I started the February 06 newsletter with the words "It never rains, but it pours". How things change! If ever we needed reminding of the effect of rampant global warming, February 07 will rank as the hottest and driest February we have had for a long, long time. The average max temperature for the month at Tremisana was around 35C and the average min temperature was 22C. The swimming pool at night ( 20h00 ) was 25C - something like a luke-warm bath. All of our airconditioners were given a thorough work-out !
The result of this excessive heat and poor rainfall is evident : the grass is no longer a verdant green, but has streaks of unwelcome yellow - similar to the onset of unwelcome grey streaks in dark hair. Unfortunately we cannot dye the grass back to green - we can only hope that the rains that were meant to fall in January and then February will eventually fall in March !
Whereas last year in February the TREMISANA DAM had two great big hippos rocking and rolling, the single crocodile that has remained is looking rather out of sorts in the dam which is artificially fed from our borehole. It is presently only 10% full and the terrapins and catfish are also struggling.
I shudder to think what will happen if there is no rain for the rest of the season - certainly it will become the gameviewer's good fortune insofar as the animals will all congregate around water. We have already noticed the effect at Tremisana - on 28 Feb, Charles noticed White Rhino spoor on a game walk and wasn't too sure if he was imagining things, but the next morning, Wynand, the warden, called to inform us that a White Rhino bull was indeed on Tremisana property. As this was a first, Charles did an extra drive with our clients and kitchen staff to see the specimen. Mindful of the buffalo that was chased through the game fence and right out of our property last month by lions and crossed the road into our neighbour's reserve, we were advised by Wynand not to frighten the rhino. The rhino was easily seen and appears to have settled in at Tremisana. It is likely that he will remain here for a while as he no doubt enjoys the sustainable water supply. We hope that the elephants don't fight with him as they also come regularly for water at Tremisana Dam.
News from the Minister of Tourism is that there will definitely be some culling of elephants. In a previous newsletter, I showed the mathematics and calculated that there would be around 15 000 elephants by 2007. I reckon we have reached this figure now. It is double the calculated carrying capacity of Kruger , so it comes as no surprise that culling will happen. Exact details of when; where; how many ; etc will be divulged by the SA National Parks and I trust that the transparency to which we aspire, will happen. I shall keep you posted on this one.
We have had our open vehicles recanvassed- they were looking shabby and despite the claim that they are bush-hardened vehicles, we thought it best to give them a face-lift.
GAME-VIEWING IN KRUGER
With the excessive heat, the gameviewing has deteriorated. Animals feel the heat just as we do and between 11h00 and 15h00 are usually horizontal under some shady bush or tree. Nevertheless there were a number of highlights reported by the guides :
Charles has maintained his 100% record with elephants and buffalos and in typical "regal" style, 'King' Charles has started to offer his subjects money-back guarantees on buffalo and elephant. Lucky for him that he is not as arrogant with leopard sightings - rumour has it that his is the worst record amongst all the guides for the month of February !
On the 7th Feb, Charles reported a big pride of lions on a buffalo kill on the Nwanedzi River road. Two days later, he found a dead hippo on the same road. There were many hyenas present and it was not clear how the hippo had died. I reckon it was probably a bull that had been injured in a territorial fight. With the shortage of water in the Nwanedzi river ( it has stopped flowing and has isolated pools ) the hippo bulls fight for available water.
Nelly reports seeing Black Rhino on the 2nd Feb. He was tourguide for one of our local South African regulars who does two safaris yearly with us and has been doing so since 1993 . It was our lucky tourist's first Black Rhino ever in Kruger and what made it extra special was that the Black Rhino was happy to be photographed. Later that day, Nelly found five White Rhino as well, so it was a good rhino day.
Elvis reports seeing a leopard on the 18th Feb that crossed the road in front of the vehicle, affording excellent photos. The following day he saw hippos chasing one another around at the Piet Grobler dam. One of the tourists was so impressed with the antics of these hippo, that she likened them to dolphins - quite a fertile imagination. Elvis also reports another dead hippo, this time on the Olifants river. He counted 36 crocodiles eating from the carcass over a period of 10 minutes.
Bongani started the month very well on 1st Feb by showing his guests both Black Rhino and White Rhino before the teatime stop. His other highlight was viewing two cheetah attempt, albeit unsuccessfully, a hunt on a group of impala near Rabelais dam.
NEWS AT TREMISANA GAME LODGE
The gardens have taken a bit of a pounding as a result of the heat and minimal rainfall. We do spray-irrigate the gardens using borehole water, which has various chemicals including carbonates and phosphates. The absence of rain has been noticed in the colour of the surrounding veld which has very definite yellow-brown hues.
On the 7th Feb , the elephants broke the high voltage single strand wire ( kept at a height of 3 metres off the ground ). Unfortunately they failed to let us know. On one dark moonless night two of our kitchen staff, Eunice ( 100 kg ) and Regina ( > 100 kg ) did the unbelievable : they actually BUMPED into an elephant on their way to the staff quarters. I don't know who got the bigger fright, elephant or kitchen staff , but I understand that Regina outsprinted Eunice to her room where she was laid up with an ankle sprain for the next few days. We have now replaced the high voltage wire and added another light along the path to the rooms. Delina thought the whole episode was the funniest she has experienced in her nine years with Viva Safaris, but we cannot joke about a dangerous animal such as an elephant. Regina informs me that the elephant has now migrated to Mozambique, such was the terror she inflicted on it....................................
Our SUNRISE DRIVES have been welcomed by all our tourists. There is always something exhilarating in driving in an open vehicle before the sun rises. The fresh wind on your face, the earthy predawn smells of awakening bush and the pink effusion of the imminent dawn leave everlasting and indelible tracks on our memories. How lucky we are to be in Africa !
NEWS AT MARC'S TREEHOUSE LODGE
There were 20 mm of very welcome rain on 22nd Feb. The result was dramatic : all the yellowing grass is now beautifully green and the trees pushed out more buds. The Sycamore Fig, Ficus Sycomorus , seem to have additional fruit this month. The Sycamore Fig is a massive, spreading tree with a smooth, pale yellow trunk and branches. It invariably grows near rivercourses. It is evergreen and the figs change from a green to a light orange when ripe. The figs are borne on branchlets, off the main stems, throughout the year. The figs thus provide a year-round source of food for birds, bats, monkeys, insects and other animals.
One of the other animals that uses the Sycamore Fig not only for food but also for accommodation is the Thick-tailed Bushbaby, Otolemur Crassicaudatus. It is sometimes called the Thick-tailed Galago. There is a distinct size dimorphism between the sexes ( as in nyala, with whom they share Marc's Treehouse Lodge) with the males being noticeably larger. The predominant colour is brown, but there are grayish variations. The diagnostic thick tail has hair about 30 mm long on it. Thick-tailed bushbabies are nocturnal, moving from their day-time resting places in thick foliage or holes in tree trunks around sunset.
The name "bushbaby" derives from the plaintive cry that continues long into the night. It is an eerie wailing call - in some ways similar to that of a human child. These animals have the peculiar habit of urinating on their hands and feet. It is believed that the purpose of this unsavoury habit is olfactory : their urine scent is left on branches and trees as a form of communicating territorial occupation - similar to domestic dogs.
Ronald reports that the buffalo are being seen regularly around the camp and that the nyala are extremely tame as they eat the fallen marula fruits around the swimming pool. The nyala have experienced an increase in population. This may be as a result of their moving closer to the river as the remaining veld dries out. They are certainly gregarious and a herd of over 20 was seen this month.
NEWS AT THE CHEETAH INN
Work goes on with the building and Anthony assures me that we shall have all 21 rooms ready and functioning on 1 May 07. He and Marcelle are very excited about the introduction of some animals and have already chosen a spot to erect a watering hole. We have made enquiries and have decided that our first animals to be introduced should be zebra. There is ample grazing available and we are assured that zebra will do well.
We are awaiting our AA ( Automobile Association) evaluation in early March and trust that the changes effected in the last year will allow the inspectors to endorse our "recommended" status.
We had the provincial SAPS ( South African Police Services ) conference at Cheetah Inn in February. We were told by the local superintendent that the crime situation will definitely improve.
Our bat population impressed the policemen as they roost directly above the entrance to the Conference Room. Apparently the policemen were playing a game called " dodge the droppings ". The correct name for these bats is Peter's Epaulletted Fruit Bat, Epomophorus Crypturus. It gets the "epaulletted" part from the tufts of white hair on the shoulders which are erected into epaulettes when the males display. The males make a characteristic resounding "ping" sound which carries on late into the night.
NEWS FOR OUR TRAVEL PARTNERS
We have had some educationals this month and are pleased to report that our agents appeared to be genuinely impressed with our operation. The SUNRISE DRIVE at Tremisana and the unique accommodation at Marc's Treehouse Lodge were appreciated.
We have had a few complaints in the past regarding the actual timing of the various activities we offer. We have now printed and have prominently displayed our program. We trust that any confusion will henceforth be avoided.
Roughly it is as follows :
TREMISANA ( effective from September to April )
05h30 : SUNRISE DRIVE and BUSH WALK
07h30 : Breakfast
08h00 : Departure for Orpen Gate of Kruger
08h30 : Departure for Johannesburg
08h45 : Departure for Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre ( 5 day safari only )
13h30 : departure for Bush Walk at Orpen ( 5 day safari only )
17h00 : SUNSET DRIVE
19h00 : Return from Kruger safari
19h30 : Transfer to Marc's Treehouse Lodge ( only guests sleeping at Marc's )
20h00 : Dinner
21h00 : Late Night Drive ( Fly-in safari clients )
MARC'S TREEHOUSE LODGE ( effective from September to April ) :
06h00 : Bush walk
07h30 : Breakfast
08h30 : Departure for Orpen Gate of Kruger
09h00 : Departure for Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre ( 6 day safari only )
09h00 : Departure for Johannesburg
09h30 : Departure for Endangered Species Project ( 6 day safari only )
13h30 : Departure for Bush walk at Orpen ( 6 day safari only )
14h30 : Departure for Balule Afternoon Game Drive ( 6 day safari only )
19h00 : Return from Kruger safari
20h30 : Dinner
We trust that any inconvenience of the past will now be obviated.
Another concern amongst our travel partners is the length of time spent in collecting our clients on the day of departure. We have thought long and hard about this one. Viva Safaris, at its very inception in 1991, was the very first operator to pioneer the concept of home/hotel pickup. Other companies that had been going for years before us, had, and some continue to have, a central point of departure, to which all clients have to find their way at own expense. While this latter option is obviously far less costly in terms of our petrol consumption, we have always been aware of the justified concerns of our valued clients when it comes to their safety and security. South Africa can ill afford any worse crime statistics and Viva Safaris will do its best to ensure that our clients do not add to and become part of the crime statistics. That is precisely why our guides are prepared to drive and literally go the extra mile to ensure that our clients are picked up safely from their front doors and returned there equally safely.
We apologise for the time taken for the courtesy of home/hotel pickup and dropoff but remain convinced that the vast majority of our clients appreciate our concern about their safety and wellbeing.
Sincerely yours,
Piero
General Manager, Viva Safaris.
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