How much more is one expected to learn? It starts off with the animals, with me anyway, and then birds, trees, reptiles, fish, frogs and a plethora of other creepy-crawlies and plants. I even dipped my ignorant data bank into the complex world of dragonflies believing that birds and dragonflies are perfect allies. My short-coming in this regard was that I was ‘flying-blind’ with no one to mentor or guide me.
You, fortunately, do not have to ‘fly-blind’ as we will be holding a butterfly course in the Tembe area of northern Zululand between the 19 – 22 August run by Dr Americo Bonkewitzz who has had 30 years of butterflying experience. Dr Bonkewitzz was also responsible for the creation of the four butterfly domes in KwaZulu Natal. (Tembe, Isiphaphalazi – St Lucia, Eshowe and MacButterflies between Margate and Port Edward
Below is the proposed itinerary for the course:
Day 1: Arrival, getting familiar with the place, explaining the following days activities.
Day 2: 08.00 Lecture – Understanding the butterfly anatomy
10.00 Taxonomy
10.30 Outing ID in the field the different butterfly species and their host plants
02.30 Outing ID in the field the different butterfly species and their host plants
15.00 Lecture Butterfly biology. Life-cycle. Visit to the butterfly breeding facility at Tembe Butterfly Dome.
Day 3: 08.00 Lecture Butterfly distribution. Butterfly conservation
10.30 Outing Identifying in the field the different butterfly species and their host plants II
14.30 Outing Identifying in the field the different butterfly species and their host plants II
15.00 Assessment
Day 4: Packing and depart
Who would enjoy this course?
Those with a passion for the environment and wildlife
Those wanting to learn more about the relationship between the forest and the butterflies.
Anyone who wants to gain knowledge/skills in identifying butterflies in the field.
Field guides that want to add “butterflying” to their portfolio of skills
How much does it cost?
R1500.00 per person. This introductory price, excludes food and accommodation.
Accommodation and Catering
Situated on the reserve within a hundred meters of the Dome is the luxury Bhekula Sand Forest Lodge that can accommodate a max of 12 people in 4 chalets and the Bhekula Tented Safari Camp that can accommodate larger groups.
Accommodation is managed by and can be booked through African Insight. For this course African Insight will provide all the catering.
Bhekula Sand Forest Lodge R725.00 per person sharing Full Board
(50% single supplement)
Bhekula Tented Safari Camp R350.00 per person Full Board
Bhekula Tented Safari Camp R250.00 per person Self-catering
Camping R150.00 per person Self-catering
Bookings
Americo phone 060 44 39 532 e-mail info@butterflying.co.za
African Insight phone 082 4940 668 e-mail reservations@africaninsight.co.za
Ensure that you book soon as you don’t want to miss out on this course.
About the facilities
The Tembe Butterfly Dome was completed in April 2013 by African Conservation Trust and will be used as the training facility for the course.
Nigel Anderson – Guide for African Insight
African Insight 