Tag: geology

Southeast Gauteng Trip – Part 4 of 4 (Sterkfontein Caves)

In 1992, my family & I spent Christmas in Texas and New Mexico. During that trip we visited the Carlsbad caverns in New Mexico. The caves were gigantic and amazing to wander around in! Ever since that family trip I’ve loved exploring caves. Perhaps this early exposure led me to be a geologist in some sort of way…

The last destination on our long weekend trip was to the highly anticipated Sterkfontein Caves. They’re world-acclaimed as many fossils have been discovered in them. First discovered in 1896 by an Italian miner, they endured 40 years of mining activity before scientists started more serious archeological excavations in 1936.

We left Maropeng in the morning and made our way through vast farmlands to Sterkfontein. The visitor centre was very nice yet sadly the first thing you see is their gift store. This is not such a welcome sight when you have kids. Claire had a hard time with us saying no to a new stuffy so we bartered a purchase in trade for no-fuss during our hour long underground tour. Yes, sometimes you have to erm, ‘cave’ if you want to get things done as a parent.

I figured we would walk into the side of a mountain to get started but no, we entered by way of the earth down a very long & steep staircase, ducking at times to proceed. In fact, the entrance isn’t visible at a distance as it blends into the grassland so well. It was intriguing and the kids were amazing on the tour. I thought for sure they would be scared as it was dark and we had to crawl through few a few sections, but no. It was a hot day and the caves were a cool 18C which was soothing for us heat sensitive Canadians. After our unique tour through the dolomitic limestone depths we climbed out of the earth, squinting much of the walk back to the visitor centre.

After buying the promised stuffed animals (a giraffe and a hippo) we made our way back to our cooked car. Onwards back to Johannesburg.

We had a great little trip that provided us with plenty of memories and photos. Perhaps one of the kids will find future inspiration as I did with my geo work.

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My Time in Botswana

When I accepted this 6 month expatriate position with my company I knew a lot of my time would be spent in Botswana while Jimmy & the kids were in Johannesburg. My work schedule is 1 week in Johannesburg and 12 days to 2 weeks in Botswana. It doesn’t leave us much time to travel in Africa. I would love for Jimmy & the kids to come to Botswana with me as it is a beautiful and very safe country. Sadly, Visa restrictions prevent me from having any leisure time in Botswana as I am only allowed 90 days per calendar year to do business in this country.

Botswana has had the highest average economic growth rate in the world. The government runs things very well and there is no apparent corruption that I have seen. Very different from my experience in Sierra Leone! The Botswana people (Batswana) are very friendly and I see so much wildlife which is great.

The flight from Joburg to Maun, Botswana (see map below) is only over an hour. Once I arrive someone from the company meets me and we drive 3 hours on tar and sand roads to our project site which is next to the Central Kalahari Game Reserve main gate. The farmers don’t have a lot of money so they do not fence in their farms. You will find cows, horses and donkeys frequently crossing the highway. When we left Canada in March we just finished with a Canadian winter only to arrive in Africa for their winter. It isn’t nearly as cold and the sunshine most days which is fantastic. It is however very cold and night and in the mornings. Our camp has generators which shut off at night so you wake up very cold and have to wear tonnes of layers.

Many locals are employed on this project. I was brought out for a 6 month term to complete some geological 3D modelling and to train a local geologist to run the software that I use for this modelling. Also, to assist with the management of the drilling and anything else they need me to do. I work with a great group of people and everyone works very hard to push this Copper-Silver project forward to a successful mining operation.

Here are some photos from my time in Botswana:

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The village of Somelo- Donkey carts are a popular form of travel for villagers:2

A lady from the Herero tribe – In the 16th and 17th centuries this Bantu group migrated from the Zambezi River Valley to Namibia. The women cover themselves from neck to ankle in a Victorian style dress and a large hat in the shape of a cow’s horn. Someone told me that the more cattle they own the horns on the hat are longer. The fashion comes from contact with the German missionaries at that time.

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To get from Maun to our project site we have to cross a veterinary fence that bisects Botswana. You have to take all our shoes and press them into a mat soaked with disinfectant and drive through a dip or wait to have our tires sprayed. The fence was put in place to stop foot and mouth disease. If Botswana wanted to sell their beef to the EU they had to install this fence. It has had a huge effect of migratory animals.

A great book to read on this area of Botswana is: The Cry of the Kalahari by Mark James Owens and Cordelia Dykes Owens.

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5The sand road heading towards our camp – a very bumpy ride:

6Hana Main Camp:

7Our offices at site:

8Typical 4×4 vehicle we drive in the Kalahari to get to drill rigs, into town etc:

9Sighting a new drilling site:10

Drillers setting up their rig:11Our core storage area:12Drilling for water:13

14African sunsets are gorgeous and the local geologist who I am training told me he found it funny how anyone from North America or the UK always stop to comment and take photos of every sunset.

15Animal tracks. I believe it includes a giraffe print and a jackal:

16Social weaver birds nests:

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Thamalakane River in Maun:18

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Coming home

My rotational work schedule in Botswana takes me away from my family for two weeks at a time and then I come home and spend a week with them before I head back to Botswana for more work. It has been manageable and Jimmy is such an amazing husband and Dad that he holds everything together when I am away working.

The best part of rotational work abroad? Coming home and having my family meet me at the airport:

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