Tracking Course

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Moholoholo offers an exciting course that opens up a world consisting of tracks, signs and the trailing of Africa’s Big Five animals. The seven-day (6 nights) course is practise based, which means that most of your time is spent outside in the African bush. Colin Patrick conducts this course and is accredited by FGASA as a trainer and assessor. As a field guide he has achieved the top qualification of scout and is also a senior tracker and evaluator. He is passionate about teaching the signs that can be read from the tracks left by the creatures of the African bush to people.

RECOGNITION

The course is recognised by Cyber Tracker. Students who successfully pass the final practical track and sign evaluation are registered with Cyber Tracker and their names are published on the Cyber Tracker website.

DATES

Tracking Course dates 2012
30 Jan – 5 Feb
2 April – 8 April
24 Sept – 30 September

SUBJECT MATTER

Principles of track and sign identification
The role of tracking in our day-to-day lives
Introduction to the trailing of the Big Five
Tracking for scientific purposes
Using Cyber Tracker software as an information-gathering tool
Tracking and signs identification:
Large mammal tracks
Small mammal tracks
Bird and reptile tracks
Determining the age of tracks
Arial tracking
Study of animal feeding signs
Close-up study of animal behaviour at the Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre (the ‘Rehab’)

ACCOMMODATION

The course is conducted on the Moholoholo Game Reserves, which are situated in the Lowveld region of South Africa’s Limpopo Province.
Students are accommodated in comfortable thatched chalets, which have all the normal amenities.
One night of the course is spent sleeping under the stars in the African bush. This is normally one of the highlights of the course, but be warned –sleeping usually isn’t much of a priority.

TARIFFS

The price for the course is R5050,00 per person (price subject to change). This is fully inclusive of all professional tuition, all meals and all accommodation. Transport to Moholoholo Mountain View, beverages, laundry and any other personal expenses are excluded. Students who do not have transport to Moholoholo Mountain View should contact us, as we are able to assist by organising lifts with other students who are attending the same course where ever possible.
• A 50% deposit is required, which must be paid within two weeks of making the booking, in order to secure it.
• As soon as the deposit has been paid, please fax the deposit slip to us together with your enrolment and indemnity form. Alternatively, you may also fax us your credit card details, indicating the amount we must deduct and we will send you a confirmation of booking. (Please note that we unfortunately do not accept American Express cards.)
• Students will be liable for any bank charges incurred on their payments.
• If a booking is cancelled five weeks or longer before the date upon which the course commences, a 25% handling fee will be deducted from your deposit.
• If a booking is cancelled within four weeks before the date upon which the course commences, the full deposit will be forfeited.

STUDENT INFORMATION

The nearest town to Moholoholo Mountain View is HOEDSPRUIT, which is 32 km from us. • A medical doctor (GP) and dentist are available in Hoedspruit.
The supermarket and pharmacy are well stocked.
All banking facilities are available in the town.
There is a military hospital in Hoedspruit for emergencies
Students must arrive by 14:00 at Moholoholo Mountain View, on the day the course commences.
Departure time on the last day is around mid-morning

EXTRA ACTIVITIES

•Horse riding • Visit to the Kruger National Park • River rafting • Bombyx Silk Park • Echo Caves • Micro-lighting • Balloon rides and many more similar activities. Most of these excursions are undertaken as groups. Please bring along extra money for this purpose.

REQUIRED TEXT BOOK

“Tracks and signs of southern & eastern wildlife” by Chris and Tilde Stuart.

NOTE: The above-mentioned book can be ordered from our Mountain View Office.

KIT LIST

• Neutral-coloured clothing
• Comfortable walking shoes
• All-weather jacket
• Sun hat
• Raincoat
• Sleeping bag (can be hired at Mountain View)
• Thin mattress (can be hired at Mountain View)
• Water bottle
• Personal toiletries
• Sunscreen lotion
• Insect repellent
• Malaria tablets
• Powerful torch & spare batteries (NB)
• Binoculars
• A large stiff-backed notepad and two pens

NOTE: Sleeping bags and thin mattresses can be hired from Moholoholo at a cost of R45.00 for both.

GENERAL INFORMATION

TRANSPORT:

SAA have two to three flights daily from the OR Tambo Airport in Johannesburg to the Eastgate Airport outside Hoedspruit.
By prior arrangement we will pick you up at the Eastgate Airport in Hoedspruit at a cost of R180.00 per person one way.


Car Hire: Europe Car +27 (0) 15 793 6378
Avis +27 (0) 15 793 2014
Budget +27 (0) 15 793 2806
Bus services: Translux City to City +27 (0) 11 774 3333
www.translux.co.za
Airport: Eastgate +27 (0) 15 793 3681

Important note regarding flights: On the day of arrival for the course, please try to book the first flight into Hoedspruit.

On the day of departure from the course, also try to book the first flight departing from Hoedspruit.

CONTACT:

Moholoholo Mountain View Tel: 082 907 59 83
Fax: 082 903 81 02
Email: moholomountainview@worldonline.co.za