Umzi is all about people and nature

Some Umzi people doing what they do!

No matter how you look at it, Umzi Wethu is always all about people and their amazing stories. In this post I've put together a few highlights from the last few months which show off some of the lives of Umzi people.

It was a really great surprise to have Bongani and Simpiwe pop round the office recently in their smart SANPARKS uniforms. These young men graduated as field rangers from Umzi and are now part of the marine division at SANPARKS who take care of issues such as combating perlemoen poaching and conservation tasks at Bird Island.

On the recent student trail in the Woody Cape section of the Greater Addo Park it was great to meet up with Thembisa and Zanele who are both working as rangers for SANPARKS. These two ladies are doing an excellent job and are an example of what can be achieved when you put your mind to something.

Another Umzi graduate who is making us proud is Lincoln (left, with Kwanele from Umzi 7) who graduated in 2008 and joined the Wilderness Foundation as a Junior Guide. Lincoln has shown great commitment and eagerness to learn - taking every opportunity to get out into nature. He has a passion for conservation and has been a great addition to our training team in Somerset East where he is now based. Together with his role as a trainer, he is also involved in various trails programs and co-ordinates our social outreach in Somerset East.

No sooner had Lulu (right) moved across to the Umzi Wethu office from her job at the Wilderness Foundation head office and she was already off on trail with Lihle and the students.There is something infectious about Lihle's love for nature and it seems Lulu has caught a bit of that. She had a great time out and about at Woody Cape - sleeping under the stars, enjoying the sights and sounds of the wild!

Up until now, 2009 has been an incredible year for Umzi and its people - I have no doubt that as we race towards 2010 these amazing stories will continue to get told!

-- Paul