Jun 05 2009
Posted by Andy Malcolm
Half of me feels devastated at the thought, the other half is longing to be back home with Louise and Jack. And both halves have a hangover.
My flight out isn’t until mid-afternoon so I can take my time over breakfast and packing. When I eventually leave, I’m surprised to see Barry and Josh still waiting to be picked up at the crossroads. Wouter or Richard should have been past an hour ago. It MUST have been a good braai….
Jun 04 2009
Posted by Andy Malcolm
The reason for our hurry (and the sirloin) is that I’m throwing a braai tonight and kick-off is 7pm! It’s my last day at Tswalu and I want to do something to thank everyone for all their kindness and support over our two visits. Gus has offered his house as a venue and I’ve accepted- with some trepidation.
Jun 03 2009
Posted by Andy Malcolm
On the way there, we stop to look at the flamingoes which colonise a dam on the outskirts of town. With the sun behind us we get the full impact of 35,000 of the shocking pink birds. We can hardly take our eyes off them, except to watch out and avert the bigger shock of a full impact from a train, seeing as our viewpoint is the railway track. From there we go to to see Kimberley’s Big Hole…
Jun 02 2009
Posted by Andy Malcolm
We students are all a-tizzy this morning; we’re going on a field trip. We have overnight bags packed, bedding , lots of warm clothes and- most importantly- snacks. Richard picks us up and we get to the kraal sharp. A little while later and we’re hitting the open road. Gus is driving and we’ve somehow managed to fit Richard, Pat, Barry, Josh and myself and our inordinate amount of baggage into this people carrier. It looks like a mobile record-attempt.
For many years the Oppenheimer family have spent time each year at Lord Dalhousie’s famous Invermark estate in Scotland. Invermark is acknowledged to be one of the greatest grouse and deer moors - an area of true wilderness. Jamie Dalhousie and Nicky and Jonathan Oppenheimer have, for some time, been discussing the idea of an exchange between Invermark and Tswalu to broaden the experience of the two management teams.
This year the first such exchange will be taking place - Dylan Smith, Tswalu’s Wildlife Projects Manager , will be going to Invermark for some two and a half months from the middle of January. This will be quite a cultural challenge, not least moving from the middle of summer with temperatures in the mid 30 c to Scotland where the temperature will mostly be below freezing.
Coming in the other direction from Invermark to Tswalu will be Andy Malcolm, one of Invermark’s senior keepers, and his family. Both parties are really looking forward to new experiences and will be writing a weekly blog to be posted on the Tswalu web.
