{"id":31735,"date":"2024-02-23T09:57:21","date_gmt":"2024-02-23T07:57:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/ballito-umhlanga\/?p=31735"},"modified":"2024-02-23T09:57:21","modified_gmt":"2024-02-23T07:57:21","slug":"a-life-of-learning","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/getitmagazine.co.za\/ballito-umhlanga\/blog\/2024\/02\/23\/a-life-of-learning\/","title":{"rendered":"A life of learning"},"content":{"rendered":"

Bird guide Junior Gabela loves sharing his knowledge and passion with others \u2013 and can\u2019t imagine a better way to spend his days.<\/strong><\/h4>\n

\"\"Junior has a deep connection to nature, a special bond that formed as a child growing up in Amatikulu. He spent most of his childhood outdoors \u2013 often swimming and fishing in the river, and he says his interest in birding was sparked at a very young age. \u201cSometimes, I would get bored fishing, so I\u2019d look around at the birds,\u201d he says. \u201cThe area is rich in birdlife, and that\u2019s how I first got interested.\u201d<\/p>\n

When he finished school, he was offered an opportunity to do some training at the Amatikulu Nature Reserve where he learnt the basics of guiding. \u201cBirding hooked me,\u201d he laughs. \u201cI just wanted to learn more.\u201d So, he went on to train further with BirdLife South Africa, the country\u2019s only dedicated bird conservation organisation, and qualified as a bird guide. Over the years, he has been involved in various research and monitoring projects and has also developed a special interest in working with children. As a dad of two, he believes strongly in the importance of education. \u201cIf I have a skill, I must transfer it to someone else,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Now, Junior offers personalised bird tours on the North Coast and surrounds, including guided walks through estates, and often travels into Zululand where the birdlife is prolific. He absolutely loves his work. \u201cIt\u2019s amazing,\u201d he says. \u201cIt\u2019s like entering a different world; and it makes you realise how much you should appreciate our wildlife.\u201d<\/p>\n