Kruger Diaries
UNIVERSITY OF MAINE INT 475 COURSE: 27 February -
13 MARCH 2004
Tropical Ecology in South Africa
Planned Course Schedule and Course Content
Instructors: Aram Calhoun, Mac Hunter, and Bill Glanz
In Cooperation with Southern African Wildlife College ( http://www.wildlifecollege.org.za/)
Pre-Trip Class Meetings:
The class will meet Mondays (Tuesday the 1st week) at
5 pm in204 Nutting each week prior to our departure for South
Africa, to cover background material on South Africa, discuss course
topics, and review trip preparation and logistics.
Week Discussion Topics
January 20 (Tues.) Introductions, Trip Planning, and Medical
Concerns
January 26 Submit Presentation Topic
February 2 Slide show emphasizing itinerary highlights, what
we expect to see and where we will stay
February 9 Fauna of Kruger National Park and adjacent areas
February 16 Conservation problems in Southern Africa, Human
Population Growth, and Economic and Political Changes
February 23 Trip Logistics
PLANNED ITINERARY AND DAILY COURSE CONTENT
The following schedule lists topics in tropical ecology to be
covered each day, usually involving approximately an hour of lecture
by SAWC and/or UM staff and then field trips, practical instruction,
and discussions for the remainder of the day. Many early morning and
night drives will be incorporated into the schedule to ensure
opportunities for viewing a wide variety of wildlife species and
their habits. Each student will give a brief presentation on a topic
researched prior to departure. These will be given in the "Student
Presentations" time slots below.
Friday afternoon, 27 February:
Departure from Bangor (4:05
PM), overnight in Atlanta
Saturday, 28 February:
Flight from Atlanta (10:30 AM) to Johannesburg, SA
Sunday 29 February, PM: Arrival in Johannesburg (11 AM),
bus to Dullstroom; Visit Birds of Prey exhibit, then on to Southern
African Wildlife College (SAWC); Registration. Welcome Dinner
Monday 1 March: Introductions and Project Presentations
AM: Introductions (tour of facilities, property) and
Student Presentations
PM: Lecture by Wayne Twine, on Kruger to Canyons Biosphere
project, and the quality of life and sustainable use of communal
lands by local people.
Evening: Welcome Braai (barbeque) and Discussions with SAWC
students
Tuesday 2 March: Spoor and Tracking and Large Mammals (AM)
AM: Mammal and bird behavior; spoor and tracking
techniques; animal diet and other habits; ecology and
anti-poaching techniques, led by guide Lex Hess.
PM: Student Presentations.
Wednesday 3 March: Local Community Visit, and Nyani Cultural Village
AM: Meet local community leaders and members of
Women’s Empowerment Group; observe patterns of living on communal
lands in southern Africa.
PM: Visit Nyani Cultural Village; observe traditional
aspects of Shangana culture.
Thursday 4 March: Bush Walk and Student Presentations
AM: Bush walk, focusing on anti-poaching techniques.
PM: Student Presentations
Friday 5 March: Game Capture and Handling Techniques
AM and PM: Discussion of game capture and sedation
techniques with veterinarians in wildlife services management, and
observe handling techniques for large mammals.
Saturday 6 March: Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre and Swadini
Reptile Park
Moholoholo (AM):
Rehabilitation programs for bird and large mammal species
Swadini: Observe native reptiles; discussion of snake
behavior and snake bite treatment.
Sunday 7 March: Kruger National Park
AM: Enter at Orpen, drive to Satara, then to Lower
Sabi Camp, observing wildlife en route.
PM: Game drives and wildlife observation.
Monday 8
March: Kruger National Park
AM : Morning game
drive; viewing ecological zones along rivers.
PM: Meet Kruger Park
personnel working on alien plant control.
Tuesday 9 March: Kruger
National Park Management
AM: Morning game
drive.
PM: Presentation by
Kruger Park Management, with discussions of management problems,
including those relating to elephants and other large mammals.
Return to SAWC.
Wednesday 10 March: Wildlife, Forestry, Integrated Catchment
Management and Recreational Use of Blyde River
AM: Early morning travel to Blyde River Canyon, bird
watching and study of canyon and surrounding terrain.
PM: Discussion of catchment management and vegetation
types; environmental problems; alien plant control; human activity
etc. Boat ride and river rafting on the Blyde River.
Thursday 11 March: Depart SAWC for tour of Highveld and Nylsvley
Reserve
AM: Travel through Drakensburg Mountains and highveld
ecosystems, observing wildlife and vegetation en route.
PM: Travel to Nylsvley Reserve NW of Pretoria, observe
highveld and wetland wildlife. Overnight stay in hostel in
Nylstroom.
Friday 12 March: Travel to Johannesberg airport; Leave for US (5:15
PM)
Saturday 13 March: Arrive Atlanta in AM, then on to Bangor (3:40 PM)
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