It is common knowledge that the KwaZulu-Natal North coast is experiencing significant drought and it is during times like these that we need to endeavour to conserve our water and protect our land to the best of our ability.
THE ISIMANGALISO DROUGHT Read Post »
Wildlife are an important aspect to our lives, even though we may not understand it completely they play an imperative role in our daily living. The most important thing to remember is that without wildlife, humans would not exist.
TEACHING CHILDREN RESPECT FOR WILDLIFE Read Post »
Many of us dream of living life as a game ranger, a “job” that doesn’t feel like a job and allows one to enjoy the great outdoors, wildest Africa and incredible animal sightings, all in a day’s work! Most game rangers live a life of interacting with interesting people from around the world and get to educate and entertain these people through showing them what Africa has to offer on their game drives and guided walks. Game rangers also have a massive role in taking care of the game reserves and conserving the environment. So, encouraging your children or at least nurturing an existing interest in this profession, is not a bad idea. Role of a Game Ranger A ranger’s job is far more “environment conservation” oriented than you think. Game rangers are responsible for the maintenance of game reserves and parks and some of their tasks include game counting, fence repairs and of course the extremely necessary anti-poaching work. Game rangers work closely with specialists such as ecologists to manage animal population and monitor diseases that the animals or plants may pick up. The environmental responsibilities of the game ranger also include taking care of erosion, alien plants, floods or water shortages and collecting samples too. Game rangers often educate their guests on the environment and eco systems in the hope of creating awareness of the conservation and care that needs to go in to this world in order to maintain it and keep it as it is today. If your child answers yes to any of the below questions, he or she may have a bright future in this field… Passionate about nature and animals? Enjoys hiking? Organized and hard working? Confident or possesses good communication skills? What does Emdoneni offer for your children? Emdoneni Lodge has identified that this is a job in demand and one that many children consider from a young age and have therefore put a program together that allows children to explore this interest in wildlife. It is important to nurture this interest and encourage it. Too many children are more interested in technology, televisions and iPads than animals, nature and the great outdoors. How Does it work? The qualified guides at Emdoneni Lodge take kids ages 4 to 12 years old on a 3 hour training course. Each child will receive their own pack consisting of a game ranger canvas backpack, a note book to use for “tracking”, drawings and field notes and a cap to protect their faces from the harsh African sun. The course covers; Teaching the children about different cat species (Cheetah, African Wildcat, Serval and Caracal), their habitats, feeding patterns and basic identification. Resident animals will be looked at too, these include; antelope, birds, crawling insects and others Some tree identification will be covered by the rangers Animal tracks are key for any future game ranger to understand and learn about, this will also be covered in the course. Basic direction is also part of our game ranger course. Bring your children to Emdoneni Lodge with Cheetah Project, stay for a few days and enjoy our cats and game drives. Let your children take part in the game ranger course and help us to conserve and appreciate our environment for the future! Contact Emdoneni Lodge on +27 (0)35 562-7000, find all the contact details and directions online.
LIFE AS A GAME RANGER Read Post »
We are used to the hustle and bustle of everyday life and its stresses but it is important to put some time aside to be surrounded by nature, animals, peace and quiet. Why are Animals Good for us to be around? Numerous studies point to the positive impact that animals have on our children. “A study in the Journal of Paediatrics shows that kids who had a dog during the first year of their life had higher immune response, with 31% fewer respiratory tract infections than those without”(onegreenplanet.org). Interaction with animals is also known to help people relax the mind, body and soul…and we all know this is much needed in order to refuel and bring your “A Game” to work every day! So, you don’t live near a green space or aren’t surrounded by nature? Now what? You need to make even more of an effort to spend time outside (even if it’s just your weekly exercise that gets done outdoors as opposed to in between the four walls of the gym!). It is also important to take time off or a weekend away every now and again, to spend time outside. A visit to the Emdoneni Lodge and Game Farm is ideal. Our accommodation is designed to make you feel like you are outdoors even if you’re inside. This, combined with the pampering from our staff and of course being surrounded by nature and wildlife is great for your health! What are some of the health benefits of fresh air and nature Fresh air is good for digestion – this is particularly important if you are looking to lose weight. It improves your blood pressure and heart rate – polluted air is bad for your heart and forces your body to work harder at getting the oxygen it needs. Fresh air makes us happier – it’s simple, the amount of serotonin we produce is affected by the amount of oxygen you inhale. Strengthens your immune system – the white blood cells we use to kill off germs and fight bacteria need oxygen to work at their optimum level. The more time you spend outdoors, the more energy you will have and the sharper your mind will be. What about your children? Studies in the UK have shown that playing outdoors boosts problem-solving skills, focus and self-discipline. Other benefits for kids includes; flexibility, self-awareness and emotional benefits such as reduced aggression and increased happiness. Emdoneni Lodge prides itself on actively welcoming children of all ages to come and spend time with the cats and enjoy the outdoors. We have plenty of planned activities and game drives designed with kids’ safety in mind, all supervised by experienced guides. Emdoneni aims to show children how to appreciate nature rather than rely on technology to be entertained. Have a look at our kiddies program, your kids will love spending the time outdoors and you can also enjoy a holiday with nature. Meet Storm our new child What better way to enjoy the outdoors than being up close and personal with a cheetah! On the 15th of February 2015, Emdoneni Lodge were lucky enough to welcome our own “child”. One of our only fertile female Cheetahs (Autumn), gave birth to Storm (pictured on the right). Storm was adopted by Leney, Rigard and Wian Loots, 12 year old triplets from Pretoria. We are so blessed and grateful that our new baby is loved and cared for. Find videos of Storm on our Facebook page and read our blog about him next month. So, are you keen to book your next holiday with nature and experience all the health benefits that come along with nature and animals? Give Emdoneni Lodge and Game Farm a call on: +27 (0)35 562-7000, contact us online or make a booking now. Please note: All above images were taken in a controlled environment by the people who raised and care for them.
WHY ARE ANIMALS AND NATURE SO GOOD FOR US? Read Post »
Superior rooms are a step up from standard rooms in terms of size and amenities.