Snake handling course

Hi all,

Johan Marais author of the book a complete guide to snakes of Southern Africa will be holding another venomous snake handling course at the St Lucia crocodile center on the 9th September.

Any one interested in attending the course or would like to find out more information please contact Johan atjohan@reptileventures.com 

Regards

Spider & Scorpion Course 19th of August

Hi all,

A full day's course in arachnids will be presented by arachnologist Jonathan Leeming on Sunday 19th August at Bonamanzi.
Jonathan is one of South Africa’s foremost experts on scorpions and spiders and author of the book ‘Scorpions of South Africa.'

Also conducting 'Scorpions Adventures', Hoedspruit based Jonathan recently spend time in the area presenting courses and leading field trips, and got to know some of our local eight legged creepy crawlies.
Northern Natal offers a variety of habitats and a high arthropod diversity and is home to high population densities of spiders and scorpions. In some areas of KZN the scorpion population density can be as high as 3 scorpions per square meter!!

This course is ideal for anyone interested in spiders, scorpions, amblypygids and solifugids,
or for those who would like to learn from a leading authority. Everyone is welcome even if you can't tell the difference between a scorpion and a crab.
The course consists of lectures in the morning and hands on practical field work in the afternoon and provides the solid foundations for understanding and identifying Southern African spiders and scorpions.
Handling of spiders and scorpions is not compulsory but provides a very exiting hands on experience.
The course is endorsed by both F.G.A.S.A and the I.Z.S

Cost of the course is R945 per person and includes workbooks. For more information download the pdf brochure on https://dl.dropbox.com/u/25478279/BonamanziCourse_2012_small.pdf or visit Jonathan's website www.scorpions.co.za, or contact him directly Jonathan@scorpions.co.za

KZN North Exam Workshop

Dear FGASA members,

The KZN North Committee wishes everyone writing the national exam the 31st of March good luck! For the people writing in Hluhluwe, we do offer an 'exam workshop' for learners writing the FGASA Level 1 exam, where you can come and ask questions about the topics you still might struggle with. The KZN North facilitators will then try to help you by answering your questions and explaining things where necessary, hopefully helping you passing your exam. This service is for free. These workshops will be held in St. Lucia (location to be announced), as well as in the Hluhluwe Hotel on the 28th of March from 6 PM till 9 PM.

Should you wish to make use of this service, please ensure that you make a reservation with the facilitators, to avoid finding them too busy with other students, and to avoid them sitting there for nothing. For the St. Lucia workshops, please text Nick van de Wiel on 072-7055124, for Hluhluwe please text Christa Panos on 083-7263826. Make sure you mention your name, and the time you wish to meet. Also ensure that you actually go to the workshop on the specified time, and should you not be able to, make sure you cancel your appointment with your facilitator in time.

Once again: Make a reservation with your facilitator! No reservation might mean the facilitator has no time for you that evening. And: If you have a reservation, make sure you come: No show (without cancellation) is no more future exam workshops for you... And please come prepared with your questions. If you have no questions, your facilitator unfortunately cannot help you. 

We hope this free service will ensure a higher pass rate amongst learners in this region.

Sincerely yours,

The FGASA KZN North committee

Wilderness First Aid Course

Hi all,

We (Bhejane Nature Training, Ehlatini Bush Camp, False Bay) are running a 3-day Wilderness First Aid Course next week and have a couple of spaces open if there are any FGASA KZN North members that would like to join. It is conducted by SMART and is recognised by the Dept of Labour. 

Course dates are 20 – 24 February 2012 (3 full days) and 24 – 27 February 2012 (3 full days) 

If anyone wants more info or to join they can just contact me at dpanos@tiscali.co.za

Or phone Jana on 076 6035 868 to book a place.

Prices are R850 (including lunch for all three days but excluding accommodation)

R1250 with accommodation and meals.

River Walk @ Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve

Not really in KZN-North region, but anyways

Tracy Weakly

Greetings All

If you're looking to get away from the rat-race and commune with nature there's no better way to spend a few hours on a weekend, under the expert guidance of an Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife Honorary Officer. On Saturday 11 February 2012 at Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve in Yellowwood Park, Durban, we will be doing the much anticipated River Walk along the Red Trail down to the Umhlatuzana River and back up through coastal forest filled with over 200 species of birds’ and the possible glimpse of the elusive blue duiker.The cost is R30 which includes entrance to the reserve. Starts sharp at 8am. Possible 2.5 – 3 hour walk.Meet at the front entrance of Kenneth Stainbank Nature Reserve in Yellowwood ParkPass this e-mail onto all your friends that may be interested – would be wonderful to spend time together in this great little reserve.

Frogging at Ehlatini.

We from the Bhejane Nature Training team all followed the Emotional Intelligence Workshop that I wrote about on the 29th of November. It was actually very interesting as we learned effective means for dealing with conflict, being assertive, having balanced professional and personal relationships, and, very important: how to deal with difficult students!
   That same evening we organised a spontaneous frogging excursion at the Ehlatini Bush Camp. This place is phenomenal for frogging as on its 80 hectares, 32 species of frogs have been recorded. Given that the whole iSimangaliso Wetland Park contains a total of 52 species of frogs within its 332.000 hectares, this is quite something! This particular night, led by FGASA Level 3 Expert Nature Guide Ryan Tippet, we found about 15 species, a very good score. We'll do another frogging night soon, before the season ends, and we'll announce it in advance on this site. So watch this space! Below some pics from the evening (click on the image for an enlargement):

Mottled Shovel-nosed Frog

Juvenile Greater Leaf-folding Frog about to lose its tail

Grass frogs are often only identifiable by looking at the pattern on the hind limps. This individual is a Sharp-nosed Grass Frog

Red-legged Kassina

Painted Reed Frog

Emotional Intelligence workshop

Hi everyone

We are getting a professional Life and Business Coach in January 2012 at Bhejane Nature Training (False Bay, Hluhluwe) to run a 1 day Emotional Intelligence workshop. This is an excellent programme for anyone that regularly deals with guests or staff or want to improve their personal effectiveness and interpersonal relationships. 

Bhejane will cover all additional fees such as the facilitator’s travel, meals and accommodation. You will only pay the individual cost of training.  

Emotional Intelligence (EQ) is the ability to be aware of one’s own emotional state and that of others. People with low EQ often struggle with communication. This becomes more evident in an environment where there is no room for miscommunication. In order for a team to function effectively, the channels of communication must be open and allow individuals to express themselves without fear of retaliation or vengeance. Managing one’s own emotions effectively facilitates harmonious interaction with others. This is often because you are more aware of the impact your words and deeds have on others.

Emotional intelligence can also be defined as non-cognitive skills and competencies needed to successfully communicate and interact with people in our daily lives. Emotional intelligence allows you to manage your own and other’s emotions and to guide thinking and actions.

We used to believe that success depended solely on intelligence (IQ - the measure of an individual’s intellectual, analytical, rational and logical abilities.) If you were intellectually superior, the expectation was that you would succeed. This notion has long since changed since the discovery that one’s emotional intelligence (EQ) often plays a larger role than one’s IQ.

We can become more productive and successful at what we do and also help others to be more productive and successful by developing our Emotional Intelligence in the five EQ domains. Emotional Intelligence also helps to decrease conflict; improve relationships and to increase stability, continuity and harmony.

We are looking at having the workshop conducted the 20^th of January 2012.   The company is called Success Factory and the facilitator Elsabe Manning.   You can read more on their website – www.successfactory.co.za 

Their normal rate is R1800 per person, but they are willing to do it for us at R1200 per person.  As stated Bhejane will cover the extras (meals, accommodation and transport for the facilitator)

For more information please email Christa Panos at dpanos@tiscali.co.za or call her on 083-7263826.

Wilderness First Aid Course

Hi all,

We (Bhejane Nature Training, Ehlatini Bush Camp, False Bay) are running a Wilderness First Aid Course next week and have a couple of spaces open if there are any FGASA KZN North members that would like to join. It is conducted by SMART and is recognised by the Dept of Labour. 

Course dates are 8 – 10 November

If anyone wants more info or to join they can just contact me at dpanos@tiscali.co.za

Or phone Jana on 076 6035 868 to book a place.

Prices are R850 (including lunch for all three days but excluding accommodation)

R1250 with accommodation and meals.

Wilderness First Aid Course

Hi all,

We (Bhejane Nature Training, Ehlatini Bush Camp, False Bay) are running a Wilderness First Aid Course next week and have a couple of spaces open if there are any FGASA KZN North members that would like to join. It is conducted by SMART and is recognised by the Dept of Labour. 

Course dates are 11 – 13 October

If anyone wants more info or to join they can just contact me at dpanos@tiscali.co.za

Or phone Jana on 076 6035 868 to book a place.

Prices are R850 (including lunch for all three days but excluding accommodation)

R1250 with accommodation and meals.

KZN Regional Meeting

Hi all,

FGASA would like to invite all members and aspirant-members to attend the FGASA KZN Regional meeting as per the details below. Brian Serrao, the operations director from FGASA will attend as well, and it will be a great opportunity for all members to express their opinion about guiding in the region and the role FGASA plays and/or should play in this region. Please come prepared with questions and suggestions, and we are looking forward to discuss those. Let KZN become the most active guiding region!

Best Regards,

The FGASA KZN North Committee.

KZN Regional Meeting
Date: Saturday, 1 October 2011
Venue: Protea Hotel, Hluhluwe
Time: 13h00
Contact Christa Panos for more info on 083 726 3826

KZN North: FGASA Exam workshop

Dear FGASA members,

The KZN North Committee wishes everyone writing the national exam the 1st of October good luck! For the people writing in Hluhluwe, we do offer an 'exam workshop' for learners writing the FGASA Level 1 exam, where you can come and ask questions about the topics you still might struggle with. The KZN North facilitators will then try to help you by answering your questions and explaining things where necessary, hopefully helping you passing your exam. This service is for free. These workshops will be held in St. Lucia (location to be announced), as well as in the Hluhluwe Hotel on the 23th of September from 6 PM till 9 PM.

Should you wish to make use of this service, please ensure that you make a reservation with the facilitators, to avoid finding them too busy with other students, and to avoid them sitting there for nothing. For the St. Lucia workshops, please text Nick van de Wiel on 072-7055124, for Hluhluwe please text Christa Panos on 083-7263826. Make sure you mention your name, and the time you wish to meet. Also ensure that you actually go to the workshop on the specified time, and should you not be able to, make sure you cancel your appointment with your facilitator in time.

Once again: Make a reservation with your facilitator! No reservation might mean the facilitator has no time for you that evening. And: If you have a reservation, make sure you come: No show (without cancellation) is no more future exam workshops for you... And please come prepared with your questions. If you have no questions, your facilitator unfortunately cannot help you. 

We hope this free service will ensure a higher pass rate amongst learners in this region.

Sincerely yours,

The FGASA KZN North committee

KZN North Lecture on Animal Behaviour

As the FGASA KZN North committee we realise that many learners have already started studying for the next national sitting, and that some people struggle with certain modules. Hence we are happy and proud to offer a lecture on Module 16: Animal Behaviour, to help those learners that struggle to come to grabs with group hierarchies, the differences between flash colouration, counter shading and disruptive markings, the differences between home ranges and territories, and what all the different definitions of animal behaviour and related aspects actually mean. The lecture will focus on FGASA material, and will be specifically aimed to get you ready for the exam. The lecture will be given by Dylan Panos, a FGASA Level 3 trails guide with years of experience.

When: Tuesday the 17th of May, 7 pm to 10 pm (including time for questions, actual lecture will be shorter)

Where: Ehlatini Bush Camp, False Bay. (Take R22 from Hluhluwe Town towards Sodwana Bay. Just before you get Amorello on your left, there is a turn off into a dirt road on your right, sign posted with Ehlatini Bush Camp. Take the first left, follow the road as it turns left, first right again and there you go. Follow the signs Ehlatini Bush Camp/Bhejane Nature Training)

Costs: Paid up FGASA members: R50, Non-FGASA members R100. Fees payable upon arrival.

Need transport? Comment on this post to find buddies so you can drive up together.

Regards,

The FGASA KZN North committee

9th of April: Tree Outing Ehlatini Bush Camp

The Tree Enthusiast Working Group in Hluhluwe is organising tree outings every second Saturday of the month. They are led by Dr Du Randt which is a tree specialist in the area. Every time a different area will be visited and will focus on identifying trees and learning about them. This is of course a great way to learn about the trees in this area which are usually considered so difficult to ID. On the 9th of April 2011 the outing will explore the surroundings of Ehlatini Bush Camp in False Bay, which is famous for its enormous ancient Lebombo Wattles. All FGASA members are welcome to come and participate for free. Start at 11:30 AM, Ehlatini Bush Camp, (on the R22 from Hluhluwe to Sodwana, turn right just before Amarello and follow the signs Ehlatini Bush Camp/Bhejane Nature Training). The outing ends about 2 PM. For more info phone Greg Davies on 0791893996

A Potjiekos will be held at the Bhejane Nature Training camp for the afternoon, all members are welcome to stay for this. Fee for Potjiekos is R60 per person. Contact dpanos@tiscali.co.za to get directions and further details.