Kasane Field Trip

Orchestrated by: Level 6 Teacher Mpho MakutuDates: October 18th- 29st 2015

Introduction

The purpose of this trip was to take our level 6 and level 7 students to Kasane as a learning field trip. The children are currently learning a curriculum which educates them on what they will be exposed to during our trip. From their visit to Kasane they will be exposed to a variety of tourist destinations with proper tour guides to educate the children on what their curriculum has previously taught them, including geography, animals, wild life, flora and fauna.

This trip combined different learning styles such as in-classroom-education for those who learn by text, along side, real life exposure for those who learn by visual aids. By combining these different learning techniques this will reinforce the students understanding of what they have been taught in the classroom.

This trip consisted of Level 6 and Level 7 students with a head count of 14 learners in total. Five teachers + one Peace Corps volunteer, and one of Camphills cooks attended as chaperones, alongside one biological sister of one of the learners.

We stayed one night in Francistown on the way to Kasane, and one night on the way back. Two whole weeks were spent in Kasane for the children to learn about the wildlife and experience Northern Botswana.

Attached are specific daily details and a debrief of the trip. Below are the learners who attended:

Level 6Amogelang PoloElizabeth segoleKewiso GaoratweTebago ShalobanePeter MatlalekhumoTumisang MatshitseEdwin MothupiMaatla Loso

Level 7Neo KeatlaretseOntlametse RamoGofenyamang SamatiTao GaesemodimoAtlarelang MoloiTshepang Kgengwenyane

TransportWe received transport by the South East Dictrict Counsil for free. The bus sat

24 people, and we had 21 + the driver. The bus was a good size, but an extremely tight fit, we were promised a trailer for the luggage and cooking needs, but no trailer was provided, thus forcing us to leave luggage behind and tightly fit all of the belongings into the bus alongside the passengers. The driver, whom the children ended up calling “Uncle”, was extremely patient and friendly with the children. He was well versed in working with the demographic of peoples with disabilities. The

driver was patient with us the entire trip, and we arrived on time, and even early for many of our planned events scheduled during our trip. He was extremely flexible and accommodating to all of our trips needs: grocery shopping, emergencies, events scheduled.

AccommodationFrancis Town: On our way to our final destination, Kasane, we stayed in

Francistown on the night 18th, and upon our return to Otse, on the night of the 28th. We stayed at the Aerodrome Primary School within their Special Education department. We were allocated 2 classrooms but they generously added bathrooms for both female and males, and a kitchen for cooking and paid p200 accumulatively for both nights of stay. Upon arrival we were forced to wait for the classrooms to be opened for us. We slept on the classroom floors with blankets.

Kasane: We arrived in Kasane the afternoon of the 19th. We stayed at the Kasane Education Center. We were allocated 9 rooms with two twin size beds each. There were 1-2 learners per adult for each room. There was security on the premise of the education, thus making the van, and our children extremely safe. There was air-conditioning in the room and in the debrief it was agreed that the accommodation was 5 Star. The bathrooms had 3 working showers with hot water at all times, and two toilettes. We were able to do our laundry and hang out laundry to dry. A kitchen was previously booked for another group staying, so we were unable to use their kitchen, in result we cooked outside with the gas stove and gas tank we had brought from Otse. We were prepared ahead of time for this situation, and it was agreed that it was not a problem what so ever.

MealsAll children and chaperones ate breakfast, tea time, snacks accordingly, lunch

and dinner. All the meals were healthy and there was always a perfecta amount for allt he students and adults. The meals were cooked timely and snacks allotted at a timely matter depending on the schedule of each day. Water was always available at all times for the children and adults. For breakfast we made oats’, porridge, cornflakes, eggs and Russians, and bread available. Tea-time everyday, or snacks depending on our schedule of that day. Snacks included oranges, nuts, apples, bananas, chips and juice. Lunch daily included salad and chicken with rice, dumping and veggies, beef and pop, or other combinations of the listed. Dinner daily included porridge, bread, chips or different combinations of the lunch platters.

ActivitiesDay 1 Kasane: October 20th

International Airport KasaneWe arrived at the Airport in Kasane to teach the children about the

airport and the airplanes. Upon arrival the Kasane Airport was prepared for our tour. Our tour guide, Mpho Maruza, took the children through the security scanner at the airport and stopped to tell the children how the metal detector works and its purpose in the airport. He then guided us outside to see the airplanes where we saw a few different private smaller and larger airplanes land and take off. We were not allowed to get close to the airplanes or go inside the airplanes because of security concerns and because the airplanes were privately owned planes. From there our tour guide took us to the part of the airfield where the meteorologist studies the weather for each day for safety. Our tour guide and the meteorologist was extremely good with the kids and simplified terms so the learners could easily understand. Then we were taken to the airports fire station, and they learned that the fire station was in case of emergencies. The tour at the airport was very educational and engaging. It was unfortunate to not be able to get near any of the airplanes or go on any of the airplanes, but they learners did learn about all different types of airplanes and how they work.

Day 2 Kasane: October 21st Crocodile Farm

The children were introduced to baby crocodiles and adult crocodiles. Our English speaking tour guide gave Mpho adequate time to translate the information abut the crocodiles to the children. The children were allowed to touch the saved skulls of different crocodiles. The children learned about the crocodiles diet, their life, their reproduction and different types of crocodiles challenges. The children were introduced to Mandala, the oldest crocodile the farm has, being somewhere around 100 years of age, and the children were also introduced to the largest crocodile they have, named Might Mike, who is 5 meters in size. Boat Cruise By Dream Safari

We were taken on an hour ride boat cruise on the Chobe River. We were allocated, graciously, the “Full House Boat” which typically seats 60 people. We had a boat driver + a tour guide. They drove us to the Namibian Boarder and to see Sedudu Island. The guide educated us on different Namibian and Botswana land contracts, and we learned about who owns which land and why. Our tour guide was nice, and patient with us. They allowed us to walk freely around the boat to see different perspectives and to take photos of the children. We saw different wildlife which was pointed out by the tour guide. The boat cruise was extremely relaxing and the children enjoyed their first boat ride ever.

Day 3 Kasane: October 22nd CARACAL: Center for Conservation of African Resources: Animals, Communities and Land

CARACAL had many different rescued animals that were taken care of at the conservation center. Animals included mongoose, aardvarks, different kinds of snakes which reside in Botswana including different kinds of Puff Adders, Pythons, Black Mamba. There were warthogs, ginny fowls, owls, tortoise, and a rescued vulture. The children were allowed to handle the mongoose, tortoise, and different kinds of “safe-to-human” snakes. Our children were very brave and many held the snakes and took photos with them, Tao was the first learner to adamantly want to hold the snake Our tour guide was extremely passionate about all the animals, and seemed to know them personally which made the tour extremely fun and engaging. The entire center was filled with orphaned, saved animals, which were taken care of by the workers at the center.

Day 4 Kasane: October 23rd Lasoma Monument

There was a bit of miscommunication once arriving at the Lasoma Monument. We arrived at 9 as our intended tour ahd been planned. This made our tour for Lasoma later then expected, forcing us to reschedule and push back our second event for that day with Saboba Nature Reservation. But it was not communicated that we were to meet at the Kazengula Army Base, to be taken with soldiers to the monument for our tour. We then drove to the Army Base, and upon our arrival there the Soldiers seemed to be confused, from lack of communication with the person who had planned our tour that day. Once confusion was sorted, two soldiers acquainted us to the monument. The soliders explained the important history of the 15 Soliders lost during the battles of Lasoma involving Rhodesia and Rhodiesian soliders. The Solider explained to the children very slowly and coherently for them to understand the story which was quite a serious historical battle for Botswana, in fact we learned it was Botswana’s most grave international conflict.

Saboba Nature Reservation: We were forced to push back our schedule appointment with Sabobo

due to the miscommunication with the soldiers at the army base during the Lasoma Monument Event, but graciously they allowed us to still visit immediately after. Saboba is a Nature and Cultural Reservation to conserve tribal history and nature. The reservation was extremely relaxing and a healthy hike for the learners. The learners learned about the history of Chobe’s flora and fauna, and the different tribes historically in Kasane and their lifestyle.

Day 5/6 Kasane: October 24th/25th Saturday/ Sunday: Relaxation, and laundry days.

Day 7 Kasane: October 26th

Kachikau Primary School: Special Education Department with Mr. Modingo’s class.

Upon our arrival at the school we were introcued to both special education classes. Upon our introduction they generously showed us the housing units for the children within the special education classes. Mr. Modingo and his students introduced different arts and crafts to us including basket weaving, paper mache, and jewelry making. The children were allowed to play with the schools toys and use the schools resources to make different kinds of arts and crafts. The teachers later exchanged different curriculum ideas and discussed the differences, pros’ and cons of their curriculums. They shared with us that the special education department is funded through different lodges in Kasane, primarily Chobe Marine Lodges. We were highly welcomed and invited to visit again, and they promised us a visit for next year. Upon our departure we were gifted reeds to take back to Camphill to further teach the kids basket weaving and bracelet making. We unfortunately learned during our visit some behavioral issues with our kids- only concerning that they need further learning on sharing.

Day 8 Kasane: October 27th

Chobe Game DriveThe game drive was luckily approved near the ending of our trip, and

scheduled into our plans last minute. The game drive was amazing 1.5 hour long ride along the Chobe River. We were allocated two vehicles for 21 people. Students who may be nervous were placed near the adults. Both tour guides were extremely patient and informative, and answered all questions that were inquired by the learners and adults. Each guide would stop and turn the vehicle off so the children could listen and learn about each animal we encountered, whilst the adults took photos. We same many different kinds of birds, elephants, spring buck, kudu, impala, buffalo, and giraffe.

Kazangula FerryThe learners were taken to the boarder of Botswana and Zambia to

see the Kazangula Ferry. The learners watched the ferry board and unload multiple different cars and semi-trucks. This event was not initially planned but we were able to fit it in as an additional educational event after the game drive. It was suggested that perhaps next time the children would be able to board the boat, with proper identification and previous scheduling with boarder patrol.

Welfare of LearnersThe learners ate 3 meals a day plus additional snacks according to time, and

events, in between meals. Tebogo had a pre-existing health situation which was taken care of in Otse, and a checkup proceeded upon our arrival in Kasane. Peter

was ill and taken to the hospital for check up. Both kids resulted in being fine for the entire trip. Adults made sure all children ate, expeically those who are reluctant at times to do so. The adults assisted children in bathing two times a day, once upon waking at 6am, and before dinner which was typically around 7pm. Bedtime for children was after dinner nearing 730pm. All children were taking prescribed malaria medication, which started a week before leaving for Kasane, and will proceed to take a week after our return in Otse.

Welfare of StaffNo one got hurt, adults nor learners. None of the adults fell sick. There was never a shortage of food, everyone was always well fed every day. Spirits were high the entire trip. Everyone enjoyed their time and all would partake again. It was agreed that there was a perfecta mount of staff, we were allocated 9 rooms, 7 adults, 1-2 kids per room with adult + a room for our driver, which by the end of the trip, the children were calling “Uncle”.

ChallengesIt was hard during debrief to come up with honest challenges for the trip considering how successfully executed the entire trip was. The communication between the two bases in regards to the Lesoma Monument tour was a setback on our time for the Seboba Nature Reserve, but we were still permitted to come and tour the reserve, and also see the Lesoma Monument. A trailer was promised from the S.E District along with the bus which they permitted us to use for free, but no trailer was attached once we were picked up in Otse. Having a trailer would have made things much easier, and so our comfort during travel was not 100%, and many luggage was left behind in Otse due to lack of space.

RecommendationsIt was suggested perhaps next time we take a driver from Camphill, or take a Camphill minibus of our own. We certainly needed a trailer. Some people mentioned overtime concerns.

ConclusionThe two week long trip including travel time was perfect for these children. The children stayed engaged the entire trip. All events planned ahead of time were successfully completed, even an additional event to the Kazengula Ferry was able to be added on our final day. All the kids and staff were safe and healthy. The trip was extremely educational for all participants. All events were hands-on and engaging. The trip fell under the allotted budged for the trip. There were no emergencies. The number of staff/adults for the trip was perfect the amount of students who attended the trip. Overall the trip was completely 100% successful.

AcknowledgementsBotswana Tourism

Aerodrome Primary SchoolKasane Education Center

South East DistrictKasane International Airport

Kasane Crocodile FarmBoat Cruise & Game Drive by Dreams Safari

CARACALKasane Army Base

Saboba Nature ReservationKachikau Primary School

Chobe National Park