We’re delighted to as soon as once more collaborate. with Dr. Alan Lee because the expedition scientist. After profitable expeditions with him to the Peru Amazon from 2011 to 2016 and South Africa from 2015 to 2017, we will likely be again with him in his native South Africa on an expedition entitled “Far more than simply leopards: Surveying biodiversity within the Cape Floral Kingdom of the fynbos mountains of South Africa.”
This expedition will deal with documenting biodiversity within the western Baviaanskloof wilderness space, with a specific deal with threatened and elusive Endangered mammals such because the riverine rabbit and Cape leopard, in addition to birds and different fauna recorded by Coordinated Avifaunal Roadcount (CAR) transects. The work helps long-term monitoring obligations throughout the Cape Floral Kingdom (fynbos), a UNESCO World Heritage Website famend for its distinctive biodiversity.
Research animals embrace riverine rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis), mountain reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula), Cape leopard (Panthera pardus), caracal (Caracal caracal), African wildcat (Felis lybica), black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas), Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus), leopard tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis), angulate tortoise (Chersina angulata), tent tortoise (Psammobates tentorius), Ludwig’s bustard (Neotis ludwigii), blue crane (Anthropoides paradiseus) and plenty of raptors and storks.
Actions for expeditioners will embrace digicam trapping and surveys in automobiles and on foot, in addition to information evaluation and entry.
The expedition caters for all health ranges. It isn’t bodily demanding, as the vast majority of information assortment takes place from autos and night-time highlight surveys. A reasonable stage of mobility continues to be helpful for optionally available walked transects over rocky or shrubland terrain.
The expedition base is a farm guesthouse in a distant a part of the mountains with straightforward automobile entry to transect routes and direct proximity to the mosaic of habitats by which the expedition’s biodiversity monitoring takes place. Group members will share, on a twin mattress foundation, snug rooms with beds, linen and all trendy facilities similar to mains energy, scorching showers and WCs. There may be additionally a communal constructing with a eating room and a lounge with sofas and a hearth. All meals will likely be ready for the workforce and particular diets could be catered for by prior association.
The climate within the Cape Floral Kingdom is assessed as being within the Mediterranean local weather zone. Which means it’s typically dry and delicate, but additionally that it could possibly rain at any time of the 12 months. Daytime temperatures are typically nice, however in the course of the expedition months can vary from scorching (over 30oC) in the course of the day to shut to freezing in the course of the evening. A temperature change of over 20oC inside 24 hours shouldn’t be unusual.
Dates, meeting level and expedition contribution. The inaugural expedition will happen from 14 – 27 November 2026. The meeting level is 09:00 on 20 October on the Protea Lodge Outeniqua within the centre of George, Western Cape. The expedition contribution is € 2890 per particular person, excluding journey to the meeting level.
Launch date and register your curiosity. This expedition will launch formally by the tip of December and can take bookings from then on. You’ll be able to register your curiosity now to be given the choice of signing as much as the expedition just a few days earlier than it launches formally.
