Wildlife Margrit, Author at Nikela: Helping People Saving Wildlife

Tough to admit that we must abort our trip from South Africa to Ethiopia

Dec 12, 2018 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: Nikela Blog Tagged: Margrit's mother dies, Safari 2018-2019

It was in Lusaka, Zambia when the word came that caused us to abort our trip from South Africa to Ethiopia. Actually, just a day before we’d planned to drive up to Kasanka National Park where the fruit bats find refuge. Supposedly these odd looking tawny creatures migrate here every year without fail. Supposedly the project also could use some help… sadly, don’t they all! My sister’s email read, “I know you’re somewhere enroute to Ethiopia. Mum is not well. We’re flying in (from Australia) on Sunday.” Just a month earlier we’d left her in decent health there in Kwazulu-Natal,…

Beware: The Vile Practice of Hunting Wildlife with Dogs

Nov 28, 2018 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: Animal Poaching, illegal hunting, Nikela Blog Tagged: Marnus Roodbol, poaching

“Run little Duiker run!” I yelled to myself. The yelping dogs were too far down the hill for me to do anything. Someone was hunting wildlife with dogs. Once before I’d been able to intervene. A little buck came running passed the Landy in our camp. “That’s odd!” I thought. Then two dogs I’d never seen before in pursuit. I ran towards them yelling. They turned and ran. At least for a few yards. Hopefully this gave the duiker enough time to get away. Today however, things didn’t turn out well. On returning from our morning walk I caught sight…

Why saving the Bearded Lady is about saving her entire species of Lammergeier

Nov 14, 2018 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: Bird of Prey, Bird of prey sanctuary, conservation, endangered, Nikela Blog, Shannon, wildlife conservation Tagged: African Bird of Prey Sanctuary, Bearded Vulture, Lammergeier, Shannon Hoffman

When Shannon saved the Bearded Lady she had no idea what was in store for her and the future of the critically endangered Lammergeier. “In a chicken coop!” How sad. This magnificent high flying bird of prey confined to a small wire cage. Okay, she’s a vulture, but undeniably the most beautiful raptor you can imagine. And entitled to the life of a free Bearded Vulture. Shannon, the keeper of the African Bird of Prey Sanctuary, is one of our wildlife heroes. Her passion, since she was a youngster, has been the lions of the skies, Africa’s fabulous birds of…

Four out of the Big Five: The story in the Kruger is always the same

Nov 7, 2018 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: #NikelaAfrica, elephant, kudo, leopard, lioness, Nikela Blog, rhino Tagged: Big Five, buffalo, elephants, Kruger National Park, kudu, lioness, rhino

For years now it’s four out of the Big Five we see when visiting the Kruger National Park. Why is this? What are we doing wrong? The alarm goes off at 5am. If it wasn’t for the glaring security lights in the camp it would still be pitch black. By 5:30 the rooftop tent is closed up. The breakfast snacks are ready. Layered clothing is on. Entrance money is counted. Binoculars pulled out and camera batteries charged. We’re at the Malalane Gate, along with several others, before it opens at 6am. By first light we’ve mapped out our path and…

Living off the Grid to Conserve Nature in Zimbabwe

Oct 31, 2018 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: #NikelaAfrica, conservation, Ecosystem, Human Wildlife Conflict, Nikela Blog Tagged: Brent Stapelkamp, conserve nature, Hwange National Park

You might remember Brent Stapelkamp in connection with the sad story of Cecil the Lion a few years back. Today Brent and his wife Laurie are making a much quieter, yet remarkable difference to conserve nature outside Hwange National Park. [Watch the video of our visit below] Could you give up all your creature comforts? Well, at least most of them, especially those modern conveniences we get so used to. Conveniences like running to the shop for bread at 10pm to make school lunches. Brent and Laurie gave it all up to live in a native village bordering Hwange National…

Tough to admit that we must abort our trip from South Africa to Ethiopia

Beware: The Vile Practice of Hunting Wildlife with Dogs

Why saving the Bearded Lady is about saving her entire species of Lammergeier

Four out of the Big Five: The story in the Kruger is always the same

Living off the Grid to Conserve Nature in Zimbabwe

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