South Africa - A Student’s Perspective
Author: Polly Sadler, Conservation Enthusiast
Read time: 3 minutes
Flooglebinder are travel experts and a certified B Corporation with tour experience in over 75 countries. We curate sustainable bespoke adventures that incorporate sustainability, conservation and wellness. As a BCorp organisation we use business as a force for good, meet the highest standards of verified performance, accountability and transparency, whilst tracking and monitoring our social and environmental impact.
I (along with most of the world's population) have grown up watching the likes of Planet Earth, and listening to the distinctive tones of David Attenborough whilst witnessing a bask of Nile crocodiles savagely take down a lone impala, or the great migration of thousands of wildebeest. As anyone who has had the privilege of travelling to South Africa will know, the experience you have as a visitor is vastly different, and in many ways, monumentally better.
“Three weeks felt simultaneously never-ending and incredibly short”
The South Africa expedition was first advertised to us during the first year of my degree course at Merrist Wood College. Ian delivered a presentation over Zoom (as was the norm during the Covid pandemic) and I was immediately drawn in by his (and Flooglebinder’s) outlook on life and approach to sustainability and environmental awareness. As a keen traveller, I’ve always felt a draw to the great outdoors and am a strong believer in the power of nature contributing to both physical and mental well-being, so naturally, I had no choice but to sign up. Despite multiple postponements due to the pandemic, we finally made it out there in March 2022.
Three weeks felt simultaneously never-ending and incredibly short. The immersiveness of the experience made you feel as if you had been there forever, even after a few days. From the get-go, we were immersed in the natural world. We came close to zebra (Equus quagga), giraffe (Giraffa giraffa), warthog (Phacochoerus africanus), aardwolf (Proteles cristataI), black-backed jackal (Lupulella mesomelas) and gemsbok (Oryx gazella) within the first 12 hours and countless more species in the days that followed. The opportunity to see a mature male lion, 5 metres away, rolling on his back like a house cat in the sun, or warthog and buffalo wandering freely through camp, is something that cannot be experienced in many places. It was extremely hands-on and tremendously educational.
“It is these experiences that make these college trips invaluable”
We met some remarkable people during the expedition. The onsite staff, field guides and expert lecturers were some of the most knowledgeable and interesting people I had ever had the pleasure of knowing - each with their own specialisations, skills, and captivating stories of their careers in the veld. Personal growth and mental health have always been a priority of Flooglebinder and the connection to nature each one of us made was invaluable to our positive experiences. Each and every one of us learnt more than we ever thought possible, both about South African wildlife and the management thereof, and about ourselves – I realised my passion for ecotourism, my fascination with dung beetles and my love of outdoor showers (the colder the better).
“It’s amazing how shared experiences can result in strong, life-long bonds”
Unlike your average luxury safari holiday, we were there to learn more than just the big 5 (lion, leopard, black rhino, elephant buffalo), the little 5 (elephant shrew, leopard tortoise, antlion, rhino beetle, buffalo weaver), even the ugly 5 (hyaena, marabou stork, vulture, warthog, wildebeest). We were there to learn about the ecosystems that these species were a part of, and how they all interacted to form a complex and astonishing web of life. This experience instigated our appreciation of the biotic and abiotic factors, acting independently of each other, but also influencing each other, to result in the ecological services that make this breathtaking landscape vitally important. We saw first-hand how wildlife management practices were implemented, the reasons behind them, and the challenges they face.
“It was extremely hands-on and tremendously educational”
Starting as classmates and strangers, we formed close relationships with our fellow students, the field guides and the staff. It’s amazing how shared experiences can result in strong, life-long bonds. From hours on the vehicles together, to connecting around the campfire (over a beer or two!), we became family very quickly. It is these experiences that make these college trips invaluable. Never before have I felt so far removed from my life at home, but simultaneously so comfortable in my surroundings, and that is largely thanks to the people I was with.
One of the highlights of the trip was the chance to visit the Ground Hornbill Project and meet the amazing Patience who was in charge. The project focuses on the reversal of the current decline of these bizarre and charismatic birds. Visiting places like this really deepens understanding of the issues South Africa faces in terms of environmental protection and conservation, and it is things like this that set Ian, Amber and Flooglebinder apart from other travel companies. Their pledge to always put conservation and sustainability first is echoed in everything they do.
