South African wildlife tour | Nikela: Helping People Saving Wildlife

5 Years Traveling Africa in a Land Rover TD5

Apr 9, 2019 · by Russ · In: All Posts, News, Nikela, South African wildlife tour Tagged: #NikelaAfrica, wildlife conservation

How did we fall into traveling Africa in a Land Rover TD5? My head hits the pillow for the 1196th time in our ‘Land Rover Retirement Estate’. I still can’t believe we live on top of a 4×4. Definitely not in our master plan… Yet every morning starts with a big sigh and “I love our life and my wife!!” In The Beginning It all started with our 2014 wildlife tour. Stuffing a tiny red Figo full of camping gear we headed out. In only 10 weeks we discovered 32 projects, talked with well over 150 wildlife heroes, saw hundreds of wild…

The Knoll Guest Farm, Hilton South Africa

Oct 23, 2015 · by Russ · In: #NikelaAfrica, All Posts, Living in a Landy, South African Tour, South African wildlife tour Tagged: #NikelaAfrica, South Africa, The Knoll Guest Farm

The Knoll Guest Farm in Hilton KZN South Africa has become our favorite B&B to park our tent! “Rudy we’re on our way again, do you have room for us?” Situated near Margrit’s parent’s retirement village and with Nelly at 88, we have spent a lot of good times helping her out over the past couple of years and enjoying The Knoll. Normally we do not post about places we stay unless they have wildlife connections. But I guess it qualifies with the monkeys in the trees, curious draft horses and the huge but sweet Great Danes. And don’t forget…

Wildlife Veterinarians aka Medics in the Rhino Wars

May 28, 2015 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: #NikelaAfrica, Africa Wildlife Conservation Tour 2014, Animal Poaching, Rhino, rhino poaching, South African wildlife tour Tagged: Dr. Peter Rogers, Dr. William Fowlds, rhino, rhino horn, saving the survivors, veterinarian, wildlife vet

Without a doubt wildlife veterinarians are the rhinos’ heroes right along with the anti-poaching rangers. What follows is a meager attempt at understanding what wildlife veterinarians engaged in the rhino wars experience. It was back in early 2012 when I read a daily log by Dr. William Fowlds on Facebook. He was treating a rhino that survived a poacher attack and was in a desperate race to save her. His ability, not only to document the facts, but allow his emotions to surface drew me in and allowed me a tiny glimpse of his reality. I thought more people needed…

Saving Lions from the Petting and Canned Hunting Industry

May 14, 2015 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: #NikelaAfrica, Canned hunting, Cheetah, conservation, leopard, Lions, South African wildlife tour, wild animals, wildlife conservation, Wildlife Photography Tagged: canned lion hunting, Captured in Africa, cub petting, Drew Abrahamson, lion, photo safari

One woman with a great deal of tenacity about saving lions with her rescue efforts and photo safari business. It was at the ‘meet and greet’ organized by Sheila where I first met Drew. She seemed so young and well, hip to be involved in wildlife conservation. She unassumingly told me about her photo safari business and that her primary focus was to raise awareness for wildlife, in particular lions. It wasn’t until later that I realize what a powerhouse for African Lions Drew really is. She has literally become the go to person on Facebook when a wild lion is…

Surprising Status of African Wildlife Seventeen Years Later

Feb 21, 2015 · by Wildlife Margrit · In: #NikelaAfrica, Africa Wildlife Conservation Tour 2014, giraffe, Rhino, South African wildlife, South African wildlife tour, wild animals, wildlife conservation Tagged: #NikelaAfrica, game reserve, giraffe, rhino, seventeen years later, wildebeest, zebra

Margrit and Russ return to a small game reserve after 17 years to assess the status of African Wildlife. We drove into the game reserve with our rented kombi van and three almost adult children back in Christmas of 1997. This was the first time they were in Africa since they were tiny and the anticipation to see wild animals was palpable. They didn’t have to wait long, for as we came up over the rise not far into the park we saw those distinctive heads on long necks bobbing along the horizon. That trip we saw Giraffe, Wildebeest with…