Program Coordinator Park Visit

October meant the SANParks interns have been in their respective parks for 3 months. As Program Coordinator travelled around South Africa's most beautiful National Parks to visit them. This is just one of the many ways GVI supports our interns in their internships. My trip started at Wilderness section of the Garden Route National Park, where I met with Elisa (intern) and supervisor. This park is made up of forest and estuaries and rolling mountains.

Next stop was Pete and Shirley in West Coast NP. We enjoyed a long walk on the beach to get closer to the whales and the seabirds. Another few hundred kilometers later in my trusty car I arrived in Namaqua NP to see Viv. This park is known for the blannkets of flowers around the first rains (September). I saw the remnants of this, but what an amazing park to be able to walk for hours watching the Red Hartebeest and Ludwig's Bustard around you. They hosted the Arid Cultural Event here on 16 September 2010.

The last intern on my list is Rebecca in Kgalagadi NP way up North on the border of Botswana. The red dunes of the Kalahari and the amazing sunsets are always breathtaking!

The trip was very productive workwise and I will see the interns all again next month in Mokala NP for our work get together.

Thanks to all the interns for the laughs and private tours around your parks!!!

Totsiens!

Written by: Joné Fick

Program Coordinator

Program Coordinator Park Visit