Media Centre for 28-Day Kruger National Park Field Guide Course

Roy Hallam - GVI Volunteer

I had a great time! I arrived at Ingwe lodge and I was thinking this is a nice game lodge but not the place I had pictured in my mind, so I was very relieved to learn that we would be transferred to the bush camp 7km down the road. After being shown to my tent I met up with some of the group. Within mintues of being in the camp my first brush with nature - 3 elephants tried to come into camp! There is so much to say and so much I have seen with a group of people from all around the would with similar interests. It was the most memorable time of my life. Some of the highlights: seeing lions less than 5 metres away; hyenas nosing around the land rover; seeing elephants of foot 10 metres away and then hearing three more just 15 metres behind us – how can something so big be so quiet! My two main highlights were seeing and walking in on the cheetah, and tracking a rhino on foot for 40 minutes following the spoor (footprint), all the while travelling downwind, running to keep up and then stopping, standing still with my heart making so much noise and adrenalin pumping! 28 days go so fast and if you are thinking about doing this course.... do it.