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ACTIVITIES
A range of hands-on, interactive activities expose the magic of the African bush. Activities are optional and itineraries are tailor made to suit the interests of the group:
ACTIVITIES (NO ADDITIONAL COST)
Walking: a traversing area of 8500ha allows for long, informative walks, which usually take place in the early morning.
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Tracking: guests are introduced to the ancient art of tracking, spoor identification and large animals are tracked on foot, if suitable and fresh tracks are encountered. Specialist tracking and trailing courses can also be provided.
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Bush Craft and Survival Skills:
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Start a fire using the friction method developed by the San Bushmen
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Methods of carrying a fire from one location to the next
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Making rope and snares from plants in the area
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Moulding pottery from clay collected at natural pans
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Discovering the edible & medicinal uses of indigenous plants
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Carving out cups from wild melons
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Food from the bush, e.g. wild spinach, edible fruit and berries
This module can be offered on a basic or more intense basis, depending on clients’ preferences.
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Animals, birds and insects: a multitude of fascinating information on animals, birds and insects is shared with guests, including the guides’ amusing stories of animal encounters.
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Sleeping under the stars: guests sleep out under the stars in sleeping bags around a campfire. Participants do guard duty in twos to keep a look-out for animals and to maintain the fire. An armed guide is present with the group.
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Navigation: learn to use a compass and map to navigate accurately. Guests are divided into teams. Individuals must work together to reach various objectives.
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Basic Astronomy: interesting information is provided on our galaxy and solar system during the evening game drives. View southern latitude constellations and stellar bodies with no light or air pollution.
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Drives: At the end of the day, guests relax as they are chauffeured through the bush in open land-rovers, enjoying sundowners and spectacular sunsets.
ACTIVITIES (ADDITIONAL COST)
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Tribal Dancing: Guests enjoy tribal dancing while relaxing around the evening camp-fire. Dancers are from the local community and this is often their only source of income. For this reason, BES encourages guests to include tribal dancing in their itinerary.
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Reptile Presentation: a top South African snake and reptile expert provides a wealth of knowledge and interesting information on the ecology of snakes, their venom and fang structures. Live snakes, baboon spiders, scorpions & other interesting creatures can be viewed during this interactive experience, which takes place on-site.
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In-depth Astronomy evening and/or Solar Scope: During the day, solar telescope viewing provides an idea of what stars & the sun look like, how they behave and how they influence life on earth. At night, interactive visual presentations of the southern hemisphere night sky allow for viewing of the moon, planets, stars, constellations and other heavenly bodies. Courses for astronomers from novice to Ph.D astro-physicist level are offered.
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Rifle craft (no prior firearm knowledge or skill is necessary and only man-made targets are used):
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History to firearms & fundamentals to Riflecraft;
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Parts of the rifle and ammunition plus safe operation and use of the rifle
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Malfunctions of the cartridge
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Fundamentals to rifle craft
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Firing postures
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Once familiar with the above, participants take part in a practical shoot using static and mobile targets under the tutelage of professional instructors.
Specialist rifle-handling courses are offered.
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Game Capture & Rhino micro-chipping: guests assist professional wildlife veterinarians and conservationists in their game capture duties. The game-capture operations form part of the holistic management plans of the various conservation areas. Participants are involved in all aspects of game capture and are safely guided through each step by experienced professionals. Rhino micro-chipping exercises only take place between the cooler months of April to September.
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