Mark O’Shea is the English snake man (although he will tell us off for that, stressing that he is fascinated by all reptiles). But make no mistakes, ‘English’ only denotes his nationality; his herpetological expertise is drawn from world wide experience and we are very happy to have him as our very own African Herp Man.
Mark became a member of the International Herpetological Society when he was just 17 and has since then worked on scientific projects and herp-focused filming projects in Central America, Asia and Africa. Mark was a key member of the early Operation Raleigh Expedition Scientific Staff on programmes in Honduras and Papua New Guinea, before working with the Royal Geographic Society and the West Midlands Safari Park, where he now holds the post of Consultant Curator of Reptiles.
A familiar face on our television screens throughout the past 15 years with O’Shea’s Big Adventure, O’Shea’s Dangerous Reptiles and Safari Park, Mark is not only a scientist of note, but also a born communicator. His enthusiasm for all things herpetological makes accessible a fascinating world we very seldom have access to. Join Mark on his next trip and find out for yourself.
DURBAN/ HLUHLUWE/ KOSI BAY/ PONGOLA GAME RESERVE/ DURBAN
No. of Days: 14 days
Price: £1,945pp (excluding int. flights, based on 2 people sharing)
Includes:
Includes:
1 nights breakfast & overnight stay; 11 nights full board; activities as described; catering as described; all scheduled group internal travel
Excludes:
international flights, drinks, tips & gratuities; non-scheduled group internal travel; non-specified activities.
The Trip
Join internationally renowned herpetologist and TV presenter Mark O’Shea on his latest African adventure. This is the first expedition in an ongoing programme of survey work, which aims to significantly add to what is known about KwaZulu-Natal’s herpetology.
For 14 days in South Africa this spring, Mark will take you on an exploration into the world of South African herpetology. Using Mark’s vast knowledge and experience drawn from expeditions across six continents, this expedition through KwaZulu-Natal is a once in a lifetime opportunity for all. Open to amateurs and professionals alike, you will venture into savanna, forest and estuarine environments to seek out some of Africa’s most elusive creatures. Safety and training is key to a successful expedition, so as well as learning the herpetological techniques from Mark, you will receive training on how to work in areas with venomous snakes, elephants, rhino and buffalo.
Join Mark and become one of the pioneering members of his KwaZulu- Natal Herp Team.
Day 1
Forget those dark nights and cold days. Instead pack your bags and give into that desire for adventure. Africa calls and Mark O’Shea is waiting for you. Travel to the airport and board your flight to South Africa. It sounds good just saying it. INTERNATIONAL TRAVEL
Day 2
Landing in Durban, the diverse capital of the province of KwaZulu-Natal, you will be met by your guide and driven north, through the green fields of sugarcane into the wooded savanna of Zululand. The drive will take about 3.5 hours. Your destination is Umkhumbi Lodge, Hluhluwe, set in its own sand forest and run by a good friend of ours who also happens to be herp enthusiast. This will be your base for the next three days. UMKHUMBI LODGE – FULL BOARD
Day 3-5
Now the discovery begins. Working with Mark and your guides, you will be introduced to the environments that make up KwaZulu-Natal and the particular ecology of the sand forest that comprises the lodge grounds. This of course means snakes, but also reptiles in general, amphibians, small mammals and birds. All have their role to play in the ecosystem. You will be introduced to the techniques used by herpetologists and ecologists to evaluate the environments they study. You will use these techniques throughout your stay and your routine will depend upon the use of those techniques. You may be active during the night as well as during the day.
An ecological research programme is comprised of both time in the field and in the field lab; each is as important as the other. In the field you will be preparing survey techniques, searching for specimens, catching snakes, lizards and frogs, recc’ing new environments as part of the surveys.
In the field lab you will be learning how to identify specimens, completing scale counts, discovering how to sex individuals. We will also be photographing all herps found at each location to create a permanent record.
It is likely that different expedition members will be engaged in varying tasks throughout the expedition in both the field and the field lab, following the direction of Mark and the supporting guides. Flexibility is the key to getting the most from ecological research programmes and often most enjoyment is gained from enthusiastic multi-tasking.
On one of the days you will make the short journey to Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve, the former royal hunting grounds of Shaka Zulu and the reserve credited with saving thte southern white rhino from extinction in the 1970s. Here you will get your first experience of the pre-settled environment of Zululand, an environment in which you will be working later in the trip.
UMKHUMBI LODGE – FULL BOARD
Day 6
Familiar with the techniques and exposed now to two ecosystems, today you will continue north to spend two nights in the fascinating area of the Kosi Bay estuarine system. The northern extension of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, (South Africa’s most exciting conservation development), Kosi Bay is situated on the border with Mozambique. Fished by the Thongan people for centuries, it is a place where several environments meet, creating a natural biodiversity that always throws up some interesting discoveries. You will be staying at the Amangwane Beach Camp, a local community development initiative run in partnership with your hosts at Umkhumbi. Set just back from the mouth of the bay, it is a great place for bird walks as well as herpetological exploration.
AMANGWANE CAMP – FULL BOARD
DAY 7
Today we have classified a ‘free day’,which means that if you wish you are perfectly welcome to rest, enjoy the surroundings and reflect on your experiences in KwaZulu-Natal to date. Alternatively, Mark may be out and about continuing his exploration of Kosi Bay or photographing specimens, and you are of course
welcome to join him. AMANGWANE CAMP – FULL BOARD
Day 8
Sand forest: explored. Kosi Bay: explored. Next: the woodland, open grasslands and lakeside habitat of the Pongola Game Reserve. After an early breakfast, you will leave Amangwane and make the spectacular drive up and over the Lebombo Mountains (all Zululand seems laid before you) to the Pongola Game Reserve on the shores of Lake Jozini. The Pongola Valley was considered alongside the Kruger Park area in the late 1800’s to become Africa’s first formerly conserved area; once seen, it is easy to see why. You will stay at the White Elephant Research Camp.
WHITE ELEPHANT RESEARCH CAMP – FULL BOARD
Day 9-11
Led by Mark, but assisted by the field rangers, you will continue your herp research and exploration within the park. Confident in your use of techniques and more familiar with South African snakes, this is not as straight forward as it sounds. There are elephant, rhino and buffalo in the Reserve. Fieldwork here requires additional skills and a much greater awareness of the world around you. But don’t worry, you will be taught the skills and knowledge you need and you will soon experience the satisfaction that comes with working in harmony with your environment. Your daily routine will vary depending on the tasks in hand and there will certainly be the opportunity to experience the charismatic animals of the Reserve close up on game drives and boat safaris.
WHITE ELEPHANT RESEARCH CAMP – FULL BOARD
Day 12
After your final morning in the Reserve, you will transfer back down the N2 to Umkhumbi Lodge. Here you will debrief and wind down – perhaps taking a final look at the lodges’ snake collection. By now you should be able to identify what is indigenous and what is not. Latin names only please! Then of course there is the final night party on the sundowner deck and around the campfire. Treasure the memories.
UMKHUMBI LODGE – FULL BOARD
Day 13
All good things must come to and end. Today you will transfer to the airport for your flight back home. Welcome back soon, there is much more to discover. This ongoing programme aims to create a herpetofaunal inventory of the reserves in which it works and so make its own important contribution to the sustainable conservation of KwaZulu-Natal.
Day 14
Land back in your airport of departure with dusty bags, stories of Africa and fine memories of snakes of safari.
Notes: individual day components are flexible and actual content may change depending upon the requirements of the programme.
