News & Photos - LEO Africa Volunteer Programme

Newsletter October 2011
Summer is well and truly here, with the insect friends making sure that everyone here knows it. We have had some heavy and persistent rains towards the end of the month, with one evening getting pelted by hail the size of small golf balls. But with all this extra water all the small signs of life are making drives even more entertaining, except for whoever is driving, trying to avoid being a mass killer of all the insects abundant on the roads!

Newsletter September 2011
And so, here we are at the end of September already. Can you believe it? Summer is well and truly on its way and I'm sure the rain will be too, along with these continuing high temperatures, long may they last!

Newsletter August 2011
August has ended with spring slowly approaching with an influx of hotter weather, so much so we have cleaned and prepared the pool. The drives in Selati have been leaving later in the afternoon due to the oven like temperatures, which has given us some great early evening sightings and still have the advantage of clear cover through the bush.

Newsletter July 2011
Another month has gone by and Selati seems to finally be in the full swing of winter with even the Aloe plants near our base loosing their flowers…a little late but better than never! We are still appreciating the lack of vegetation cover, for it has helped us to make some really nice sightings recently but are not appreciating the very cold morning drives quite as much, but, you can't have one without the other!

Newsletter June 2011
Selati is looking drier each day, despite the one random day of cloud and rain early on in the month and is creating a greater need for the animals use of the remaining dams. The temperature has also dropped, reaching ten degrees one morning, making for an exceptionally cold wind chill factor while we wait for the sun to rise, or bask in its light before it disappears. But with this lower temperature, the nocturnal animal sightings have increased and provided some great viewings.

Newsletter May 2011
Winter is completely upon us now at LEO and we have not seen rain here at Selati since the very beginning of the month, and the bush is becoming less and less green, which will hopefully make for more frequent sightings, especially at the dams as the animals come down to drink. As predicted, the sleeping bags have been cracked out, along with multiple layers to combat the cold temperatures of the early mornings and evenings.

Newsletter April 2011
Despite the continued mild rainfall, winter is most definitely back. The mornings see us freezing both in and out of the cab of the game viewer. Fairly certain the volunteers will bring out the sleeping bags for drive soon. The plants are a bit confused, sending out new growth and flowering, but they will soon get the message, hopefully before they waste too much energy. The nights as well are quieting down as the summer creatures of the night burrow themselves away until next year. Thankfully the francolins are still there to make sure we're up in the morning!

Newsletter March 2011
As March draws to a close Autumn (if in the Lowveld we can claim such a season – perhaps merely a drawn breath between Summer and Winter) is upon us. The bushwillow seedpods are colouring, the grass browns and cooler, clearer mornings await our awakening – or rather we await them having already been out on drive a good half hour before morning deigns to greet us.

Newsletter February 2011
Despite the torrential rains providing our river with plenty of water, the lions have been bold enough to cross it several times, giving us a run for our money. They have been all over the reserve this month, but mainly up in Lekker Smaak and across the river in Farrell and Josephine. In the beginning of the month the pride was separated. Mica, Selati, Skinny, and Mbhurri were together while Shaka and Jane were off gallivanting around.

Newsletter January 2011
Happy new year from all at LEO! And what a start to the new year it’s been – great storms, the Selati river in flood and despite the ever thickening foliage some amazing sightings! Our first volunteers of January – from England, Wales, Argentina, Belgium and the Philippines (via Germany) were a typically cosmopolitan collective, but all were under the bushveld’s spell after on just our first drive all three of the boys put on a roaring demonstration while brushing by the car.

Newsletter December 2010
Green, green everywhere! The browns and tans of winter are completely gone and we are fully immersed in summer. When the sun is allowed to shine it is blisteringly hot, but having said that it seems to be overcast and plenty of rain has seen the Selati River in full flow. This weather combined with the thick foliage makes the animals quite a challenge to spot.

Newsletter November 2010
Time already for our second-last newsletter of 2010 – how time flies … . The wet season is in full swing, and the weather has turned hot and humid. After some good, earlyseason storms, we have had regular rain-showers over the last few weeks, and the reserve is certainly showing it; dams and waterholes are filling up, everything is green and flushed with life – and our game vehicles are filthy with mud!

Newsletter October 2010
Spring is turning to summer in Selati! Temperatures are rising above the 40 degree-mark; indeed, above 50 on occasion. The first rains of the season have fallen, in dramatic, thunderous storms; we have spent several evenings sitting outside enjoying the amazing spectacle of lightning in huge sheets and flashes all around us, illuminating the bush.

Newsletter September 2010
Spring has arrived in Selati! With it, the dry season is drawing to a close, although for now the days are blazingly hot and marked by cloudless, blue skies. It is a beautiful time of year. The bushveldt and the animals will welcome the rains that will soon start to fall, but even now there are signs of re-growth and renewal after a long winter. Birds are courting, trees are starting to blossom and the insects are humming again.

Newsletter August 2010
This month, the Leo team and volunteers have had some spectacular sightings of not only the lions, but an array of Selati’s animals. Temperatures are beginning to rise again and it feels like Summer is on its way, sleeping bags on drives have now been replaced with sun protection!

Newsletter July 2010
July has been an interesting month for us here at Leo, jam packed with awesome sightings; and not only our lion pride but almost all the animals on Selati came to party. The morning and afternoon temperatures...

Newsletter June 2010
This month, winter has really set in, with very cold mornings and evenings having become the norm. The bush is showing signs of the struggle to survive in the harsh, almost waterless conditions; and the volunteers have resorted to wearing their sleeping bags on game drives to try to keep warm! Nevertheless, it has been a great month with lots of fantastic sightings...

Newsletter May 2010
As the temperatures begin to drop in the mornings and evening and we start to feel the onset of winter finally. We can see some of the leaves are slowly turning orange and the grasses are fading into light browns...

Newsletter April 2010
This month we have seen so much rain that the bush seems to be thinking it’s the beginning of summer again. There are tiny shoots of fresh green grass sprouting everywhere and even the frogs have come out once again...

Newsletter March 2010
Another month has come and gone here at LEO and so much has once again happened! Read on to find out what the pride have been up to and the other exciting findings we have had…

Newsletter February 2010
Wow what a jam packed February we have had!! It’s no wonder the cub on front age is yawning. The lions have been very active giving us some fantastic sightings that LEO Staff and volunteers will remember forever. And not just the lions but elephants and leopard too! Read on to see what we have been up to this month.

Newsletter January 2010
Happy New Year!! Welcome to LEO’s first newsletter of 2010 and what an exciting month we have had to start off the New Year. We have had some amazing sightings of the lions – some very up close and personal! A big thank you to all our volunteers this month in helping us start off the year with great sightings and good times. Read on to see what January had in store for us...

Newsletter December 2009
Welcome to our latest and last adventures of 2009 which are still as exciting as ever. The temperatures have been hotting up and we have had quite a few spectacular thunderstorms. Read on to hear about this month’s movements and activities of our Selati Lions, and once again a big thank you to volunteers for all their help in the field and at the LEO Base.

Newsletter November 2009
So much has happened it is hard to know where to start... From the first electric thunderstorms of summer, new born impala’s the first of the season, and 3 days of non-stop rain where a fifth of our annual rainfall fell in 48 hours – it has all been going on here on the Selati Game Reserve. Thanks to all our volunteers who have made November a memorable month

Newsletter October 2009
What a fantastic month October has been – we have had some great sightings this month and not just of our magnificent Selati lions! Thank you to all volunteers for a great month and please read on to find out what we have been up to….

Newsletter September 2009
September began with beautiful spring like weather with temperatures rising up to a bearable 34ºC. However as the month progressed there became a pattern of more and more cloudy, cool days with some strong winds; which meant we even had to cancel our ‘braai’ night one Friday and eat indoors!

Newsletter August 2009
Leo took a great turn this month with the extra help of Donnie and Koos, both highly experienced guides who joined our Leo team for a few weeks giving the volunteers some great opportunities on foot, their enthusiasm and expertise was a great bonus to Leo so a big thanks you!! Hope you enjoy our latest adventures.

Newsletter July 2009
L.E.O staff and volunteers have had a fantastic month, with amazing sightings and great displays of the social dynamics changing and developing within the pride. As well as witnessing our cubs maturing and develop their own unique personality, it really has made it a memorable month.

Newsletter June 2009
June has been a totally tremendous month, we have had so many unbelievable sightings, and our volunteers have shared in many wonderful experiences. Not only have our sightings occurred out and around the reserve, but we have had some surprising visitors to the L.E.O base. We are sure you will enjoy this newsletter.

Newsletter May 2009
It’s been a very exciting May, and it has passed-by ever so quickly. Selati hasn't had a drop of rain in weeks, and consequently the bush has really opened-up, allowing for a much further view into the blocks. Thus, LEO volunteers have been able to spot game easier, resulting in many fantastic sightings. The month of May has seen many interesting volunteers come and go, and its with their help that LEO has witnessed several wonderful sightings.

Newsletter April 2009
We are very eager to share the past month's exciting news with you, for April has been a magnificent month, full of unforgettable encounters with our resident pride here at Selati. With the grass now dying back, and with some keen eyesight from our volunteers, sightings have really been plentiful.

Newsletter Janurary, February and March 2009
Hello and welcome to a fresh new year with L.E.O. We are pleased to announce that we have gone through an exciting transition, and there is a completely new management team in place.