College student Dan shares his travel diary from an extraordinary conservation trip to South Africa, joining his father with the Animal Saviours charity. From helping with rhino horn trimming to witnessing Mankwe’s breathtaking wildlife, this is his story of a life-changing adventure.
With my father a vet and trustee for the Animal Saviours charity: a UK based charity that takes volunteers on a unique conservation trip to a field research reserve (Mankwe) in South Africa, I had heard hundreds of fantastic stories about his annual trip. With its captivating wildlife, kind people and amazing scenery, I had been asking him to take me to Mankwe for what felt like an eternity. At the start of this year, he finally asked me if I would like to join him. Well, with such an amazing potential opportunity, I eagerly said yes.
I so was excited to go in June of this year, I was expecting to see and experience something extraordinary, an adventure that would change my life forever.
When I finally arrived in South Africa I was somewhat anxious. My father had told me, as a condition of the trip, that I would have to speak to new adults and help him organise some of the planned activities. This prospect was terrifying, I am not used to talking to groups of adults, especially in a manner of authority. At first, I thought it might possibly be more terrifying than chasing rhino through the African bush. However, I soon came to realise that it wasn’t as bad as I had predicted. The group was very welcoming, and everyone shared a common interest in conservation and stunning wildlife. I quickly settled in with the group.
I cannot put into words how beautiful the reserve is, the staff were very friendly and I must say the food was brilliant; the range of local delicacies, the little shortcut biscuits made fresh every day and the chunky oat bars, called rusks, which you would eat with your tea, they were incredible. Our first activity upon arriving was a game drive. Seeing animals that I had previously only seen on TV documentaries was a surreal experience, it was like being on a different planet all together. My first day ended far too quickly, the sun switched off, disappearing over the horizon after a hard day’s work. The temperature dropped quickly but this was mitigated by our campfire and comforting accommodation.
The days that followed were full of unique activities, starting with setting camera traps at specific points to capture images of target species, including the reserve’s white rhino, buffalo, and nocturnal animals. We then received a lecture about the ecosystem in Mankwe and how they deal with various challenges, including the previous year’s drought. I learned of the complexity in balancing such a delicate ecosystem and the various work undertaken to manage competing species, including the incredible annual burns of various sections of the reserve, this was interesting and played a key role in my understanding of the reserve. Another fantastic opportunity was to see the postmortem exam of a wildebeest. This was truly astonishing, great for biology students, however not the greatest idea if you have a weak stomach. Other activities included using transects to conduct biodiversity assessments, an astrology evening and assessment of differing plant species in the reserve.
The highlight of the trip was most definitely the rhino horn trimming and the translocation of a bull safely to another reserve. The translocation was done to avoid reducing the genetic pool and limit the challenges of having too many male rhinos on the reserve. Whilst of course horn trimming is not what conservationists want to be doing it is known to significantly reduce the risk of illegal poaching and with it the senseless killing of rhinos. I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the horn trimming was surprisingly quick, overseen by a professional approach and a high regard for animal welfare throughout. With the help of reserve staff, the vet in the helicopter and the fast-moving vehicles getting to the rhino in time, the whole activity was so well managed. Being a first responder, arriving at the tranquilised rhinos before the other ground staff, was an unforgettable experience. I was up close with the rhinos, guiding them to the most suitable place for horn trimming to be performed. With the immense weight of the rhino (one was 3 tons!) each one needed at least four people on either side to keep it stable. I needed to concentrate at all times to avoid having my feet squashed!
This trip has made a lifelong impression on me, and I am desperate to go back and learn more. It was exactly how I imagined it and more. I now understand why my father has such a passion for South Africa, and it has no doubt made an imprint on me.
I would like to express huge gratitude to Lynne and the team at Mankwe, to Animal Saviours and, of course, to Miss Jeans and Howells for supporting my time away from school. I would be happy to chat with anybody about my experience and if anyone is keen to explore a life-changing trip, please do reach out with any questions.