So, when we came across this quote on the website of one of our partner organisations, HAART (Helping All Animals in Rural Towns), it felt like a moment of serendipity. It perfectly captures not only their mission but ours as well. Whether it’s standing up for animal welfare or protecting our planet for future generations, facts alone won’t inspire action—hearts will. And that’s why partnerships like this are so important.
Earlier this month, we were thrilled to host HAART’s first camp of 2025, welcoming 11 eager new faces—wide-eyed with excitement, wonder, and perhaps a little apprehension. As they paired off and settled into their tents, nervous glances quickly turned into laughter, with heads popping in and out of zipped canvas doorways. The adventure had begun.
Bongani, our guide and environmental educator, wasted no time getting to the essence of the experience.
“Look at the book in front of you,” he said. “You know it’s a book. But can you tell me how many pages are in it without looking?”
Met with silence and a few puzzled expressions, he continued. “This is my job. I know you recognize nature when you see it. But I’m here to help you look deeper—to really understand it.”
With that, the group set off on their very first game drive in the Greater Kruger. Binoculars and Bird Bingo cards in hand, they were soon captivated by the herds of impala carrying oxpeckers on their backs and the grunting hippos splashing in the Olifants River.
Then, something remarkable happened. As the group paused to identify a bird for their bingo game, our guide spotted movement in the long grass. A closer look revealed an almost perfectly camouflaged leopard, just metres from the vehicle, cautiously lifting her head above the vegetation to observe the newcomers.
So masterful was her disguise that it took a full minute before everyone could spot her—at which point, quiet gasps of awe rippled through the group. These young learners, who had read and heard stories of the incredible wildlife in their home country, were now experiencing it for themselves—sitting just metres from a wild leopard!
Realizing she had been seen, the leopard turned gracefully and melted into the bush. In a matter of seconds, she had vanished completely. Though brief, the joy of those few minutes carried long into the evening and will be a memory that these learners will treasure and retell for a lifetime. It is these special moments in nature where our animal warriors – our hearts in conservation – are born.
Over the next few days, the group explored the intricate web of life, discovering that nature isn’t just a collection of different plants and animals—it’s a vast, interconnected system. Through a mix of game drives, lessons, and hands-on activities, they learned about predator-prey relationships, the roles of carnivores, omnivores, and herbivores, and how every creature plays a vital part in the ecosystem.
Each drive brought new discoveries—from tracking animals and studying frog nests to encountering an entire herd of elephants. For these children, elephants had long been associated with fear and destruction, with stories passed down of crop raids and panicked animals escaping the park. But this time was different. Sitting quietly among a peaceful herd, listening to their deep belly rumbles, their fear began to fade. Heads that had dipped low in uncertainty slowly lifted, eyes wide with newfound wonder. In that moment, something shifted.
For HAART, whose mission is to inspire a new generation of animal warriors who embrace a love for all animals, this was a defining experience. And for the young learners, those two nights in nature were more than just a camp—they were a spark. A connection. The beginning of a relationship with wildlife that could shape how these young minds see animals and the natural world forever.
