In July 2010 Mrs Monroe joined a group of twelve year 13 and 14 students from Clarendon College, Wiltshire and eight students from Thetford College, Norfolk on an Operation Wallacea expedition to South Africa.
The first week was based in Intibane, a small game reserve in Zulu Natal in the north-east. This is home to Bhejane Nature Training which teaches FGASA field guides and a research centre with students from Kings College London. It recently joined a number of reserves which have dropped their fences to allow the migration of game across the country. The focus of the week was to carry out a survey into the effects that the migrating elephant populations have on the ecology of the reserve. Students were involved in field work, including bush treking, bird and game tracking and by far the highlight of the week elephant surveying. All groups were provided with exceptional views of the wildlife, including black and white rhino, giraffe, impala, kudo, grey and red dyker, nuala, wild dog, hyena, lion, warthog, and a heard of elephant, complete with 10 day old calf. The bird life was outstanding, with a final count of 68 native species being viewed throughout the week.
The second week was spent in Sodwanaland, where the group completed their padi openwater diver training on the extensive coral reef. Each day the students had the opportunity to dive and snorkel with dolphin, turtle, manta ray, whale shark and numerous exotic fish or to take a boat trip to see humpback whales migrating up the coast with their calves. In spite of her anxiety and experiences of being sick into her regulator, Mrs Monroe completed the padi and is looking forward to more diving experiences in the future. In addition all students and staff undertook a course in Reef ecology and passed an exam at the end of the week.
The whole experience was exhilarating, if not exhausting, and one which has left many happy memories and friendships for both pupils and staff alike.
The first week was based in Intibane, a small game reserve in Zulu Natal in the north-east. This is home to Bhejane Nature Training which teaches FGASA field guides and a research centre with students from Kings College London. It recently joined a number of reserves which have dropped their fences to allow the migration of game across the country. The focus of the week was to carry out a survey into the effects that the migrating elephant populations have on the ecology of the reserve. Students were involved in field work, including bush treking, bird and game tracking and by far the highlight of the week elephant surveying. All groups were provided with exceptional views of the wildlife, including black and white rhino, giraffe, impala, kudo, grey and red dyker, nuala, wild dog, hyena, lion, warthog, and a heard of elephant, complete with 10 day old calf. The bird life was outstanding, with a final count of 68 native species being viewed throughout the week.
The second week was spent in Sodwanaland, where the group completed their padi openwater diver training on the extensive coral reef. Each day the students had the opportunity to dive and snorkel with dolphin, turtle, manta ray, whale shark and numerous exotic fish or to take a boat trip to see humpback whales migrating up the coast with their calves. In spite of her anxiety and experiences of being sick into her regulator, Mrs Monroe completed the padi and is looking forward to more diving experiences in the future. In addition all students and staff undertook a course in Reef ecology and passed an exam at the end of the week.
The whole experience was exhilarating, if not exhausting, and one which has left many happy memories and friendships for both pupils and staff alike.