Since my last newsletter, I have become a grandfather, doubly, to Seanna and Greg. Apart from the emotions of happiness both for myself and my children, the advent of grandfatherhood has allowed an opportunity for some self-reflection. Along with the frivolous cliché “ I am now sleeping with a Granny ” there comes a sobering realisation that I am getting old.
What then of the ideals of conservation that inspired me to found and develop Viva Safaris? I have had many truly wonderful wildlife ‘ highs ’ over the years – some really special recollections of animal experiences that are indelibly imprinted on my memory. More importantly, so many of our Viva guests have also had the opportunity to experience a small whiff of the thrill of game viewing. Perhaps, most importantly, the conservation of our wildlife heritage has been furthered by Viva Safaris.
What can be done on a personal level ? For starters, each and every one of us needs to become more aware of how we are individual polluters. Have we ever littered ? Have we ever wasted, in terms of food and energy ? Have we tried to save water ? Do we make a conscious effort to buy and promote ‘ green ’? As parents have we passed on the values of conservation to our children and now, in my case, will I educate my children’s children to look after our world ? Will I teach my grandchildren to love Nature, and the God of Nature ?
The rains have come with a great vengeance. Most of Kruger’s dams are full and the rivers are flowing strongly. The bush is thick and the grazers and browsers are looking very well. Our guides have their work cut out in locating the animals which so easily blend into the bush and almost vanish before a decent photo can be taken. So when I hear of a great sighting and receive some exceptional photos from our guides, I am very pleasantly surprised and genuinely elated.
GAMEVIEWING REPORTS FROM OUR GUIDES
Bertus has emailed the following :
"Kruger is getting greener and denser by the day. It makes spotting game a bit more challenging but when we do find something it is so much more rewarding. We had some great days in Kruger and on one occasion we spotted leopard twice in one day. Some days we got rhino on up to four different occasions and on other days not once. But that is what makes it so exciting : we never know what is going to happen next.
We also had a great sighting in broad daylight of a giant eagle owl which sat very close to the Ratelpan area. I also ended my month in Kruger with a brilliant sighting of a leopard cub that we spotted trying to cross the road on the main road from Orpen to Satara. I spotted him approaching the road and gave him a bit of space to cross. Unfortunately another car approached from the opposite side and his courage left him. He then disappeared back into the bush and we approached. We had a great time watching him as he then starting taking interest in anything moving around him. He later went to lie down on a rock face from where he could observe the crowd that formed around him.
Sighting of a leopard cub
Balule and Tshukudu
From this month we have been taking Tremisana guests on game drives at Tshukudu. It started of on a bit of a sad note with the news that Savannah, the tame Cheetah, was killed by lions. For us who live in this area it was quite sad as all of us knew her well. Some of my earlier guests might recall the cheetah that was often observed lying next to the fence line at the entrance gate to Mohlabetsi.
We started off with meeting her daughter Ntombi who usually joins the guests for afternoon tea before we set off on our drive there. We had some great sightings of rhino, elephant and lion. With the morning walk at Tremisana (Buffalo) and the evening drive at Tshukudu we had 5 out of 5. Yes there are leopards at Tshukudu !!.
The highlight of my month was on Balule. I came back from Kruger one evening and as soon as I came into the gate had a call from my dad informing that the lions were near Tremisana Lodge trying to chase some wildebeest. I immediately left the lodge and went to find them. After driving on as well as off the road I found a lioness and one of the young males next to a freshly killed wildebeest. I went to fetch the guests from the lodge and as we arrived back the whole pride arrived there with us. What a sight ! Twenty lions feasting on a carcass - the sounds were absolutely amazing. We were about 8 metres from them. I later asked the guests to keep quiet and switched off the lights. I don’t have words to describe the sensation .This is the type of experience that makes my job so very, very worthwhile !!!”
Twenty lions feasting on a carcass
Bongani reports as follows :
Balule
"During are our walks we saw many animals like elephants, white rhino, impala and zebra. This time of the year we find lots of dung beetles. One day on a bush walk we heard lions roaring only a few metres away from us. Later we drove back to the area where we had heard them, and were very lucky to find two big male lions, walking on road towards Impala Dam. We left them at the dam but later in afternoon we went back to look for them and we found ten lions eating an impala.
On another occasion, we found a dead giraffe and lots of signs of lions. The following day we saw hyenas eating the giraffe. We were also lucky to see cheetah on a number of occasions.
Kruger
On 13-01-10
We drove the S100 where our guests’ dream came true - we saw something that we won’t ever forget. We stopped to look at a blue wildebeest walking towards the waterhole Before it got to the water, two big lionesses came out from the bush and ran towards the blue wildebeest. There were a few calves and the lionesses were confused by all the animals running in all directions and missed their prey. Later they tried to catch a zebra, but it was difficult for them, because it is an open area. After their missed attempts at lunch, they came onto the road. On our left side a big herd of buffalos was coming towards us. We spend two to three hours waiting to see what would happen. The herd kept on walking toward us and the lions also got closer as the buffalos approached. Next thing a big herd of elephants arrived and kept the lions away from the buffalos. The elephants followed the retreating lions for a big distance and were trumpeting so the lions were confused. The buffalos come down and had a nice time in the stream. I asked myself : who is the real King of the Bush ?
On 27- 01-10
We went to Kruger try to find animals but it was not easy, because we had experienced a very heavy rain the previous night and all the rivers were following with high volume. The only thing that we saw it was big herd of elephant - more than 200 - and we had lions roaring but we could not see them. ”
Lena has emailed her first report :
Marc’s Camp
"In the middle of this month, I had a very exclusive and close leopard sighting. I was helping out at Marcs Treehouse Camp, where I was following (with my guests) the game drive vehicle of Rhulani. After we had already spotted two White Rhino and several antelope, we were passing the turnoff to a small waterhole and there we were almost stunned to see a male leopard that was standing motionless next to the turnoff, watching us. We immediately stopped, amazed to find a leopard so close up. After he had seen enough of us, this big male turned around slowly and walked off into the bushes. We took the turnoff and followed the small road down to the waterhole where he, relaxed and calm, came out of the cover. Even closer than before, the leopard started drinking and after a couple of minutes he lay down to rest, not more than 3 metres from our vehicles, ignoring us completely.
Sighting of a leopard at the waterhole
To watch a stunning and especially calm leopard like this so close up was for me one of my best ever sightings and for the clients an unforgettable moment to see this big cat drinking and rolling around in the grass afterwards.
Calm & relaxed he decided to take a nap
Balule Reserve
Besides sightings of the Big 5, two other animals on my game drives in the Balule Reserve made for awesome sightings this month.
Number one is the cheetah, which we saw several times in the beginning of this month. A pair of males as well as a female with her young has been quite close to us. The mom and her cub were exposing themselves on a manmade wall, which they were using as a lookout to spot prey, while the guests could enjoy the sighting. With every new encounter we were happy to see that these elegant cats are still around.
Mother cheetah & cub on the lookout for prey
Number two is the Black backed Jackal. Jackals are typically seen and are active in the early morning and evening … and usually they are foraging solitarily or in territorial mating pairs, that stay together for life. Their young are born between July and October. Due to that, we had recently a lot of encounters with curious youngsters, that seemed to be less intimidated by the vehicle than the parents and too inquisitive to be afraid of moving cameras of excited guests. These young Jackal pups were rolling on the warm sandy roads, catching flying insects and they only moved further into the bush, away from the vehicle when their parents warned them with a rumbling bark.”
Black Backed Jackal
Lorey reports :
“This was another great month for me - it was my birthday month & as a present I had some of the most amazing predator sightings.
On the 6th I entered the Park with only two guests. While we were driving to the Park they asked me, “ What are our chances of seeing predators?” I said to them “Well today it’s very hot. Predators don’t like it when it is hot”. But soon I realized that no matter how many books we read, animals don’t read books! We entered the boom gate of the Kruger National Park. As we drove along the road I saw a vehicle standing diagonally on the side of the road. As we went closer we found this nice surprise : It’s a cheetah female with 3 cubs !! The female killed an impala right beside the road. The mom & cubs was extremely nervous about the proximity of all the cars. We sat there for about one hour. We witnessed how the mom first gave the cubs the opportunity to eat, because they need the food to grow. Just after lunch I decided that we are going to see if we can find some leopard & lion on the S100. Not too far on this road we found a leopard cub in a tree, where its mom had placed a baby wildebeest. The kill was again just beside the road. We could hear how the leopard crushes the bones! On our way out just before Orpen Gate we saw twice leopard, lions & buffalos – all of these animals in the radius of less than 1.5 km’s! Surely this was an awesome day for finding predators!
Cheetah with her cubs crossing the road.
This was also a great month of birding. We got so close to some species of birds!
The European Roller is a bird that migrates to Europe in our winter. They live in woodland & savannah with open, grassy patches. This species is a summer visitor. They are solitary birds. Their diet consists of insects & reptiles.
The European Roller
The Southern Carmine Bee-eater is a summer resident. This species breeds in Southern Africa during the summer season, but migrates north in winter, usually to other regions of Africa. This species breeds in large conspicuous colonies in riverbanks. Their diet consists of insects.”
The Southern Carmine Bee-eater
Mayneth has also sent his first report :
02/01/2010
We drove towards Mudzazeni. 2km from the tarred road (H7), we found three lions that had killed a Buffalo. When we got there, they were resting under a tree. Suddenly there came a Jackal to scavenge their prey. Only one lion tried to chase the Jackal, chasing it up next to the road. From the lions we drove to Ngotso where we found a leopard on a tree. We spent most of our time there and drove back to Girivana where we had a good sighting of two lionesses with three cubs lying down. When it was about time to come out of the park 7km to the gate we found more than 10 lions with cubs lying just next to the road.
18/01/2010
I started my drive with an early sighting of 3 lionesses with cubs. When I drove 500m (Rabelais Rd) from these lions another lion came out of the bush onto the road. I then drove to Nwanetsi (H6) to see the clans of Hyenas and 3 cubs and a herd of Buffalos.
19/01/2010
I went to Timbavati, S39 (Long Timbavati Rd) Just at the edge of the road, very relaxed, on my way to lunch we came across a Rhino. After lunch, I took H6 to check the Hyena den, they were still there. From the hyenas I went S41 for hippos , After Hippos I took S100 and I bumped into a lioness hunting a waterbuck.
22/01/2010
Our day started very slowly with only elephant at Nsemani Dam swimming and playing. Buffalos were there at the same time. On the S39 we saw Rhinos as well as a
lion sleeping 200m from the road. We waited until he stood up, walked closer towards our car and went to sleep again at most 10m from the car. We came back and completed our big five with the mating pair of leopards at the lodge ( Marc’s Camp ).
29/01/2010
The weather conditions of the day were favourable for us. On the Rabelais road we saw 5 lionesses with cubs lying down. After lionesses, we got to H7 Between S39 and S36 and found two male and female cheetah on the road, very relaxed. After lunch at Satara rest camp we got two lions and five lionesses at the bridge near Satara. It was so close and on open ground my guests didn’t want to leave the sighting until we were left with just enough time to go back.”
Rhulani reports :
04/01/10
SIGHTINGS: Lions – Three male lions caught a Buffalo at S36 on way to Mudzadzeni and about 27 Giraffe were watching the lions enjoying their breakfast. A leopard gave us an incredible sighting : 2km after S36 Junction, on Sweni road we saw a Marula tree with its branches overhanging the road. A female leopard was resting on top of that branch. Because of the excited screams from our guests who were overwhelmed to see the leopard hanging in front of our vehicle, she stood up, stretched and jumped down and vanished. (Five out of Five)
07/01/10
SIGHTINGS: A female leopard had placed an impala in the tree while it was lying on the ground. This was at Nsemane Dam. After a short while, it climbed up and started eating half of the meat. It took the left over meat and went into the bush. It was really amazing and the clients were really happy. This special animal is hard to find. .
16/01/10
Motlala Drive at Marc’s Camp
We had an unbelievable sighting of a big male Leopard – and he was very relaxed, and walked close to our vehicle then went straight to the waterhole. We left after an hour because it was getting dark. That was a very good sighting. The clients were very excited to see it.
22/01/10
Marc’s Tree House Lodge
After dinner I was driving up to the Adventure Camp when I saw the lights of the Quantum. When I got there, we saw were two leopards mating about 10-15 metres away from the road. I drove back to the Treehouse camp and fortunately found the guests who were still enjoying sitting by the fire and I took them to the sighting. While we were still watching the female woke up went to the male and started mating. We left them at the same spot because it was late.”
Last, but never least, Tolli expounds :
“In January the bush is thick and dense and it is extremely difficult to see the animals, but we had amazing experiences with the Big Five and all the other animals. On the 5th we saw a Southern Ground Hornbill flying and sitting in trees, something that they only do at night when they go to sleep, usually they walk around looking for food in the day. The Ground hornbill is an endangered species because they lay their eggs in hollow trees and will have chicks every 8 years, usually two chicks and the one, the stronger and bigger one will kill the smaller, weaker one, so they will have one baby every 8 years. Another problem they have is that elephants that push over the trees where they nest and humans that cut the trees. Some superstitious people believe if one of these birds lands on your house then someone in your house is going to die, so they kill all the birds they can find.
The Ground Hornbill
The next morning I showed my guest that humans didn’t invent the wheel, but it was the Dung Beetle. The Beetle will gather the dung from a big pile of dung (elephant, rhino, buffalo est.) then roll it into a round ball to transfer it to a safe place so that they can lay their eggs in it. As soon as the beetles hatch they can eat the house they were incubated in.
Dung Beatle
My personal highlight of the month was on the 22 January at about half past 8 when Lorey and I went from Marc’s Camp to Cheetah Inn: about 500m from Marc’s Treehouse Lodge we saw two leopards mating. It was amazing and a once in a lifetime experience, we waited for Rhulani to bring the guests so that they can also enjoy this unbelievable sighting.
Leopards can only be seen together in three circumstances. First a mother with a cub, second two males fighting over territory and last at mating time the male and female will stay together for about seven days and the actual mating will take place in a twenty four hour period. They will mate every half an hour for about ten seconds and the male will jump up with a growl and they will wait it out for the next session. ”
NEWS FROM OUR LODGES
We have received the following emails :
From: Alice in Portugal
Thanks very much for your monthly news on safari's life in Kruger. I had a wonderful time last time I was there and it's very comforting to know someone is enjoying and working for nature while we are facing cold winter here in Europe. Have a good 2010 with lots of good spots of Kruger's wild life good work!!!
From: Sinead Delaney
Staying at the Tremisana Camp (1stdec until 5thdec 2009) on the last few days of our 2weeks holiday was the most amazing finale to an amazing holiday. The staff there were so welcoming and friendly and the way they joined us and the other only couple that were there at the time for dinner every night was so nice it felt like you were a part of the family. Lena and Bongani were just fantastic and when we were leaving it was almost like saying goodbye to good friends!!! Our last night was when we managed to complete the big five and it was in the most amazing way as we got a flat tyre in the dark while surrounded by a pack of 15 lions, lioness and cubs...........AMAZING.........it took our breath away and will be memories I will treasure forever from the bottom of my heart, thank you. We will be back for sure!! Best wishes and Happy new year, Sinead and Daniel from Ireland.
From: Bruno Dupont
I just want to give some quick feedback on our stay (Dec 22nd to dec 26th).We were very happy with the place and the service. The staff was very helpful and flexible. Alice in particular did a fantastic job and seems to be managing the place in a very efficient way. We'll definitely recommend it.
I wish you all a great February
With kind regards,
Piero
General Manager
Viva Safaris
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