another connecting flight, or want a quote, please advise us. Early arrivals/activities/travel can be facilitated by Brothers Safaris at an additional cost. Late arrivals at Port Elizabeth will have to pay for their own transfer to Amakhala Game Reserve.
Enjoy a short course introduction/overview, before dinner in camp
Overnight at our camp and enjoy a good night’s rest.
(During your stay there will always be staff on the premises should you need any assistance)
Amakhala Game Reserve is owned and run primarily by families that have been there for some five generations. Their ancestors were Frontier Settlers who settled in the Eastern Cape to farm sheep and cattle on the wild and often hostile Zuurveld. Today they are still there, in the now historic and hospitable Frontier Country, but today they run a Private Game Reserve. The reserve is home to a variety of species, including lion, leopard, elephant, rhino, buffalo, cheetah, giraffe, zebra and numerous other antelope species. The vegetation and landscape are awe inspiring and the time spent in this reserve of almost 7000 hectares will teach you a great deal about African wildlife.
The camp is newly renovated and all units are en-suite and will either sleep two or four delegates per room (at times our partner Dr William Fowlds will be running one of his courses simultaneously). All the comforts required, and more, will be provided, with dedicated camp staff on hand. You can expect good wholesome cooking.
The final building is still to take place hence the camp description is currently incomplete.
Day 2, Friday
After a light breakfast at 8.00 am, we will start with some introductory lectures at 9.00 am, Dr Peter Brothers:
*
An Introduction to the wildlife of Southern Africa – the basics
*
The role of the Wildlife Veterinarian in South Africa
*
Capture and immobilisation methods – the big picture
*
Immobilisation First Aid
Break for lunch at 1.00 pm.
Enjoy some leisure time after lunch before heading out at around 3.00 pm for a game drive (wildlife viewing) on Amakhala Game Reserve with one of the local guides. All game drives on the reserve will be guided in an open game viewing vehicle giving you a true safari experience while learning about the various species. This is the first of many excursions into the bush to learn more about African Wildlife, and especially the species that occur here.
Return to the camp early evening after looking for some of the nocturnal species on the way back. Enjoy dinner in camp at 7.00pm before enjoying another good night’s rest.
Day 3, Saturday
Breakfast at 7.00 am is followed by lecture sessions in camp throughout the day, starting at 8.00pm with tea breaks and a lunch break. Guest lecturers, specialists in fields that are relevant to the aims of the course, will be brought in to lecture during the course.
Today’s lectures are crucial to understanding wildlife immobilisation. These lectures are presented by a specialist in this field, Dr Peter Buss (wildlife veterinarian currently with Veterinary Services for South African National Parks and based in the Kruger National Park; ex zoo vet, and ex faculty of Veterinary Science, Pharmacology Department) and will focus on:
* The physiology and pharmacology of wildlife immobilisation
* Species specific considerations fro immobilisation - drugs and techniques
Lunch is at 1.00pm and there will be several tea breaks too.
Enjoy dinner in camp at 7.00pm - tonight is the night for a traditional braai...
Day 4, Sunday
Breakfast at 7.00am is again follwed by lecture session in camp during the morning, starting at 8.00am and ending at 10.30am.
Today's lectures are again presented by Dr Peter Buss and will cover the remainder of the above topics not yet covered
Enjoy lunch at 1.00pm.
Enjoy some leisure time after lunch before heading out around 3.00pm for a game drive (wildlife viweing) on Amakhala Game Reserve with one of the local guides.
Dinner is at 7.00pm tonight and some wildlife DVD’s will be available for viewing.
Day 5, Monday
Early morning breakfast before setting out for the day’s veterinary work.
This morning’s work is likely to involve antelope immobilisation and relocation, and be carried out on Amakhala Game Reserve/nearby.
Lunch back at camp, or a packed lunch, pending the day’s work.
After lunch we’ll review the morning’s practical session and then have a lecture on various dart gun systems and darts, and after the lectures spend time loading darts with water and firing them at a target.
Enjoy leisure time in camp before dinner.
Enjoy some DVD’s/social time in camp.
Day 6, Tuesday
Early morning breakfast before setting out for the day’s veterinary work.
This morning’s work is subject to confirmation nearer the time.
Lunch back at camp, or a packed lunch, pending the day’s work.
After lunch we’ll review the morning’s practical session and then have some lesiure time to review lectures and actvities covered to date.
You head at around 3.00pm for a game drive on Amakhala Game Reserve with one of the local guides.
Enjoy lesiure time in camp before dinner.
Enjoy some DVD’s/social time in camp.
Day 7, Wednesday
Breakfast at 7.00 am in camp before heading to nearby Addo Elephant National Park where we’ll spend the day, starting at 9.00am.
Our visit will include a game drive in the park, a visit to the boma (wildlife holding) facilities in the park, and possibly a talk on the park by one of the SAN Parks staff members/veterinarians.
This will give delegates an insight into a different wildlife management system and a different habitat too.
Lunch is at the park restaurant and for delegates own expense(budget approximately R50-R120, depending on your taste/hunger level!). There will also be some leisure time to explore the park shop and buy some souvenirs/mementos to take home.
In the afternoon we participate in the SAN Parks tick research project which is vital to understanding the dynamics of tick born diseases in the area. Learn about tick collection methods and physically assist with/carry out collection drags.
This activity is subject to the tick project still running in 2010, and we may have an alternate activity this afternoon.
Return to camp late afternoon/early evening for an evening in camp. Enjoy dinner in camp.
Deep within the shadows of the dense valley bushveld of the Sundays River region of the Eastern Cape lies the Addo Elephant National Park. Here, the evenings are punctuated by the strident howl of the black-backed jackal, and the francolin's call heralds each new dawn. Safe from relentless persecution in the past, the grey leviathans of the bush now roam in peace. The original Elephant section of the park was proclaimed in 1931, when only eleven elephants remained in the area - today this finely tuned ecosystem is sanctuary to over 450 elephants, Cape buffalo, black rhino, a variety of antelope species, as well as the unique flightless dung beetle, found almost exclusively in Addo. And their Addo has only just begun. with plans to expand the 164 000 ha Addo National Elephant Park into a 360 000 ha mega-park. In addition, plans include the proposed proclamation of a 120 000 ha (296 500 acre) marine reserve that includes islands that are home to the world's largest breeding populations of Cape gannets and second largest breeding population of African penguins.
Day 8, Thursday
After early morning tea and coffee we head out on a morning game drive at 7.00 am today, to experience the wildlife at a different time of the day…..
Return to the lodge for brunch at 10.00 am (on days where we have brunch we basically have two big meals with some snacks in between).
Brunch is followed by a lecture on wildlife diseases, starting at 11.00 am – Dr Peter Brothers.
Enjoy another afternoon game drive on Amakhala at 3.00 pm, before dinner at 7.00 pm.
Day 9, Friday
After early morning tea and coffee we head out on a morning game drive before stopping at the river for a river cruise....
Return to the lodge late morning for brunch
After brunch we have a lecture on the history of wildlife/conservation issues in the area – Dr William Fowlds.
Head out mid afternoon on a game drive in search of the species ypu may not yet have encountered, and to learn more about the behaviour of the various wildlife species by spending time monitioring them. You will also been shown how telemetry works (if not done yet) and spend time tracking some of the animals being monitored on the reserve.
Return to camp early evening for dinner and social time in camp.
Day 10, Saturday
After morning tea and coffee at 7.15am, half the group will head out on a morning bush walk today, to experience the wildlife and environment on a totally different level….. You will be guided by a specialist guide on this activity.
The other half of the group will enjoy a lie in/some leisure time, and have their turn to walk on Sunday.
Enjoy brunch for everyone back in camp at 10.30 am.
After brunch we head to a nearby beach to spend the rest of the day – weather permitting, or stay on the reserve to catch up on any missed lectures, or to just enjoy leisure time/alternate activities.
We return to camp late afternoon for dinner at 7.00 pm and to enjoy some DVD’s/social time in camp.
Day 11, Sunday
After morning tea and coffee at 7.15am, the second half the group will head out on a morning bush walk today, to experience the wildlife and environment on a totally different level….. You will be guided by a specialist guide on this activity.
The other half of the group will enjoy a lie in/some leisure time.
Enjoy brunch for everyone back in camp at 10.30 am.
After brunch there will be some talks on the flora and environment of the reserve. This is important to understand the bigger conservation issues that face wildlife.
After the talks its time for some leisure time and then another afternoon game drive where you will have the chance to again observe behaviour of the various wildlife species by spending time monitoring them, and can again practice your telemetry/tracking skills.
Return to camp after sunset for dinner at 7.30 pm, and relaxation time in camp.
Day 12, Monday
After breakfast at 7.00 am we spend the morning being lectured by Dr Jennifer Gush, The Director of the Conservation Centre on Amakhala and a PhD graduate in marine life.
Dr Gush’s lectures will cover topics such as:
* Overall look at the oceans of the world
* Conditions under which marine life live
* Special characteristics of the oceans surrounding southern African
* Some examples of marine research in this area
* Examination of the big marine spp in the southern African systems
* How vet practices operate in the marine system
We enjoy lunch in camp at 1.00 pm and after lunch we head to the nearby Aids Orphanage to learn more about the plight of these children in the context of the HIV pandemic in South Africa. Donations of clothes or financial contributions would be much appreciated. Purchases for items they need can be facilitated in advance through Brothers Safaris purchasing these goods on your behalf, and students handing such purchases over on the visit day. This saves on packing space and ensures we purchase relevant items for the children.
Arrive back in camp late afternoon and enjoy an early dinner at 6.30 pm.
After dinner we head out on a night drive to explore Amakhala by night, in search of those elusive nocturnal species…..
Day 13, Tuesday
Its early breakfast again today, and then we head back to Port Elizabeth for a boat cruise on the ocean to apply some of the knowledge gained the previous day – weather permitting.
If we are lucky we could encounter dolphins, whales, penguins and various sea birds on route….
Lunch is back at the marina – for your own expense (budget approximately R70 for this).
After lunch there will be a few hours to catch up on shopping/telephone calls, etc, before we head back to the peace of the camp. On route back we will visit the Orphanage craft shop to support their work.
Arrive in camp late afternoon/early evening and enjoy dinner at 7.00 pm, followed by leisure time.
Day 14, Wednesday
Early morning breakfast before setting out for the day’s veterinary work.
This morning’s work is subject to confirmation nearer the time, but will probably be with some of the larger mammals, such as rhino.
Lunch back at camp, or a packed lunch, pending the day’s work.
Late morning or early afternoon we’ll have a theoretical presentation on helicopter safety and darting, followed by a practical helicopter session darting a target with a paintball gun. This will give you an excellent idea of what is required when darting from the air!
After ridding yourself of some of the adrenalin, we’ll cover any remaining lectures/topics of interest that have not yet been addressed, or enjoy another game drive.
We enjoy dinner back in camp before another night of leisure.
Day 15, Thursday
Early morning breakfast before setting out for the day’s veterinary work – subject to confirmation.
Lunch back at the lodge, or a packed lunch, pending the day’s work.
This afternoon you will be given a written exam on the course material as a means of self evaluation – the exam is typically out of 150 marks and written over a maximum of 2 hours, and covers both theory and practical aspects covered on the course. While all activities on the course are obviously optional, course delegates are encouraged to participate in all of them, including the exam.
Enjoy a game drive and sundowners in the bush for the last time before returning to the lodge for dinner and to overnight.
Day 16, Friday
After breakfast we check out at 10.00 am and transfer back to Port Elizabeth airport for your flight to Johannesburg International Airport, in time for connecting flights home/to your next destination. If returning to Johannesburg, we suggest flight BA 6242, departing at 13h25, arriving in Johannesburg at 15h05, which gives enough time to make further connecting flights/international flights. Should anyone need assistance booking this or another connecting flight, or want a quote, please advise us.
Please do not book flights departing Johannesburg before 6.30 pm tonight.
*** END OF SERVICES ***
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Cost per person sharing:
ZAR 27 500-00 per delegate sharing
Single supplements apply where/if available.
Price Includes:
- Meals and accommodation as indicated above,
- All land transfers in a comfortable air-conditioned mini-bus,
- Guides and lecturers as above,
- All practicals and lectures as above,
- All tours and activities as above,
- Park entry fees,
- VAT and Government Tourism levies.
Price Excludes:
- Flights (international and domestic),
- Drinks, meals as indicated for your own expense above,
- Optional additional activities,
- Items of a personal nature,
- Gratuities (budget on approximately R350-00 over the duration of the course),
- Travel/medical insurance (compulsory and we have details of a good policy which covers you here in SA, should you need assistance with this) and pre- and post-course activities (we have a leisure department that can assist with these activities).
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
South Africa
Nature & Wildlife
Wildlife Viewing
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