Final Field Program - University of Virginia

Day 2: In the early morning, accompany a Trails Guide for a hands-on session that covers: Etiquette and Safety for
guided walks; animal signs and traces as well as how to interpret the bush and identify certain flora and fauna for
survival if lost or separated from a group and plant and bird identification. Return to the lodge for breakfast.
Afterward, participate in the Wilderness Trails on Foot theory component which includes: rifle safety out in the
field; rifle mechanics including ballistics; how to carry a rifle in the field under various circumstances, particularly
while viewing potentially dangerous game on foot; tracker/back-up relationship; shot placement on potentially
dangerous game; animal sociology when out on a trail (theory and practical) and etiquette and required safety
procedures when approaching dangerous game on foot. After lunch at the lodge learn how to control and drive in a
4x4 game-viewing vehicle. In the late afternoon, enjoy a guided game drive through the reserve, returning well after
dusk. During the game drive, discuss the various game encountered. As the vehicle returns after dusk, view the
southern night skies and learn about the visible constellations as well as experiencing a night drive. The etiquette and
control of the vehicle‘s spotlight will also be discussed. Enjoy dinner at Tree Tops Boma, where all the rangers will
attend the braai. The dinner is a great opportunity to meet and interact with this knowledgeable team. (B;L;D; Game
stone Lodge)
Day 3: Accompany a trail guide on an early morning walk applying previously learned concepts. During the
walk, interpret the bush, read and identify tracks alongside the guide. View large game on foot and discuss
different scenarios. Return to the lodge for breakfast. After checking out of the lodge, transfer to the Port
Elizabeth airport for your return flight to Cape Town. (B)
CAP14 FOOTSTEPS TO FREEDOM AND STREETWIRES (0900-1300 Monday, 04 October)
Minimum 16/Maximum 30 (PRICE: $89)
The city of Cape Town is beautiful and its history dramatic. This eye opening, tactile and fascinating three-hour
walking tour of South Africa‘s most historic square mile will provide an excellent geopolitical and historic overview
of Cape Town. There is no better pace at which to experience Cape Town than step-by-step and on foot. With an
expert guide, walk through the chronological events that have shaped the national and the geopolitical map. The tour
begins with tales and facts about the San and Khoikhoi peoples, whose lives were forever and indelibly changed by
the arrival of the Dutch East India Company, slavery, British Colonial rule, The Union of South Africa, the rise and
fall of apartheid, and the birth of the ―Rainbow Nation.‖ During this walking tour, explore Old Town, catch the buzz
of the city in Greenmarket Square, hear tales of Dutch rule at the Castle of Good Hope and Grand Parade, and see
where slaves were traded and where they toiled in the Company‘s Garden. Take a look at the Parliament Building,
where the apartheid laws were passed and repealed, and see the devastating consequences of unfettered racism at the
District Six Museum.
Following the walking tour is a visit to one of the central tenets of
the modern South Africa—the need for thriving ―upliftment‖ of
previously disadvantaged peoples. There is no more tangible
example of this in the city than Streetwires, which employs more
than 75 formerly unemployed people. This company marks a
clever conjoining of street art and social development in the
dynamic genre of wire art. The project provides the skills training,
support and raw materials necessary to enable many formerly
unemployed South Africans to channel their natural creative
energies into this vibrant art form. While wire art is not a new
genre, the Streetwires team brings together a group of people with
skills in wire art, marketing, production development and industrial
design. In doing so, it successfully empowers needy South Africans
by creating opportunities where none had existed. There will be an opportunity to talk to the artists and learn their
craft, and try first-hand the art of creating wire art. Please note: As this trip involves a lot of walking, comfortable,
sturdy shoes are recommended.
South Africa Field Program – page 10