The shareholders of Onguma Safari Camps and Etosha Aoba Lodge recently organised a training course aimed at bringing their guides and management staff up to date with relevant information on the natural environment of Onguma Game Ranch and the adjoining Etosha National Park.
A total of 12 staff members, including guides, lodge managers and the managers of the 34 000 hectare ranch attended the week-long course presented by Dr Hu and Conny Berry, who worked in Etosha for 15 years. Set in the Northern Kalahari Sandveld, Onguma lies adjacent to eastern Etosha and as such is an extension of the rich plant and animal wildlife in the world-renowned national park. The venue for the course was Onguma Private Camp, in a secluded setting surrounded by a forest of makalani palms where classes could be held without interruption.
Wide range of topics Practical fieldwork, during which participants were shown how best to indentify the plants growing in profusion in this high-rainfall area, was preceded by theoretical classes. Similarly, the wealth of animal species that visitors to Onguma may encounter was studied with regard to their characteristics and behaviour.
The vital interaction of plants and animals was emphasised by familiarising those attending with the basic principles of ecology, while the crucial link between geology and soils of the Etosha region and their influence on plant and animal distribution, helped the guides understand the seasonal movement of animals.
The critical linkage between rainfall and its effect on plant and animal responses was also underscored. In this context not only the large, spectacular mammals were discussed. Attention was also given to the important role of small organisms such as termites, parasites and diseases. In effect, the course highlighted how wildlife adapts and survives in the unforgiving environment of Etosha and its surrounding areas.
Interaction and discussion Several additional benefits became apparent as the training progressed. Field classes were devised in such a way that guides were each given an opportunity to interpret individual plant and animal species they came across as if they were explaining it to guests. This gave them the chance to interact with one another and comment on the manner in which information was being conveyed to visitors.
The main objective, which those attending agreed was vital for good guiding, was to understand the functioning of the ecosystem in which they were working. This is regarded as the key to providing their guests with quality information about what they encounter during the nature and game-viewing drives that form the basis of all excursions at Onguma Game Ranch.
The outcome of this training was reflected in the reviews and comments each participant was asked to make at the end of the course. All participants said they felt greater confidence and were better equipped to guide Onguma’s guests in a professional manner. Seen in the light of the success of this course, Onguma Game Ranch is considering making its facilities available to other lodges that may require similar training for their staff. (HB)
