Cultural Heritage 2010\08\17

Cultural Heritage Site

We have a Unit standard that has to do with Cultural heritage and today we went to one of Sondela's Heritage sites at the "Water punt Koppie". We were like archeologist's and had to look for some historical artifacts that came from the stone and iron age.
We had to document the artifacts so that they do not loose there value. We GPS'ed the coordinates and describe what we found on a paper and took a photo of it.Hundreds of years ago colonies of people lived on Sondela and used the natural recourse's in there everyday live. First was the Stone age were people used various tools made out of clay, sandstone and flint.


Some examples we found

Pot Shards made out of clay baked at a high temperature.They are used to store water and foods like grain and mielies .A thin pot was used for water and a thicker one for food.
Sometimes they were
decorated with patterns.

Sandstone and flint tools that were shaped to make spear points to kill an animal,carving and cutting tools to cut meat and skin animals.

Round Boulders to grind various things
like grain and plant material.

Then the Iron age began. We found Guthuite and Slag materials used too make iron aged tools. This contains iron and was melted at high temperatures to form a tool.

Some examples we found

Slag and Guthuite were used as spear points, dongas and other large forms of tools used to plow lands. The tribe who had these iron items in its possession were far ahead of others concerning farming and hunting.

Slag is the leftovers that boils away
from the iron and gets thrown away

Guthuite is the rock before
it is melted to get the iron in it.




This was a great exercise because we got to excavate a site were real history took place and touch the actual things that these ancient people made with there hands. Places like these is were all modern tools came from and we should take great pride in protecting Cultural heritage sites like them!!!

Crocodile Farm Visit on 10\08\02

Crocodile farm visit

We went on a tour to the Crocodile farm "Thaba Kwena" the 2nd of August.We are getting a certificate to be a tour guide on a crocodile farm. The tour guide gave us a tour through the farm. We all listened very carefully because we had to do our own small tour afterwards. We all got one topic to do research on and did the presentation on it in front of all the students, we got assessed on it and had to be competent or do it all over again.
After the tour we had some lunch and made posters of our subjects. The whole tour was interesting and I now know almost everything about the Nile Crocodile! The next day all of us had to write a 2hour long test about crocodiles!!!Fascinating prehistoric creatures!!!

Sondela's Game Capture

Game Capturing

This was a project that Sondela had to do because of a overpopulation on a 400 hec. field that had to much game like Kudus. In the beginning the plan was just to capture all of the kudus but that soon changed.

Captured:

• Kudus
• Blue-Wilde bees
• Eland
• Blesbuck

We all helped with the construction of the boma, by carrying poles, putting up the sales cleaning the area of branches and bushes in the way of the sales. It takes quite a long time to construct the boma, it took us a whole day and the next day we started capturing.



The method that was used to capture was simple. The whole plan and layout consisted of erected poles and opening and closing sales. The structure is usually in a triangular shape with the sales narrowing to the truck that kept all the game.


At the entrance of the boma there will be a sale closing that traps the animals inside when the chopper has chased them inside, followed by a second, third and fourth sale that brings them into the truck. We as students got the opportunity to help drag the sales closed and get the animals into the truck. We saw how they gave the game some relaxers and then put some pipes on the horns of the Blesbuck.

When the truck was full of game they transported them to an auction. The game were sold and the profit went to Sondela.


The whole experience was very exiting for me and I got to see how the "pro's" do it. I even got the opportunity to fly in the chopper and look for the game, it was amazing and my heart was pounding when we lifted up in the sky!!! It was a chance to see what the future may hold for some of us and if we want to pursue this kind of work!!!

Collecting spesimens

Collecting specimens

This activity is part of our Game Ranger course. We caught a Crested Barbet in a cage to observe it afterwards we let it go.We took it out of the cage and observed things like the eye, ears, beak, claws and the different feathers.

The Ears are located behind the eyes and covered with feathers, they are very sensitive because they have to pick up high frequencies from other birds.



We had a look at the feathers and what job each type of feather had. The claws was interesting, we learned that each type of bird had a different foot structure.

This was just a small capture but we are going to do more of them in the future, were we use various methods and catch different species. The Barbet flew away after we looked at it, and that is important to know that wen capturing something you should always place it back in the wild.

Sondelas Firebreaks

Firebreaks

The Sondela students have been working in the bush for the last 2 weeks. We have been making sure that field fires does not occur during the dry winters by preparing firebreaks at all the crucial points of Sondela. All the places on Sondela were there is some form of value we had to do firebreaks to prevent Sondela loosing a lot of money. It is also crucial to do these fire breaks because if a fire starts on Sondela and spreads to another farm, that farmer can sue Sondela for all that it's worth.

The second year students planned the operation and we watched a slide show to help us understand what we had to do and what a firebreak is. Next we all went into the felt and worked with the tools. Basically everyone had a chance to work with all the tools so that we can get experience with everything. We used tools like: Brush cutters, Pan gas, Saws, Axes and Hay forks.

The method we use to do Firebreaks:

The tractor with the slasher would slash a main open road were it was not so dense, then the Brush cutters would clean around the trees and cut off small shrubs. when it is clean around the trees the students will cut off the branches hanging near the ground with the pan gas, saws and axes. Lastly all the debree and branches were removed with the forks and thrown on the tractor to be disposed of.

All of us worked really hard on this project and made good progress in the bush. I learned a lot out of this two weeks and now have experience on Fire breaks.

2Nd Course at Sondela

We have started the new course at Sondela, it is called Specie's Care in a Controlled Environment. We are going to be working at the Wildlife Centre most of the time, working with the animals and also feeding them.

We have Theory class in the morning until 12:00 o'clock where we do Unit standards and discuss them. After lunch we go down to the Wildlife Centre and do some practical work with the animals, feeding them, cleaning the cages and spending time with the animals. On weekends we are still in the workplace doing conservation, Game Drives and any other work so that we can get the work experience we need to get a good job one day. I love working with the animals it is really what I want to do in live!!!

Debrief of Holiday at Sonela

Debrief and Report writing

Topic

Break down into components

Analyse every component

· Theoretical training

· Strong points :Learned so much new information to give over to the guests and haves so much more knowledge about Sondela and the bush.

· Challenges: there was too much information to get in, and in such a short time.

· What did I learn? Learned to do my work when it is given to me then I do not fall behind.

· How can we improve? We must get a longer period to learn the work, I would like to do more practical next time.

· Roster

· Strong points : This really helps with keeping the work order in place and helps every one share equal work

· Challenges: We can give out the roster to the managers, so that they know where we work every day on the holidays.

· What did I learn? That we need to have an orderly way to split up the wok

· How can we improve? We can discuss the roster every morning before work

· Welcoming

· Strong points: We learn so quickly to speak with guests and feel more comfterbal.

· Challenges : Struggling to give all the information to the guests

· What did I learn? : That we need to help each other and work in a team.

· How can we improve? : The last hour of welcoming is really not necessary because the people don’t come in that lat and they are not in the mood to be welcomed, the student just stand there....

· Conservation

· Strong points: we all lend a helping hand to make Sondela’s bush beautiful.

· Challenges : We need to do more in the time that we have conservation

· What did I learn? : If we work together we can get more done and faster

· How can we improve? : there are not enough tools for everyone to use

· Wildlife centre

· Strong points : Love to work with the animals and I work really good with the other people working there.

· Challenges : Let the students work more with the big animals and let them get a chance to do some tours

· What did I learn? : We must work very fast because we work on certain feeding times . I also learned to mix various foods for the animals.

· How can we improve? : We can lat the guests feed the lions if they pay.

· Guiding

· Strong points: I am so much more comfterbal with the guests after the holidays. Before that I could not even go on a Tractor Game drive alone.

· Challenges: we must get all the students with a license to drive on Game drives because we have to little drivers.

· What did I learn? : We need to have enough students to do it when needed

· How can we improve? Get more radios for the students to know when there is a Game drive.

· Student on duty

· Strong points: Students do need a person to take the lead in a situation and this really helped.

· Challenges: The student has to have a radio with him to know what’s going on , on the farm at all times .

· What did I learn? : Next time the stunt cannot just sit at the academy, but must be involved in something.

· How can we improve? : Student must find out what is happening on the farm the day before his duty.

· Afterhours activity

· Strong points : The night drives always went good and there were no problems. The Bring and Braai were a success.

· Challenges : Student must divide the work afterhours equally so that every one gets the same amount of work.

· What did I learn? : You have to offer up some of your spare and off time to work late

· How can we improve? : try to give the students off sooner afterhours, sometimes it can ger really long!

Academy Duty

· Strong points : it helps with keeping things in order and gives students a chance to do some work in the class.

· Challenges : Students did not always find out if the Academy is open the next day.

· What did I learn? : How to be in charge of an Academy.

· How can we improve? : students must find out if the Acadeny is open the nxt day.

· SOCIAL

· Strong points : Bring and Braai is always a success and we make all the profit back.

· Challenges : Let the students know before something is on.

· What did I learn? : That social is a good thing to promote Sondela

· How can we improve? : Pay the students for working afterhours!!

Meet the Managment

Meet the Managment

This was a project given to the first year students. We had about 3 weeks to organize this event and to do all the planning. We were quite stressed out because all the important people were there... It didn't take us very long to have every thing ready because we are just so very good at it!!


The venue was at the boys house and we made a lovely setting in the garden near the fire place. we decorated the table with vines and candles, there was even a Kudu skull involved in the "setting"... The arriving guests were welcomed at the entrance and just socialized for a bit. The hotel students prepared a lovely dinner for every one, it was delicious!!! After a amazing meal there was a slide show of every student and a little info, then we had prepared a little entertaining show for our guests... We sang a song and then went crazy on the dance floor, our guests had a good laugh!! This evening was a great success and we had a lot of compliments, just go's to show what can be accomplished when we work together!!!

Tambuki camp!!

Tambuki Camp!!

WOW!!! This was a very very very fun camp, but not only that, I probably learn the most knowledge on those 3 days than my hole stay on the farm!! we went for bush expeditions every day and around every corner and every tree we found something interesting that Cobus taught us, for example we saw the excretion of a brown hyena on some grass, they place these scent markings all over their territory and it is also to attract females for mating. During the day we explored the bush, oom Diderik also visited us and taught us some trees names. At night we just "chilled" around the fire making some food and talking about the days happenings. We all did our assessments on some bush knowledge and passed as competent

This camp had me really testing my teamwork skills, every thing we did had to do with working together. In the mornings we made turns making breakfast and washing dishes, we almost had a fight because some people didn't want to do their share of work... In the end we really enjoyed the camp and we want to do it again!!

Game drives

Game drive weekend

This weekend me San-Mari and Antonet together with Lydon and JP the second year students did some game drives. Saturday morning me and JP did a game walk through the Marula area. Our guests were very keen on learning some more information about the bush. We did a very good job at giving through all the knowledge that we know and entertaining every one!! I have noticed that I have grown so much since I've been om my first game drives and walks. I feel much more comfortable and professional.

We also did some flora work. We had to cut down some Blackjacks and Kakibos near the cattle grid. I know how to operate a weat eater now. It is very hard work and you're hole body gets sore!the piece of Felt looks neat now and the guests can see all the wild life!!

Wildlife Centre (12-14 March)

The Wildlife Centre

This weekend was the best weekend so far!! I loved working with the animals, this is really my passion in life!! It is no joke working there, the hours are long and u are on you're feet the whole time while preparing the milk for all the animals. the bucks ave to be fed four times a day and the other animals like the lions, rhinos, owls, caracul's, and owls has to get special food. I usually don't touch any raw bloody meat, but this time I quite enjoy De-boning meat and picking out some frozen chicks for the carnivores..... Me, San-Mari, Loren and Marno worked very good together and got the job done!! I was very sad at the end of the weekend wen we were finished, and i would love to work here permanently!!

2nd Weekend working...

Working weekend (28-30 Feb)

This weekend I worked on game drives.I really gained a lot more experience doing game drives on Sondela. I worked under Lydon this weekend, he has so much experience and knowledge about the bush and Sondela. I picked up so much information and tips, especially on how to communicate with the guests and how to talk in front of a crowd.

We went on morning, afternoon and evening game drives. We even went on a game walk with some foreign tourists, the were very interested and intrigued with what we had to tell them about nature. I discovered that f u have an close relationship with you're guests it is a lot more fun and u feel more confident talking to them. I can go on game drives now and give guests most of the general information, but i would like to have a lot more knowledge so that I can do excellent game drives in the future!! Me and Lydon even got at tip from one of the guests!!

First aid Course

First aid Course

On the 23 - 24 of February Sondela arranged for all the first year students to do a First aid course so that we can use it in the work place when needed. This was almost like a refresher course on Biology because most of the things we learned was about the human body and I did have Biology in High school. The information we learned was a lot, but not so difficult to take in. The pictures we were shown was really disgusting, it was people who were in serious accidents and there was blood every were!!I am so glad that I did this course because now I can help the people who are in real life threatening situations!

We had to do a practical test with a dummy and resuscitate it by giving 2 breaths and 30 chest pumps and then reaped it. I did great and the Paramedics found that I am compatible. The theory test was easy and I got an average of 68% in the test! I am now a qualified level one First aider!!

Beer night at Sondela

Beer night at Sondela!!

All the first years of Sondela had a Beer night at Brown Hyena on the 17 of February.Even though I like beer i didn't have much knowledge about it's origins or how its made. I certainly learned allot more about beer and could more or less speak to a tourist about it and give a little more information...

We also had a special guest who visited us. Norman was a guest that was staying at the Guesthouse who is a beer specialist and also a brewer. He was our guest for the night and we had to prepare slide shows ans advertisements for him.

Norman was very impressed with the girls Power Point Presentation because it was short and sweet! The girls recorded their advert and it was shown on the laptop. The boys advert was very funny and we had a good laugh.

After all the serious stuff we had some chicken and chops on the fire and Norman answerd a few of our questions about beer. We had a delicious dinner and I think every one learned a lot more about beer and brewing. I definitely didn't know that Hops are apart of the Marawanna Family... The evening was a great success, I have defenatley gaind alot more knowledge after this!!

Red Billed Qeuleas extermination.

Pest control....

Extermination of the Red billed Quelea

The objective of this operation is to exterminate the red billed Queleas so that food security is ensured for local farmer's crops. Although this is a beautiful bird of nature it is considered as a pest. when the chicks are small they feed on insects like earthworms and locusts, this is a good thing because it is good for pest control, however when the Quelea fully matures it's diet changes to grains ands seeds. This bird specie is highly over populated and therefore wipes out hectares of crops consisting of precious food for the human race. We at Sondela are protectors of nature but this is just one of those thing that had to be done...

Planning of operation

The operation had to be planned very carefully to prevent any mishaps. The department of agriculture was mainly involved in the structure of the operation and every detail had to be discussed with them. All the farmers around the area lend a helping hand as well as the staff of Sondela. Every body had to be fully briefed on the situation.

Chasing away non target species

At noon all the helpers had to chase away the non target species. Sondela only wanted to get rid of the Queleas not other species. Everyone started at one point end moved to another and chased of other species like antelope, owls and jackals also a few shots were fired to chase them away.

Demarcate and spray the area

The area where the Queleas were nesting had to be marked. A total of 48 hectares were marked off with cans with diesel in it. These lights were there to guide the airplane and so that it only sprays the poison inside of the marked area. The plain flew up and down the marked areas were the birds nests were located.

The poison

the poison that were used is called Falcolan, this is a Organophosphate based poison only for the use of killing Red Billed Queleas and the poison must only be used under the surveillance of the Department of Agriculture. Approximately 4-5 liters for every hectare is used wile releasing in the air when the birds are in flight. The Queleas inhale and the poison spreads throughout the blood system and kills it. There is a special smell in the poison that other animals don't like, so they stay far away and also don't eat the dead animals or grass contaminated with poison. Some safety precautions for humans are that u should wear gloves and wile standing near the poison u must wear a mask. The only problem is that the poison, once in a animal doesn't work out of the system and therefor its an on going chain. The only antidote is Artopine sulphate for non target species.

Picking up the birds

The next morning everyone woke up very early to pick up the dead birds and also the poisoned non target species and save them. Two White Faced owls and one cat egret were rescued and sent to the wildlife rehabilitation centre. This whole operation was a very emotional and gruesome experience for some of the students and although I wasn't there I have surely learnt that what humans broke they must fix in the end...