The game-sighting statistics are unbelievably good : we have had
the following success rate, on a day-to-day basis , during May
and June :
Elephants : 100 %
Lion : 90 %
Buffalo : 80 %
Rhino : 60 %
Leopard : 25 %
These figures are based on all our drives in Kruger ( about 5 days
per week )
The scarcity of water has resulted in big concentrations of game
along all the major watercourses and dams. with the usual rains
only due in October , the excellent game-viewing can only get even
better.
We have appointed a fulltime mechanic to our staff . This allows
us to check and maintain our fleet on a more regular basis .
We have decided to actively enter the backpacker market . A 5-day
safari with accommodation in treehouses at Marc's Camp is being
marketed and should do very well.
NEWS AT TREMISANA
The usual elephant-induced disruption to our water supply is
becoming routine - we have built an elevated drinking pool for
them. It is elevated so that the warthogs and wildebeest do not
dirty the water. We have also increased the number of sharp edged
rocks around the borehole.
Sightings around the camp have been good. A resident herd of
giraffe is seen almost every afternoon. Nocturnal visitors include
porcupines, genet and civet.
We put out supplementary feed every now and again and the zebra
and wildebeest herds soon arrive. On a recent night drive , we were fortunate to see a cheetah and 3 cubs on a kill near the camp.
We are still watering our gardens and have to keep the electric
fence on to keep out the wild animals.
NEWS AT MARC'S CAMP
We had a very large group of international students at our
adventure camp. These good people had spent a year working on
Aids-related projects in Mozambique and were given a memorable time
at our camp.
The treehouses have all been refurbished and the main eating boma
has been enlarged substantially. Motlala Game Reserve has erected 2 bomas on our boundary for the feeding of buffalo and wildebeest.
Our nyala are very tame at this time of the year and come right
up to our guests, sometimes as close as 2 metres. A leguaan (
monitor lizard) has taken up residence in the dam. It must have
come from the Klaserie River which apart from isolated pools, is
now almost dry. The birdlife along the river is very good as the
birds are now concentrated around the available pools.
Two bushpigs ( mainly nocturnal ) are seen regularly near the top
end of the dam.
NEWS AT CHEETAH INN
We realise now what a huge job we have ahead of us .
Refurbishment is taking place and builders and thatchers are working
hard . We want to give the hotel a n " Out of Africa " feel .
The theme will incorporate a lot of wood and sand and many more
garden features.
Bookings are picking up and we hope to have large tour groups
from motorcoach operators using our facilities in the near future.
The Cheetah Inn is the closest hotel to the Orpen Gate and we
believe that it will be a big hit with both local and overseas
tourists.
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