Kuzuko Lodge Mentorship Excursion

It started as an opportunity given to Savannah and I in 2021 by Archangels Project, we took the opportunity and turned it into an idea we dreamed about for countless nights.

The dream is to share our mutual love of nature and conservation with the next generation. To prevent human trafficking to the most vulnerable people. And ultimately, bring hope to those who have none.

The hard work and the countless sleepless nights have finally paid off in a massive way, we used our past connections to organize a weekend work opportunity with Kuzuko Lodge, The Place of Glory, and it truly was a glorious experience for us and the four wonderful kids we took along for the experience. None of this was even remotely possible without the generosity of Jim and Nikki Tan and the rest of the wonderful team that make up the Kuzuko experience.

The day of the excursion was a sunny one. We were scheduled to meet up with Ella, the "mother" of all of the kids in the Safe house, of which there are 15 kids at the moment. We made it to the safe house long before we were supposed to because we were just too exited to see the kids and get on with the adventure.

Anyone who has been in South Africa for extended periods of time know full well that “time” works differently here…much slower and it is basic guideline but not a concrete concept.

Ella, who holds to this concept of time, was nowhere to be seen. However we were warmly accepted into the house and offered tea/coffee and something to eat while we waited for her to arrive. The Gogo (granny) of the house was trying to explain to us where Ella was, and she was very excited about the trip some of the kids were going on, and thus very talkative, in spite of the fact we could not understand most of what she was say in Xhosa. My African language knowledge was serviceable but only in a different province, here the people speak Xhosa and I had little to no idea what she was saying.

A quick call to Ella rectified the confusion, she was just finishing up last minute work and would join us momentarily, while we waited for her to join us we got to catch up with some of the kids from the house, one of the girls recently gave birth to a beautiful baby girl and I wasted no time in taking the baby on my lap to hang out with her, her nick name is Cherry and she is a big sweetheart and extremely curious of the strangers in the house. It is always a great time at their house a lot of comedy and loads of laughs to be had just hanging out there.

One of the boys going on the trip with us brought his bird identification book and the binoculars we had gotten him for Christmas. This was a great mentoring moment and we all started to go through the book, and practice with him how to ID birds and check mark the ones he had seen before.

After quite a long wait Ella finally arrived, and she is such a vibrant and energetic presence to be around. There was a flurry of clothes being tossed into bags, passing babies around, lots of laughing and talking, and then finally, they were ready to go!

Ella explained that she had had the youngest boys that only recently joined the safe house under her care with her the whole day because they are both quite sick, and have come down with lung infections, so she could not leave them without taking them to the local clinic first for some medicine to manage the sickness. She is truly a wonderful mother to the kids under her care, and she cares deeply for each one of them.

With bags loaded, kids loaded, and kisses given to all in the house we set off to pick up the rest of the kids who are joining us at the school they recently started at when we checked our watched it was just past two in the afternoon.

The drive through the informal settlement is always a bit of a stressful experience, if you know you know, but we made it out of the settlement easily with Ella's directions and we were on the main road to the school, a whirlwind start to the trip however we were optimistic and full of excitement.

Needless to say we were late picking up the other kids from school, but they were not worried at all. They were very excited!

It was 6-hour drive to the reserve, and a relatively uneventful drive except for the handful of roadworks we had to endure.

During the drive, Ella whipped out a huge red Tupperware and revealed she had gotten up at 4 in the morning to bake bread and cook chicken for the trip, and it was DELICIOUS! So the kids were all sorted with food for the whole trip.

We made a quick bathroom stop and got everyone drinks to pull through the rest of the trip.

We were driving through the famed city of Port Elizabeth at sunset, and the kids loved seeing the big city, as it is very different than where they are from. It was a pretty sunset as we continued past Addo National Park, and made a quick stop for fuel.

And then…we left the city lights and the crashing waves of the ocean far behind, traveling ever further into the wilderness were darkness draped over the Karoo, and the only light came from the sea of stars above. Everyone became more quiet, taking in the remarkable openness of the wild country, and appreciating just how dark it truly was as there was no town or lights in sight.

We at last came to a very familiar turnoff, at least it was for Savannah and I, since this little dirt road would take us to Kuzuko Private Game Reserve, the place in which we first met all those years ago!

It was a long and bumpy drive down the old road, but the kids enjoyed it all the way. Ella kept conversations going, and some of the kids would ask questions about different animals. We later saw several kudu, and that led into another conversation and lots of questions as well.

We made it to the reception just past 20:00pm where we were greeted by lovely, familiar faces. We were welcomed by the owner and his wife, Jim and Nikki Tan, and they lead us into the reception where we met with two colleagues that both Savannah and I worked with in 2019, Freddie, a field guide and head of the Kuzuko Foundation charity, and Zayvenisha, who works the reception like a superstar. We were warmly greeted and each and every one of our party was handed us a refreshing and tasty welcoming drink of apple juice in fancy champagne glasses. The kids and Ella felt like royalty, a very new experience for them. Zayvenisha proceeded to explain to us the process of a guest check in. All of the formalities were covered in detail and explained clearly to us all. Everyone was presented with a check-in form with an indemnity attached, and we filled it in accordingly. It was a very new experience for the kids to be treated in an independent way.

With all the formalities out of the way, we were escorted to the Main Lodge on the reserve, its roughly about 10 minutes' drive from the checking reception to the lodge reception.

As we approached the main gate to the lodge, the Kuzuko lodge name and the words listed below made an impression of luxury and awe in each of our minds, "the place of glory", and it is more than that to us and the kids we work with.

Car parked, we then entered into the main building and as with any guest, we were welcomed with warmed and scented hand towels to freshen up, and a small tour of the building started. It is truly as magnificent as Savannah and I remembered it, and was clearly an awesome experience for the young ones we brought with us.

We were shown to the restaurant area where a table was immaculately set up, we could not believe it, Jim and Nikki had surprised us by providing us all with a five star lodge dinner and dessert! They were so happy to be able to give Ella and the kids the opportunity to experience true five star hospitality. It took a minute for us to get the kids to sit and relax, but the sparkle in their eyes did not dull for a second.

The menus were presented to us by Yolisa and the restaurant supervisor Xolisile (here forth known as MR. X) and drink orders were taken. Dinner was a choice between fresh venison steak or bacon wrapped chicken, and dessert was a gourmet strawberry ice cream. The kids loved every bit of it!

Freddie joined us for dinner and the kids very quickly opened up to him. The conversation was lively at the table, but it was clear to see how overwhelming and grateful everyone was.

It was quite late in the night at this point, and when everyone had finished dinner, after we went over the plans for the next day with Freddie, he led all of us to our rooms…it was cold walk to the rooms. Excited chatter continued about the brightness of the stars and coolness of the Karoo night. And as Freddie showed each of us to our rooms, we all were feeling overwhelmed with gratefulness. We each were given our own room, fully equipped with the very finest the lodge could offer. Truly the finished of luxuries! The kids were beyond excited, as each of them saw their room and realized just how big and beautiful it was, their chatter all grew in volume. And finally Ella came to her room, and she could only exclaim that this was by the nicest thing she had ever experienced in her entire life. And with the amount of work and sacrifice she makes daily to help the kids and all others in need, we felt very happy that she should experience a wonderful luxury such as Kuzuko Lodge.

For Enslin and I, it was truly a special moment to stay in one of the rooms, having both worked at Kuzuko so many years ago and now, to come back to where our journey had first started. It was surreal.

Our alarm went off at 04h30, I was up-and-at'em as soon as the phone made a peep, though it took a little bit more encouragement for Enslin to get up and out of bed, but the fresh coffee did help a ton. We were up before dawn, to welcome the new day. Jackals howled their mournful cries in the dawning distance, while owls hooted simultaneously in the nearby shadows. Then as dawn began to break, one by one, little birds began to chirp. A kudu barked a warning call somewhere in the bush, perhaps signaling the presence of lions lurking. From the high cliffs beyond, the baboons began their chaotic morning ensemble. And I could only feel in deep joy, it was like coming home, and being amongst old friends. But even greater still, because now I could share the loved I have for the wild places of this world with the kids who will one day take care of it.

Enslin gave the kids a wake up call at 7:00. Though the morning was very cold, the sun was very bright. So were the spirits of everyone once they got going. We had a bit of a time getting the kids and Ella wrangled up, giving Enslin a good opportunity to teach the kids, in the working world, on time is late and early is on time!

We were once again greeted like guests at the lodge, and treated to a wonderful breakfast in the dining room.

All four of the kids stood at the big window, overlooking the reserve. Then one of them spotted something down at the waterhole. They hurried to get my binoculars to find out what they were seeing…very quickly it was announced that it was a buffalo at the water! One by one, each of them looked through the bunks and confirmed, it was a buffalo. Finally they had me look through…however I had to break the news that what they were seeing was in fact a large boulder…now each of them looked through the binoculars again, each confirming, it’s a rock. Definitely a rock. It’s not a buffalo, it’s a rock. They then chastised the first one to exclaim it was a buffalo. It was very funny!

It was time for the group to split, we all gathered in the main area of the lodge to await our debriefing of the day. Freddie and Nikki explained the plan and we split up into two teams.

The boys were going with me and Ella and Freddie to do reserve work and learn about conservation efforts, while the girls would go with Enslin and learn about the inns and out of various departments within the 5 star lodge, everything from lodge management, fine dining, and spa therapy.

Enslin and the girls’ shadow session at the Lodge:

We started our portion of the Shadow experience in the restaurant with the restaurant supervisor Mr. X.

He took us to a section of the restaurant where he had prepared all of the needed items for service and for setting a table to the high standard that the lodge holds.

He started by going through all of the different cutlery and crockery, how and when they are used, followed by the three different styles of setup for meals, breakfast, lunch and dinner.

He went through the entire set up with the girls while paying astute attention to the way he was setting the objects on the table, he showed massive attention to detail as he explained how they ensure that all the objects must be uniform and placed in a particular way. One of the skills he showed was using your thumb up to the first knuckle to ensure that all of the cutlery is in line with the next. “All must be just so.”, he mentioned, taking great pride in correcting the girls from time to time, always very gentle and precise with what he said and always using examples of why he is doing what he is doing, he was very thoughtful and patient.

Mr. X then moved over to service. Basic skills were learned like its always service from the left and clearing from the right, that way you would create the least amount of possible contact with the guests you are serving, distance precision and discretion is the name of the game.

The girls really seemed to enjoy each and every thing MR. X was teaching, and they seemed to pick it up quite quickly as well, going as far as to walk around the restaurant and all the set tables looking for possible mistakes. MR. X runs an immaculate show so no mistakes were detected by the girls keen trained eyes. Believing they had this portion down we set down the training table and had the girls have a go with a full setup of their own, MR. X and I were pleasantly surprised by the amount the girls retained from the short session, if we were to score I would give them 75% out of 100% for accuracy but 100% for effort.

We were then introduced to Marita who runs in most people's minds the most important crucial department, the coffee station. The station was small but well equipped for the need of any coffee enthusiast. She started the session where every good cup of coffee starts with the coffee beans, she showed the girls the beans, the machine that grinds it to a fine ground, the quantities it takes to make an espresso shot, how to aerate it, and the proper technique of using the tamper for the perfect espresso draw. Then she explained the big daddy espresso machine to them and showed them what every section of it does, from drawing the shot to the milk frother.

Marita also showed them an important trick for brewing a good cup, and it is to never brew in a cold cup, you must warm up the cup before putting the coffee in it she said. I noted that both the girls seem to be really interested in what Marita was explaining and seem to genuinely enjoy what they were being shown. Marita then frothed some milk and brewed a beautiful cappuccino that the girls got to enjoy. After this she ran through all of the different drinks they can brew at the lodge and it was too numerous for me to remember and list. She then encouraged the girls to try and make a cappuccino for themselves, one of the girls was really eager to try, and followed Marita's coaching to a tee and produced a truly flavorful and tasty cappuccino for me to enjoy. The power of creation is a great esteem booster and I could see how just doing this one task made an huge impact on this girl, she later exclaimed to all of us that that was one of her main highlight of the entire trip and that she may be able to see herself being a barista in the future and we aim to see that through with her.

Marita was a wonderful teacher she is an incredibly bubbly and helpful person who takes pride in making a great cup of coffee, she mentioned that it gives her a lot of joy to hand a guest a cup and to see the stress melt away due to enjoying a well brewed Java. She also told the girls that it is an important part of the entire service department because a good cup can steer a day from a good one to a great one.

We were then introduced to the Bar supervisor, Zikhona, who gave all of us a crash course in what the bar is for and where everything is within the bar, we did not spend a lot of time here but some of the takeaways were that bartending is also a great area for those who are creative.

While having a little break from all of the hard work we had been participating in, we had a little jam session on the marimbas that are available at the lodge for the spectacular Boma evening where the staff all come together to sing and dance for the guests while they get to enjoy the great food on offer. Mid jam we were approached by Jim who asked me if the girls would like to try their hands at the kitchen to prepare our lunch for us? We did not intend for the kids to experience the kitchen at this time but who was I to rob the girls from this great learning experience!

We were introduced to Cinnabon, the head of the kitchen, and she told the girls that they are going to prepare a chicken salad for four people. Nervously they agreed and were shown around the kitchen before starting with the food. Scullery, dry store cold store, bakery, salad section, fish section, meat section and dessert section were all touched on. Hands washed and the prep work started. Cherry tomatoes needed to be cut and cucumber and carrots needed to be peeled and rolled up into roses, onions were being sliced with a mandolin, dressing was created, chicken strips were cut and grilled atop a gas stove with a little flambe flair.

All of this took about an hour and a half, slower than the kitchen is used to but it did taste superb. Everything was handled with such professionalism and personalism from the entire kitchen team, and the great tutelage from Cinnabon who mentored over the girls with such kindness and care you would think it's a mother teacher her own kids. The rest of the kitchen staff also came around one by one to introduce their roles in the kitchen and give a little look into what goes into working in a kitchen. Hard work was one of the comments that was thrown around by the girls after the experience, but it was rewarding being able to create such a wonderful meal for someone else. The pride they felt hung on them like a badge of honor and they will never have carrots and cucumbers in a different way again. Glowing praise to the kitchen team and Cinnabon at Kuzuko Lodge, thank you all.

We then headed to lodge reception the proverbial head of the lodge logistics. Mr. Clifford Zono and Mrs. Pumeza Mbunge lead us outside to do a guest arrival role play. I suggested to the girls to take it to the next level and to invent personas for the sake of authenticity, one girl chose to be a Photographer from Canada named Sarah, and the other chose to be Jessica from Germany and she is a model, that way, as they said, it made sense that they are traveling together. We were met by Mr. Zono and taken downstairs to cover all of the introductions and formalities, and Pumeza was waiting to greet them with refreshing towels, we were given a tour of the main building as would be custom for new arrivals. We were led towards the panoramic view of the majestic mountains where two of the wellness therapists were waiting for the girls to give them the famous welcoming hand massages all guests get to enjoy as an added form of relaxation to have the guests feel welcome. The girls seem to enjoy the pampering because I was asked when we would visit that department. I gave the girls another little break as it was almost 15:00 PM.

Final stop for the day is the famous on-site wellness spa. We were met with the three therapists Caylon May, Zethemba Matolo and Maurisha Hart. Caylon started the briefing of what the wellness center is all about by running us through the establishment room by room, there were too many different therapies room to list and each has something special about them, from a beauty parlor to couples' rooms and a gym. We were sat down in the main room where she pointed out all of the various products that the guests' therapies include and what is on offer if anyone wants to purchase it. The girls got to sample some of the products and seemed to like the experience of learning about what ingredients do if used in specific ways. The girls were encouraged to experience one of the treatments on offer which was a back exfoliating steam and a Swedish massage from Caylon and her team. I asked them if they enjoyed and, if they would do it again and if they would like to learn how to do these therapies? The answer to all of the above was a resounding yes. The girls were interested to hear about how they would make money with this type of work and Caylon explained that they all have a standard monthly salary and they get commission on any products sold and on all of the treatments on offer, on top of that they also get tips if the clients enjoyed themselves, all of the departments enjoy abundant tips due to the level of service the lodge prides itself on.

Savannah and the boys’ shadow session on the Reserve:

Freddie led us all to the open game viewer vehicle, and there was also a guide in training named Precious who was joining us as this was good practice for her.

After a safety brief, we began to journey. It would be a full days work for the boys, 9-5 learning about conservation and the reserve.

Not long into the drive, Freddie stopped to show the boys some beehives that is one of Kuzuko’s new conservation projects, in which they are trying to conserve the honeybees population in South Africa. This subject was very new to the boys, and they found it very interesting.

Then we saw a large bird of prey, a Pale Chanting Goshawk, and both the boys immediately opened their bird book that we got them earlier in the year to try and ID it. Freddie helped them learn to navigate the comprehensive book, and they soon found the bird. And they were excited to be able to check mark it.

We spotted kudu in the distance and went to get a closer look. We got to enjoy a large herd of kudu run by us, close to the vehicle, and the boys and Ella really enjoyed seeing a large group of young kudu prancing as they ran.

Freddie discussed with me his plan on showing the boys some of the interesting efforts being done with the rhinos and buffalos on the reserve, and I was very excited that the boys and Ella would get to experience this. So we continued on.

Freddie showed them one of the dams, and explained the differences between natural dams and man made dams, and how in very dry areas like the Karoo, the rains are scarce and and sometimes they would create dams so that when it did rain, there would always be plenty of water on the reserve for the wildlife. This was a nice discussion with the boys, learning how different it is in that area as opposed to the water rich area that they are from.

We arrived to a section of the reserve that was fenced off from the rest, and as we entered the gate here we were greeted by two beautiful white rhinos! The rhinos moved away from the vehicle and went to another area where they began feeding on a supplemental grass provided by a neighboring farm. Freddie then began to explain why these rhinos were here and why they had to have this kind of grass as opposed to eating the plants growing around them. Freddie explained that white rhinos do not naturally occur in the Karoo, unlike black rhinos. This is because they eat specific grasses, whereas black rhinos eat shrubs. And the grass the white rhinos need does not grow in the Karoo. The two rhinos had been brought there several years ago, I had actually helped move them from their previous reserve to Kuzuko, as that reserve had become a hotspot for poaching. So they were moved to keep them safe.

There was a very important conversation on rhinos, why they were endangered, what poaching was, and why it was happening. Ella and the boys realized then just how important the rhinos they were seeing are, and how much of a privilege that they could see them. They realized how important it is to protect the rhino, as well as all species.

They also learned the importance of monitoring the rhinos daily, to be sure they were always kept safe from poaching, and that they were now helping with this monitoring patrol.

The boys had some questions about the rhinos, and they learned all about the differences between the two species.

After we left the rhinos, we pulled over to look at the rhino tracks. The boys were surprised when they were told they could get off the vehicle and look at the tracks for themselves.

It was a fantastic experience for the boys to not only learn about the rhino’s tracks and how unique their feet are, but also how important the ancient art of tracking actually is in conservation to this day.

The younger boy then spotted something very interesting…and it opened up a wonderful mentoring opportunity. It was the fresh tracks of a brown hyena! A animal that was never seen on the reserve, due to its elusive and nocturnal nature. We had a really great discussion over this, and the boys then learned about how to tell if an animal is running or walking, and about soil type and how it changes tracks and the aging of tracks.

From here we continued the drive to another part of the reserve…we were looking for buffalos.

Along the way we identified a few more bird species, and even spotted a steenbok, which we learned the Xhosa word for. And it become the first of many, many, MANY steenboks seen through the entire drive.

This is when the herd of buffalos arrived, they walked in a rather orderly fashion beside the vehicle, heading to the area where they would be feeding. Similar to the rhinos, they also needed some supplemental feeding, but only because they were not released to the main reserve yet. Freddie explained to the boys that the herd needed to have at least 50 members before they could have the numbers to stand against the lions on the reserve.

The boys enjoyed the buffalos, and had a few questions about them as well. And they learned all about buffalos, where they stand in conservation, their substantial worth, and the general knowledge of their herd structure.

I was happy to see that the buffalo I had raised and later published a book about, Arnold, had had a calf of his own before he had passed away. And seeing how beautiful the youngster was brought me so much joy. It was good to see that he lived on.

After the buffalos, it was time for the boys to do a little conservation work…alien plant removal.

We got out of the vehicle, and the boys listened intently as Freddie described the problem with prickly pear cactuses, as these are a species of cacti not native to South Africa and they destroy a lot of native plants.

He then showed the boys how to dispose of the alien cactus, and then had them finish the rest of the cactuses in the area. It was rewarding for the boys to take part in helping the land.

We returned to the main reserve and went along over the Karoo slopes, all of which were bursting with color after the recent rains the week before. Between the hills ran slivers of gurgling streams, the land was truly beautiful to behold.

Suddenly, and much to my surprise, I saw, standing next to a bush, a very large and shaggy brown hyena! This was quite a shock in deed! Not only to see a brown hyena on the reserve, but to see one so large in broad daylight! I pointed it out to all, and we watched in wonderment as it started to run. It was a beautiful sighting to be sure! It was most special, because the boys had now seen the benefit of tracking, having seen the hyena’s tracks earlier and now here it was before us!

Our next stop was when we came to a crossroads, and everyone got out of the vehicle to do some tracking. The boys were loving this. Freddie asked them to guess at the variety of tracks they were perceiving. They made good guesses, but the younger boy came up with the proper answer, kudu. We went over the story that was being told by the tracks, how some older ones had walked across the road, while others had been running, and one even showed it had slipped while bounding in the mud. Then there was another set of tracks…the boys learned that giraffe, buffalo, and eland are sometimes mistaken together. And they learned what the differences were, and they saw before them very clear eland tracks. So they began to get excited at the prospect of finding more animals by tracking.

Not far from the area we found several giraffe tracks, and the boys now understood the differences giraffe and eland. They also enjoyed looking at the springbok tracks and then seeing the herd ahead of us, and seeing where a wildebeest had been dust bathing, and then we spotted it  resting in the shade of some bushes.

We stopped for lunch on the top of a hill and had a nice view around us. Here we had nice sandwiches, fruits, and drinks. And the boys, with their endless energy, played a little soccer, which later turned to baseball, with the balled up aluminum they had.

We continued on, pausing only to enjoy a little stream that came gushing through the reserve. We all took a moment to close our eyes and count how many sounds we could hear. It was something the boys do not get an opportunity to do in their normal lives, and they enjoyed that.

As we continued across the reserve, the boys got to experience what it’s like to patrol such a large property. And we spotted old lion tracks on the road. This was very exciting for the boys, and as they learned about the lion tracks, we noted some jackal tracks next to them. And this was a great opportunity to discuss the stark differences between feline and canine tracks. The boys really loved everything they were learning about tracking, and their confidence was beginning to grow in this new skill.

We stopped by one of the large waterholes and identified a grey heron on its edges, and then Freddie found a wildebeest skull and the boys got to learn a little bit about ecology and how things decay and bones become sources of calcium for other animals.

When we came to a large dried up riverbed, the younger boy pointed out tracks in the soft sand, and here we found the much fresher lion tracks! This was very exciting, and very encouraging for the younger boy, he was beginning to see that he was gifted in something he never knew before, after feeling he was slow because of some learning difficulties, now he was finding confidence in the unique capabilities he never knew he had.

Another highlight for the boys was learning to use a telemetry, the device often used by conservationists to track collared animals.

The boys also got to take part in fixing the rained out road. They learned to pack rocks and got to see the results of their labor by driving over the formerly impossible road. They enjoyed the new skill they had learned!

But one of the best parts of the day came at the end…we found elephant tracks!

As we followed them we ended up on a hill, and far off we could see the elephant herd, as well as giraffes! So, following Freddie’s instincts, we headed towards the green riverbed to await the elephants. And sure enough, the whole herd arrived. We all enjoyed sitting amongst them, watching them eat and play fight. Ella and the boys loved watching this interaction, and it was a perfect end to a 9-5 day outside on the reserve! But it wasn’t over yet…

As we headed home, we spotted a warthog, and then…the big bull elephant came out! This was an even greater experience, as he came very close to the vehicle, and ate in front of us. The boys were mesmerized by his strength and size!

It could not have been a more impactful day for them, they had learned so many new things, and needless to say they were exhausted. I really could not have thanked Freddie and Precious enough. Precious was such a happy and bubbly person, she brought a very cheery and fun vibe to the day. And Freddie is truly an inspiring person and a fine example of a great guide, his patience and honest kindness had such a positive impact on the boys. He really helped bring out the best of them, and leaves a lasting positive impact on all who meet him.

Thank you Freddie and Precious for taking part in changing these kids lives forever!

We arrived back at the lodge to meet the girls, and everyone went to their rooms to freshen up and rest before dinner.

After a nice rest, we enjoyed a glorious and iconic Kuzuko sunset. The colors were vibrant, and it was a nice end to a wonderful day.

As night fell, we all gathered at the beautiful boma to have a braai and fireside chat. Though, also iconic of the Karoo, it got very cold and windy! Everyone huddled close to the fire, and the chatting commenced.

Each one of us shared our favorite experience from the day, Ella enjoyed the rhinos the most, and had been very moved by that entire experience. Both the boys expressed their deep love for their new found skill, tracking, but also they loved the elephants and learning about conservation. The girls shared their highlights, one was the setting of fine dining tables and the beautiful details that went into this, and the other girl described her new passion of making beautiful coffee and learning the skills of baristas.

For Enslin and I, the highlight was seeing the kids grow and the joy all of them experienced in this new world. It was seeing the hope and confidence they now had for their futures. That is what this project is all about.

There was much laughter and stories being told throughout the rest of the braai. Enslin made us wonderful wors rolls and we ended with toasting marshmallows over the fire, which definitely brought on a sugar rush.

But by the time the fire had died down, everyone was more than ready for bed. It had been a full day of learning and trying new things, and we all could use a good night’s rest.

Another glorious morning presented itself the next day, the birds were lively and singing, and the dawn was full of golden hues.

We all packed up and got our things in the car, and then met Freddie and Precious at the game viewer for the morning drive.

Although the kids were still a little tired, their spirits were not.

Freddie was in good spirits and optimistic that we would see the lions, one of the only main animals at the lodge that had remained elusive to our group. We were all on high alert to try and spot the animals. Lots of kudu and steenbok were seen on the property and made me quite glad because steenbok are my favorite antelope and seeing them was very reminiscent of my own days of guiding at Kuzuko. Freddy managed to get a ping for a general direction of the lions on the telemetry device, but expressed he is not particularly fond of using it to find the animals, as it takes away from the adventure, and I do agree with him 100% with that.

We saw many birds, and even some baboons. The cloud cover increased as we drove into the reserve, and it definitely gave the world around us an eerie but beautiful feeling.

After spotting some kudu and then, as Ella laughed, a steenbok around EVERY corner, we came across fresh lion tracks. Freddie once again showed the boys and girls how to use the telemetry machine. But he put it away and said, that it is better and more rewarding to use your skills and find animals on your own instincts.

The boys both did well with their tracking skills, and even one of the girls showed a sharp eye in spotting more lion tracks.

We drove around a bit and Freddie exclaimed that he is just going to proceed on feeling because he has a good idea of where they are and where they might be heading. After doing a bit of off roading and some scanning with the binoculars, Savannah was the one who managed to see them. It was at that point that I knew that she has to be dubbed with the nickname Iliso Iwekhozi (Eagle eye in Xhosa) a well-deserved name for my exceptional wife and everyone agreed that the name is perfect for the one who sees so well, she can see the future!

For Savannah and I, it was very moving to see these lions again. They are such beautiful lions, and the memories of our first date together came to mind, as we had enjoyed watching these very same lions that day all those years ago.

We all watched in awe as one of the huge males moved calmly passed the vehicle. The kids all were wide eyed in amazement.

Everyone was quiet, and simply taking it all in.

The two female lionesses, so lady like and pretty, laid quietly nearby. Their ears and eyes fixed into the riverbed below. They seemed to know something was there, and showed signs of considering hunting.

We then got to enjoy the famous lion named Sylvester, with his big dark mane, surely the most perfect looking lion, come walking by us to join the others. It was wonderful to see that familiar face again after so many years.

We finally had to leave the lion sighting and head back to the lodge, after all it was a very long drive home.

At the lodge we were given all kinds of homemade pastries to take on the road, croissants with cheese and ham, danishes, and blueberry muffins. Jim and Nikki were there to say farewell, and to tell us all, that any time we wanted to bring the kids to learn we were welcome. And they asked not to wait too long for the next trip, they graciously told to come soon as possible.

It was a kind and loving goodbye from all, and felt we could not thank everyone enough for what they did for the kids.

And that was the end of our first “Shadow session” at Kuzuko. We would like to take this opportunity to once again thank all of the staff and management at Kuzuko for participating in this program with us, we want them to know that they all left a lasting and encouraging impression on the lives of these wonderful kids we have the honor to work with.

On the drive home, Ella told us something that really clarified for us the need for our project in this area. She told us how the teens in the township community are so poorly off, that those who manage to get work only work for one week, and then spend their entire salary on alcohol, which they then drink in a single night. This is what “life” is for them. The drink themselves to death. They quit eating, because drinking is more important, they sell everything they have, just to drink alcohol. And why? Because to them, this is fine. They don’t see anything better to do with their lives, because they've never been shown anything better. This is the reality of the kids we work with, and why, if we do not continue with showing them what is out there, giving them the opportunity to experience new horizons, and learn its worth working towards, they too will follow their peers. This project is so important to these kids. Not only have they seen that they themselves are capable of success, they have have also learned the world is far bigger and more obtainable than they ever believed. This is what we wanted, a seed of hope for each of them.

Update after the trip to Kuzuko:

After being back home, we have already seen a huge change in the kids who attended the mentorship program we started at Kuzuko Lodge.

The most reserved of the girls has opened up more and found more confidence and has expressed interest in learning more about about hospitality and fine dining.

The other girl, she has been so inspired and encouraged by her experience that she is already putting so much more effort into school and extra learning. Upon seeing her dedication we reached out to a local coffee shop and she is now doing some shadowing there on the weekends to increase her skills and knowledge of barista work. She has said that she wants to try and pursue this, and wants to do whatever it takes to work at a lodge like Kuzuko.

The two boys have also been incredibly inspired.

The younger boy has been very encouraged by what he learned about tracking, and that its something he can actually pursue and be good at. He has felt very discouraged at school in the past by some of his struggles, and did not believe in his own abilities and unique gifts until now!

And the older boy has really felt inspired to become a greater leader, something he felt nervous about before. Although he has always had natural gifts of a leader, he never felt confident enough to express it. He is showing much more confidence already, and is really opening up and taking charge, and really wants to pursue a possible career in guiding!

Seeing such quick results is inspiring.  This first trip was absolutely life changing for the teens! Go forward we plan to do many, many more with the same group as well as others. It is important to us to put focus on the older teens, as they are entering an adult world soon, and we intend to mentor, encourage and work with them until we see them thriving on their own. We believe they deserve the opportunity to gain skills and life experience so that they can have a successful life and future they are proud of. None of the kids had any idea that such careers existed like those found at Kuzuko, meeting the incredible employees there, most of whom have very similar backgrounds to them. And now, they know these careers are obtainable for them if they are willing to try.

This is what Archangels Project - SEED of Hope is all about.