Black Rhino tracked on walking trails. Teaching, painting and decorating has begun on Community Schools Project. Home visit undertaken by Cadets.

Michael Kingscote reports with further details: 

The walking trails were led by Pete and Zee the young man who Pete is mentoring. The cadets walked over 25 kms, through the bush. The weather was rainy and windy but the Cadets put their EAC (Environmental Awareness Course) learning into practice when they tracked the Black Rhino. They saw very fresh tracks, spoor, and where the rhino had rubbed ticks off his hide on a rock. One cadet remarked that "the tracking process, was more exciting than actually seeing the Rhino!"

Black Rhino was here!

Expedition leader Katy with guide on Bush Walk

Impala spotted on bush walk

Typical Bush with Termite Mound

Jordan reports:

“The walk this morning was another early start, especially challenging after doing two nights of watch! We were still hopeful to see at least one of the big five as this was our last time on foot in their territory.

We spotting a few elegant impala and a less good looking warthog! Warthogs remind me of a remote control car with the way their tails stick up in the air.

We came across some buffalo dung and black rhino tracks. It was decided we would follow the tracks as we were fairly close to the rhino after seeing how fresh the rhino midden was. It was a tense feeling which gave you butterflies in your stomach, the fact that we might actually see a black rhino in the wild which is such a rarity.

There was a loud cracking of branches which came from the direction that we had just come from which made us all freeze and turn. We followed the tracks until we circled round and then went and headed in the direction of the cracking wood sound in hope and anticipation that we might find a black rhino or an elephant.

On the way there were more and more rhino midden and some fresh rhino urine which elevated the excitement levels as we felt so close to our prize. We headed into some thick thicket but after about an hour decided to come back out as it was now likely the rhino had moved on.”
Jordan summarised: 

“Even though we didn’t get to see our end prize it did get me thinking how lucky I was even to be able to track a wild black rhino on foot and how amazing these walks had been over the past three days. This was not only because of the area and professionals that we were with but also how being in touch and respectful of nature, cleared your mind and allowed you to be at peace and assess the things you plan to do or are currently doing in your life.”

Yesterday (Sunday) the work started at the school. 

They have prepared some classrooms for painting and yesterday afternoon went to the village for a home visit. There they saw how the African students lived, drank palm wine, ate a dish of peanut and butternut squash and learned how to make palm wine. This was their first indoctrination into local customs.

Today, three of the Cadets are teaching maths, English and natural science. They are a little apprehensive, but well prepared. The other Cadets will be decorating. This phase will continue until Thursday.