There are many reasons why you want to help bees but if you don't know why should and how you can (other than the reason of them being amazing creatures) check out my article “Save the bees”. The effect bees have on the environment is tremendous and we should all take time to help them however we can. A very easy and great way to do this is by growing a selection of plants that the bees can collect nectar and pollen from. This can include a number of flowering, druit, nut and vegetable plants. Unfortunately, not all plants are suitable for bees. This is the case with most ‘grains’ that make up a large part of humans and animals diet. Yet to have a thriving wildlife and avaried diet we need bees in our life. To help the bees I am recommending you plant some of following top plants for bees. I will also detail how to grow them and take care of them, so here are my top five plants to grow for bees:
Lavender
Botanical Name: Lavandula
This should be one on the top of your list. You can’t walk past a lavender shrub without seeing at least half a dozen bees buzzing around it. This plant is renowned for its strong fragrant smell it omits but also for its rich purple look. One of the most common in the UK is the English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia), which is a very hardy plant and commonly grown throughout.
To grow lavender:
Planting
Usually, you can purchase lavender as a small bush but it can also be grown from seed. You should plant this preferable in the ground but it can also be in a large pot between April and May. Place it in full sun with free draining soil, ideally with chalky or alkaline soils. However, this is hardy plant and can do well in most soils.
Care
Once you have done the above and the plant is establish you don’t need to do much more. As this plant is very hardy you only need to water it in extreme drought or if potted.
Result
This often flowers in early May and then blooms again in June and often lasts to late summer or early autumn (fall). Great for the bees.
Dahlia
Botanical Name: Dahlia
This is a bulbed plant that is also incredibly beautiful, usually single but you can also get semi-double flowing variety. However, be warned that the double flowering variety is often bred without the pollen-producing part making it not very useful for bees. This plant is again hardy, low-maintenance and produce incredible geometric flower.
To grow Dahlias:
Planting
Dahlia is a bulbed plant often planted between May to June in full sun with well-draining, light, slightly acidic rich soil (lighter soil helps them survive through the winter). They preferably need a warmer climate, as they do struggle when it is colder but the bulbs can be dug up and stored over winter and replanted the following year. They ideally should be planted around 10 inches apart
Care
Dependant on the weather and climate this plant should be kept well- watered once it has established and is flowering. However, as always be careful not to overwater.
Result
They bloom from early to mid-summer to autumn.
Foxglove
Botanical Name: Digitalis purpurea
One of the pinnacles of English cottage garden is the Foxgloves. They are one of my favourite due to their unique bell-shaped flower, which is ideal for the bees to climb into. They come in a variety of colours and if you haven’t seen these in flower they consist of a couple dozen flowers at once that is truly beautiful. If you can get a couple of these in your garden you surely won’t be disappointed when they flower.
To grow Foxgloves:
Planting
Plant in the spring or autumn in moist and warm soil. If flowering plant straight away in summer. Avoid planting small plants in the autumn, instead keep in a sheltered spot in a pot over winter. The planting requirements can also depend on the foxgloves you have, so make sure to do a check before you plant. They prefer light shade and well draining soil with plenty of organic matter.
Care
Like usual, frequently water newly planted foxgloves until they are well established then they should only require watering when in summer after long dry spells. If kept in a container water regularly as the compost dries out. As mentioned above keep plenty of organic matter and then mulch over the soil and if in a poor quality soil add a balanced granular fertiliser. Deadhead foxgloves as soon as they have finished flowering (unless you want them to produce seeds).
Results
Foxgloves produce stunning flowers from June to September.
Wisteria
Botanical Name: Wisteria sinensis
Another magnificent plant that stands out among the college gardens and British countryside cottages. It is another one of my favourite plants that takes multiple years to grow but can last for hundreds more. This beautiful plants grows a strong woody stem, growing thick and spreads out often over cottage walls and produced beautiful mauve and white flowers. Thought It can take several years until you begin to see it flower and it does not always flower every year but due to its stunning appearance I had to add it to my list.
To grow Wisteria:
Planting
Plant between October and April in fertile and well draining soil. Plant theme where they will receive lots of sunlight if you want them to produce more flowers. Also, give them a trellis or wall to climb on (bearing in mind they can climb to over 10m). If you are planting into a container make sure to give it at least a 45cm wide pot. Give the plant a good watering while the plant gets established.
Care
Keep well watered, especially in soils that quickly dry out, also when newly planted or in dry spells. To help your Wisteria you can feed it in the spring and depending on your soil add the relative supplements. To help flowering you can prune five to six inches in July/August and in February by two to three buds to help the plant flower.
Results
Wisterias typically flower between April and June with a potential second flowering in August.
Sweet Williams
Botanical Name: Dianthus Barbatus
A beautiful flower bed plant that comes in a wide range of beautiful colours. You can get them in red, white, pink, scarlet and in either patterned or monochrome. They are loved by most pollinators including bees, so make a great bedding flower. Another great plant tha suits cottage gardens and perennial beds but just at home in a container.
![The pretty perennial is also known as sweet william [Photo: A. Jakusoviene/ Shutterstock.com]](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/ad8fc3_438d214c7a594124a31291c1e05c58f1~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_980,h_655,al_c,q_85,usm_0.66_1.00_0.01,enc_auto/ad8fc3_438d214c7a594124a31291c1e05c58f1~mv2.jpg)
To grow Sweet Williams:
Planting
Sow in late spring (after the last frost) straight into the ground and keep the area weed-free (use a trowel as it is much better for the environment). If dry, water the soil before sowing but allow it to drain. Also, be aware that they don’t bloom in their first year. In the autumn transplant 30cm apart into their flowering position. They prefer to be in full sun but can tolerate light shade (but too much shade can make the plant become leggy and floppy). Keep them in well-draining, fertile, loamy and does best in neutral or slightly alkaline soils.
Care
As mentioned you will need to transplant the plant in autumn to 30cm apart into their flowing position and wait until the following year to flower. Keep the Sweet William well watered during dry spells and throughout the growing season. However, be careful not to overwater, as this can lead to disease. You can also fertilise while they are growing to help produce a lush bloom. Deadhead any dead flowers but avoid pruning in the fall. Add mulch to protect and insulate the roots over winter and If in a pot, move away from areas of wind, snow and ice.
Results
They will flower between May to October in the colours you have picked.
This is just a small list of some of my favourite flowers but there are a tremendous amount to pick from that will attract bees into your garden and help the pollinators. To truly help the bees and pollinators in your garden look at local wildflowers and look at a range of plants that bloom for as much of the year, from early spring to late autumn to help the bees and pollinators as long as you can in the year. Even weeds can be a source of food for the pollinators, so if you can put off mowing and let them bloom is another great way to get more flowers in your garden. I want to see bees thrive and part of this is seeing them harvest and collect pollen and nectar, so tag #GoneSustainable and #BeesBums on any pictures you have taken of bees you have caught in your garden with their heads in the flowers. Get growing!
Updated: Jul 18, 2023
If you could not tell I love to travel and I love nature and wildlife. Therefore, it was a dream to go to what is probably known as the pinnacle of wildlife, Africa. After some research me and my partner settled on Na'an ku sê Wildlife Sanctuary, as we believed it to be ethical but also exciting. This was not just to go on a safari to see the “big 5” but to be a volunteer. We wanted to help, get hands on and actually contribute to helping some amazing wildlife. So in mid-September 2022 we flew off via South Africa to Namibia to volunteer at this incredible wildlife sanctuary. I thought I would tell you about my experience, so you know what to expect and to perhaps help you decide if it is a place you would like to visit. I would say this blog post is fairly long and if you are interested in a certain section to skip to it using the sub-headings to get the information you need. Here my Na’an ku se review.
Na'an ku sê
Na’an ku se is located in Namibia, which is on the south-west coast of Africa. I won’t go into too much depth of Na’an ku se history, as you can find most of it on their website. However, It was founded by Dr Rudie and Marlice van Vuuren to “conserve Namibia’s wildlife, landscape and unique cultures”. The wildlife sanctuary part started in 2007 to give animals a second chance. They quickly started to get involved with “Rapid Responses” to reduce human-wildlife conflict in the area and went on to adopt the vision of “An Africa where humans and wildlife can live and thrive together.”. This with their mission “To conserve the land, cultures and wildlife of Namibia and rescue species threatened by an ever-shrinking habitat.” made it an ideal place for us to check out.
I spent my time at the Na’an ku se Wildlife Sanctuary based near Windhoek the capital of Namibia. However they do have several other bases or camps, which you can go to volunteer and experience. From the Lifeline Clinic to help with people to Kanaan in the desert and more. They offer a wide range of different locations and volunteer experiences, which I recommend you check out to select the right one yourself. They seemed quite flexible and if they have spaces it seemed relatively easy to change while you are there if you decide to go to another one of Na’an ku se locations. If you do wait until you are there you will be likely to get up to date current encounters from the other volunteers that might have gone to them.
The Na’an ku se Wildlife Sanctuary has a number of small and large animals from meerkats to lions, which all require food and care. Namibia is also sparsely populated, so you are among the wilderness, which again is full of wild animals. They are also partnered with the Zannier Reserve, which the members of Na’an ku se help to manage. This is a massive 9,000 hectare wildlife reserve that is home to some amazing animals including Elephants, Giraffes, Rhinos, Lions, Steenbuck, Oryx, Jackals and more. You really get to interact with some incredible animals in all sorts of ways. This mix of animals gave us another push to go for the trip, as it meant we were bound to get some great interactions with these animals.
Volunteer options:
Now you can donate and adopt an animal to help them out or you can do what I did, Volunteer. This lets you get hands on and give back, while getting a bit of a holiday. Now there are a variety of options to choose from and you will have to see what they have running when you decide to go and make the right choice for you. Having said this here is a quick overview of some of the options while I was there:
Wildlife Volunteer:
This is what I did and I would recommend. You take care of the animals they have at the sanctuary, as well as being involved in the research and monitoring of the animals surrounding the sanctuary and at the Zannier Reserve located nearby. You primarily do this at the Na’an ku se Wildlife Sanctuary located near Windhoek but they have acquired more sites, so you might be able to do your volunteering there with different animals.
Rhino Rangers:
This is essentially what it sounds like. This volunteering option is designed to give you an idea and help with the protection of the Rhino’s on the reserve. You spend the time shadowing the anti-poaching team learning how they protect the reserve and animals to keep them safe. It is a great experience to get to know how the anti-poaching unit works and you will gain a great amount of respect for the people working there.
Medical Volunteer:
If you want to get hands on helping the community and the people of Namibia this can be a great choice for you. You will head to the Lifeline Clinic based in Epukiro and become part of the team giving free primary health care to thousands of patients. Help the indigenous people of Namibia and get experience of the life their community faces today.
Wildlife Rehabilitation and Captive Care Experience:
An educational experience that gives you hands on experience with the wildlife rehabilitation and care of the captive animals. You get to see the amazing animals in Namibia but also get given seminars to grow your knowledge. They do not run it all year around but if you are keen to get relevant rehabilitation and captive care experience this is a great option.
Veterinarian Volunteer:
Another educational experience and a great one if it is in your professional field. This is what my partner did, so I have a bit more idea of what goes on. Essentially, similar to the option above you get some hands on veterinary experience, as well as a number of seminars to increase your wildlife veterinarian knowledge. You get to shadow the on-site veterinarian and veterinary nurse and learn how they try to take care of the animals in Na’an ku se care, as well as the wild animals in Namibia. The experience is open to both veterinarians and veterinary nurses, so if you are in this field and want to get hands-on experience with wild and zoological animals it is a great option.
This is just a brief overview of the volunteer experiences I am aware of as of writing this and those I saw some people do whilst I was there. I also believe it is possible to do some of the volunteer options at a number of their locations but you will have to confirm with Na’an ku se on that.
Small Additions:
When I was there they also offered a great number of additions to make your experience extra special. I won’t go into too much detail here but listing them you can; go on a night time drive, sunset tours, Cheetah walks, meet the San people, go to the premium lodge for lunch, go to Windhoek and more. Again I would recommend you check out their website to see what they have going on and talk to Na’an ku se team when you arrive to get yourself on any additional trips. I went on a few and found them all entertaining, well done and enjoyable.
What is ethical?
The big question, to me at least, is whether it was ethical and I believe it was. The people there certainly seem to care about the animals, the locals and the community as a whole. They show this in their operations of hiring locals, building schools, hospitals and housing for them. Also, in their teachings and actions at the sanctuary. When you go you get an introduction presentation that highlights this with their goal to end human wildlife conflict and educating everyone, including you and how you can help with this. They also give you information and facts about the animals but also the misunderstandings in the culture and how it takes time to change.
The animals seemed healthy and those in captivity have much more space than I have seen in the UK. They also have an inhouse vet team able to diagnose and provide veterinary care. In regards to the wild animals and those in the reserve they monitor them regularly to see the numbers in the area, their activities and general health, so their health and requirements can be assessed. They also support the anti-poaching unit, which is vital to prevent harm coming to the incredible animals on the reserve.
They understand that some people see this as a bit of a holiday and want to capture pictures of some amazing animals. Yet do not want to encourage people to come here just to try and get “close”, as this is often done unethically, not to the benefit of the animals and can be dangerous. They detail how no large cat can really be safe with humans due to their instinct, so do not let you get in with them. Therefore, when you see anyone on holiday next to a big cat, please known the big cat is typically cruelly trained and even sedated. They also explain how most people do not read the caption on social media, so even if you explain there is a reasonable explanation for being so close to an exotic animal it is often not considered. Due to this they ask you not to share pictures so close to these animals and primarily them in their natural habitat. They are reasonable though and understand that if you do get some photos close to an animal to keep it for yourself or showing close family and friends who you can explain this all too. I would certainly say it was an ethical place and one that cares deeply for the environment, wildlife and the society of Namibia.
Accommodation
The accommodations for volunteers were quite basic. They were essentially wooden framed huts with a tin roof and a tent-like material infilling to the walls and stretching over the roof. There is also an outside section with tent material walls but no roof covering, which housed the toilet, shower and a sink (if it is raining and you go to the toilet you will get wet). Me and my partner were housed together in a three bed tent and the attached bathroom. However, I believe most people are housed in a shared single sex accommodation with one or two other people and then have a communal single sex shower and bathroom facility. Inside our tent was a light, a dual plug socket,a small safe, a small table and storage cabinet. The only thing to be aware of is due to Namibia essentially being a desert, water can run low sometimes (but it is perfectly drinkable) and they can have power cuts. We did run into a slight water shortage but only due to another tent leaving their tap on overnight. Other than that it was perfectly adequate.
Overall our experience was good. We had no issues with the accommodation other than it did get a bit cold at the start of the week. The guide did state if you go to Namibia in the winter month you would need thermals and a sleeping bag. As we were going as the season was going into the summer we thought it would be fine but were slightly wrong. The first few days and nights we had the last cold snap and it was incredibly cold. Even clothed with two duvets and an additional cover it was still very cold to sleep at night and in the early mornings. Luckily this did not last long and within a few days it was normal pyjamas and a single duvet. Having said all this, I would say my top tip is, if you want to shower do that before dinner and before the sun goes down, it is a ton warmer and much nicer.
You spend a lot of your time at the communal hut where you eat and socialise. This is covered on three sides and open to one but you get more than enough cover from the sun and rain if there is any. You will be in here quite a bit, having three meals and time to socialise in the evenings. There are usually a pack of cards and uno laying around but if not I would be surprised if one of you new friends do not have one. They also have a snooker table which you can play for 1 Namibian Dollar. In the afternoons and evening you can play the games and drink. There is not much WiFi access but you certainly get enough in the communal hut, although it does lag a bit when everyone is in there. I know some people did pick up a local sim but I would say forget the internet access and just enjoy the experience.
Food
Again this is a volunteering holiday and the food is relatively basic. Having said this you do get three hot meals a day (except sundays, as they do sandwiches on sundays). They have toast and some other selection in the morning, then at lunch and dinner there is usually a hot option (one vegetarian and one meat to pick from). They can cater for most diets and tailor the quantity of meat and vegetarian food depending on what you select (you are able to switch when you are there). They have a tuck shop that opens for half an hour at lunch time and sells some chocolate bars and pringles if you want some additional snacks. They also have a bar you can buy drinks from (alcohol included), which you can store in the communal fridge with your name on it. If you choose the optional trip to Windhoek you can go to the shops there and bring back further treats to enjoy.
Activities
Now for the good bit on what you get to do. Well while I was there you would typically do a mix of two activities a day with some single activities spread over the entire day. You get to do a mixture of tasks, some that you feel like you are helping and others that feel like a reward that Na’an ku se are nice enough to give you. You will probably like the fun activities more than the labourish ones but for me the feeling of helping out was quite rewarding. You get put into a team at the beginning of the week, which you will do all your activities with, so you also have the chance to make some friends.
I believe they change the activities and tasks depending on the time of year and what requirements they have at the time but here is a quick overview of the tasks I got to do:
Food Preparation: This for most seemed to be the worst task. I didn’t mind it as it is one of the tasks you feel you are actually helping. Essentially you spend the morning cutting food up for the various animals, preparing it all in the relevant containers (a lot of the food is for the adult baboons). If you get lucky like I did you get to feed the baby goats too.
Small Animal Clean: This is dependent on what animals they have in but there are a number of small animals that require care. When I was there they had Rabbits, Meerkats, Mongoose, Warthogs, Goats, Sheep and a Genet. You spend the day going through their enclosures to clean them out, ensure they have water and are fed. The goats roam around the place during the day, so you also have the pleasure of herding them up at the end of the day (it is a bit like goat hide and seek).
Carnivor Feed: Na’an ku se have rescued a number of animals that unfortunately might not be able to go back into the wild or at least not yet and they need feeding. When I was there they had Lions, Leopards, Brown Hyenas, Wild Dogs, Cheetahs and Caracals. This involved the preliminary grim task of preparing the large chunks of meat and chickens and then off to feed the animals. A co-ordinator will take you to the animals, give you a few facts about them and then you get up close to them and feed them. It is amazing to see them jump to get their food and it is certainly a unique experience.
Research: This was my favourite but it does change depending on the day and time of the year. However, you get to do a number of things such as changing trail cameras, checking sites of activities (lion kill sites, etc.), going through the reserve looking for the elephants or Rhinos (counting and identifying) and categorising the photos from the trail cameras into folders of each animal and dated. I am sure this does change depending on the requirements of the team when you are there.
Horse Clean: This can be a variety of tasks, from cleaning the stables, pen, storage room to brushing the horses and sorting out the equipment. While I was there we cleaned out the storage room, filled up the food containers, picked up the horse mess and brushed them, cleaning the brushes afterwards. This is another one where you feel like you can do some good work.
Yard Work; Again this can range on what needs doing at the time but can be putting up fences, completing repair work and overall general work required in the yard to keep it running. Another labourish task but you are helping the sanctuary keep going. When I was there we were putting up a temporary fence, so they could pour concrete to create a watering hole for the horses.
Horse Ride: This is often done after lunch after doing the horse clean and it is a great experience. You essentially get to saddle up your horse and go for a ride around the sanctuary. This lets you get closer to the wild animals surrounding the sanctuary as they believe you are another animal. When I done this I got incredibly close to a wild giraffe, which was unbelievable. It is another great experience if you are confident enough to get on a horse.
Baboon Feed: This one is messy but is quite fun to do. Baboons are considered pests in Namibia but Na’an ku se do not want to put them down and want to take care of them. Therefore, they have a number of huge pens for them to live in. It is a messy affair but you basically stand on the back of a truck and chuck food over the fence to the hundreds of baboons. It is quite fun looking at them running for their favourites.
Baboon Walk: A unique experience where you get to walk the young baboons on their daily walk to get them some enrichment and exercise. Although I would not say they are too interested in us (humans) they do often grab onto you to carry them to your destination and you can sometimes play with them. You get to watch them play and actually interact with them.
Rhino Rangers: In the morning you can sit on the back of the trucks and go around the whole Zannier Reserve. You get the opportunity to see some of the incredible animals there and enjoy the scenery. They use it to go around to check the electric fence to ensure it is working correctly.
Nature Walk: Another fun experience where you go on a walk into the wilderness around the camp. When I went we were going to change a trail camera and the coordinator guiding us taught us loads about the local wildlife, tracks, scatt and pointed out the incredible wildlife in the surrounding area.
Anti-Poaching Dog Training: This was incredibly fun. You go to the Anti-Poaching Dog unit and one of the dog handlers goes through what they do and then gives you a go. They show you how they train their dogs with agility but also to sniff out common items poachers use. You don’t just get to watch but also get to actually run their dog through the agility and some training exercises.
As you can see they have quite a lot of experiences and tasks for you to get involved in. It is also not all labour and not all fun and games. It is a great range that lets you help the wildlife and the team at Na’an ku se but also get incredible encounters you will want to tell your friends and family about.
These are the activities they had running when I was there but I do believe they change depending on the requirements at the time and the number of people there. I believe just before I arrived there was unfortunately a wild fire on the reserve, so some of the volunteers were helping with the prevention of future wildfire spread.
If you are there for a short time or want to do certain tasks over others you can swap. Having said this, I do not believe they generally want this because it can make running the sanctuary more difficult and it is dependent on the number of people left to do a certain task. It is important to remember that the animals are put as a priority, so they need to be fed, cleaned, have their water refilled and ensure the welfare tasks are complete. Therefore, do ask and listen to the coordinators and stick to the task you are assigned to.
My Experience
Now although I have explained some of what to expect above I would like to detail a bit more about my experience. Overall it was great, I enjoyed it, I would go back and I believe it was ethical. Yet I understand it might not be for everyone, so here is some further information on my experience there. I found the trip very interesting and informative, they gave a few seminars over the two weeks I was there (On rabies, ivory trade, Na’an ku se and the San tribe) and on the animals in their care and native to Namibia. I would like to say how friendly the coordinators were, they made the activities fun and interesting and were always happy to answer any queries. They also got involved in the evenings playing snooker, playing cards or volleyball. Even once when I got side tracked from an activity and started speaking to the in-house photography and film specialist who gave me a crash course in photography and some helpful suggestions. The only issue we had was confirmation on the night drive. We had signed ourselves up for it but no one seemed able to confirm if it was going ahead, luckily it did.
One of the main reasons you might want to go to Namibia is the wild animals you get to see and there are plenty. I am sure I am missing quite a few but here are some of the incredible animals I got to see in the wild; Impella, Oryx, White Rhino, Zebra, Spring Hare, Rabbits, Steenbuck, African Elephant, Black Back Jackal, Corrie Bustard, Porcupine, Ostrich, Cudooks, Mongoose, Meerkats, Baboons, Giraffe, Egyptian Goose, Ground Squirrel, Guinnefowl, Corrie Bustard, Warthogs, Springbok, a number of lizards, a number of birds and more. They do have more animals there that you have the chance of seeing such as lions, cheetahs, leopards and more (many people I met did get to see the lions). I also saw the animals they have in enclosures including Lions, Painted Dogs, Cheetahs, Leopards, Brown Hyenas, Genet Cat, Meerkats, Mongoose, Rabbits and Chickens. If you want to go on a volunteering holiday where you get to see and get close to a ton of animals I would strongly recommend Na’an ku se.
Another concern is whether it was safe. Now I do not think I can say too much on this. Yes I felt like it was safe at the Na’an ku se Wildlife Sanctuary when I was there. As well as when I was on the Zannier reserve and at the lodges. The only thing I was slightly concerned about was the wild baboons. We were told they could come up to the tent houses and if they do, lock your doors and stay quiet until they go away. Although we did get told some baboons did come once I did not notice them and I did not hear of any issues. Also, although I think it is very unlikely to get hurt on most of the activities, some do have the general risks such as horse riding and the small animals bitting (I know this personally as I got bitten by a rather angry meerkat but I am all okay). In regards to Windhoek, I did not go but many of the people I met did and they did not seem to have any problems and were able to get cheaper snacks and alcohol.
You get a ton of time to socialise with a ton of people and make some good friends. Like I mentioned above this can be in your weekly teams to the meal times and in the evenings playing games and drinking. There was a wide range of people from all over the planet to get to know, some of the people I met were from Sweden, Germany, UK, Australia, Denmark, Netherlands, Belgium, France, South Africa and of course Namibia. It was great to learn other people's cultures and languages for the names of the animals we were seeing. I would say there were quite a few young people on gap years and exploring, which is fine but some did like to party. This could get quite late into the evening, which can be quite loud and you can even hear it from the tent houses you sleep in. When we were there the coordinators asked if this was cut down a bit as it could disturb the animals, which did make it better. You can certainly have a good time and enjoy the music in the evening but I would say that you should not go on a holiday like this to “party”.
My Favourites
The whole trip was amazing and I think one thing that stood out was the fact I was able to escape normal society. There are enough activities to keep you busy, coupled with the limited wifi and socialising with games made it an amazing escape. I did not look at the news, worried about the state of the economy or what was going on and just focused on my activities and enjoying myself. It was an incredibly relaxing mental relief. It was full of incredible once in a lifetime experiences but one of my favourites was research. It was a unique and amazing experience spending time looking for and being around the wild animals and helping the team monitor them. To be out in a vastly different country and seeing animals I have never seen in the wild was a breathtaking experience.
I hope this gave you quite a comprehensive overview of what to expect if you decide to go to Na’an ku se Wildlife Sanctuary. I urge you to go onto their website and check them out and consider if one of the volunteer options or other destinations you can go to would be good for you. To conclude with some important questions; do I think it was ethical?, do I think it is a great place to see animals and wildlife?, do I think it was safe? Well going on my experience I would say yes it was in all these areas. It truly was a once in a lifetime holiday that I am grateful to have been on. To give you an idea of all the animals, experiences and facilities look at my pictures on here (all are mine except the logos and lifeline clinic) and I have more on my instagram. Going on a volunteering holiday is a great way to get new experiences but also give back, so I would strongly recommend you go on one. I also think Na'an ku se could be a brilliant choice for you if you want to see some stunning African wildlife and to have a unique holiday.
Updated: Jul 18, 2023
There are so many books out there on wildlife, nature, plants and much more. They are fascinating, interesting and teach you so much of the natural world. I have always been a poor reader, something I am trying to actively change in my life to better my knowledge and enjoy a new hobby. Well I would defiantly say this has recently been working and I have a newfound love for reading. As you are aware, I am incredibly interested in nature, wildlife and doing things sustainable and being an eco-friendly individual. To inspire me with this I have been focusing on books about nature and our incredible world. Therefore, these are my top 5 nature books of 2022 that I have read, reviewed and which have changed my thinking or enlightened my life that I am recommending to you.
This is the first book I have picked up in my new quest to absorb written knowledge and I can tell you it is a great place to start. All I can say is, wow, there is so much to learn just about our forests and woods.. This book will teach you so much and an incredible amount you never thought would be related to trees. It is written by Peter Wohlleben, who is a German forester who has observed these woods, trees and forests his entire life. In this incredible fascinating book he teaches how tree help each other, migrate and communicate to each other in incredible and newly discovered ways. He goes into great depth of all the organisms that share the forests and how they help each other to thrive in the ‘survival of the fittest’ natural world.
It is clear that trees are immensely responsive to their environment and are social creatures that are vital to our survival. It is also clear that there is so much more to the little local woods to the major forests than you would have first thought. I believe there are two reasons this book fascinated me soo much. Firstly, I love nature and trees specifically, as they come in a huge array of sizes and shapes and just look incredible. Secondly, trees are hugely important to our survival and that of many, many animals, so deserve our admiration for this fact alone. If you want to learn more about the mystic woods, you use play in then I would defiantly recommend this book.
I have seen this book being recommend very highly for anyone looking to connect with nature. I will also be the first to say that this book does not disappoint. Written by Isabella Tree who along with the conservationist husband, Charlie Burrell transforms their farm from a struggling estate in Knepp to a thriving wildlife and nature haven. Along the way, as Isabella and her husband learn more about the ecology, she teaches this to us through the book, raising our awareness of the fragile habitats we and our wildlife lives in. This fascinating book goes through the impact of the farmland and the impact of the war through ‘dig for victory’. Alongside, the dependence on pesticides, herbicides and fertilisers. The book is an intriguing story of the farming industry and environment collapse in the UK and how Knepp is pulling themselves out of this by giving control of their land over to nature and its wildlife. I love how it delves into history and science relating it to nature and detailing how through the discoveries at the Knepp estate is changing the way we currently or up recently thought of our wildlife and the history of England's natural history.
Although I don’t agree with everything in the book and what they are doing at Knepp, it is a new perspective on rewilding and the history of our nature and ecology is refreshing and incredible intriguing. The book is thought provoking, changing how we farm, revitalise the soils and our entire ecosystem, which in turn improves our land increasing our food yields. If you read this book it will surely give you inspiration for the future of our farmlands and highlighting the huge importance for us to take note of the work done at Knepp. The only thing that bugs me is that I wish I could inherit a farm or a decent plot of land and follow in their footsteps, perhaps one day...
The magnificent snow leopard is my partners favourite animal. Easily understandable due to it being an isolated mysterious creature with a beyond elegant appearance. Due to this and it’s incredible rareness the snow leopard has become a fascinating most precious gem for people to find. Well this is what Peter Matthiessen does whilst assisting a friend on an exhibition to the Himalayas. He looks for the snow leopard with the same idealistic idea of hunting one down in one of the worlds most secluded places just to grasp a glimpse of its unrivalled magnificent, even if for just a few seconds.
The book mixes the sense of adventure, travel, both the highlights and the gruelling aspects with the spiritual awakening, self-reflection and desire to understand the world and personal enlightenment. Throughout the book he describes the incredible scenic views he witnesses along the extended trek to find mountain goats. All the while seeming to be so close, yet so far from the magnificent snow leopard. The journey takes them through picturesque scenes, as well to ancient temples, meeting mystic people and making friends, essentially everything you would want from an adventure.
The book is a leading inspiration for numerous naturalists, spiritualists and adventures alike. As well as a well written book that even helps with accepting failure through realising the incredible wonders and experience you can have. It is a book that makes you yearn for adventure, nature, wildlife and unrivalled scenes of beauty and is likely to ignite passion in anyone reading it to do the same.
Now the books I have read so far has made me want to run in the fields, explore the ancient forests, and go on a mountain adventure. However, one thing was missing, the water. I have always loved bodies of water in any form, the sea, lakes, rivers or ponds. Therefore, I picked up this book which dives into the heart of the English countryside stable of the humble pond.
John Lewis-Stempel goes through the daily running at his farm and his frequent encounters with the pond there, another he visits in France, as well as a handful of others on his travels throughout a year across each season (Winter, Spring, Summer and Autumn). As previously, I don’t agree with everything he does. However, I love his enthusiasm for the ponds he comes across that seem to give him a welcome escape from life. His interactions with these quintessential ponds makes me want to find one of my very own to enjoy. His use of words really manages to capture the essence of ponds, the feelings, the smells that bring back memories of my childhood adventures.
He also adds much to his book, through helping to identify what to look for and what you might be able to see, as well as what makes ponds so important. He takes this further through further detailing the history of ponds, how they were used, maintained and are a huge part of our heritage. The books gives you a great glimpse at ponds and all the life surrounding them, whilst also providing a number of poems to further create the countryside atmosphere. Ponds are clearly a strong beating heart to British wildlife. Even at the end John Lewis-Stempel goes into how to create a number of different ponds, plant them, maintain them and enjoy them, whilst also going into depth of how you can add features to further help wildlife to flourish. A great unique book.
Now, I don’t know anyone who has not seen at least one documentary of David Attenborough’s. Also, whilst watching it not feel as though the cinematography had taken you to another world alongside the information and artistic language David Attenborough strings out helping to inform and intrigue you further into these varying worlds. Well the great Sir David Attenborough has brought this to the written word in this book, which just by his name alone should be enough of a recommendation, however, if not you should definitely pick this up and you will enjoy nature more and be even more informed about it.
This book goes through amazing aspects of the earth and the incredibly varying environments that are all unique, incredible and hold simply amazing creatures throughout our planet. The book beautifully brings these biomes from across the earth to life in perfect snapshots, detailing what it is like there and the animals that compete to live in these places. The more you get into it the more it will amaze you the different realms that exist right now, all while being informational and interesting. Would probably say it has been my most enjoyed book out of the 5 and one you should quickly snap up.
Conclusions
I would defiantly say that last year I have a newfound love for reading. I would say I am incredibly impressed with these first few books I have picked up and they have done so much to inspire me to keep reading and learning more about our natural world. They have taught me so much about the world we live in and the animals we share it with. Reading these books always brings new life in my fascination and amazement of nature and its wildlife and I would recommend each one of them to anyone who has the same interests and passions. Let me know what you think of these books and tell me what nature books you would recommend.
