#Shamwari Rehabilitation Centre

[charlesandmartine]

Tuesday 23rd April 2024

On our last morning on the Shamwari Game Reserve we were not permitted a lie in. Oh no, still lots to do. So we had a half hour warning at 06.30 to present ourselves for breakfast and then Raymond was to take us to the Shamwari Rehabilitation Centre to see what they do with defective animals. Unlike Born Free, the object is to fix the problem and get the animals back out into the wild where they belong, and frankly we were amazed at the time and dedication they were prepared to put into saving animals. This is an impressive new facility built as recently as 2018 for the Shamwari Game Reserve and it is an integral part of the conservation work they do on site. We saw a white rhino orphaned at birth so had been hand reared, being fed milk till 18 months old, with the plan that it'll be released when 2 years old. Being a wild animal it butts the keeper rather badly when the milk run is ready to be performed. They needed a routine to pacify the animal first before delivering the white stuff and the method devised is to blindfold him and put earmuffs on first. Rhino needed companionship, and surprisingly this is provided by Frank the sheep! They didn't get on initially but now they are inseparable.

This team is remarkable. They have Patrick the giraffe, abandoned at birth and reared also by hand. I imagined a giraffe at birth might possibly be the size of a giant stick insect. Apparently a new born giraffe is a good 2 meters tall! Patrick is doing fine. A new avenue for the centre is vultures. They have recently received some 50 or so vultures who have been injured and are now in the process of recovery. Vultures are useful in cleaning up carcasses and preventing rats and blowflies which restricts the spread of disease. A major success story was the surgery performed on a severely injured white rhino left for dead after poachers cut his horn off and basically leaving a hole in its head! Rhino are still very much sought by poachers who can get $1M for a horn in the US which buys an awful lot of corrupt officials turning blind eyes!

Other inmates are elephants, jackals and meerkats. These are long-term projects and release to the wild takes time, ensuring that the animal will be able to cope on its own.

We took a wide loop back to the lodge on the lookout for any animals we might have missed, but it was like the apocalypse had come, there were none to see! So we settled up, paid a vast amount in tips, jumped back into the VW (now exceedingly clean after the staff had valeted it) and roared off down the dusty road replacing the dust removed with a bucketload of fresh dust and out towards the main gate heading for Port Elizabeth and our replacement hotel; The Hacklewood Hill Country House, built 1898 for Mr & Mrs Mattingly. Now a five star Victorian boutique hotel somewhat favoured by Trailfinders I think. This is home for the night although we shall have to abandon it tomorrow morning in favour of a very early flight to Johannesburg and then on to Kasane in Botswana where we shall be transferred to the Chobe Game Reserve.

ps What a fantastic experience this section of our trip has been. Shamwari has been great both for service and terrific food we have been provided and also for the insight into the animals and their habitat we have been voyeurs to. To be feet away from the majesty of lions, the power and size of elephants, the height, grace and elegance of giraffes is absolutely mind blowing. To see close up the endangered, hunted, but thankfully protected rhino is quite awe inspiring. It is easy to forget that these animals are entirely wild, would easily kill you, but are in their natural environment and are living the life they deserve. After the recent rains the vegetation is so lush and green and the animals are loving it.

pps We have begun our course of anti malarial tablets essential because of the risk in Botswana. We have been warned of side effects!

ppps Superb meal tonight at the hotel. Ostrich steak, really nice and eating out here is so cheap!!

[luxebeat]

The Travel Corporation: Making Travel Matter

The Travel Corporation: Making Travel Matter

The Travel Corporation is Earth-Friendly Year Round

Earth Day may be over, but some conscientious companies follow earth-friendly policies year round. Travel Corporation’s non-profit foundation, The TreadRight Foundation, celebrated the earth when they recently announced that single-use plastic water bottles will no longer be available on TTC brands’ trips. This includes Trafalgar, Insight…

[mzansi-life]

Shamwari provides wildlife experiences at reduced rate

http://www.mzansilife.co.za/news/2019/07/08/shamwari-provides-wildlife-experiences-at-reduced-rate/

Shamwari Private Game Reserve is celebrating the opening of its R5m wildlife rehabilitation centre, the refurbishment of its flagship lodges and upgrades to its luxury facilities by offering South African guests a 30% discount this winter. Joe Cloete, CEO of Shamwari says, “We realize that m

[coralie63-blog1]

Babies at the Rehabilitation Centre Shamwari Eastern Cape South Africa

[charlesandmartine]

Monday 22nd April 2024

Our early call this morning was preempted by a very violent storm. Lightening lit the room despite the blackout blinds, the thunder shook our lodge and the lights flickered off for more than a few seconds. Our ranger, Raymond, suggested we wait before making plans, but with the amount of water tipping out of the sky we were lacking optimism. However, magically the rain stopped, the skies cleared and the sun came out so Raymond loaded us into the Toyota and we took to the trail to see what we might find. The rains have severely improved the levels of water in the dams and the hippos were fully appreciative. They can stay submerged for up to six minutes and I'm sure they were enjoying the mud.

Shamwari is home to the UK based Born Free Foundation. There are two enclosures here on site for big cats brought here from around the world that have been abused perhaps by the circus, or private owners such that they could never cope in the wild and will therefore live the rest of their lives in captivity. The organisation was founded in 1984 by Bill Travers, Virginia McKenna and their son Will Travers having made the film of the same name. The centre's current inhabitants: King, Thea, Ciam, Cersei, Zeis (Leopard )Horus and Dadou are cared for and thriving after their previous lives. Here's an interesting fact, there's no such thing as a panther, a panther is simply a black leopard. Other centres around the world are caring for other species and in areas that are suitable environments.

After a hearty lunch we continued our quest for more animals. Many refer to the Big Five the definition of which comes from the game hunters of old and are the five most dangerous: lion, elephant, rhino, African buffalo and leopard. We have seen here all but the leopard. This afternoon we came upon 2 female lions resting after a kill. Since they 'rest' for 18 hours a day, I guess this is the most likely pose you would see them adopt. The worrying thing is that they were reposed in long grass and could easily have been missed, or worse tripped on should one have been out for a casual stroll. We stopped for coffee with amarula and nibbles in a clearing. Once all the drinks were set up, it was noticed away in the distance were a small group of elephants. As the refreshments were convivially consumed, the group having spotted us started to approach. Our ranger was keeping a close eye on them and started to pack things away. By the time the group were no more than 100 yards away we were back in the Toyota and ready to leave. We turned away from the group, drove 10 yards over the brow of the hill and met another group of elephants facing us! Like a well organised pincer movement. Luckily both groups must have decided we were no particular threat. Elephants do regularly kill apparently!

We have had a great day today with much to remember and digest. Its been just us with our ranger today and we feel privileged to have had exclusive access to his time and expertise.

ps The tourist season here is coming to an end by this weekend and our ranger will be travelling to his home near Durban for a few weeks. His route will take him through townships he considers far too dangerous to pass during daytime, so he will go at night.

pps Great meal tonight: deconstructed beef wellington! It was like an airfix kit with all the bits: fillet steak, pastry, onion, mushroom and open marrow bone spread out across the plate. Very tasty. Washed down with SB.

ppps We leave here tomorrow to travel to Port Elizabeth for the night and then on Wednesday to fly to Botswana. Just one more thing to do before we go late morning and that is to visit the Rehabilitation Centre.