Operation Wallacea Conservation Research Expeditions for Schools

We had a fantastic week at Struwig camp. Toby is an amazing character and the students will never forget his enthusiasm and goodwill. The game drives surpassed expectations and the elephants were out in force. All participants were so terribly sad to leave the camp.

So...what are the abiding stories that keep being reflected on back at school. The time we followed a hyena? The elephant that threatened to charge? The manta rays at Sodwana Bay? Strangely enough, its the small things! Yep, the really small things - insects in fact. It seems that setting up insect traps and delving through dung are as abiding positive memories as the big game and marine megafauna. I'd never have guessed.

Thank you Opwall.

I traveled with OpWall with a group from my old high school. At the time I went, I was going into my second year of college studying environmental studies and biology. This trip was a great chance for me to get hands on experience in the field of study that I enjoyed and also gave me a chance to see if I wanted to go into research or not. Since I technically went with high school students, I wasn't a research assistant and didn't have a big part to play in the actual science, but I still really enjoyed being out in the field and learning from the scientists who taught us what we look for when collecting data. That is to say, though, that we did have a big part to play in the overall Operation Wallacea program however. As a group, we helped the scientists find certain organisms and collect data on habitation, etc. We spent most of our time out in the forest or scuba diving in the Caribbean.
During our week in the Cusuco National Park, we slept in tents that were set up on platforms above the ground. The fact that they actually had make shift stalls and toilets was amazing seeing as how we were in the middle of a forest and wanted to keep our carbon foot print as little as possible. The base camp living standards are pretty comfortable; you have basic electricity and natives to the small village not too far from our base camp actually cook food for you. It is good food too, however if you rely on meat for most of your diet you might need to bring jerky with you because they don't have access to a lot of meat. For part of the week we also stayed in a satellite camp in the middle of the jungle. These camps are literal camps because you either sleep in a hammock or in a tent on the hard ground. They have dug holes and trenches to use as the bathroom (I thought it would be horrible, but it wasn't that bad). I got sick while at this site and the medic was very attentive to me. They were ready to airlift me out if I didn't get better, but I did. When you go to satellite camps, it requires strenuous hiking with your heavy rucksack on your back so it does require you to be in okay shape. But honestly, the hiking was half the fun. It really allowed us to see the forest and experience it hands on. I love the green and all things nature so it was so much fun for me to go on hikes with the scientists looking for amphibians and snakes. One time we actually spotted a rattlesnake that was hidden under some leaves; it was a gorgeous yellow tan color.
The second week of our two week trip was spent on the island of Utila off the northern coast of Honduras. Op Wall plans everything for you so all you have to do is follow directions. The living standards on Utila are better than base camp because we are living in a hostel situation where there are 7 people per room with 4 sets of bunk beds. We had running water and our own bathroom in our room. We were right on the ocean and could see it out of our window. Since we were there in the summer it was quiet hot and there was no AC, but what do you expect for such a small island. We were living in luxury compared to the rest of the country. We went scuba diving twice a day for six days and it was a great experience.
This trip made me grow as a person and also made me realize that this is something that I want to do for the rest of my life. To experience another part of this beautiful earth was such an amazing thing for me because it reaffirmed my goals of saving this planet and conserving the wildlife that we threaten. For the parents out there, we were constantly with trained professionals who knew what they were doing (i.e. doctors, tour guides who knew the forest like the back of their hand, op wall people who do this year after year) so your 15/16 year old will be just fine. It is a good experience for them to learn responsibility too. I went with 16 year-olds and one 15 year-old and I can say that they needed to learn a thing or two about what it means to be a mature and responsible adult and hopefully they achieved that while working with OpWall. I would love to go on another trip with OpWall soon!

Being able to witness what I've only ever seen on the television was amazing. The vast biodiversity of the cloud forest was an unforgettable experience and the knowledge of the scientists and volunteers only helped to further my own knowledge and deepen my interest. A particularly memorable part of the terestrial week was when we went on a point count walk along one of the transects and helped to record all of the species of bird by just their call. Being able to develop this skill was a great opportunity and extremely fun. The same can be said for the marine week also, going out on dives every single day and learning all of the signs for the different species was fantastic. Overall the trip was something I will never forget and has definitely aided my ambition to be a part of a project such as this in the future!

It was exciting to take on the challenge of taking a group of biology students to Africa, and as the date of departure drew near, a little scary as well! We had spent a year preparing for this, meeting regularly as a group to; get to know one another, complete our PADI qualifications, learn about the research we were going to take part in and the areas we would be visiting, discussing ways of managing risk, packing, getting vaccinated and the list goes on. The levels of excitement grew and I was a little nervous that the high expectations we had developed might not be met. As it turns out, we had nothing to fear. This was an amazing expedition and it exceeded our expectations on almost every level. During our first week we were lucky enough to have fairly close encounters with elephants, lions, wild dogs, black and white rhino, hyena, scorpions, giraffe, baboon, zebra, buffalo and of course a plethora of antelope varieties! Our second week was so different but no less rewarding with multiple dives every day in the beauty of Sodwana Bay. Thanks to the incredible organisation and expertise of OpWall staff we all thoroughly enjoyed ourselves, we learned a lot, we experienced everything we had hoped for and more. Our students have returned with greater independence, confidence, motivation, a broader view on careers and opportunities, and some great stories!

I had an amazing adventure on this expedition. The knowledge I gained about evolution, biology, and marine biology was extensive. The staff were knowledgeable and great teachers.
Additionally this trip provided first hand experience and career exploration into what biologist and other academics do in the field. I had no idea what amazing opportunities were available to those studying abroad. After the trip I gained a new appreciation for the work and understood how one could become involved in that type of experience.

The Cultural and social aspects of this trip were also eye opening. I made valuable friendships and explored a rich and vibrant culture. The cultural understanding i gained was one that will last me a life time.

This trip was an amazing experience and I would do it again in a heart beat.

From start to finish, we had an experience that left and indelible mark on all of our lives. Many of the students have talked of trying to make a career out of the work done or have shifted their focus to include this type of work. The guides and staff had enthusiasm for the work and the students. They were just as excited to see the wildlife as we were! From stories around a campfire at bush camp, to making a very rare spotting - a pangolin - to diving with a sea turtle, our kids got see an amazing part of this world and Opwall made it possible!

I travelled with my school to South Africa in July and it was probably the best experience of my life. The first week in Balule was incredible- we saw a leopard cross the front of camp whilst eating dinner, and my personal highlight was the night spent in bush camp hearing lions roar close by. The next week in Sodwana Bay was amazing too. On our last dive, our instructor thought he could hear dolphins but we couldn't see any. When we resurfaced, the skipper told us we had been swimming below a whale! It had been right above us on the buoy line and we were completely oblivious. It was an unforgettable 2 weeks.

I had never been to an African country before, so had no idea what to expect. The South Africa Expedition was absolutely incredible, I have never enjoyed my experience in a new country as much as I did in South Africa. Waking up, jumping on the back of a 'bakkie' to chase down lions at 6:00am is a memory I'll never forget. I almost don't want to go back to South Africa because i know I'll never live such a great 2 weeks there again. Truly amazing!