Nature Experience Camp - South Africa
The second destination of the Nature Summer Camps was Lake St Lucia in the Northeast of South Africa, located within the 2,550 sq. km large Greater St Lucia Wetland Park. It is Africa’s oldest nature reserve and has a very rich biodiversity. Giraffes, monkeys, gnus and hippos can be seen in large numbers.
The German young people learned a lot about nature, the animals and sustainable protection measures from the Zulus and staff members of the Wildlands Conservation Trust, GNF’s partner organisation. They assisted the nature organisation in carrying out a census of threatened wild animals in the reserve. This was the main activity of the young voluntary helpers. Since 30 years, animal censuses for scientific analyses are carried out every second year. They are an important element of the protection programme "Rare, Threatened and Endemic Species Project" in the National Park.
Also in South Africa, the voluntary helpers planted trees. Within the project "Trees for Life", which is supported by the Lufthansa "Miles to help" initiative, forests are restored by planting native trees.
In their leisure time, after long hours of hours of work, the participants enjoyed adventuresome undertakings and cheerful gatherings around the campfire.
Timeframe: from 26 August to 12 September 2008
Lodging: Camp in the Nature Reserve
Turnout: 7
