Wekking the wetlands of Makarele

Impala - aipicerous melampus

The next morning they took their time: having breakfast, making sandwiches for the field workers and then starting off. It was a hot and sunny day. They met the ranger and park researcher at the main gate and took off to the wet land.

plant sample

Sampling

Rest and relax

Organised in two groups, they started in the field. Choose the spot, take plant samples, record the information and move on to the next  plot. It was not easy going, these were wetlands and it was hot. But they managed a few grids and then walked up to the camp for lunch, rest and relax. Then they started off into the bush again.

Warthog family

Mieke enjoying the wild

Finally they called it quits some time around 15h00 that day; packed the car and decided to get into town  for some further supplies: bread, beer etc. The one car went off to camp and they went off to town, purchased their necessary supplies and then went back to the lodge. Some of them were already in the pool cooling off when they got there.

They jumped into the shower, had a drink and drifted into a nap. Later she went on to the kitchen and started  the evening meal. Dinner was a hearty but sombre affair - they were all rather mellow and tired by then.

It was agreed that the  next morning the one group will start earlier and Group A will join later. So, off they went while the others were only getting up and getting their breakfast and preparing the picnic lunch for the rest of the group. The lodge manager came with a message from 'Leon' who phoned to say that there were lions in the vicinity! They could not figure out who 'Leon' was but noted that extra caution had to be taken when in the field that day

When they got there, they promptly got the instructions of where they should go in the field. The others were getting going. Another hot and sunny day awaited them, they had hats and boots to tackle the place. Of the lion, they barely saw anything, if only some quite skittish reed buck and Wildebeest. Once Coen fell into some rather deep mud but otherwise the work carried on up to lunch time.

zebra in the bush

Klipspringers in the wild

It was decided to call it a day from then. The one group went back to the lodge while they went on to the view point to see vultures. The wind was in the other direction, so the vultures, they only saw from far but what they did see were quite a few klipsringers, about 9 of them on this one sight seeing trip. Fascinating animals. And they also saw quite a few 'habituated' birds up there with the cell phone antennae networks.

After a good rest at camp, the men prepared the coals for a braai. It was pap and sauce and grilled meat that evening - compliments of Rudi, Antoinette's field assistant. The boma provided by the lodge was great, it had the wood and the necessary braai equipment and supplies. Food was served under the porch and the people had a great time before retiring for the night.

In the field

The day started like the other days except earlier as it was agreed that the earlier they start, the less hot they get in the field. By the time the park researcher arrived they were ready to leave. The researcher had dug out his rifle from the closet since he was the only one assuring our security that day - he was not taking any chances.

But the horizon was clear and they got on with their work in the field. The morning drive to the field having given them a good view of the wildlife...: wildebeest, zebra, giraffes, reed buck, antelopes etc
Then she got stuck in the mud and had to be pulled out. By then the boots were soaked along with the one leg and sock.

Bird company

Back at camp, they spread out the lunch box, drinks etc and talked about hot to proceed. She was not feeling exactly the thing and opted not to go into the field, Rean went instead. While they were away, they went for a ride with the baby and talked and rested.

Bush internet banking

Kudus

Later, the whole group got back tired and hot and bothered. She had to do some internet banking and was hard pressed to find a place where there was both internet and cell phone reception. They promptly got back to camp for a shower and rest. The Casablanca dinner was greatly appreciated by all. With satisfied tummies they retired for the night. The nights were hot but with a ceiling fan, it was very nice to just drift off to sleep.

Klipspringer

Again they were starting early that last day in the field but as they were approaching the work site, she was feeling strange. It felt like belated sunstroke complete with cold sweats, dizziness, headaches and nausea. Coen said she went pale and she was cold too. There was not much sun then either but she opted to stay at the base, with the cars while the others went off into the field.

With Antoinette and the baby they drove up and then down to where the others had to be fetched. There came a couple of really tired and dehydrated guys back, soon the other group followed before the park researcher and Rean who were doing the last rounds of the sites visited in these 5 days. By then she was feeling better except for the headache that persisted for 24 more hours.

Capturing the field work

By then, the fatigue and dehydration was rather intense, so they called it a day. With a bit of sight seeing, they went back to the lodge for some well deserved R&R. Antoinette was hard at work putting together all the  findings of the groups while the baby was sleeping. Later they emerged for sundowners and braai. Steven, the park researcher joined them for the evening meal and had a good time.

Walking the wet lands of MNP

Makarele revisited

Before they left for the middle east, Antoinette said she would be back in February to do some field work on the Makarele National Park wet lands. She asked if they would be ready to help with the field work that consisted mainly of taking plant samples from the wet lands. In their adventurous minds and because Makarele was such a surprise before, they agreed that they will be there to participate in this research project.

Rhino family 

There were quite a few preparations to be done prior to their arrival: making 2 grids, 1m x 1m, sorting the car out and planning meals for 8 adults + rangers. When they got back to SA, Antoinette had to get her paperwork going and assemble the necessary equipment for this plant sampling exercise as well as coordinate with the Park and their researcher about access to the wet lands for all of us.

After a hectic week end of birthday parties, they packed the car. After the great Africa trek, admitedly, it was easier to see what would be needed, necessary and good to have, in that order. Choice of clothes to wear and food to buy were no problems at all, she just had to get the quantities right.

This time, however, I was not going with. She was taking mocassins and gumboots as well as cheapo Pick n Pay savates. They told me the story which I am relating now.

Waterberg from within the park

Antoinette and Co were leaving at 4 in the morning, but the second car had to wait for her in-laws to get to Pretoria by train and then leave. It was great timing. They had time to pack efficiently, sort out the house and then leave. The wait at the 'drop off' of the Gautrain was not long and when the Bootsmas were in the car, they started off. City traffic had subsided and they made it on the road toward the Limpopo in good time.

In the car they had juice and home made biltong which kept them going. As they approched Tabazimbi, they phoned to ask if the guys in the field were provided for in terms of food since it was past lunch time. Antoinette had made sandwiches and there were enough for all concerned. So, after a brief registration formality at the gates, they drove up to the wet lands. On the way they saw numerous wildlife with no effort.

Instructions in the field

Once at the site, they had a working picnic where they got to meet the ranger assigned to them, Jerry, and the park researcher who goes by the name of Steven. After the lunch, they went into the field with Antoinette where they got instructions how this plant sampling was to be done. It was very hot.

After that, they arranged with the ranger and the researcher what time work should start the next day and they drove off to the gates. They had to drop the ranger off to his quarters and made a detour where they encountered a huge rhino eating just by the road. They stayed a long time appreciating the sight of this huge animal - the species of which the Chinese, Vietnamese and the like are trying to exterminate only for their horns.

The lodge where Antoinette booked the group was Rra Ditau (Mr. Lion or father of the lion in Tswana). It was 8 km from the park gates, in a very peaceful and quiet environment. They had 2 chalets for them. Soon, the cars were unpacked, they were settled and started preparing for the evening. She inspected the kitchen to see how she would go about preparing the evening meals for the next 5 days while the men rested, washed or had drinks.

Scene from inside the park

 It was still very hot after sundown. The place had ceiling fans that were working full time. The baby was playing and exploring the place while her mother was sorting out the necessary books and documentation that would be needed for the field work.

Carin was helping her in the kitchen. She discovered that the microwave oven had a mielie-pap option which she used to make the pap that went with the sausages. It went all quiet after dinner. No one thought of turning on the tv that was there. Everyone was appreciating the peace and quiet. They showered and slowly settled for the night.