Makuleke Expedition

DISCOVERING BIOMIMICRY EXPEDITION

MAKULEKE CONCESSION

KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

 

2-6 September 2014


Hosted by biomimicrySA

and EcoTraining

 

 

biomimicrySA in collaboration with EcoTraining is offering this wonderful biomimicry expedition at EcoTraining's Makuleke Camp in the Makuleke Concession in the far North Kruger National Park.

 

 

This is an expedition for newcomers to biomimicry. Basically, it’s a combination of two introductory workshops (The Intro to Biomimicry and Life’s Principles workshops) plus an integration of the reconnection element of biomimicry – with a deep exploration of nature through the lense of biomimicry. This is one of the best ways to learn biomimicry – with nature as teacher, facilitated by your biomimicry guides. It's held in a wilderness area that is not open to the general public – and with a chance to get really close to nature.

 

This expedition is open to anyone interested in biomimicry and with a passion for the natural environment. Apart from learning the core DNA of biomimicry, you'll have a chance to explore the area with the lens of biomimicry - a new way of viewing and valuing the natural world. Join us for an adventure expedition and a chance to meet a diverse group of aspiring biomimics. For those who've been on a biomimicry workshop before, we will provide you with opportunities to go deeper and spend more time on the (re)connect seed of biomimicry.

 

 

DETAILS

COST: R11,000pp, 40% deposit required to confirm your booking.

Early booking discounted rate of R10,500pp if book before 15 February 2014.

TO BOOK: Email claire[a]biomimicrysa.co.za before 20 July 2014. Spaces are limited.

DATES: 2-6 September 2014.

Arriving Makuleke Camp 2 Sep 2014 to begin workshop in the afternoon.

Departing Makuleke Camp morning of 6th Sep 2014.

NOTE: Cost does not include travel to the camp. It includes accommodation, food, tuition & workbooks. Accommodation at the camp is in en-suite tents and participants will be sharing a tent with one other. Price is per person sharing - a single supplement will be required if you do not wish to share. We will make sure to pair you with someone you're happy with!

 

 

THE EXPEDITION INCLUDES:

  • An experience of the wonders of an African safari through the lens of biomimicry
  • Biomimicry guided tours on foot and in game vehicles
  • Biomimicry Professional trainer, Claire Janisch & specialist biomimicry naturalist, Rob Janisch will lead the expedition and share the genius of nature through thebiomimicry lens

 

WHO SHOULD ATTEND THIS EXPEDITION:

  • Architects, designers, engineers, biologists, environmentalists, etc.
  • Existing professionalField Guidesand field guides in training
  • Nature enthusiastslooking for a learning holiday with a difference
  • Touristsof all ages wanting an understanding of Africa’s web of life and to gain a greater appreciation of the inspiring genius of nature.

Over the course of the workshop you will take part in both theory and practical run sessions in camp, while also exploring the flora and fauna in the area bothon foot and in 4x4’s with your specialist guide.

 

 

What you will learn:

  • An introduction to biomimicry
  • The basics of biomimicry thinking and practice
  • Examples of biomimetic success stories
  • The interface of design and biology
  • How to apply biological knowledge to design challenges
  • Biological and ecological principles relevant to design
  • Sustainability challenges and potential bio-inspired solutions
  • Practical application of biomimicry as a design & innovation tool
  • How to facilitate biomimetic research & design in your own field.

 

What you’ll do:

  • Solve a design challenge by asking “what would nature do here?”
  • Practice applying the tools of biomimicry in a real world scenario
  • Explore nature’s genius through field-based activities
  • Learn from (rather than just about) local plants, animals, and ecosystems
  • Become acquainted with life’s inherentlysustainable design principles
  • • Learn how to translate nature’s genius into innovative sustainable design solutions.

 

What you’ll take home:

  • An understanding of the power of human innovation in assisting conservation
  • A method for bringing nature’s ideas to the design table
  • Tools and expert contacts for further explorations
  • A whole new way of viewing and valuing the genius that surrounds us!!

 

 

MAKULEKE CONCESSION

 

Makuleke is in the northern section of Kruger Park, in the Pafuri area. Situated between the Limpopo and the Luvuvhu Rivers in the northern sector of Kruger National Park is the Pafuri region, an area spanning 24,000 hectares (59305 acres). Within the Pafuri area is the Makuleke Concession, the ancestral home of the Makuleke people and the most diverse and scenically attractive area in all of Kruger National Park.

 

The Makuleke concession is not accessible to the ordinary tourist visiting the park. This area belongs to the Makuleke community. This is quite a historical event for South Africa as the Makuleke people were removed from this area in 1968 and after a lengthy process it was finally re-instated to the community in 1998 after a very long struggle. This area is certainly the wildest and most remote part of the Kruger National Park and offers varied vegetation, great wildlife viewing, the best birding in all of the Kruger National Park and is filled with folklore of the early explorers and ancient civilizations.

 

Animals found in the Makuleke Concession (Kruger Park):

 

All the wildlife that one would expect to see in a great national park such as Kruger can potentially be encou

ntered on the concession: plains game such as zebra, kudu, impala, with nyala antelope in abundance.

Lions and leopards are a special sighting, herds of elephant, a few rhinoceros, African buffalo, and a growing herd of blue wildebeest, plus seldom-seen animals such as eland, bushpig and aardvark. There is abundant birdlife. This part of Kruger is known to be one of the best birding areas in the park and is home to rarely-seen species such as Pel's Fishing Owl, Wattle-eyed Flycatcher and Grey-headed Parrot.

 

 

THE CAMP

The Makuleke Camp is situated between the Limpopo and Levuvhu Rivers. This is a true wilderness area, steeped in history and situated in the remotest part of Kruger in one of the most biologically diverse areas. Scenery ranges from the beautiful, quietly-flowing Levuvhu River shaded by Nyala trees and fever tree forests and teeming with hippos and crocodiles; to the awesome Lanner Gorge, palm-fringed wetlands and rocky outcrops with thousand-year-old baobab trees. Members of the Makuleke community are employed at the camp and there is a lot of history in the area that is exciting to learn about.

 

ACCOMMODATION

Participants are accommodated in comfortable thatched, tented rooms placed on wooden decks in the shade of large nyala trees. Each room has an en-suite bathroom consisting of a shower and washbasin with hot running water and a flush toilet and also has a veranda overlooking the surrounding bush. The camp itself is not fenced which means that animals do move through the camp from time to time.

 

 

The central communal area:

This area consists of a thatch-roofed open sided deck where all meals, lectures and studying takes place. A clearing for evening camp fires creates an idyllic setting for social and leisure time.

 

No Electricity:

There is no electricity at the camp – paraffin lamps are used for all lighting and a generator is used to charge batteries. Studying at night with paraffin lanterns can at times be challenging so a headlamp for this purpose is recommended as well as an extra battery operated lamp if you wish to study in your tent at night.

 

The kitchen is equipped with gas fridges for storage of all perishable food items, thus unfortunately there’s no space for personal items (drinks, water or other). There is however a full selection of affordable drinks available at camp.

 

Temperatures at the camp:

In the Kruger National Park you'll find a subtropical climate, with hot summers (average 40?C 104 F) and warm, dry winters (average minimum 9.3?C and average maximum 26.3?C). However, be sure not to be caught out by the intermittent summer rains which fall between October and March. Early mornings and late afternoon/evenings during the winter do get very cold, so be sure to bring sufficient warm clothing.

 

BIOMIMICRY TRAINERS WILL BE ONE OR MORE OF:

 

Specialist Biomimicry Guide: Will Lawson

Will is biomimicrySA's leading local naturalists and serves as a trainer, researcher and Biologist at the Design Table. Will ran the safari department in the Sabi Sand Wildtuin, in Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve where he had been guiding since 2006. He is now operating as a game guide instructor for Ecotraining and aiding existing guides on on-going development. His passion for the marine environment is just as strong, with regular excursion to coastal areas to dive, sail and explore. He has recently achieved the Dive Master and Day Skipper qualifications. Will hosted Janine Benyus during her visit to Sabi Sabi in 2009, and has since been trained to serve as a Biologist at the Design Table and co-trainer for biomimicrySA workshops. He is developing a specialist qualification for nature guides in Southern Africa through FGASA (Field Guide Association of Southern Africa) to add to guides personal impact on conservation and the lessons that can be learned from the natural environments.

 

Rob Janisch guide.jpgSpecialist Biomimicry Guide: Rob Janisch has worked in the wilds of Swaziland, South Africa, Botswana, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. He spent his early guiding experience in the Kruger National Park and surrounds as well as the Okavango Delta. He has spent the last 4 years in the newly re-emerging wilderness areas of central & northern Mozambique, specialising in the wildlife & birds of Gorongosa National Park and Niassa National Reserve. Rob has a fascination with all things living, wild and woolly, although he has also assisted various national parks boards with their social ecology development plans, and has a particular affinity with taking kids into parks to expose them to the wonders of nature. Recently, Rob has spent some time studying the field of biomimicry, and is inspired by the endless opportunities that nature provides for solving some of the world’s ‘Big Issues’. Rob has been our specialist biomimicry guide for two of biomimicrySA's expeditions in 2012 and 2013.

 

 

Claire Janisch, is a Biomimicry Professional. She is a graduate of and has been a co-trainer for the international 2-year biomimicry Professionals Program (BPCP). She currently heads up biomimicrySA. Claire works in the areas of strategy, technology & education and is the leading presenter, trainer and consultant for biomimicry in South Africa. She is also a co-creator of the Genius Lab, an experiential learning organisation inspiring innovation and future thinking for organisations and individuals. She finds inspiration and innovative whole systems solutions to human challenges by emulating organisms and ecosystems that fit in on this beautiful planet in well-adapted life-enhancing ways. She spends her time exploring nature’s technological miracles in diverse ecosystems and shares this new way of viewing and valuing nature through expeditions and workshops – teaching & training professionals, students and scholars. She also dives deeper into research for companies and organisations- translating nature’s innovation and sustainability principles for the design of new products, processes & systems.

 

 

 

TESTIMONIALS

 

"Makuleke gets under your skin. It is the greatness of the landscapes. It is the enormous biodiversity of plants and trees that thrills your eyes and invites you to look deeper - to recognize diversity in life. To look around the next bush and expect to be surprised. Oh, there is a kudu! And another and another one. Just watching their elegant escape over the stony hill. They know exactly where to put their next step. It is the intense smell in the humid hour before sunset after a hot and dry day. I can still recall the sweet smell of the Appleleaf tree with the purple flowers. And buttered popcorn will forever remind me of the leopard and the spot where we encountered it´s smell on our nature walk – surrounded by big bushes (is she in there?) just outside the Fevertree forest on the edge of a dry river basin beautifully decorated with small palms. It is the early mornings before sunrise just lying in your bed in the tent and listen. Listen to the silence being broken by first one then 2 then a huge variety of bird calls suddenly interrupted by baboons fighting for a place in the hierarchy. But everything happens in a background of a calm atmosphere. It is my favorite way of waking up! All this you can discover on your own but coming with Claire and Rob Janish adds another dimension. Rob tells you how all the organisms work – why they have developed exactly in this way and Claire tells you how to translate the brilliant strategies - developed over millions of years - into a human design. And they both do it in a highly skilled way with a touch of loving humor. I can only recommend you to come with Claire and Rob to Makuleke – it gets under your skin!"

Pernille Lethenborg, Biomimicry Specialist, Denmark

 

"Every expedition is an opportunity to deeply explore and crystalize your understanding of how nature works, and apply it to your field of expertise. The Makuleke trip resulted in such a deep learning about how soil within a natural ecosystem acts a critical structuring element and that we need to allow for natures flow first and then develop structure to support this flow, that it resulted in me totally redesigning an entire city district that I have been working on in Abuja to integrate this deep realization. I can guarantee that if you commit to deeply engaging with the expedition and what it has to offer, you are sure to change the way you work upon returning. Rob and Claire together are a genius team to guide you through this experience." - Shannon Royden-Turner, Informal-South

 

 

"Before attending the Biomimicry Makuleke expedition I had been introduced to Biomimicry, studied the Life Principles and discovered Imagineering. The Expedition allowed me to gain a deeper understanding and connect all these dots even better. Being completely immersed in nature like that added a whole extra level to the workshop. On top of that, it was wonderful to enjoy dinner around a camp fire in the bush and later on be woken up by a herd of elephants walking through our camp." - Margaux Thomas