Eighty Days Following the Bush Telegraph
- 10 hours ago
- 2 min read
Where we go, how we do it, and why
We have a more or less set route, but in reality, we grab our bags and laptop and go!
We use really basic equipment and travel light, as we sometimes need to move fast. Blending in is key. There is no fancy, bulky, expensive equipment, just an old, well-used Canon Powershot and a Y9 cellphone.
Our vehicles play a main role; we were provided with an adapted hunting vehicle for part of this trip. It proved to be as tough and resilient as a tank, and put it through its paces.
Following the Bush Telegraph Through KwaZulu-Natal, Eswatini and Mozambique
As we followed the Bush Telegraph, things changed, and we often headed off to meet someone following and sniffing along the trail. We often ended up on the side of the road, networking within our communities, looking for a spot to crash for the night. We bought our supplies at local markets and spaza shops. There are also amazing chicken takeaways in most of these areas.
We headed from our base into North Zululand, moving east along the border between Eswatini and Mozambique, into the coastal bush. We swung inland to the spectacular land of “Famo,” Lesotho. We covered many kilometres, much of it off-road through thick bush and rugged terrain. Locals and fellow adrenaline junkies will know the deep, sticky red mud during and the endless, thick, deceptive white sand that covers much of the areas around Mozambique.
Surviving Extreme Terrain and Harsh Conditions
We also mostly relied on our compass. In that heat, the terrain becomes confusing and repetitive, and the brain's directional sense is gone, baby gone. We spent many hours on some of these days walking in temperatures between 32 and 38 degrees. staying silent and moving like ghosts.
The heat this year went on for weeks!
One of our team members ended up with three black, infested tick bites, but, being literally immune to tick bite fever, only relented and saw a doctor when the bites were throbbing. Thanks to the amazing, totally eccentric Bush Doctor we found in Matubatuba, the team member stayed on track, and we kept moving without delay.
Community Support and Conservation Awareness
The hospitality and community support left us more motivated than ever.
We will continue grassroots initiatives dedicated to uncovering powerful truths about conservation: the good, the bad, the ugly, as well as human rights abuse in the sector.
Our role is to amplify these issues, raise critical awareness, and shed light on the challenges everyday heroes face in protecting our heritage.
Why These Wildlife Conservation Road Trips Matter
What makes these trips so special is that sometimes we can just park for hours after being hot, exhausted, or stressed from our observations.
When we just follow our instinct and find that herd of elephants, a crash of rhinos, or a baboon troop where no one else is around, that is when we sit back, smile, and say,
This is why we do what we do.
It’s worth it.
© LionExpose
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