Photos: Waterberg Development Initiative
By the end of 2024, ten pairs of binoculars and a spotting scope with a tripod had reached their final destination in South Africa. This equipment was donated to the Waterberg Development Initiative (WDI), a community-driven non-profit organisation that is dedicated to fostering sustainable tourism and economic development in the Waterberg region. With a mission to cultivate and sustain the area’s wildlife and tourism economy, the WDI focuses on raising awareness and providing education and training to anyone who wishes to participate. WDI actively identifies and addresses local needs, facilitates opportunities, encourages cooperation, and promotes infrastructure and service development through skills training, ultimately fostering local employment and community empowerment.
Lucas Namanyane, an avitourism partner at WDI, is thrilled with the donation: “What a privilege to have such a wonderful opportunity to work with such equipment! It has sparked so much debate and a need for training, education and experience”. The binoculars and spotting scope have been used in workshops at local schools and will support avitourism training and activities in various locations in and around the Waterberg region.
We are delighted to have been officially appointed as honorary partners of WDI and to support their work on avitourism and environmental education. We would like to thank all the donors who made this possible, as well as everyone who helped us deliver the equipment to South Africa.
For more information about the Waterberg Development Initiative and its activities, please have a look at their website and Facebook page.