The Wood App – alles oor hout, binne almal se bereik

Sedert die bekendstelling van The Wood App (https://thewoodapp.com/), het hierdie innoverende produk van die Departement Bos- en Houtkunde van die Stellenbosch Universiteit ontwikkel van ‘n beskeie opvoedkundige platform tot ‘n omvattende bron van inligting met betrekking tot alles rakende hout konstruksie. Die webwerf se inhoud en reikwydte het uitgebrei sedert dit in 2020 geskep is deur Dr Philip Crafford en Prof Brand Wessels, en duisende gebruikers ontwerp, gebruik en dink anders oor hout as tevore.

Opwindende groei

Die aantal gebruikers weerspieël die sukses van die plaform. Getalle het toegeneem vanaf 11,000 gebruikers in April 2024, tot die huidige totaal van 23,000. Alhoewel die webwerf ontwikkel is deur plaaslike hout spesialiste en gemik is op die plaaslike mark, bedien The Wood App tans 9,000 gebruikers buite Suid-Afrika. Hierdie groei bevestig die plaaslike relevansie van die produk, terwyl dit erkenning gee aan die internasionale kwaliteit en belangrikheid van die platform.

“Die reaksie oortref deurlopend ons verwagtinge,” sê Dr Crafford, ‘n nagraadse genoot by die Departement Bos- en Houtkunde. “Die voortdurende groei in gebruikersgetalle, asook die oorweldigende vraag na die fisiese kursusse wat aangebied word, is baie bemoedigend.”

Aanlyn opvoedkundige platform

The Wood App is internet gebasseerd en die inhoud is gratis beskikbaar vir enigeen met internet toegang. Tans word 11 kursusse aanlyn aangebied. Onderwerpe wissel van basiese houtraam of houtdek bouwerk en stresgegradeerde hout, tot spesialis onderwerpe soos klankbeheer in hout geboue, hout in vuur en kruisgelamineerde houtontwerp. Elke kursus neem ongeveer 2.5 uur om te voltooi, en sluit interaktiewe vasvrae in.

“Ons is opgewonde oor die vooruitsig om binnekort ‘n nuwe kursus, Die Grondbeginsels van Houtdakontwerp, bekend te stel,” deel Crafford. “Ons doel is om die webwerf deurlopend uit te brei, in lyn met die veranderende behoeftes van ons gehoor.”

Digitale en fisiese opleiding

Alhoewel die basis van The Wood App steeds die aanlyn kursusse is, het die platform suksesvol uitgebrei en sluit nou fisiese werkswinkels ook in. Die vraag na hierdie sessies oortref dikwels die beskibaarheid en ‘n onlangse kursus in Stellenbosch het 150 aansoeke ontvang terwyl slegs 80 kandidate geakkommodeer kon word. Hierdie in-persoon kursusse is CPD-geakkrediteerd vir argitekte.

Die kalender vir werkswinkels vir 2025 het afgeskop met in houtraam kursus in Stellenbosch op 12 Februarie. 40% van die kursusgangers was argitekte en 15% was bou-inspekteurs. Dit illustreer die aantreklikheid van die platform vir belangrike rolspelers in die konstruksiebedryf. Op 2 Julie is ‘n verdere houtraam kursus in Durban aangebied.

Die program vir 2025 het ook ‘n dek-en-paal konstruksie werkswinkel in George op 2 April ingesluit, sowel as ‘n houtraam bouwerk, hout in vuur, en houtgradering werkswinkel in Pretoria op 8 en 9 September.

Die datums vir werkswinkels vir 2026 sal binnekort aangekondig word, en sal weer geleenthede soos houtraam bouwerk, massa hout bouwerk en geïtegreerde volhoubaarheid in verskeie Suid-Afrikaanse dorpe of stede insluit.

Industrie ondersteuning en erkenning

Die sukses van die platform sou nie moontlik gewees het sonder die ondersteuning van belangrike rolspelers in die bedryf nie. Die ontwikkeling van The Wood App is moontlik gemaak deur die finansiële ondersteuning van Sawmilling South Africa, die Suid-Afrikaanse Houtbewaarders Assosiasie (SAWPA), en Fibre Processing & Manufacturing (FP&M) SETA. Hierdie fondse maak dit ook vir The Wood App moontlik om die aanlyn kursusse gratis beskikbaar te stel.

Die platform lewer meetbare bydraes tot professionele ontwikkeling in die hout industrie, met meer as 250 CPD sertifikate wat reeds aan argitekte uitgereik is, en meer as 500 aanlyn kursusse wat tot op hede voltooi is.

Vooruitsigte

Die visie van The Wood App is om plaaslike ontwerpers, ontwikkelaars, kontrakteurs en DIY’ers te ondersteun, te inspireer en aan te moedig om hout te gebruik. Die doel van die platform is om ‘n leer-omgewing te skep wat teoretiese kennis en praktiese vaardighede kombineer. Aanlyn kursusse van hoë kwaliteit word deurlopend ontwikkel en by die webwerf gevoeg. Hierdie hulpbronne word gekomplementeer deur praktiese werkswinkels en bied dus ‘n omvattende opvoedkundige pakket aan vir alle hout-entoesiaste.

Vir verdere inligting, of om in te teken op die kwartaallikse nuusbrief, kontak asseblief info@thewoodapp.com. 

Besoek https://thewoodapp.com/ om meer uit te vind oor kursusse, werkswinkel skedules en hulpbronne aangaande alle houtverwante onderwerpe.

The Wood App – everything wood, within everybody’s reach

Since the launch of The Wood App (https://thewoodapp.com/), this innovative product of the Department of Forest and Wood Science, Stellenbosch University, has grown from a modest educational platform into a comprehensive resource on all things related to timber construction. After the creation of the website in 2020 by Dr Philip Crafford and Prof Brand Wessels, it has expanded its offering and reach, changing the way that thousands of users think about, design and work with wood.

Exciting growth 

The numbers reflect the platform’s success. From 11,000 users reported in April 2024, The Wood App now boasts 23,000 users globally. While the site was initiated and developed by local wood specialists and aimed at local wood fans, The Wood App currently serves 9,000 users outside South Africa. This growth confirms not only the local relevance, but also the international recognition of the platform’s quality and significance. 

“The response continues to exceed our expectations,” states Dr Crafford, a post-doctoral fellow at the Department of Forest and Wood Science. “The continued growth in user numbers, as well as the oversubscription of the in-person courses offered, is very encouraging.”

Online education platform

The Wood App is web based and its content is available, free of charge, to anybody with access to the internet. Currently, 11 online courses are offered. Topics range from basic timber frame or deck building and stress graded timber, to specialised subjects such as sound control in timber buildings, timber in fire and cross-laminated timber design and construction. Each course takes approximately 2.5 hours to complete, and includes interactive quizzes. 

“We are excited to launch a new course, The Fundamentals of Timber Roof Design, soon,” says Crafford. “Our aim is to keep expanding the site, to meet the changing needs of our audience.”

Learning digitally and physically

While the foundation of The Wood App is still its online courses, the platform has successfully grown to include physical workshops. These events are often oversubscribed, with 150 applications received for one course in Stellenbosch, where only 80 people could be accommodated. These in-person courses are CPD accredited for architects.

The workshop calendar for 2025 kicked off with a Timber Frame Workshop in Stellenbosch on 12 February. Of the attendees, 40% were architects and 15% were building inspectors. This illustrates the appeal of the platform to key role-players in the construction industry. Another Timber Frame Workshop was presented in Durban on 2 July.

The 2025 program also included a Deck and Pole Construction Workshop in George on 2 April, and Timber Frame Building, Timber in Fire and Timber Grading Workshops on 8 and 9 September in Pretoria.

Workshop dates for 2026 will be announced soon and will again include events such as Timber Frame Building, Mass Timber Building and Integrating Sustainability into Design using Wood, in and around South Africa’s major cities. 

Industry support and recognition

Without the strong backing from the industry, the platform’s success would not have been achieved. The creation of The Wood App was made possible by the financial support from Sawmilling South Africa, the South African Wood Preservers Association (SAWPA), and Fibre Processing and Manufacturing (FP&M) SETA. It has also enabled The Wood App to continue to offer its online products for free.

The platform is making measurable contributions to professional development in the timber industry, with more than 250 CPD certificates issued to architects and 500 online courses completed to date.

Looking ahead

The vision of The Wood App is to support and inspire local designers, developers, contractors and DIY’ers to use wood.  The platform aims to create a learning environment that combines theoretical knowledge and hands-on skills. High quality online courses are continuously developed and added to the website. These resources are complemented by practical workshops, offering a comprehensive educational package to all wood enthusiasts.

For more information, or to subscribe to the quarterly newsletter, please contact info@thewoodapp.com. 

To explore courses, workshop schedules and resources that cover “all things wood”, visit https://thewoodapp.com/

A delegation comprising Dr Ethel Phiri, Dr Nyasha Magadzire, Prof Niel Goosen, Prof James Pryke, Dr René Gaigher, Tamarin Powell, and Julia Harper recently represented Stellenbosch University (SU) at the Green Futures workshop in Lusaka, Zambia. Dr Phiri organised a symposium on indigenous and underutilised crops, while in-field farmer engagement was conducted by Prof Goosen, Prof Pryke, and Dr Gaigher. The event, funded by the German Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Regional Identity (BMLEH), brought together leading researchers, practitioners (including farmers), and policymakers from across the continent to explore innovative approaches that promote biodiversity conservation and the circular economy, with the ultimate goal of fostering resilient and sustainable food systems.

The SU team actively contributed to discussions on advancing African-led solutions to climate and environmental challenges. Their diverse expertise—spanning crop sciences, biodiversity and agroecology, sustainable food systems, renewable energy, and policy engagement—ensured a rich exchange of perspectives and reinforced the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration.

Beyond the conference, SU and the University of Zambia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to strengthen their commitment to collaborative research and knowledge exchange. The delegation also joined field trips to local farming and conservation initiatives around Lusaka (Kasisi). Here, the SU team led discussion groups that showcased new technologies and facilitated conversations on biodiversity and the circular economy for Zambian small-scale farms. These visits highlighted community-driven practices in regenerative agriculture, water management, and ecosystem restoration, offering valuable lessons and opportunities for future partnerships.

The Green Futures engagement underscored the importance of cross-border collaboration in sharing knowledge and driving sustainable innovation. SU’s participation reflected the University’s commitment to co-developing solutions, fostering partnerships, and building networks that contribute to a greener, more sustainable future for Africa.

Four postgraduate students, supervised by Prof Sonja Matthee in the Department of Conservation Ecology and Entomology and co-supervised by Prof Conrad Matthee (Department of Botany and Zoology), recently attended the 5th International Congress on Parasites of Wildlife (ICPOW), held in Kruger National Park from 14–18 September 2025. The conference was attended by 138 delegates representing several South African, African, and international research and tertiary institutions.

Ms Inge Raubenheimer (PhD) presented results from her recently completed MSc project on the parasites associated with Smith’s bush squirrel in South Africa. She received the award for Best First-time Poster Presenter (poster title: Mitochondrial DNA phylogeography of a species-specific sucking louse, Johnsonpthirus heliosciuri, as a proxy to provide insights into the population connectivity of its host, Smith’s bush squirrels, Paraxerus cepapi) and was runner-up for Best First-time Oral Presenter (presentation title: Ectoparasites and gastrointestinal helminths associated with Smith’s bush squirrel (Paraxerus cepapi) in South Africa).

Mr Ernst Sclemmer (MSc) was runner-up for Best First-time Poster Presenter for his poster on a New species of Gastronodus Singh, 1934 (Nematoda: Spirocercidae) discovered in a South African rodent.

Ms Lola Singo (MSc) was awarded 2nd runner-up for Best First-time Oral Presenter for her presentation on the Diversity and distribution of ectoparasites associated with Rhabdomys spp. (Muridae) in the Fynbos, Nama- and Succulent Karoo biomes.

Lastly, Ms Jessica Kipling (PhD) was awarded 2nd runner-up in the Senior Oral Presenter category. Her presentation was entitled Parasite diversity of the Karoo bush rat (Otomys unisulcatus) in the Western Cape.

Prof Sonja Matthee, who chaired the Local Organising Committee of ICPOW, also presented findings from a collaborative project entitled Host and parasite contributions to ectoparasite species assemblages on sympatric rodents.

The conference also provided an opportunity to reconnect with ConsEnt alumni. Dr Luther van der Mescht is now a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Entomology and Zoology at the University of the Free State, while Prof Nkululeko Nyangiwe is a Distinguished Professor in the Department of Agriculture and Animal Health at the University of South Africa.

Photo 1:  5Th ICPOW Awards ceremony. From left to right: Ms Inge Raubenheimer (PhD), Prof Conrad Matthee (co-supervisor), Ms Jessica Kipling (PhD), Ms Lola Singo (MSc), Prof Sonja Matthee (Supervisor) and Mr Ernst Schlemmer (MSc).

Photo 2: Group photo with alumni at 5th ICPOW. From left to right: Prof Conrad Matthee (Botany and Zoology, SU), Prof Sonja Matthee (ConsEnt, SU), Dr Luther van der Mescht (UFS), Professor Nkululeko Nyangiwe (UNISA), Mr Ernst Schlemmer (ConsEnt MSc, SU), Ms Lola Singo (ConsEnt MSc, SU), Ms Jessica Kipling (ConsEnt PhD, SU), Ms Alyssa Little (Botany and Zoology PhD, SU) and Ms Inge Raubenheimer (ConsEnt PhD, SU).

Paul’s PhD project is entitled Improving the Accuracy and Precision of Aerial Census in the Savanna Biome Using Remote-Sensed Imagery and Machine Learning.

The aim of his research is to develop an automated aerial game census technique for the savanna biome that matches or surpasses human counting in both precision and accuracy when detecting and enumerating medium and large herbivores. Remote-sensed imagery further enables highly accurate mapping of animal locations in relation to their environment. Understanding how organisms interact with each other, as well as the spatial organisation and functioning of ecosystems, is essential for comprehending ecosystem dynamics as a whole. Enhancing our ability to measure these interactions lays the foundation for a more comprehensive understanding of ecosystem processes.

Given the critical role herbivores play in shaping savanna ecosystems, improved methods to monitor their populations across space and time add significant value. Effective management of herbivory depends on reliable data about ungulate population trends and distributions, which are vital for multiple objectives—ranging from environmental monitoring and species reintroduction, to assessing population health, informing conservation action, and advancing ecological knowledge.

This research aims to improve the methods used to estimate animal numbers and monitor populations through automation. Not only is the process expected to eliminate the human error inherent in current methods such as aerial surveys, but it will also provide a more cost-effective alternative. Moreover, the higher spatial precision offered by remote-sensed imagery will expand our understanding of the drivers of animal movement across landscapes.

Paul Allin with the projects drone

Edited by Precious Canham

Tydens die September reses het die Agronomie studente die voorreg gehad om die jaarlikse Agronomiestudentetoer by te woon – en watter wonderlike ervaring was dit nie! Gedurende die toer het ons verskeie bewaringslandbou-(BL) plase in die pragtige Suid-Kaap besoek. Hierdie boere het hul hekke vir ons oopgemaak en hul stories met ons gedeel, wat ons ’n eerstehandse blik gegee het op die innoverende praktyke wat moderne graan- en oliesaadproduksie vorm.

Foto 1: Kanolagewas en uitsig vanaf Richard Krige se plaas

Die doel van die toer was om studente insig te gee in die landboubedryf en hul perspektief te verbreed oor die interdissiplinêre aspekte van landbou. Dit het studente in staat gestel om konsepte oor gewaswetenskap, onkruidkunde, veekunde en landbou-ekonomie met mekaar te verbind. Dit het ook opgewondenheid oor die toekoms aangewakker en ons, as studente, aangemoedig om te dink oor waar ons onsself binne die waardeketting van landbou wil posisioneer.

Van hoe boere grondgesondheid beskerm tot hoe hulle produktiwiteit en volhoubaarheid balanseer, het die studente eerstehands gesien wat dit verg om slimmer vir die toekoms te boer, en hoe ervaring soms ’n groter rol speel as teorie. Op elke plaas het studente die groei en ontwikkeling van sleutelgewasse in verskillende stadiums waargeneem en vergelyk hoe bestuurspraktyke hul prestasie beïnvloed. Boere het gedeel hoe hulle bewaringslandbou-beginsels op hul plase geïmplementeer het op grond van praktiese oorwegings. Dit was interessant om die verskille in opbrengste en toestande van dieselfde gewastipes te sien, en hoe dit verband hou met hul boerderypraktyke, tegnieke sowel as hul plaag- en onkruidbestuursstrategieë. Gesprekke oor insetkoste, opbrengste en markbehoeftes het die ekonomiese belangrikheid van hierdie gewasse binne Suid-Afrika se landboulandskap verder beklemtoon en studente se kennisveld verbreed.

Foto 2: ’n Paar van die dekgewasse en vee wat tydens die toer waargeneem is.

Om direk van boere te hoor en in die lande te staan, het die verband tussen klaskamer en praktyk duidelik gemaak. Waarneming van wisselbou, residubestuur en grondbewaringsmetodes in aksie het die konsepte van morfologie, produksie en volhoubaarheid tasbaar en onvergeetlik gemaak.

Foto 3: ’n Boer, mnr. Hume Schonfeldt, verduidelik aan studente sommige van die boerderypraktyke wat op hul plaas toegepas word.

’n Opregte dankie aan ons ruim borge – die Proteïennavorsingstigting (PNS), Suid-Afrikaanse Brouerye (SAB) en Barenbrug Saad – wie se ondersteuning hierdie toer moontlik gemaak het; die boere wat ons verwelkom en hul kennis met ons gedeel het; asook ons dosente wat die ervaring werklik onvergeetlik gemaak het vir almal betrokke.

Foto 4: Studente en dosente by PJ Neethling se plaas.

Outeur: Aneeqah Soeker namens die Agronomie 454/742 klas

During the semester break, the Agronomy students had the privilege of attending the annual Agronomy Student Tour, and what an incredible experience it was! Over the course of the trip, we visited several conservation agriculture (CA) farms across the beautiful Southern Cape region. These farms opened their gates and shared their stories, providing us with a firsthand look at the innovative practices shaping modern grain and oilseed farming.

Photo 1: Canola crop and view as observed from Richard Krige’s farm

This tour aimed to give students insight into the agricultural industry and expand their perspective on the interdisciplinary aspects of agriculture. It enabled students to link concepts across crop science, weed science, animal science, and agricultural economics. It also sparked excitement about the future and encouraged us, as students, to reflect on where we want to position ourselves within the agricultural value chain.

From learning how farmers protect soil health to understanding how they balance productivity and sustainability, the students were able to witness firsthand what it takes to farm smarter for the future, and how experience sometimes plays a bigger role than theory. 

At each farm, students observed the growth and development of key crops in different stages, comparing how management practices influenced their performance. Farmers shared insights on how they implemented conservation agriculture principles on their farms based on practicality. It was interesting to see the difference in yields and conditions of farms of the same crop types, and how it relates to their farming operations, techniques, as well as their pest and weed management strategies. Discussions around input costs, yields, and market demands highlighted the economic importance of these crops within South Africa’s agricultural landscape, further expanding students’ field of knowledge.

Photo 2: Some of the cover crops and livestock that were observed during the tour.

Hearing directly from farmers and standing in the field helped connect the classroom to real-life applications. Observing crop rotations, residue management, and soil conservation methods in action made the concepts of morphology, production, and sustainability tangible and memorable.

Photo 3: A farmer, Mr Hume Schonfeldt, explaining to students some of the farming practices used on their farm.

A heartfelt thank you goes to our generous sponsors;  the Protein Research Foundation (PRF), South African Breweries (SAB), and Barenbrug, whose support made this tour possible, the farmers who welcomed us and shared their knowledge with us; as well as our lecturers who made the experience truly memorable for everyone involved.

Photo 4: Students and lecturers at PJ Neethling’s farm.

Author: Aneeqah Soeker on behalf of the Agronomy 454/742 class

• Indiscriminate tree planting in Africa can do more harm than good
• To guide smarter use of indigenous species, researchers are now developing a bioinformatics-based digital toolkit
• Goal: climate resilience, biodiversity protection and sustainable livelihoods
• Photo and soundbite attached.

 Stellenbosch, 1 September 2025 – Planting trees is often hailed as a simple solution to climate change. But when done indiscriminately, tree planting in Africa can cause more harm than good – displacing biodiverse and unique grasslands, reducing water availability, and undermining livelihoods.

Now, an ambitious research initiative, the Southern African Trees for Climate Adaptation and Resilience (SAT-CARe) project, is working to change that. Anchored at Stellenbosch University, and developed in collaboration with researchers from other universities and institutions, SAT-CARe is building an open-access toolkit based on bioinformatics to guide smarter use of indigenous trees in Southern Africa – with plans to expand its reach across the continent.

The digital toolkit will draw on climate, soil and environmental data, along with detailed species traits, to help policymakers, farmers and urban planners identify which endemic African tree species are best suited for such applications as reforestation, urban greening, ecological restoration and livelihood support. This approach is considered crucial to move away from poorly informed decisions to plant non-indigenous species.

Afforestation a growing problem

“Tree planting is often presented as a cure-all for climate change,” says Prof Guy Midgley, Director of SU’s School for Climate Studies.

“But planting the wrong trees in the wrong places can actually reduce biodiversity, threaten water security and damage livelihoods. We need science-based, locally informed decisions.”

He warns of Africa’s “afforestation problem” – not only through the spread of woody plants into grasslands driven by rising CO₂ levels, but also when external actors impose ill-advised tree-planting schemes on the continent.

“We see these big greening trends across our subcontinent,” Midgley explains. “It chokes up grasslands with shrubs, destroys people’s livelihoods and potentially increases water use. This is not a standard northern hemisphere challenge – it is our challenge, and we need to develop our own models.”

African trees for African landscapes

SAT-CARe insists on African solutions. “Why are we planting alien tree species in our valuable catchments where they use too much water, change the soil composition, and even fuel intense wildfires? We need to leverage Africa’s indigenous resources,” Midgley told stakeholders attending a meeting at the Stellenbosch Institute for Advanced Study.

The project’s practical ambition is to identify which indigenous tree species will thrive in which landscapes – today and as the climate continues to change in future. This means looking at iconic African trees such as baobab, marula, mopane, sausage tree, miombo and yellowwood.

By linking environmental data to species traits, the software will for instance help farmers select the best tree species for drought tolerance, fruit and oil, or livestock fodder. And urban planners will be able to use the toolkit to choose species that improve shade and air quality without depleting scarce water supplies.

Besides South Africa, SAT-CARe brings together researchers and data from Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe, with additional input from Kenya. The models are being piloted across diverse ecosystems – from savannas to montane forests – with the aim of producing guidance that can be scaled across Africa.

Data challenge

For the project to deliver useful answers, it must integrate climate, soil, CO₂ and wildfire data with tree traits and socio-economic indicators.

“This is not just a data exercise for scientists,” says Prof Kanshu Rajaratnam, Director of SU’s School for Data Science and Computational Thinking.

“We are building models that can be used by policymakers and communities. Our goal is a digital toolkit that is as open and usable as possible.”

Dr Jan Greyling of SU’s Faculty of AgriSciences, explains how it would work: “The idea is that users would simply type in a species name, select a climate scenario, and generate a map showing where a target tree species is likely to thrive.”

African resilience

For Midgley, the project is a statement about Africa’s role in shaping global climate debates.

“Africa gets less than 3% of international funding for climate change science, and of that, about half goes to non-African scientists. So, this continent is extremely vulnerable because we are not funded to do the fundamental science that we need,” says Midgley.

However, SAT-CARe is part of the Africa–Europe Cluster of Research Excellence on Nature-based Solutions for Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation, convened by the African Research Universities Alliance (ARUA) and The Guild of European Research-Intensive Universities. The cluster positions nature-based solutions as a promising way to reduce climate risks while protecting biodiversity and sustaining livelihoods.

“SAT-CARe is not just about trees in Southern Africa. It’s about African researchers taking the lead in generating knowledge that is locally grounded but globally relevant,” says Midgley.

Disclaimer: This project is supported by Lacuna Fund and the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ). The views expressed in this statement do not necessarily reflect those of the Fund, its Steering Committee, its funders, or the Meridian Institute,

Media contact:
Please direct queries and interview requests to the SAT-CARe coordinator
Ms Julia Harper: +27 72 535 0204, jrs@sun.ac.za

Prof Guy Midgley, Director of SU’s School for Climate Studies

A Camel Thorn tree on the Botswana side of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. PICTURE: Heath Beckett

A Camel Thorn tree on the Botswana side of the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. PICTURE: Heath Beckett