{"id":716,"date":"2014-12-21T05:14:31","date_gmt":"2014-12-21T05:14:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.isibindi.co.za\/\/blog\/?p=716"},"modified":"2023-01-20T10:23:09","modified_gmt":"2023-01-20T08:23:09","slug":"snake-whisperer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/isibindifoundation.org\/2014\/12\/21\/snake-whisperer\/","title":{"rendered":"Snake Whisperer"},"content":{"rendered":"

With a smile as broad as his heart, this tree-hugging local will charm you, just as he charms snakes into snake boxes when he removes them from locals\u2019 homes at the edge of Lake Sibaya. From Thonga Beach Lodge, Bheki Tembe (a royal surname, he jokingly explains), is passionate about his environment \u2013 fauna and flora alike. \u201cAs we are living in a World Heritage Site, the environment plays an important role in our lives\u201d he tells me. \u201cI appreciate the way this lodge is teaching me to look after my environment. I love nature \u2013 I have a soft spot in my heart for wildlife.\u201d<\/p>\n

I try to push him into telling me which type of wildlife is his favourite. \u201cWe\u2019ve got a lot of small, rare species here that I love the most. Oh but I also love birds. And snakes and spiders. Oooh and trees!\u201d Clearly asking him to choose is creating a Sophie\u2019s-Choice-like angst in this prince of the environment, so I steer him gently to safer ground. With extensive indigenous knowledge, he can tell you which plants are used for medicinal purposes. \u00a0Bheki is also active in local community development, and appreciates the way the lodge supports the local primary school. \u201cWe are also educating young people in the community. Our village was left behind in development in the country and now we are trying to uplift ourselves.\u201d<\/p>\n

Can this man be any more perfect? I smile back, a little smitten, and let him wax on about his beloved community and crawlies and green things, mesmerized under his charming spell.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"With

With a smile as big as his heart, you too will fall in love with Bheki Tembe at Thonga Beach Lodge<\/p><\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

With a smile as broad as his heart, this tree-hugging local will charm you, just as he charms snakes into snake boxes when he removes them from locals\u2019 homes at the edge of Lake Sibaya. 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