African Animal Tracking Course

African Animal Tracking Course

This wildlife-tracking programme offers you the ultimate wilderness immersion. Through the ancient art of tracking – possibly the world’s oldest art and science – you will connect with the iconic places and creatures of Africa on foot. The 7 and 14-day courses take place in remote wilderness areas of Botswana and South Africa.

Programme

In many parts of Africa, the ancient survival skills of tracking have disappeared at an alarming rate – alarming because without these skills, humanity’s connection to the earth is significantly reduced. The time-worn skills of tracking taught human beings to live consciously with an appreciation and respect for the natural world. With urbanisation and technology, much of this profound ecological intelligence is being lost at a time when it is most important to our long-term survival.

This training course aims to contribute to the preservation of indigenous wilderness skills and the conservation of the Earth’s last wild places. Our instructors are certified trainers.. Participants will get a taste of the knowledge from trackers who have dedicated themselves to mastering the skills of traditional hunter-gatherers.

What is Tracking?

There are two major aspects to tracking – Track and Sign Interpretation and Trailing (following animal trails). The course includes Hunter-gatherer techniques as part of the course. All aspects of tracking take years to master.

Track and Sign Interpretation – this component of tracking looks at the signs left by invertebrates, amphibians, birds, reptiles and mammals. All learning takes place in the field using field-guides, photographs and presentations to supplement practical training.

Trailing – this component involves following tracks to find the animal. Mastering trailing takes years and this aspect of the course requires a relatively high level of fitness and an ability to focus mentally. The course instructors are amongst the best animal trailers in South Africa and we pride ourselves on our ability to teach this complex skill. Students will have the opportunity to practice trailing animals themselves – under the watchful eye of an instructor. Interpreting mammal and bird alarm calls, animal behaviour and assessing the age of tracks form part of the trailing skill set.

Hunter-gatherer techniques – Southern Africa’s indigenous peoples survived off the land for centuries. The course instructors will teach you how to build traps using only natural materials, show you how to find birds nests, water and edible fruits. Through sharing of their experiences growing up in the wilderness, the instructors will immerse students in the wild.

Lodging

Accommodation

The sleeping arrangements at all our camps consist of two people sharing per tent. Single requests are required to pay double-rates. Women and men do not share tents unless booked as a couple.

Meals

Early morning wake-up (tea, coffee, biscuits, fresh fruit and cereals)
Brunch after activity (cooked breakfast and fruit salad)
Afternoon tea (light lunch/ sandwiches)
Dinner (balanced, warm plated meal with meat, vegetables and salad)

Project Area

The Makuleke Conservancy is a 24000 ha private concession in the north of the Kruger National Park.   Located between the Limpopo River in the north and the Luvuvhu River in the south, it has large alluvial flood plains and central African vegetation, but also sandveld and a huge amount of plant and animal species.  It is a gathering space for elephants from Mozambique and Zimbabwe as well as those that reside in Kruger.  There are many hippos and crocs in the Luvuvhu and Limpopo rivers and as there is thick bush around, leopards happily hunt the nyala and impala near the rivers.  Makuleke also hosts eland and grysbok whilst the birdlife is prolific.

Karongwe Private Game Reserve lies east of the Drakensberg Mountains in the Province of Limpopo and is an 8 500 ha area of South African bushveld;  an untamed garden of eden – pure wilderness.  The ‘Big Five’ flourish here, but there are also many other species such as elephant, rhino, buffalo, wild dog, cheetah, two hyena species, giraffe, zebra, wildebeest, and many, many antelope along with monkeys and baboons.  Birdlife is proficient and the waters contain otters along with the normal hippo and crocodile. Rocky outcrops stand out within the reserve’s undulating terrain.

The Selati Reserve hosts over 50 species of mammals and is known for it’s large numbers of sable antelope.  Species biodiversity is enhanced by elephant, black rhino and lion but it also hosts leopard, cheetah and the odd wild dog, amongst many others.  Selati has a vibrant bird population due to the varied habitat; there are mopane woodlands and rare cycads in this undulating area.  As with most other reserves in the general area there are many species of reptiles from monitor lizards to crocodile and snakes.

Mashutu shares borders with Zimbabwean and South African national parks; there are no fences between the reserves.  Mashutu is between the Tuli Safari Area in Botswana and the South African Mapungubwe National Park. It is a rugged savannah landscape, wild and with open plains and riverine forests where large herds of elephant abound.  There are also many predators – leopard, cheetah and lion – in this Land of Giants located at the confluence of the Shashe and Limpopo Rivers.

Enquiries