It's been six months since my last blog post and so apologies to the avid readers out there. In that time, I've slowly been developing the website on which you can expect to see more changes over the coming weeks. I have not been afforded too many opportunities to head into the bush in 2017, but hopefully that will begin to change in May. I'm off again to the Okavango and Makgadikgadi Pans, before heading to track leopard in Sri Lanka in September and hopefully another trip to Kenya and/or Tanzania at the end of the year. Yes, I have been slack, but also focussing on a number of other projects.
The most time consuming has been starting a MBA at the University of Cape Town. Although extremely rewarding and enjoyable to-date, it's challenging my time-management skills with near-weekly assignments and/or exams. It complements work well, and with rapidly changing (mostly for the worst) developments in South Africa, is a thoroughly interesting time to be spending more time in the country. I find myself breathing a sigh of relief each time I enter Botswana AND South Africa; a strange sentiment.
The views and perspectives of an incredibly diverse cohort of southern African students is affording me insights that are near impossible from an institution in the more developed markets of north American or Europe. It will provide an eye-opening, challenging and unique opportunity through until December 2018.
Meanwhile, I have extended my intended stay in Botswana until early 2018. Work in the consulting environment has both grown and arguably become more complex in light of local and regional challenges. This stems from reduced economic performance (both locally and regionally), effects of a heavily-hit resources sector, plateauing demand for diamonds in Botswana and a range of social and political complexities. The future offers both opportunities and hurdles across the region.
For now, I have a bunch of short posts to write, fully taking advantage of a long weekend at home. Of course, this includes some of my favourite photos taken over the past few months. Happy reading.