Seychelles Environmental Team on North Island

All Wildlife ACT Seychelles volunteers will work with either Elliot Mokhobo, Tarryn Retief or CJ Havemann, who make up the Seychelles Environmental Team.

So let’s get to know them a little bit better:

Where are you from? And what is your background?

 Elliot: South Africa

          Secondary school grade 10, then supervisor in big factory, then Seychelles

          North Island construction team prior to the environment team.

 Tarryn: Pretoria ,South Africa

            Masters degree in Zoology from the University of Pretoria; field work was

            conducted in the Linyanti concession of Northern Botswana, a

            Wilderness Safaris.

 CJ: Pretoria, South Africa

      Masters degree in Zoology from the University of Pretoria; working on a rare

      antelope species in Northern Botswana.

For most the people, “heaven” looks like an island with pristine beaches. What is your definition of paradise?

Elliot: Alone on the beach, looking at the sea.

Tarryn: A small cottage in the mountains – no electricity, no cell phone reception;

             a small stream running through the mountains and plenty of space!

CJ: A campfire at a seasonal pan, surrounded by wildlife.

Volunteer Anh Tran, cooling the air for Tarryn

If you could bring only one thing on a desert island, what would it be?

Elliot: A compass.

Tarryn: A good book!

CJ: Fly rod.

Anh getting coffee for Elliot

What is your favourite dive site on North Island?

Elliot: Sprat city

Tarryn: Aquarium

CJ: Coral Garden

Anh polishing CJ’s buggy

And finally, what is your motto?

Elliot: Never impossible; you can achieve whatever you want.

Tarryn: Never forget to count your blessings; life is beautiful. 🙂

CJ: Live life to the fullest.

 Post by Seychelles volunteer Anh Tran

P.S. We would like to say a huge thank you to Anh as she seems to be treating our Seychelles environmental team very well. Don’t let them get too comfortable Anh.

North Island in the Seychelles was awarded as the National Geographic World Legacy Awards winner for Conserving the Natural World 2017. Our volunteer program allows you to come and join the environmental team on the ground and help them carry out important conservation work.