{"id":9662,"date":"2026-04-23T08:01:15","date_gmt":"2026-04-23T06:01:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/?p=9662"},"modified":"2026-04-23T08:01:15","modified_gmt":"2026-04-23T06:01:15","slug":"bm2025-26-mammals-weekend","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/?p=9662","title":{"rendered":"BM2025-26 Mammals Weekend"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Web Report by Derek Oxley<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We all arrived at Potokwane camp, Pilanesberg, on Friday afternoon. After setting up our tents,&nbsp; we headed to the education center to write our grasses test. Once we had completed that, we had a talk about the weekend&#8217;s program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On Saturday, we had lectures in the morning. In the afternoon, we had to observe animals on a 3-hour Game drive. It gave the Wetland and Grassland groups time to observe animal behavior. Fun was had by all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Sunday was the highlight of the weekend for everyone. We woke up at 04h30 and drove to Malatse Hide at 05h30. During our hike, we spotted various animals (elephant, black rhino, impala, kudu, zebra, hippo). We were tested on the knowledge we had learned so far.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>We all learned so much. Our guides&#8217; knowledge was impressive. Wetlands and Grassland groups came together and sat under a tree for refreshments. Our lecturer, Ulrich Oberprieler, was very knowledgeable, explaining what the walking animals do. It was hot. We were watching two male adult bull elephants in the distance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When we got back to the hide, we were debriefed again.  We are all looking forward to the rest of the course.\u00a0On Friday morning, I saw a serval during a game drive\u2014my first time seeing one in person. I wanted to share this great sighting with everyone. Looking forward to the rest of the course.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-1-2.jpg\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"535\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-1-2-1024x535.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9666\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-1-2-1024x535.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-1-2-300x157.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-1-2-768x402.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-1-2.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Learning in earnest\u2026<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-2.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"475\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-2-1024x475.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9667\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-2-1024x475.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-2-300x139.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-2-768x357.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-2.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8230;about fellows like these.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-3.jpg\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"658\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-3-1024x658.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9668\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-3-1024x658.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-3-300x193.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-3-768x494.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-3.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">With time for a laugh..<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-4.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"768\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-4-768x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9669\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-4-768x1024.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-4-225x300.jpg 225w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-4.jpg 1050w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">&#8230; before setting out for a walk in the bush.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-6.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"781\" height=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-6-781x1024.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9670\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-6-781x1024.jpg 781w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-6-229x300.jpg 229w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-6-768x1007.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-6.jpg 1068w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 781px) 100vw, 781px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Safety is foremost with elephants nearby; I was glad to see the back of him.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-8.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"649\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-8-1024x649.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9671\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-8-1024x649.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-8-300x190.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-8-768x487.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-8.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Navigating the grasses and sighting trees.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-9.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"551\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-9-1024x551.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9672\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-9-1024x551.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-9-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-9-768x414.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-9.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Finding a dung beetle doing its business, and a rhino\u2019s midden.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-10.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"730\" src=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-10-1024x730.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-9673\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-10-1024x730.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-10-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-10-768x547.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/BM2025-26-Mammals-10.jpg 1400w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Before saying our byes as we leave, digest and discuss what we saw.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p>ED&#8217;s Note: Thanks Derek for this comprehensive report on the mammals weekend.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Web Report by Derek Oxley We all arrived at Potokwane camp, Pilanesberg, on Friday afternoon. After setting up our tents,&nbsp; we headed to the education center to write our grasses test. Once we had completed that, we had a talk about the weekend&#8217;s program. On Saturday, we had lectures in the morning. In the afternoon,<a class=\"more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/?p=9662\">Read more  &#10230;<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9662","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9662","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=9662"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9662\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9687,"href":"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9662\/revisions\/9687"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=9662"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=9662"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.bushveld-mosaic.org.za\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=9662"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}