We apologise for the lack of news since end of June 2003. There has been so much going on at Cheetah Inn that we completely forgot to update our website. We are sorry for any hassle caused and wish to take this opportunity to assure all our concerned friends that Viva Safaris is very much alive and doing well.
THE CHEETAH INN
Since July 2003 , we have spent a huge amount of time and money in improving the Cheetah Inn. Our plan is to look after the local population as well as to upgrade the facilities so as to be attractive to overseas clients.
We have repainted all rooms; removed all carpets and replaced them with tiles or screed floors; added wooden ballustrades to the front entrance and each of the patios of the 8 rooms in the hotel proper; revamped the inner courtyard and added a beautiful water feature; upgraded all irrigation systems so as to water all the gardens ;redone the entire roof ; rethatched sections of the roofs of the outside rondawels;upgraded the swimming pool and boma areas;added a full screen TV in the bar ; bought a full size snooker table ; changed all bedspreads and curtains in the hotel rooms and improved and upgraded the kitchen equipment. We include a few photos herewith to give you an idea of the effort that has been put into the Cheetah Inn- making it a place that will enhance Hoedspruit and also be a credit to Viva Safaris.
Entrance to the Cheetah Inn
We have invested in people as well . Ziggi Hugo, who was manager at Tremisana , has been promoted to manager of all 3 of our establishments and has overseen a lot of the improvements at Cheetah Inn . We have employed a top class chef in Henry Zitha , formerly of Skukuza in the Kruger National Park. As we expand, we shall increase our staff.
Front patio at the Cheetah Inn
The efforts made to resuscitate the Cheetah Inn have not gone unnoticed . We have already experienced an increase in the number of enquiries for accommodation. Already we have hosted two very successful conferences. The biggest feather in our cap is that a number of very big incoming tour operators have made serious enquiries about bringing large groups to stay at the Cheetah Inn - we hope to let you have good news next newsletter (beginning of August 2004 - promise).
TREMISANA LODGE
As the Balule Reserve becomes more established, so are the animal sightings improving. Despite the serious drought of 2003, we had good sightings, especially towards the end of the year. With the excellent rains we received in February 2004, the veld looks truly amazing. The lions are back with a vengeance - on one night, the resident pride cornered and killed 4 wildebeest on Tremisana Lodge property. The elephants are still ever-present and have been better behaved insofar as they haven't broken any water pipes for a while. We constructed 4 covered carports for our open Gameviewers that have been recanvassed - we need to protect them against sun and rain. We have employed a full-time mechanic, Sidney, since August 2003 - this has helped ensure that we have no breakdowns. There have been problems with our borehole but the gardens still look very lush and tropical. The guestbook is always such a pleasure to read-so many pleased and clearly satisfied clients have visited Tremisana , which so richly deserves its reputation as the leading lodge of the entire Balule Game Reserve. We include a few recently taken photos of Tremisana below :
The bridge over a water feature in Tremisana's tropical garden
The patio outside Tremisana's Guest House
MARC'S CAMP
The drought of 2003 took its toll on the nyala population and gave the resident hyena clan easy pickings. Things got so bad that the buffalo were caught and kept in a specially constructed boma , where they could be fed and watered regularly. Even the wildebeest were kept in a boma. After the recent rains, these have all been released. It is very encouraging to see the number of young wildebeest, waterbuck and impala on Marc's Camp property. Recent improvements at the Treehouse Lodge include the regrassing of the pool area, the enlarging of the boma and the redoing of all electrical points - the pathways are now better illuminated. We are busy revamping all the treehouses and Ronald, our resident carpenter, is doing a good job in refitting the bar and main lounge. A group of monitor lizards have taken up residence at the "Breakfast" Dam and are clearly getting fat on the numerous tilapia fish in this dam.
The Adventure Camp has been used by a number of schools for bonding and leadership programs. We have a confirmed booking for September 2004 from a large school as far away as Welkom. The obstacle course has been varnished and looks good.
THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NO TRUTH IN THE RUMOUR THAT ZIGGI HAS INTRODUCED A BABY CROCODILE INTO THE DAM AT THE OBSTACLE COURSE - HE HAS FORGIVEN THE PREFECTS FROM DRAKENSIG SCHOOL FOR THROWING HIM IN
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