Bush Babies - Living and loving in the African Bush

Staring up at the sky, sun flickering through the leaves of the tree, grass between her toes a little girl lies and dreams of meeting her prince charming and having him sweep her off her feet. They will go on adventures and conquer the world together, one booking at a time.

Romantic relationships in the workplace are for the most part a taboo in many industries, some companies go so far as including clauses against relationships in their employment contracts. In the safari, hospitality and tourism industry, however, is seems to be somewhat of a benefit and in cases a requirement.

The tourism industry, working in lodges and hospitality or being a guide or tracker is not an easy lifestyle. Working odd hours and in cycles of 6 weeks on 2 weeks off or whatever may suite the lodge needs best, working in rural areas constantly surrounded by the same people or in some cases no people and far from the reach of “civilization”, it takes a very specific type of person to be able to survive in these circumstances, and even more so to begin a relationship with someone you work with, potentially marrying and even starting a family!

Julie Brand was one of these girls. After deciding to make a change and follow a dream she packed up to leave the UK and moved to Africa where she would eventually meet her future husband, at the local pub and not long after marry him! Living in a handmade cabin for a while they would eventually decide to start trying for kids. They now have two boys and are taking it day by day as they push on at their Quatermains 1920 Safari Camp, a tented camp in Amakhala Game reserve.

Making a decision like this is not easy when you live and work in the bush, yet for those of us who do, it’s actually really simple. Bush life is an easy life if you are programmed that way, so adapting to life with kids comes naturally.

Some couples choose not to have kids. This may be because it allows them more freedom of movement in order to travel or move from one lodge to the next, others because they are simply content with the way things are or maybe because it’s just a personal preference. However, for the moms who do choose to go on that great adventure with their little and loved ones it’s a long road ahead.

Living and loving in the bush is a great adventure and for a child the adventure is never ending. You

are taught life skills by watching animals interact with each other and have experiences many other children never would.

Tippi and Abu - Copyright Tippi Degre

Tippi Degré was one of these children whose adventure became world famous and her story has been published in a novel, Tippi My book of Africa. As a small girl she travelled Africa with her photographer/filmmaker parents who worked in the bush and allowed her the freedom to interact with the animals and local people of all cultures. This broadened her mind and gave her a great understanding of and empathy towards the minds of animals. In her story she tells of how she could talk to the animals with her mind and about her brother Abu, the elephant.

Growing up in the bush allows children a freedom to grow and expand their minds far beyond what a “normal” school system would allow. It allows them to connect with their inner selves and learn from nature what the human impact is.

Falling in love and starting a family in the bush is by no means easy and you are faced with many challenges, both physically and emotionally. Being able to ensure the health of your child while you are hundreds of kilometers from a hospital, or deciding if you are to send your kids to school, which will ultimately be a boarding school limiting your contact with them or to keep them with you in the bush and possibly follow some sort of home-schooling. At the end of the day each mother has to decide for herself what will be the best for her family and how she will climb the mountain ahead of her. 

I personally believe that I will one day raise my kids in the bush with me. Teaching them from Nature and ensuring they carry the principles they learn here with them wherever they may go in life. Growing up in the bush I believe they will be filled with compassion and empathy, even having seen the destruction and savagery that is a part of everyday life in Africa.

Please follow me on Twitter and Instagram via the links below to see the world from my perspective, with a foot in the door.

https://twitter.com/BiancaBothab211

https://www.instagram.com/aconservationistsjourney/

Read my scholarship articles for The WOMA at the links below:

The WOMA Scholarship: Conservationista by Bianca Botha



To visit or donate to my crowdfunding page please follow the link below! Thank you for your support!

US, UK and South Africa: 

Back-a-Buddy Conservation study fund

A Tribute - Navelan Padayachee

Navelan - The Friend; The Hero; The Legend

In 2008 I moved to Pretoria to begin my studies at the Technical University of Tswane. It was here where I would meet two brothers, Kailen and Navelan Padayachee.


These twin brothers were my seniors studying for our diploma in Nature Conservation, a passion we all have shared from childhood and were now working towards achieving. I cherished the times we could sit together between or after classes and I could listen to them talk, learning from their experiences and wisdom; feeding off their passion for what we all wanted to achieve and grow towards. They were an inspiration to me, role models for myself and the other junior students in my class. Never did the thought ever cross my mind that we would lose one of these amazing humans, that I would not get the chance to say goodbye. A few years passed and the last time I saw Nav was when I was leaving Clearwater mall after watching a movie with my Mother and he stopped next to us in his bright yellow Land Rover, He flashed that huge welcoming smile he always had on his face and we caught up about what we were doing in life and how his research with the Vultures was going. It was a minute in front of the traffic light I will never forget. It was the last time I would see my friend.

Skip on a few more years, I am now working on a private game ranch in Limpopo and was busy with
Social media marketing when it hit me, a post informing friends and family of Nav's passing. My heart sank to the lowest depths and tears welled up in my eyes and all I could think about is not having been able to say goodbye.

Years later his brother Kailen continues the great work they started with the Kainav conservation foundation. Navelan's legacy present in every new project they take on and in all the great work they do. I asked Kailen for some more information and stories about his brother's life and legacy so I may write a tribute, Instead, I give you his brothers words as they were sent to me. Pure, honest and shattering to the bone, Kailen's story about his brother reminded me of what an amazing man my friend Navelan was and inspires me to live his legacy as my own truth each new day.

"Navelan, or Nav as he was (and still is) referred to as by his friends and family, was always drawn to nature.
As young boys growing up in Kwa-Zulu Natal, Nav and I were introduced to the marine environment by our father. He was a volunteer at the NSRI, STATION 19 in Richards Bay, and every chance he got he would take us out on the boat or to the beach. In fact, our daily routine as children would include finishing school at 12:30, heading home to change and then spending the remainder of the day on the beach, snorkeling in the shallows. Even at that young age Nav knew that he wanted to work with animals in the ocean, he didn’t know what job exactly it would be, but it had to be with marine animals in the wild!

In 1996 our parents found work in Johannesburg and this path lead us to experience completely new environments. The dry grasslands and savanna habitat of the Highveld was foreign and honestly, not as inviting to Nav as the ocean and mangroves he
was used to in KZN. As we grew and matured the ocean still held a special part in both our
hearts but particularly for Nav.

 When the time came to choose a university, we were certain
of one thing, where ever we go and whatever we choose to study it must take us back to the
ocean. After discussions with many wildlife practitioners, professors and scientists, we
found ourselves enrolled in TUT, pursuing a qualification in nature conservation. To be
honest, it was a term that we were not too clear on and as we were the first in our family to
choose this career path we were completely in the dark. However, we had each other and a
strong end goal… get back to the ocean! After two years in the program, we grew, learned a lot and refined our goals. For our final experiential year of our qualification, we found ourselves interning at SAAMBR (South African Association for Marine Biological Research) in Sea World, Durban.

Nav felt like for the first time in years that he was finally on the right track, well on the way to becoming a world-renowned marine ecologist. During his time at Sea World, he used the opportunity to grow and prove himself as a dedicated young scientist
willing to do what it takes and put in the hours necessary to become a marine ecologist. It
was at Sea World where Nav fell in love with predatory fish, specifically sharks and started
gaining an interest in marine and shark research. He began SCUBA diving every chance he
got and spent most of his spare time under water, trying to dive with as many shark species
as he could.

Towards the end of his experiential year, he was offered a life-changing
opportunity to work for the Walt Disney World Company in Florida, USA, as a cultural
representative. The position gave him the opportunity to teach visitors to Disney’s Animal
Kingdom Lodge about wildlife and South Africa. Navelan grew tremendously during his time
at Walt Disney World, he saw South Africa and his career in a completely different light and
was determined to come home and make a lasting difference in wildlife conservation. This is
why the first thing he and I did when we got home, was start the KaiNav Conservation
Foundation. An environmental non-profit organization dedicated to biodiversity
conservation and environmental education and awareness.


Upon returning home, Nav also had the opportunity to become part of something that he loved almost as much as wildlife conservation, and that was search and rescue. He loved helping people and took pride in being part of the Off-Road Rescue Unit, where he could combine his passion for the out-
doors with his drive to serve the community. He worked tirelessly to ensure that KaiNav
Conservation Foundation became a credible, sustainable organization that made quality
contributions to conservation.

He developed a number of projects such as the S.N.A.R.E
(Snare Neutralization, Awareness and Removal Effort) Initiative which monitors snare poaching in and around urban areas of Gauteng, the SNARE Art program which uplifts local, underprivileged artists and transforms snares into pieces of art, the African Dragon Project which monitors South African varanid species (monitor lizards) in urban and peri-urban ecosystems of Northern Johannesburg, all while completing his Mtech in the Durban harbor on fish species diversity. Above all his commitments, he made the time to assist me
in my Verreaux’s eagle research, traveling across the country to monitor nests with me and
identify prey remains.

He also still managed to fulfill his commitments to the search and
rescue unit, all with his signature smile plastered across his face.

That was the type of person Nav was, dedicated, passionate and ALWAYS willing to help anyone in need. On the 9 the of May 2016, Nav responded to a call-out in the Magaliesberg to assist in the rescue of an injured climber, it was to be his last act on earth.

Nav died after assisting in a successful
rescue while descending the mountain. The KaiNav Conservation Foundation and the
projects he started, persist as his legacy and a dedication to him and his passion for not only
conservation but for our community, the people who depend on the environment. A few
weeks before passing away, Nav began planning KaiNav Conservation Africa, an
environmental and conservation education training company dedicated to training and
educating young South Africans about wildlife conservation and the environment.



The first group of students to participate in KaiNav Conservation Africa’s unique education and
career awareness program attended our inaugural program in February this year." - Kailen Padayachee

This is a tribute to Navelan. He will forever be in our hearts and is sorely missed each day. His presence remains in every success of the Kainav Conservation foundation and everyone who has become a part thereof and participated in their programs.

We will never forget Nav, the Man, the Friend, the Legend.

Please follow me on Twitter and Instagram via the links below to see the world from my perspective, with a foot in the door.

https://twitter.com/BiancaBothab211

https://www.instagram.com/aconservationistsjourney/

Read my scholarship articles for The WOMA at the links below:

The WOMA Scholarship: Conservationista by Bianca Botha



To visit or donate to my crowdfunding page please follow the link below! Thank you for your support!

US, UK and South Africa: 

Back-a-Buddy Conservation study fund

Conservationista - Article 1 for The WOMA scholarship

Bianca Botha with the girls from a small village during an outreach 

Conservationîsta

She wakes up an hour before sunrise, straps on her boots and a warm jacket to shield her from the icy winter wind of these early mornings. She loads the cruiser and trailer with bails of blue buffalo grass and sleeves of lusern. She’s off to feed the buffalo, sable, kudu, giraffe and all the other species on the ranch. After feeding as the sun begins to rise she drives patrol around the farm to check the water points and for signs of poachers. Not a week ago two more rhino were slaughtered on her ranch and in the fight she had wounded one of the culprits with a perfect shot to the right leg. He was captured but his accomplices managed to escape and will no doubt return for the last few rhino remaining. She will not let them get her rhinos, which are akin to her own children on this ranch where she faces the elements and dangers of rural living daily, alone.

When a ranch, game farm, conservationist or ranger is mentioned in conversation, the first image in the mind is a strong burly man in Khaki wrestling a lion or driving his land cruiser or walking around with his big gun on a hike or hunting safari. This view has made it very difficult for women to break through in the industry, even though they have always been there. There has recently been a rise in the amount of women taking on careers on ranches and game reserves. Not as the general admin or hospitality positions as is often thought, but as Ranch and Reserve managers. They work down in the dirt with the rest of their crew. Darting and catching game, wrestling them to the ground to ensure safe capture and that they do not injure themselves. They ensure game populations do not exceed the carrying capacity of available land by taking hunters out on hunting safaris. They are mechanics, builders, game wardens, anti poaching team members, skilled in archery and shooting with rifles, they are professional hunters and outfitters, they are the women in conservation, they are Conservationistas.

Elmarie and Ansomie Minnaar of Hunters-Rock Safaris and outfitters, 

a mother and daughter dream team

Conservation is a career path that fills every niche. There are admin workers, farmers, hunters, vets, ecologists, biologists and the list goes on. Women fit into this career like a cold hand into a glove. They have compassion, caring, stamina, strong wills and work just as hard as any man. Most importantly women can multitask, making caring for clients and all other hospitality duties a breeze to fit into the odd hours of taking clients out for a hunt and entertaining them between shifts.

Many of these women may not even consider themselves to be conservationists but their jobs play a vital role in the conservation of African wildlife and the environment as a whole.

An African rock python removed from one of the Lodge venues

A struggle to get the python out of the pipe
in which in sought to escape capture

Working in the bush of Africa is no joke and you are always faced with challenges. When clients arrive there may be a snake in the room and you will need to remove it, using the opportunity to educate your guests about venomous snakes etc, or you may have poachers; which are always heavily armed, usually with AK47s used to kill rhino and elephant, at which your workplace becomes a warzone and you and your team the meagre defending force facing life or death. The women on the ranches in Africa fill these positions gladly and love every minute of what they do.

An important part of conservation is working with the community around you. Many ranches employ the rural people on their farms in a way to discourage poaching and educate them on the importance of protecting the wildlife in the area. 

A hunted wildebeest is recovered after tracking in the dark

Other ranches will do outreach, providing the rural homesteads and villages with meat from hunts or basics such as milliemeal and toiletries bought with profits from hunts. This encourages the villagers to report persons they suspect of poaching or any news of planned farm attacks.

 The female ranch managers have great success in these projects because they are viewed as caretakers by the villagers. This does however pose some problems as well. When wanting to distribute meat or supplies to the villagers one must often first talk to the chief, who due to their cultural beliefs, do not talk to women. You also need to be careful when entering their villages, as looking a man in the eye, wearing pants, or not having your head covered may be a great disrespect depending on their culture.

Being a woman in this industry is not easy. You are often looked down upon, denied a promotion or raise or even laughed off at a job interview as you are not taken seriously, regardless of your qualifications or experience. There are a few of us however, who are just as stubborn as any man and stick it through, fight the fight and earn the respect we deserve. We excel and show the world that a game ranch is just as much a woman’s place as a mans. 

Bianca supports the head of an impala ewe
which has been darted for translocation,
Butch (Jack Russel) keeping an eye on her vitals. 

South Africa now has its first all female Anti-poaching squad, the Black Mambas, whose exclusive duty is to patrol and protect the rhinos and elephants on specific reserves in the Limpopo province. From the establishment of this team the presence of snares and attempted poaching has decreased significantly more than any of the previous projects. These women are unarmed spending their time in the reserves alongside all the wild animals and taking their skills and experience to the schools and communities around them, fighting the war on poaching through monitoring, community building and education.

Women play a vital role in the preservation of the African environment. You need only look at the growth in awareness campaigns for STEM with the hash tag #womeninscience and the history of great female scientists, conservation biologists and film makers to see how important women are in conservation and how great the need is or their work to be recognised.

A young Vervet monkey rescued from being a pet
is cared for to regain strength before being taken
to the Vervet rehabilitation centre.

There are the greats; Joyce Poole, Terri Irwin, Rachel Carson and of course Jane Goodall who we all know so well and praise their work and books and films, however, we must not forget the work of the ladies on the ground in Africa. Their names are not known and their faces are not on newspapers or in scientific journals, but they put food in the mouths of hundreds of people in the villages around their farms, they employ and train thousands more to uplift the community and protect the environment, and they put themselves in the frontlines to save the animals they care for 24 hours a day 365 days a year.

Bianca and Jan, the rescued vervet monkey.

Women in conservation, the hunters and outfitters, the lodge managers, the farm labourers and so on may not be the first thing one thinks about when conservation is a topic of discussion, but they are the women from all cultures, ages and backgrounds, the mortar that holds the entire industry together and key element to successful conservation.

[ This is the full article of the article Published on 19 April 2018 by The WOMA. I would like to thank The WOMA and the wonderful women working there for the amazing opportunity they have given me as the scholarship recipient for 2017. Please visit and support this wonderful community of women here: The WOMA . See also the link to my article as published in the links below. ]

Please follow me on twitter and Instagram via the links below to see the world from my perspective, with a foot in the door.

https://twitter.com/BiancaBothab211

https://www.instagram.com/aconservationistsjourney/

Read my scholarship articles for The WOMA at the links below:

The WOMA Scholarship : Conservationista by Bianca Botha



To visit or donate to my crowdfunding page please follow the link below! Thank you for your support!

US, UK and South Africa: 

Back-a-Buddy Conservation study fund