Technical Tours

If you have booked and paid for the Kruger National Park tour, or the tours to Vaal Dam and Eastern Basin, please contact Caroline on finance@soafrica.com to either move your booking to another tour, or to arrange a refund.

Hartebeespoort Dam
Tour of the Hartbeespoort Dam for presentation and tour of strategic interventions by the Department of Water and Sanitation to rehabilitate the dam.

These initiatives include:

    • Driving floats to neutralise eutrophication
    • Compositing of hyacinth into organic fertiliser
    • Controlled growth and removal of hyacinth to facilitate nutrient removal and control cyanobacteria
    • Community initiatives

    Visit the new Cradle Moon Conservancy at the Heia Safari Lodge to view one of the largest hand-build stone dams in South Africa. The dam wall stands 20m high, is 300m wide, and just short of 10m thick at the base. Although all the stones used during the construction were found on site, at least 50 000 bags of cement were used to keep them in place.

    Take a boat trip on the dam, enjoy cocktails and discuss its status as strategic reference of all upstream activities (Agriculture, mining, municipal services, etc.) of head waters of Crocodile Dam.

    Objective
    To view 1st hand the impact of high nutrient discharges to a water body and strategic interventions to address this issue.
    Cost

    Hartebeespoort Dam  – R1 750 ex VAT

    Lunch – as per program submitted by Petrus Venter, please make bookings and confirm cost.
    Heia Safari Boat ride

    • 2-10 Guests – R 190.00 per person (Min of 4 guest)
    • 11 -24 Guests – R 155.00 per person
    • R30p/p additional conservancy fees
    • Drinks and snacks for cruise at own expense; can be pre-ordered

    Accommodation available at R1195.00 p/p bed and breakfast, game drives R 315- R380

    Route & Time Allocation
    • Depart ICC to Hartbeespoort Dam: 8h30 – 9h45 (1.5 hrs)
    • Presentation at Communication Centre by Petrus Venter (DWS), tour around dam and lunch – see attached detailed program with lunch venue.
    • Depart for Heia Safari: 14h30- 15h10 (40mins)
    • Boat ride + presentation on dam and impact of upstream activities: 15h20 – 16h30 (70 mins) – includes one drink and snacks, option to buy additional drinks on board.
    • Depart for ICC 16h30: 17h30 (1hr)

    Advanced New Laboratory And Analytical Processes

    Tour of two labs:


    ERLAB: This accredited routine water and wastewater facility linked to a bulk service provider demonstrates value add in decision making for the plants and accreditation. ERWAT Laboratory Services is set apart from other water testing facilities. As it offers more than just routine testing methods. . Advanced methods for the detection of organic pollutants (by gas chromatography mass spectrometry) and waterborne pathogens (by real-time polymerase chain reaction) are also available.


    GARL (Golder Associates Research Laboratory): This accredited laboratory specialises in aquatic toxicity testing, dust fallout, sediment and soil toxicity testing. The increased scope of aquatic toxicity testing has allowed for increased application of the results, extending from the aquatic environment (Water Use License requirements, catchment management strategies, conceptual site models) to hazardous waste classification (GNR 635, SANS 10234, INERIS, Directive 50).

    Objective
    To view best practise principles for water//wastewater analysis, toxicity testing and specialised applications for research testing.
    Cost

    Advanced New Laboratory And Analytical Processes – R1 075 ex VAT

    Travel and lunch

    Route & Time Allocation
    • Depart ICC by bus to ERLAB: 8h30 – 9h30 (1hr) **
    • Tour of ERLAB: 9h30 – 11h30 (2 hrs).
    • Lunch: either packed lunch or local restaurant
    • Tour of GARL Lab: 14h0- 15h30 (1.5hr)
    • Depart to ICC: 15h30 – 16h30 (1 Hr)
    Anglo American Emalahleni Reclamation Plant
    A bus tour and site visit of the Anglo American Water Reclamation Plant located in Witbank (Emalahleni). This plant desalinates water from coal mine and supplements Emalahleni’ s potable water supply by 20 Ml/d (20 – 40% of the municipal demand). The project is an exemplary of a multipurpose Public/Private Partnership in which mine water is treated and reused to supply the; local municipality with potable water. This water reuse also reduces the mine’s raw water abstraction demands.

    The trip will conclude with a brief stop at the Kusile Power Plant to obtain an overview of the link between water and ensuring sustainable water supply.

    Objective
    Production of potable water from mine water with engineering and environmental aspects addressed regarding the mine water decant pollution and how to address water resource scarcity. The tour further highlights the significance of the food-energy-water continuum through exploration of the Kusile Power Station and the role of water in safeguarding sustainable energy supply
    Cost

    Anglo American Emalahleni Reclamation Plant R1 075 ex VAT

    Travel

    Note: The Anglo site can take a maximum of 40 people
    Delegates to bring safety vests, hard hats and boots. Anglo has some PPE for back-up, emergency measures but does not have enough for 40 delegates.

    Route & Time Allocation
    • Delegate arrival at ICC – 07:45
    • Depart ICC by bus and travel to Anglo American Emalahleni Water Reclamation Plant: 08:00 – 09:30
    • Site induction at Reclamation plant on arrival: 09:35 – 09:55
    • Presentation on key aspects of the plant, conceptualisation of the PPP, lessons learnt and Q & A session – 10:00 – 11:30
    • A walk around the plant to see how it is operated – 11:40 – 12:30
    • Lunch (catering to be provided by Anglo American free of charge) – 12:30 – 13:30
    • Depart Reclamation plant and travel to Kusile Power Station – 13:35 – 14:10
    • Bus tour of the key features of the Kusile Power Station – 14:15 – 15:15
    • Return to ICC – 15:30 – 17:00

    *The schedule accommodates some comfort breaks for the delegates and 5 minute intervals for gathering delegates at key stops