The rainfall figures for Tremisana for the past few months explain the dry conditions presently being experienced.
Sept 06 : 4 mm
Oct 06 : 15 mm
Nov 06 : 17 mm
Dec 06 : 57 mm
Jan 07 : 53 mm
If one considers that in Jan 06 we had 171 mm ( which figure is greater than the sum of all the above ) then it is clear that we have had poor rainfall thus far. The result is not readily obvious : the trees are in good shape and the grass cover is excellent. This situation has arisen as a result of the large reservoir of underground water after the good rains in early 2006. After even moderate rainfall, the plants simply sprouted.
What is noticeable at Tremisana , Marc's and the rest of the Kruger Park is that the dam levels are low for this time of year. The result is that animals are still found nearby the water sources. Of course the thick bush and high grass preclude viewing the animals as clearly as we would like to. On the positive side , the young impala, wildebeest and waterbuck add a vibrant and dynamic touch to the bush.
The Marula tree , Sclerocarya Birrea , are dropping their fruit and the warthogs, baboons, nyala and elephant are having a great time with this seasonal delicacy. If one examines the droppings of elephant at this time of the year, one always finds a great deal of marula pips. In this way, the elephant serves a very useful purpose in dispersing the seed. The Marula is a large tree with spreading crown. The bark is pale grey, peeling off in disc-shaped flakes. It has very tiny flowers. The fruit usually falls to the ground when green and ripens on the ground where it becomes pale yellow. The vitamin C content is much higher than that of citrus and is relished by animals and people alike. Our guests also enjoy the AMARULA CREAM on offer at our lodges . This is a very enjoyable after dinner liqueur, best served on the rocks and sipped slowly and appreciatively on a warm summer night.
December also marks the arrival of the European Roller. This bird migrates from the Mediterranean region and remains in South Africa until the end of March. During this period it outnumbers the local roller, the Lilac-breasted roller. In fact it is aggressive towards our local bird and displaces it, so that the Lilac-breasted roller is not readily seen in the eastern part of Kruger and moves westwards where there is a corresponding increase in altitude. The European roller is pale blue in colour with rufous back and bright blue wings. It is easily distinguished from the Lilac-breasted roller in that the tail lacks streamers. It feeds mainly on insects but has been known to take scorpions.
Many of our clients are terrified at the mention of the word " scorpion "... They appear more often in Summer and can give a nasty sting. Be especially careful before you put on your shoes in the morning as scorpions have been known to shelter in shoes after the night's hunt. Scorpions with large pincers are generally less dangerous. They use their formidable pincers to grab their prey. Scorpions with smaller pincers generally have thicker tails ( kept curved above the body ) and are able to give a nasty sting . Their venom is far more toxic than the scorpions with large pincers. The small pincers are not able to subdue the prey, which is immobilised by the injection of toxic venom. The good news is that humans are not the natural prey of scorpions (as is the case with snakes).
In the event of one of our clients being bitten by a scorpion or snake, we are in a better position than guests staying in Kruger camps insofar as nearby Hoedspruit has a good hospital . With the growth of Hoedspruit in the last 12 months, two new doctors have set up their practices here and this is good news for our clients in terms of accessible medical care. Thank God , we have never had any of our clients bitten by scorpions or snakes since we started the operation in 1991.
GAME-VIEWING NEWS
With the abundance of grass there has been a dispersion of game. Animals are moving throughout the region according to the availability of grazing. Because the rainfall has been patchy, the grass levels are different in different zones and the game moves constantly. This is good from an ecological point of view as certain areas are then given a chance to recover.
Bongani reports his highlight of the month as follows : " In early January I had a group of Americans . We were lucky to find a pride of lions eating on a buffalo right on the road. We were less than two metres from them and they carried on eating, completely unconcerned by our presence. We drove to Mondzweni waterhole and were watching warthogs and wildebeest when, all of a sudden, a cheetah came charging out of the bush . Another cheetah appeared from the other side and attempted to attack a wildebeest calf. The Americans couldn't believe they were really watching a scene that they said belonged to Animal Planet on TV. Luckily the wildebeest got away... "
Charles reports another cheetah hunt, also unsuccessful, on two adult warthogs. What was successful was a leopard that caught an impala near Nsemane Dam.
Elvis reports an elephant sleeping on its feet on 4 Jan for at least four hours ( I hope he and his clients didn't spend all that time watching a sleeping elephant ). He claims that the reference books state that the average period of time for which elephants sleep is around five minutes. I reckon this hefty fellow must have had an extra kilogram or two of fermented marulas !
Nelly informs me that he is seeing a lot more Black Rhino than before. His stats for January gameviewing are as follows :
Elephant : 100% ; Buffalo : 100% ; Lion : 50 % ; White Rhino : 70 % ;
Black Rhino : 50 % ; Cheetah : 30 % and Leopard : 25 %. Well done Nelly !
NEWS AT TREMISANA
All the thatched roofs had to be recombed ( courtesy of the monkey troop which enjoys sliding down the sloped roofs pulling out handsfull of grass ). We had hoped that the monkeys would have found another place to roost, but it looks like they have made Tremisana their permanent home. This species of monkey is called the Vervet Monkey and is found throughout South Africa in well-wooded areas. They are very inquisitive and agile and can be seen jumping from tree to tree at Tremisana. The Vervet Monkey has a diagnostic black face and long tail, which it uses with great effect in manouvering among the treetops. There is a strict hierarchy amongst the females in the group, which are usually accompanied by one or two mature males. These males have a blue scrotum, which anatomical part has given rise to its ( irreverent ) name of Blouaap in Afrikaans .
Delina reports that the monkeys have been less of a nuisance now that there is plenty food in the veld. There have been no attempts at hijacking her famous home-made bread in December or January. The monkeys sometimes like to play in the shaded carports where they successfully foul up the Landcruiser and also bless ( in a urinatory fashion ) our new and third Toyota Quantum. We haven't even had a chance to put the Viva Safaris insignia on this vehicle and the monkeys have annoyed our guides by treating it as a toilet !
We have introduced a new activity at Tremisana : the SUNRISE DRIVE. On the last day of our clients' safaris we will have a game drive departing 05h30. This should last until 06h45 at which time we shall conduct a game walk with armed ranger ending in time for breakfast at 08h00. The idea is to give our guests an additional drive and have an opportunity to see the sun rise. In winter, we expect to leave at the same time which will then be in the dark.
NEWS AT MARC'S CAMP
The Guest House is complete ! Our intention is to hire it out to clients who wish to do a self-catering safari. It consists of two en suite bedrooms , one with a king-size bed , the other with two single beds.
We had an interesting article published in the Travel Section of the January 27 edition of the Saturday Star , the largest circulation Saturday newspaper in South Africa. Entitled " A Tree to Tree House Call ", the author went to great lengths to describe her rising to the challenge of sleeping alone in a treehouse. I quote a section of her article " I awoke at 05h30 and enjoyed the stunning views of the sunrise from the treetops. Again an atmosphere of peace and serenity embraced me. Feeling adventurous and armed with towels and soap, I was ready to face my first outdoor reed bush shower. It was an invigorating experience and even the goggas did not bother me ".
She was clearly impressed with Ronald, " who is the first Black Lodge manager in the Hoedspruit area ". AD MULTOS ANNOS !
NEWS AT THE CHEETAH INN
The game fence around the property was completed in mid-January. We now need to build a ground grid at the front gate which will stop animals from walking out. The ground grid is made of metal poles with gaps in between, allowing vehicles to pass but not animals.
We have done our research amongst our clients over the years and know that zebra and giraffe are two of their favourite animals. It probably goes back to early childhood when we first looked at an animal book. I am sure the "striped donkey " and the " long-necked camel " must have made a lasting impression on our 2 or 3 -year old minds.
It would be great to introduce zebra and giraffe soon, but we first need a scientific study to determine whether the carrying-capacity is OK. The Cheetah Inn is situated on a piece of property about 19 hectares in extent. I personally doubt that we will get permission from the authorities to introduce giraffe.
Nevertheless we are looking forward to having a few wild animals around. Recently we saw leopard spoor in our boma, so we are thinking of introducing only larger antelope like wildebeest and waterbuck rather than impala.
Anthony and Marcelle appear to have settled in nicely and are working hard. Anthony has taken a few tours for Viva Safaris and Marcelle is busy with sewing new curtains and bedspreads to match the cane furniture cushions in the outside rondawels. Slowly but steadily we are getting there !
NEWS FOR OUR TRAVEL PARTNERS
Our website : www.vivasafaris.com has a new addition on our home page.
We often need to explain why there is a differential in tariffs for safaris to Tremisana and Marc's Camp.
I reproduce it here for your perusal:
SAFARIS TO TREMISANA LODGE AND MARC'S TREEHOUSE LODGE COMPARED
Viva Safaris tourists regularly request advice as to which destination, Tremisana Lodge or Marc's Treehouse Lodge, they should book a safari. We are often asked why there is a significant difference in tariffs between the two safaris.
At the outset, it should be made clear that the profile of guests at the two camps is very different :
Guests at Marc's Treehouse Lodge are adventurous and young at heart . They are prepared to forfeit certain luxuries in the pursuit of a real African bush experience. They certainly are not scared of frogs and spiders. Backpackers really love Marc's Treehouse Lodge !
Guests at Tremisana are generally a little older and are accustomed to simple luxuries. Of course they are still in the bush and may also encounter frogs and spiders, but these are unlikely to be in the chalets. Guests at Tremisana appreciate the compactness of the camp as well as the easy accessibility of all features and amenities.
Tremisana is electrically fenced as elephant are common. On the other hand, the animals at Marc's are free to move throughout the camp. Nyala and buffalo are often seen grazing near the swimming pool or below the treehouses.
The accommodation is very different. The treehouses at Marc's Treehouse Lodge are made of canvas and reed walls as opposed to the conventional brick and mortar walls at Tremisana. As a result there is reduced climate control in the treehouses. If it is cold and windy, then the reeded walls offer limited protection whereas at Tremisana the heat and cold are contained . The Tremisana chalets all have airconditioning, so that in the very hot summer months between October and March, the chalets are pleasantly comfortable. The airconditioning also has another advantage : mosquitoes do not like cold air, so once the airconditioner is switched on, the mosquitoes along with all other insects, disappear. The fans and mosquito nets in the treehouses are effective enough, but do not have the same result as airconditioning.
The treehouses are not completely insect-proof or even frog- proof insofar as there are small gaps in the reed wall and between the reeds and the thatched roofs.
In the Tremisana chalets, there are no gaps between walls and roofs and even the doors have rubber at their bases to keep all insects and other creepy-crawlies out. The windows of the chalets are burglar-proofed and are covered by insect-proof screens whereas the windows of the treehouses have a roll-up canvas cover.
There are other differences : the chalets have a tea/coffee station, are supplied with shampoos and have mats over the tiled floors. The finishes are generally better and the beds are more comfortable. All the chalets at Tremisana have en suite ablutions. Five of the twelve treehouses at Marc's have private , but not en suite, ablutions. This means that people booking a safari to Marc's cannot be guaranteed en suite facilities, but will probably enjoy showering under the stars !
Tremisana has a better wildlife prestige status insofar as it is Big Five . It is effectively part of Kruger Park as there are no fences to Kruger, whereas Marc's is in a Big Three ( rhino; buffalo and leopard ) enclosed reserve.
Meals at Tremisana are generally better and the overall tone of the lodge is upmarket compared to Marc's . Marc's has a better " bush " feel about it, whereas the manicured gardens at Tremisana lend a different dimension to the experience.
In terms of the game-viewing at the lodges , there is an additional game drive , the "Sunrise " morning drive at Tremisana. The bush walk is also different insofar as that, at Tremisana, there is always the chance of encountering lion and elephant on foot.
Viva Safaris believe that both our lodges offer outstanding value . When compared to other operators, we are convinced that the experience we offer is way better value for money.
We remind our supportive travel agents that you are welcome to have an "educational " safari with us. You can then sell the safari with confidence after having been there, done the tour and hopefully got the t-shirt from Delina or Ronald.
I have had some feedback re newsletters not arriving. If you want a previous newsletter, please let me know and I shall oblige. Alternatively, all our newsletters , since 2002, are posted on our website : www.vivasafaris.com
Regards and best wishes
Piero
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