Tales from the field Archives | Page 2 of 17

A cancelled event, storms, bad roads, no communication and vultures

By Danielle du Toit, Birds of Prey unit – Field Officer

Cape Vultures soaring at Msikaba Vulture Colony in the Eastern Cape

EWT pack members never let what could be a lost opportunity go to waste.

On a recent trip to the Pondoland region of the Eastern Cape, Senior Conservation Manager Lourens Leeuwner, and I almost swore never to embark on such a journey again.

I say almost—because you never know what the universe might throw at you.

We only discovered on arrival in Mbotyi that the Eastern Cape Avitourism Roadshow had been cancelled at the last minute due to severe storms. The conditions were grim: heavy winds had lifted roofs off houses, power lines were down, and cellphone towers were out of service. To top it off, the accommodation we had managed to find was leaking, mouldy, and filled with stray dogs that insisted on following me everywhere (what’s new?).

Nevertheless, we persevered. We spent time in the surrounding forest searching for Cape Parrots, Hornbills, and other elusive species. Exploring the village—something that took all of 20 minutes—we watched the community rally to clear roads using broken chainsaws, a clapped-out 1988 Toyota Hilux, and a frayed tow rope. One young man worked barefoot with heavy machinery on a slippery tar road in cold conditions—a snapshot of the resilience (and recklessness) of local life.

With no way to book alternative accommodation online, we stumbled across a cottage during our exploration and begged the owner to take us in. Fortunately, her guests were leaving, and we found room at the proverbial inn. From there, we resumed our quest for cellphone signal. After hours of holding our phones in the air and running in circles on a cleared road, the universe humbled us yet again—no signal.

But then, luck turned. Our new home, Destiny Cottage, had satellite internet. The signal barely reached inside, but it was enough. A view of the ocean from the lounge and a supper of Salti-Crax and cream cheese (after Lourens’s half-hour mission in the Lusikisiki Spar) lifted our spirits. Using the connection, we reached stakeholders and began to reschedule the cancelled roadshow meetings.

The following day took us to the Msikaba Vulture Colony. After a long drive, a missed turn, and a detour to a random campsite, we finally arrived. Hours drifted by as we watched Cape Vultures float effortlessly between cliff faces, rising on the thermals. Over coffee and Lourens’s famous peanut-butter-and-berry-jam sandwiches, we felt the frustrations of the previous days slip away.

On our final day, before heading back to Graaff-Reinet, we met with officials from the Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism Agency in Mthatha to discuss a future Wild Coast recce.

What began as a cancelled event in the middle of storms and silence ended with vultures, resilience, and new opportunities—reminding us why we do this work, and why it’s always worth carrying on, no matter the obstacles.

Left: state of the road. Centre: Searching for signal. Right: EWT in the snow

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

A quick Cheetah relocation becomes an all-day exercise

By Olivia Sievert – Project Coordinator: Cheetah Conservation Project

Cheetahs being relocated to Mabula Game Reserve

As a Field Officer, you learn to expect the unexpected! What was meant to be a quick two-hour cheetah relocation from one reserve to another turned into a full-day adventure, thanks to some persistent car troubles.

Now, most field staff are well-versed in the art of vehicle recovery and minor repairs, but these days I spend more time on tar roads than off-road tracks and, given my dislike for vehicle mechanics I have forgotten most of what I had once known. So imagine my surprise when, with two very awake cheetahs in the back, a reserve staff member waved me down to point out that part of the vehicle was hanging off where it really shouldn’t be! Thankfully, the brilliant Shambala team immediately had a bush mechanic’s fix in mind: “We’ll wire it together, just drive carefully”.

Still, before setting off, I had to send a few long voice notes to EWT Senior Conservation Manager Lourens Leeuwner, my ever-patient vehicle guru, for the all-important “yes, you’ll be fine” reassurance. Then, I was off again. With any relocation it is key to minimise the time the cheetah are in crates, especially with the heat we were experiencing that day, so this was a huge relief.

However, just when I thought we were in the clear at Mabula Game Reserve, the cheetah vehicle gave one last surprise: the back refused to open! Cue a new plan involving teamwork, heavy lifting, and careful crate manoeuvring. At last, the cheetahs were safely released, tucking into an impala meal as if nothing had happened.

After a quick check over from the Mabula mechanic, I limped back into Johannesburg, five hours later than expected, but grateful, safe, and reminded once again that fieldwork is all about teamwork. Huge thanks to the Shambala and Mabula teams for their quick thinking, muscle, and good humour. Without them, this relocation wouldn’t have been possible, and the cheetahs certainly agree!

Follow for more Carnivore Conservation stories

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Celebrating Arbour Week at Madibatlou Middle School with Eskom and EWT

Ndzalama Chauke, Senior Field Officer – Wildlife and Infrastructure Unit

Blue Crane and vulture models used for bird conservation education

To celebrate Arbour Week, the Wildlife and Infrastructure team joined colleagues from Eskom at the Madibatlou Middle School in Olifantfontein, Gauteng, on 5 September, to speak about the importance of planting and conserving trees.

Wildlife and Infrastructure unit head Oscar Mohale and I also spoke to the school’s Grade 2 and 3 learners about birds and power lines, and what we, as the EWT, are doing to reduce the number of bird collisions with power lines. During these talks we showcased a vulture and a Blue Crane, as well as some of the devices we use to mark power lines.

I read a story to the children about Arbour Day so they could understand what this day is about and how, as people, we can conserve trees and, most importantly, plant trees.

After an art competition where the children coloured in pictures of birds, trees and people, the vegetable garden planted at the school earlier in the week was officially opened. The food grown in this garden will assist in feeding the children and the community.

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

Running for Conservation: Rhino Peak Challenge 2025

Running for Conservation: Rhino Peak Challenge 2025 with the EWT

By Eleanor Momberg

Ambassadors hiking towards Rhino Peak in rain and mist

Saturday, 20 September 2025, will live long in the memories of those who partook in a variety of athletic challenges in support of conservation and rangers.

While four Soutpansberg rangers in the EWTs Savanna Conservation Landscape donned their uniforms to complete the 21km Game Rangers Association ranger challenge, the EWTs CEO, Yolan Friedmann participated in the 21km challenge at the Zuka Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal in support of rangers everywhere.

The Soutpansberg rangers, based at the EWTs Medike nature reserve, were accompanied by members of the recently formed Mideroni cricket team. Running on a cooler day at only 15 degrees Celsius was a welcome relief as members of the local community joined them to run stretches along the route as they cheered them on.

It was in the Maloti-Drakensberg Park World Heritage Site that the weather played havoc with the Endangered Wildlife Trust and Wildlife ACT ambassadors participating in the 10th annual Rhino Peak Challenge.

On Friday afternoon, when the 48 ambassadors running for conservation gathered on the balcony of the Drak Gooderson hotel in Underberg to prepare for the adventure that lay ahead, their view of Rhino Peak was clear. This challenge is the vision of Spurgeon Flemington, who has been driving the Rhino Peak Challenge since its inception.

It was the EWTs donor relations officer Tammy Baker’s seventh Rhino Peak Challenge, a second for Catherine Vise, and a first for her colleagues, Catherine Kuhn, Ian Little and Dave McCollough.

Spurg’s words during the pre-challenge briefing on Friday included “Watch out for snakes on the path, don’t get lost, it’s windy up there, and for safety reasons, I will be turning ambassadors back who haven’t summited by 11:30 am. If you haven’t reached the rhino horn by then, I’m really sorry.” Those remarks prompted a few more nervous glances being exchanged amongst the group.

As these remarks sank in amongst nervous participants, he added, “While you are all lying awake tonight, keep pushing for those funds. This is a fundraising event first and foremost.”

The Rhino Peak Challenge (RPC) is a conservation fundraiser aimed at raising funds for the EWT, Wildlife ACT and the Bearded Vulture Recovery Programme for the conservation of vultures, rhinos and cranes. In the past decade, more than R10 million has been raised through the RPC, with some R1.8 million being raised so far this year.

Shortly after the ambassadors gathered to set off in four groups of 12, ten minutes apart, the weather changed.

“As we’re about to start, the wind picked up significantly and the weather turned. We all looked nervously towards the peak where the conditions looked bleak with rain, wind, lightning and thunder raging over the mountain,” said Tammy. “Despite this, we set off, hitting the icy rain almost immediately.”

But there was no reaching the peak for the ambassadors as conditions deteriorated. Tammy says once she reached the seven-kilometre point, she started getting worried about the last 500m to the peak.

“It’s sheer rock and difficult enough on a dry day, never mind when it is wet, slippery and full of mud,” she said.

It was then that some of the sweepers started passing them on the way down, telling them it was “too dangerous” up there, that Spurg had “called it”, and that no one would make the peak this year.

Catherine Kuhn says: “The safety of the ambassadors came first, and it was indeed a good call. The rain made everyone freeze and soak to the core, and lightning in the Drakensberg is not something you take chances with. Being part of MCSA Mountain Rescue for 13 years, I could well appreciate, respect and understand the extremely difficult call the race organiser had to make”.

Although she knew it was the right safety call, Tammy pushed on to meet up with Spurg, who had been sitting further up the trail in cold and wet conditions for nearly two hours, turning ambassadors back.

On her way back to the finish line, Tammy says she “drank in the mountain with its pristine water and incredible scenery” before being welcomed across the line by Chris Kelly from Wildlife ACT and his team.

Despite the disappointment of not reaching the Rhino Peak on Saturday, Catherine Kuhn and two other ambassadors, Ben Bert and Dave Rose, decided to give it another go on Sunday morning.

“Starting at 5 am on Sunday, the weather was absolutely perfect. By 08:45, we had reached our goal and summited the Rhino! The view is unbelievable from up there. The hike is a tough one, and not one to be underestimated by any means,” says Catherine. “We had a flight to catch, so we had to Vooma down the mountain – we were all down safely by 11:00 am”.

Tammy says every year, when it’s about halfway into the challenge, she questions why she is doing this.

“But then, when it’s done and dusted, I say to myself that I can’t wait to do that again next year. That’s what the event does to you. It’s a life-changing experience. I think about the rhino peak every time I run. Once you’ve been there, it never leaves you”.

For those still wanting to donate to the Rhino Peak Challenge, please visit https://ewt.org/rhino-peak-challenge/

** The EWT would like to thank the Ford Wildlife Foundation for supporting our entire team of RPC ambassadors.

Soutpansberg rangers in uniform running the 21km ranger challenge

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

My first close-up encounter with an elephant

In the field

My first close-up encounter with an elephant

By Dembo Jatta, Birds of Prey Unit Intern

First elephant encounter in the Okavango Delta during EWT fieldwork

The drive from South Africa to Botswana felt like one long ribbon of tarmac stretching into forever, but the moment we rolled into the Okavango Delta, all thoughts of the road melted away. Our base for the start of the trip was the Anti-Poaching Unit (APU) camp, where we stayed in permanent tents. It was the kind of setup that instantly reminds you that you were properly in the bush, with just enough comfort to make you smile at the adventure ahead.

On this trip, we were collaborating with some of EWT’s long-standing partners, including Raptors Botswana, the Kalahari Research Centre, and Connect Trust. All collaborating under the shared goal of vulture conservation in the Delta.

That first evening, we settled into camp, got our gear sorted, and took in the sounds and smells of the Delta under a blanket of stars. The next morning, we began trapping, catching four White-backed Vultures on day one and a few more over the next couple of days.

On the fourth day, we packed up and moved further into the Delta, just on the edge of where floodwaters from Angola spilled through the plains. This time, Kyle and I pitched our own tents, while Gareth opted for his beloved Alu‑Cab rooftop ModCAP camper. That evening, a herd of elephants wandered into camp, scattering us into the shadows as one of the laaitie browsed his way through our tents.

But that was not the only adventurous moment of the trip. The highlight for me came one afternoon while I was on vulture watch, tucked into a hide among the thorny branches. My radio crackled to life: “Dembo, you have got an elephant heading your way.” At first, it felt distant, but moments later, I caught movement through the fabric of the hide. About 10 metres away. That was all that separated me from several tonnes of browsing pachyderm. This was my very first encounter with an elephant while not sitting safely inside a vehicle. Not wanting to test my luck, I radioed back, suggesting a rescue mission. Maluki, in his wisdom, drove straight toward where the elephant was standing. It was almost comical watching the animal change course and head right for me instead. Strangely, I stayed calm in the hide. I even found myself filming, my phone poked out just far enough to catch the moment it stopped, sniffed the air towards me, and gave me a thorough once-over before ambling away.

Nonetheless, the nights in the Delta were unforgettable. The sky glittered with stars, lions and hyenas called in the distance, insects and frogs filled our surroundings with their own chorus, and it felt alive in every direction. I remember unzipping the top rooftop flap of my tent just to stare at the endless stars above me. It gave me chills and goosebumps, a feeling I will never forget. I had never seen so many fish eagles and bateleurs in one place in my life. It felt like fish eagle heaven, their calls and presence filling the Delta skies every day.

By the end of the trip, we had fitted GPS units and rings to 15 vultures, including a handsome White-headed Vulture. Across the days, I also added 12 new species to my life list, lifers I had never seen before. Seeing and hearing the calls of these birds amongst the floodplains was the perfect ending to what was more than just fieldwork. It was a wild, unpredictable and unforgettable chapter in my conservation journey.

Follow the EWT birds of Prey unit

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER

World Ranger Day celebrated at the EWTs Medike Nature Reserve

In the field

World Ranger Day celebrated at the EWTs Medike Nature Reserve

By Joe Razwinani, Medike Reserve & Hospitality Manager

World Ranger Day braai celebration with rangers and families

Rangers and support staff at the EWTs Medike Game Reserve in the Soutpansberg marked World Ranger Day on 31 July by demonstrating their abilities and versatility of their work, and sharing insights about their experiences.

World Ranger Day, this year held under the theme “Rangers Powering Transformation”, annually commemorates rangers who have died in the line of duty, honours the hard work and dedication of rangers, and fosters greater understanding and appreciation for the work they do among staff, their families, and local community members.

At Medike as short programme was designed to address ranger’s families and community members with the aim of educating them about the multifaceted role of a ranger. The programme aimed to shed light on daily ranger duties, promote professional growth, and strengthen the connection between conservation efforts and local communities.

The 2025 Ranger Day celebration began with a ranger drilling demonstration to showcase the discipline, coordination, and teamwork required in field operations. This was followed by individual presentations from rangers, each addressing specific topics. such as anti-poaching strategies, Veld Fire Control, Veld Restoration. Alien Invasive Species Removals, Eco-Tourism and Community Involvement. These presentations not only served as educational tools but also helped build the rangers’ confidence in public speaking. The presentations sparked meaningful dialogue and shifted long-standing perceptions regarding the work of rangers.

Visitors extended their gratitude to the EWT team at Medike for safeguarding the Soutpansberg Mountain. Many were surprised to learn that the mountain is the source of their drinking water. This discovery underscored the vital link between environmental conservation and everyday life. It also inspired greater respect for natural resources and reinforced the importance of environmental stewardship among community members.

One of the community representatives expressed his readiness to alert the EWT about the presence of poachers in nearby villages making a significant step towards integrated conservation efforts, where local residents play an active role in protecting wildlife against the illegal trade.

At the end rangers and their families enjoyed a braai courtesy of the EWTs Support Services who provided vouchers for the social gathering.

This celebration served as a powerful reminder of the transformative potential of conservation when communities are informed, engaged, and empowered.

learn more about medike

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER