Pilansberg Camp

Pilansberg Conservation Camp "A walk on the wild side"

As his last troop event Kudu organised on a conservation camp at the Pilansberg Game Reserve. We met Frank de Wilde at the Manyane Gate at about 17h00 on Friday 26 June 1998 and were then taken to the Potokwane camp within the reserve. Ironically the first animal we saw was a kudu just outside the camp. The scouts then set up camp and ended up around a campfire where they met Paddy Coome-Heath, a "Friends of the Pilansberg" member in charge of work parties

Saturday morning was an early start. We proceeded to an area of the park where the exotic plant, Lantana was thriving. Lantana is an invader species that was brought into the area (from Brazil) by local cattle farmers as it is grazed by cattle in Brazil. It was soon discovered that South African cattle did not like Lantana. Consequently, it has thrived as no animal in the park grazes on Lantana. Paddy showed the scouts how to cut and poison the Lantana in such a way that the plant would be killed and no regrowth would occur.

The scouts then set away and started to remove the invader species.

Click on the pictures to see larger versions


Paddy explaining how to cut and poison the Lantana.	Roland Booker (L) and Vaughn Wood (R) cutting and poisoning.	Ziggy (Edward Ford), Bradley Glossop and Paddy with Lantana in the background.

After spending the whole morning clearing a substantial area, we then headed back through the bush to where the cars where parked. It was really impressive to see how open the bush was after the Lantana had been cleared and gave the scouts a huge sense of accomplishment. On the way back Paddy showed the scouts some old farm house ruins and a family graveyard in the park. It was then time to pose for a quick picture and get back into the cars before the scouts met the two local territorial male lions on their routine patrol. Click on the pictures to see larger versions


Chokka and Sabre clearing Lantana	Bushies - with a sense of accomplishment	Platus, Vaughn, Jaques, Niel, Trevor and Roland with lunch.

The rest of Saturday was spent relaxing around the pool followed by a game drive. That evening, around a log fire Joseph Moser,the FOPS chairman, told stories about the park, it's animals and some of his experiences with the animals. Sunday was again an early morning. Paddy and his wife Lindy took the guys on an early game drive, where they witnessed two Cheetah stalking and chasing a herd of Red Haartebees. At one of the highest view points in the park, the scouts were able see Mankwee Dam in the distance streching out onto the vast plains below where a huge variety of game was observed. It was then time for a short hike in the park to an old flourite mine. The guide showed the boys several different spoor and a sand pit where a rhino had been rolling as well as a variety of tree's and plants grazed upon by the various animals.

It was then back to Potokwane Camp for lunch and a vistit from the park's Preditor Control Official - Gus van Dyk. Gus showed the scouts the various methods used to track animals. He demonstrated this buy bringing antenna and collars used on elephant and lion and allowing the scouts to find the signal. After a fansinating talk that had every ounce of everyone's attention it was time to pack up and head for home.

Bush Hill Scouts would like to extend an enormous thank-you to Frank, Paddy & Lindy and Joe & Hanne' for all their efforts in making this a most memorable weekend for Bushies.

Send submissions, comments, questions to us via e-mail at bushiescouts@oocities.com

This page last updated on October 22,1998.