Gregoire Blond

I will sit the FGASA LEvel one exam on June 10.

You can see the syllabus on this link : http://www.fgasa.org.za/Syllabus-1.asp

I will be evaluate on :

Introduction to guiding in the natural environment/ Creating a guided experience/ Geology/ Astronomy/ Weather and Climate/ Basic Ecology/ Basic Taxonomy/ Introduction to the Biomes of Southern Africa/ Botany and Grasses/ Arthropod/ Amphibians/ Reptiles/ Fish/ Birds/ Mammals/ Animal Behaviour/ Conservation management and historical human habitation.

I'm working on these subjects at home. Even if I will re-see these knowledges during the FGASA Preparation course with Tshivingwi Bush Experience, in Ubundu Game Reserve, from May 22 to May 29.

The 7 december 2005, South Africa, Mozambique and Zimbabwe opened the first access of the new Limpopo Transfrontier Park.

It is the merger of the Kruger National Park, the Gonarezhou (Zimbabwe) and a huge wildlife area in Mozambique.

Tourists and animals will be able to cross the borders. Some fences between Mozambique and South Africa have already been removed.

It's great news for wildlife, because the natural migrations in case of drought will be possible. A natural regulation of some areas will be possible, the concentration of elephants is too high in Kruger and too low in Mozambique for example.

It's also a big opportunity for Mozambique and Zimbabwe to increase their numbers of tourists. They will benefit from the fame and experience of the Kruger. Since 1926, Kruger accomodates tourists, and in 2005 more than one million people came to this garden of Eden.

It's not the first transfrontier park in South Africa. Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park was opened in 2000 between South Africa and Bostwana next to the Kalahari desert. The coordiantion of the two countries is excellent.

The Limpopo Transfrontier PArk management will be harder. The superficies of the Park will be more than 100000km². It will be the biggest wildlife area in Africa. it will be a hard job to create and to apply the same wildlife and tourists management in the whole area. For example, in Kruger tourists can drive by themselves on road, but in Mozambique the Game Drives must be secured by a ranger.

The biggest problem will be Mr Mugabe and the Zimbabwean government. The wildlife budget is ridiculous, without counting the corruption of the civil servants! the parks ( like Hwange or Mana Pools) are in their death throes. Tourists don't come any more for security reasons, so the park managers don't have money to maintain their parks.

So maybe Mr Mugabe is understanding the benefit for his contry of the wildlife tourism, we have to hope so...

I invite you to read the wonderful journal of Kim Donaldson, Africa.

 Kim Donaldson, an internationally renowned wildlife artist, grew up in Zimbabwe on a 150,000-acre ranch of unspoiled African bush country traversed by rivers, hills, and valleys and teeming with game.

It is this stunning landscape that first inspired him to swap his hunting rifle for a camera and a sketchpad . . . and begin a lifelong passion for capturing on paper the wildlife of his native continent. Donaldson's stunning paintings and sketches have an intangible quality that can only be achieved by someone who has spent many years in the bush.

Filled with spellbinding information about wildlife, culture, and history, this captivating journal is packed with scores of paintings, sketches, maps, and excerpts from Donaldson's diaries and notebooks to create a vivid and multilayered impression of this mysterious continent. Magnificent photographs and dramatic illustrations detail the spectacular plains Donaldson has visited, including Masai Mara, South Africa's Cape and Natal regions, the Serengeti, and Zembezi Valley, and more. The result is an enthralling journey through the magnificent expanse of Africa's most wonderful and surprising natural wonders.