NJ More Field Guide College, Marataba,Limpopo Province. “Tell me the story”

David Batzofin

May 17, 2018

2396

What an absolutely breathtaking landscapes our country offers.

This is one of my favourite views…

The magnificent Waterberg Mountain range.

There is something truly spectacular about this vista

and it is one that I never tire of looking at.

Even if I only get to visit occasionally…

Have YOU every wanted to be a Field Guide?

I have and it was unfortunate that opportunity was not an option

when I left school all those years ago.

I did start a course when I was in my 30’s,

but work got in the way and I was unable to complete it.

But now, I get to live my dream, by teaching Field guides

how to construct interesting and well written Blog postings.

This is not covered by the regular guiding courses currently on offer.

The More Group has seen fit to include my curriculum in their course.

This is my second visit to the NJ More Field Guide College.

In 2017 I presented, at very short notice,

the pilot program of the course.

This building houses the office, the kitchen

and a en suite bedroom for visiting lecturers/guests.

The student accommodation.

Luxury safari tents with indoor ablutions that include

both a shower and a toilet.

This pool was busy being built during my stay in 2017.

Now complete, it was inviting but the weather

was too cold for me to take the plunge.

Meals for both the trainers and the students are enjoyed

around these tables.

There are rituals around meal times that I found most

heart warming.

Like the sharing of local and International news by the duty team

as well as sharing an inspirational quote of the day.

I have resolved to start my day, when back home,

with a quote to put me in a positive frame of mind.

This is why I was here.

Last year the lectures were put together with very little preparation.

There were no manuals and no visual aids.

This year, I made certain that both were available to the students.

Certificates will be presented to those who participated.

My “home” for the next 2 days…

Since my last visit, lecture room now has fitted with a retractable blind

and industrial strength fans.

In summer the interior can get very warm and I am certain that

winter offers its own challenges.

The NJ More Field Guide College students hard at work.

17 students participated in the series of lectures that I presented.

Initially, some of them were not keen on getting creative,

but all of them participated with enthusiasm.

Many of the lodges have instituted “Ranger Diary” web pages,

and this course is to promote that aspect of duties

that might be required of them in future work placements.

My “Tell me the story” catchphrase certainly excited

several of the participating students.

If in doubt…ALWAYS be Batman.

My new assistant…not that he was much help.

He is certainly the strong silent type.

A Common Dotted Border Butterfly…

I did not have to leave the camp to find something to photograph.

This was directly outside my room.

The splash of colour amongst the stones is what caught my attention.

It is these sorts of images that will allow the future field guides to

“Tell me the story“

Out on early morning drive…

The reason that Instructor Tertius vd Walt is wearing bunny ears

is the fact that he got his vehicle stuck in soft sand!

He retains the ears until someone else makes a mistake.

I am certain that the awarding of the ears

is at the discretion of Head Trainer Phillip Wessels.

The headband is only worn during drives,

and Tertius wore them with pride and confidence.

A female Kudu with horns?

Indeed…

I can find nothing on the Internet to substantiate

if this might be a relatively regular occurrence or if it is this an anomaly.

I am certain that with research, there will be a story to tell.

It is certainly the first time I have witnessed this.

This was the largest Kudu bull I had very seen.

Here he was, browsing in the bushes very close to our vehicle,

yet he was almost invisible.

This Hippo lives in one of the dams on the reserve.

A grumpy old fellow by all accounts.

He was not “at home” on my last visit,

but was very definitely here this time round.

As soon as our vehicle pulled up, he began to perform.

He seems to have a dislike for humans

as well as mechanised transport.

There is definitely a story to be told here…

Matabele Ants on the march…

This stream of ants was making their way across the road that leads out of camp.

If I was a vulnerable creature in their path I would be terrified.

Being the size that we are, I could watch in awe as they went off on a foray.

The ants were headed West, and so was this group of students.

I was allowed to join them on their afternoon bush walk.

We covered 13.6km, much of it through thick vegetation

…most of which had thorns.

The walk was conducted in silence except when Phil asked questions

or shared interesting facts with the group.

Certainly plenty to write about once we returned.

A moment of quiet reflection.

As Lead Trainer, Phillip Wessels has a particular style of imparting knowledge.

And one of those is to ask for 5 minutes of silent contemplation

while out in the bush.

I remember sharing a similar time during my previous visit,

and these moments are what the students (and I)

will remember for years to come.

Is this part of an archaeological dig that I visited?

No, it is actually a monkey skull on the window sill in the lecture room!

But an image like this can certainly be utilised in order to…

“Tell me the story“

This area of the Waterberg is truly spectacular,

and these craggy cliffs dominate the skyline magnificently.

This area was once a sea/lake…and this top of this imposing rock formation

was the bottom of that body of water.

Over the millennia the water vanished, but fossils of sea dwelling creatures

can still be found in the vicinity.

There is so much geological history in the vicinity,

but who might be reading your Blog postings?

What knowledge might they gain from your experiential writing?

Hard facts can be gleaned from Google and various internet web sites…

Write YOUR story.

A “young” Baobab Tree…this specific one is said to be about 300 years old.
Before the students sat the test that I had prepared for them,
we went out on one last morning game drive.
I would be leaving for home after the test
and the students were going on a well earned week long break.