groups

I would like to exchange emails and/or talk with anyone who has participated in the "South Africa's Brown Hyenas" Earthwatch project.

Also, I would love to talk with people who know South Africa well.

I have questions ranging from the denisty of African mammals in the area, accomodations, how much people enjoyed the research, other activities at the site, and animal parks to see in the Johannesburg area.

I have participated in the Earthwatch researches for black rhinos in Kenya, forest marsupials in Australia, and otters in California.

If you have been or are going to go on the "Saving Sweetwater's Rhinos" expedition, I'd love to hear from you.

My wife Melinda and I are returning there in Jan. 2009. We were first there in Feb. 2005. We are returning with two good friends (who have not been there and requested that we go back with them).

I would just enjoy chatting with those who have been to Sweetwaters or are going there in 2009

Hello, I too was one that dreamed of going to Africa...the wildlife, nature and wonderful people etc. Well, I guess things are going forward because now I live in Ghana. For the past 9 months my life has been rejuvenated each day by waking up to the African Sunrise...life is wonderful here....granted there are a few challenges. but that's another story...

Hi,

I'm the Earthwatch webmaster, and until I took this job, I thought I was pretty knowledgeable about the natural world - boy, was I wrong! Every time I read about a new Earthwatch expedition, I find out how much I don't know.

For example, I didn't know that penguins live in Africa - Robben Island in South Africa, to be precise - the island where Nelson Mandela was imprisoned. And there are an estimated 15,000 of them. They are, of course, African penguins :)

I'd also never heard of the maneless lions of Tsavo, famous for having eaten 28 railroad laborers in the late 1800s. These lions are still mostly maneless, and kill a lot of livestock, making them unpopular with the local herdsmen.

Have you been to Africa? What was your experience like? If you haven't been, would you like to go?

It's at the very top of my list of must-do adventures - and I especially want to see those Tsavo lions.

Kathy

Try a safari in tanzania - it's breath taking. I believe you can't get out in the bush enough - watching the sun set in the huge african sky and listening to the sound of night time insects makes a stay here so magical

Hi,
My husband & I did the Saving the Rhinos of Sweetwaters in Feb 2005 & absolutely loved it. Now we are going back again in Jan 2009 to do it with friends.

We got to do stuff that NOBODY normally gets to do in Africa as a tourist - like walk daily in the bush & pickup bones, feathers & scat. We also went on many night drives, the chimp reserve nearby & the cultural village at Sweetwaters AND spent 4 hours with a "tame" rhino as well.

If anyone has questions about it let me know.

Thanks, Melinda

Hello Bellawolf,

I've been on the Lions of Tsavo project twice. I was on the first team in 2002, before I worked for Earthwatch, and I returned again in November. For me it's the best experience of Africa day and night. Let me know what type of questions you have.
Mary

The Earthwatch Beat the Heat Climate Change Campaign is almost over (ends October 14)! Don't miss your chance to take action and make a difference--and get you free organic cotton Beat the Heat t-shirt! They're black, super-soft, very cool. And did I mention organic? Just go here to find out more:

view link

Thanks all!

John

Just got back from South Africa at the Meerkats of the Kalahari project. I am organizing my photos now and will attempt to share them. What a fantastic time! This was so much fun and such a great experience. I am hoping to do another project next year.

Dr. Bruce Patterson of Chicago's Field Museum is back out in the field with Earthwatch volunteers on Lions of Tsavo - view link

Bruce has put up a new photo gallery with amazing photos of giraffes, wildcats, raptors, cheetah, birds - and LIONS, LOTS of LIONS! Take a look:
view link

And here are photos from a team last year: view link