logo

Becci at home in the bush

I have been at Black Leopard Campus now for nearly 2 months now, in that time I have had lots of small adventures, seen some amazing birds and animals, and learned more than I ever thought I could in such a relatively short time. I am on the Field Guide course, and cannot imagine anywhere better to do this course. There is no distraction of the “Big 5”, so more focus can be put on learning about the trees, birds and smaller mammals. This is a place where you really learn how to guide!

Tara is a fantastic teacher, very patient, and helps find the best ways for you to learn (mine is repetition apparently! )

I have been fortunate enough to see a genet only metres away, been run into by a sengi (elephant shrew) and sat and watched an adult male giraffe teach a young male how to fight admittedly they were aiming for the wrong end, but I'm sure they will work it out eventually!

Life here is never dull, every other week we go to a local school to help out, which is so much fun! If there is a leopard sighting or heard calling, we rush to the area, we help fight fires (and build our own for cooking!).

When work is done, there are lots of options, but my favourite is to spend time in the hammocks! It is amazing how easy it is to fall asleep there.

I was amazed when I got here to find tap water you can drink, electricity to charge phones and laptops, and even a fridge!! If you have never been to the bush before you may not realize how luxurious that is! And also hot water for the shower (once you have lit the fire for it). All this in the middle of the African bush! It is certainly a place like no other. 

Meet the Campus Team

Meet the Black Leopard Campus team

It's not all hard work. Admin Manager Carol and Head Researcher Tara

Tara's right hand man. Dylan is helping with our research and training as a game ranger in his spare time.

Becky, has just joined us and is studying for her Field Guide qualification

Who knows what tomorrow will bring

I don’t know exactly what I expected when I came to Ingwe but each day has brought it’s surprises.  We knew that we would not see all of the big 5, but learning about the leopard and it’s behaviour has been fascinating.  Identifying other animals from the toad to genet, and kudu up to giraffe from their spoors (paw prints) and scats (poo) has been most interesting.  The camp is right in the centre of the reserve and we receive daily visits from the wildlife, including kudu , impala, nyala and birds including hornbills.

We are also aware that we are in the wild and need to accept certain tasks that might seem unpalatable to a Londoner.  Hence we have had to move dead animals that have been shot, skin and prepare them for bait in traps to catch leopard to aid conservation research.  Who knows what tomorrow may bring?

Written by Steve Grubb

School soccer coaching

Having hung up my football boots 30 years ago thee prospect of coaching 44 boys from the Sizo School was rather daunting.  Their teacher correctly introduced me as a former professional from Bristol Rovers.  “Bristol who” cried the boys?  Did I mean Blackburn Rovers?  The boys were aged from 8 to 14 and all shapes and sizes.  The aim was to have a skills lesson followed by a game.

I set out to teach them how to get power into their kicking, how to keep it down and how to swerve the ball with the inside and outside of the boot, shoe or barefoot which ever they had.  Their level of skill and understanding was great and they all tried to follow the instructions given.  It was very rewarding to see what they could achieve.

After an hours coaching we had a half an hour break but the kids decided to play some more football.  After the break we had a game with eleven a side and substitutions.  The pitch was like a piece of scrub land with tufts of grass.  I was amazed at the level of skill shown by the boys.  A minute into the game a perfect overhead scissor kick was performed.  They needed more coaching and help with positional play but, bearing in mind the age range, it was a pleasure to see and referee.  Headed goals, a long range shot and the score mounted to 5-4 with a few minutes to go.  A free kick produced an own goal for the perfect result 5 all and I blew the final whistle.  The boys quickly gathered round and asked for a penalty shootout.  Did they forget that I come from England?  A penalty shootout it was, but with 6 feet 3 inch Dylan filling the goal it was a forgone conclusion, in fact only one of the ten penalties was scored – it reminded me of England again!

A great experience, the kids were polite attentive and keen to learn and demonstrate their skills.  All of this in temperatures of over 80 degrees Fahrenheit!  I came off exhausted but very happy with the experience. 

Written by Steve Grubb

Visit to Sizo Primary School

I arrived at the school with trepidation, what were we going to be expected to do?  I asked for an easy task with a small group.  I was given 10 children for some reading practice.

We dispensed with the desks and sat in a circle and to break the ice I asked if they knew any songs in English.  They sang me a great version of ‘Frere Jacque’, called ‘I like eating’!  So I taught them ‘London’s Burning’ and they sang it in a round, they were so enthusiastic with the actions and competing to be loudest, I thought I might get told off for making too much noise and disturbing the other lessons.  They insisted on each singing it to me individually, and I was concerned that some of the quieter ones may feel intimidated to do so, so I tried to put them off, but they were having none of it they unanimously agreed to sing to me individually.  They were fabulous!  Then they wanted to write the words in their workbooks and all disappeared.  I wondered if they would ever come back, but they came running in and copied the words off the blackboard. 

We then sat in a circle and read from their current reading books, which is when Tara popped her head in and took a photo.  Before I knew it, it was time to go.  I had been with the children for 4 hours!

They were polite, happy and enthusiastic to learn.  I thoroughly enjoyed being with them.

Written by Gill Grubb

Snakes and school kids

As many of you will know we work very closely with a local rural school, supporting the teachers and pupils in a variety of ways. Of-course key to us, is wildlife conservation.
Many if not most of the pupils are terrified of snakes and the local community would probably kill any snake they see. There are cultural issues surrounding snakes but the biggest fear factor comes from one of a lack of understanding.
That is why we asked Neels Botha to come along to the school and bring some of his snakes for the children (and teachers) to see and where appropriate touch. Neels runs a snake conservation program and a big part of that program is to help educate people about snakes.

Both pupils and teachers were initially reluctant to go anywhere near the snakes, but after one brave young girl (pictured top) stepped forward, the spell was broken and the children became excited to see, touch and understand more about snakes. Of-course this is Africa and we have some deadly poisonous snakes here as well as the non venomous species pictured. But Neels explained about the different types of snakes and how to behave if one is seen. The children now know to ask an adult to call Neels if they see a snake in or around their homes. If it is a venomous snake then there is now no need to kill the snake as Neels has a licence to relocate the snake and then everyone will be happy.