Drum Beat - News from Djuma Game Reserve


	In the African night, the beat of a drum means news...
	January 2009


Read about events at Djuma Game Reserve

Happy New Year
"…the singing, dancing and drumming was spectacular."…..Click here to read more.

Bush Lodge
"Hot sunny days, as well as wet and thunderous skies have kept December going with no regrets."…. Click here to read more.

Vuyatela
"Lion sightings have been varied and widespread over the reserve."…..Click here to read more.

Galago
"What a wonderful way to spend Christmas. Despite the rain the animals were out in force!!!" ... Click here to read more.


for more information visit www.djuma.com
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This newsletter is archived in the Drumbeat section of our web site
Editor: Pippa Moolman

The photos above were taken by Andrew Khosa - guide and tracker at Bush Lodge.




Happy New Year
For years Djuma Game Reserve has been supporting a local dance troupe whenever we needed entertainment for special events. This New Year's Eve was no exception as all three lodges' guests joined together for bush sundowners on Leadwood clearing. Although the sun barely made an appearance - or rather disappearance - behind the foreboding clouds, the singing, dancing and drumming was spectacular. Guests were drawn in to join the African rhythm and Djuma staff showed off some pretty nifty footwork too. The Ringetani Traditional Dance Group www.ringetani.co.za certainly gave it their all to make a memorable farewell to 2008. We at Djuma are excited by new beginnings as renovations and upgrades start happening early in 2009. We hope that many of you will come and see the new chapter in our history unfold for yourselves.

Bush Lodge
Hot sunny days, as well as wet and thunderous skies have kept December going with no regrets. About 110mm of rain has been measured and we are hoping to have more downpours before summer fades. The lodge is preparing for renovations in the New Year and many of the fences within the camp have been removed, giving animals more access within the camp area itself. Newington male leopard was spotted just before dark on different occasions drinking from various water points around the lodge. Due to the abundance of water out in the bush, the game has been a bit quieter at the waterhole in front of the lodge. However we have seen nice herds of zebra and waterbuck grazing around the lodge. The White-tailed mongoose continues its nightly foraging under the spotlight at night. One morning Abel was taking his guests on a walk when they came across fresh spoor of a lioness about thirty meters from the lodge. The tracks were so fresh that they passed over the vehicle tracks from barely an hour before that, in the direction of the big Fig tree. Needless to say, Abel changed the direction of the walk without much further ado. Out on safari some of our guests had the experience of seeing all of the big five in less than two hours! With their expectations elevated they were encouraged to ask for cheetah and wild dogs, just to add pressure on the guides and trackers. Naturally they did see a cheetah but not wild dogs, which have been absent from the reserve for a while. The Nkahuma pride of lions has been seen in the northern part of Djuma's territory. They have hardly travelled down south for a long time, spending much of their time in Kruger National Park and Manyeleti, sharing the area with the two Manyeleti brother lions. The last Sandy Patch lioness has been seen on Cruse cutline just north of Sussens dam with three tiny cubs. She is keeping them well hidden and we surmise that they were fathered by the Manyeleti brothers. Karula, female leopard, has also been seen on several occasions and appears to have given birth but nobody knows where the cubs are being kept. Andrew and Greg took to following Karula hoping that she would show them where the cubs are hidden. Unfortunately no luck yet. Karula's grown up cubs are doing well on their own. Zebras, buffaloes, wildebeest, giraffe and hyenas were seen almost every day. Welcome back to the Pognant family who returned to stay at Bush Lodge this year. Congratulations to our honeymooners, Marie and Teodoro Gomez, Stanley and Caroline Janas, and the Bangayans. Happy birthday wishes go out to Jimmy and Patricia. May 2009 be happy and blessed for all of you. Fond regards from the Bush Lodge team.

Vuyatela
Finally it seems like we can take our fingers off the panic button by regaining our rainy season back. Towards the end of December we were blessed with the 129 mm of rain which has quenched our thirsty dams and rivers. Vuyatela dam is about a quarter full, after which seemed like an eternity being dry. We have had a lot of leopard action around camp. A leopard killed a nyala next to Khaya 8, and another leopard was spotted lying down on Mvubu road very close to the lodge. Two other sightings were of leopards feeding on impala; one at the Buffelshoek sign, and the other on Diagonal road. Impala has certainly proven to be the meal of the month with sightings of a female cheetah feasting on Brown Ivory and a male cheetah eating at Green pan. There were several other cheetah sightings including some hunting, lying down and drinking. There were few sightings of the large herds of buffalo and elephants at the start of the month, but as soon as the rain came, the herds returned. There are also numerous baby impala and wildebeest all over the show. Another newcomer, a rhino calf was seen with two rhino cows at Cheetah pan. Plenty of general game species were seen on most drives, as well as taking a drink in front of the lodge. Lion sightings have been varied and widespread over the reserve. The Manyeleti males have settled mostly in the northern and eastern sectors as well as the Nkahuma's in the north. We often hear their loud roars coming from Manyeleti Game Reserve on our northern boundary. They were last last seen at Galago dam feeding on the zebra kill. Three lionesses from the Styx pride were seen at Rhino pan feeding on baby wildebeest. New mom to three cubs, the lone Sandy Patch lioness has been seen on an impala kill at Jordan's dam, and a few days later taking a nap at Khaya Manzi. Congratulations to the Darouvroy's and McDonagh's who chose Vuyatela to come enjoy their honeymoons. To the Huegens, Robertsons, Rombouts and the Keoghs(who got married here in 2005) thank you for coming back to Vuyatela on return safaris. Congratulations to the Oenes, who chose Vuyatela for their wedding ceremony at our finest spot in the bush with a view of the Drakensburg mountains on the horizon. Happy staff birthdays to Eric, Jimmy, December, Graham, Judith Mogane and Gladness. May all your dreams and aspirations for 2009 come true. God Bless from the Vuyatela team.

Galago
With another year coming to an end we are thrilled with the good rainfall and favourable comments from our guests. The Barton - Bridges Family said: "A wonderful 3 days in the Sabi Sands. Thanks to all the staff and especially to Aubrey and William for sharing us so much and the great walk." The Flax Family reported: "Had a very special experience full of adventure and fun. Love Africa. The "Big 5" WOW !!!! Thanks Aubrey and Fanoti. You gave us the best time. We will be back." The Keys party commented: "What a beautiful wilderness here at Djuma! Aubrey and our spotter were great hosts, showing us all Big 5 in short order and several times. We had a couple visits from an elephant right outside camp who watched us swim while he ate no more than 2 feet away. The pride of 10 lions comes by camp hunting Impala two of the three nights we were here. We saw the Manyaleti brothers a couple of times, leopard four times and the sandy patch lioness finishing her Impala breakfast. Our times here have been quite a treat. Thanks to all. " The Van Vliet Family said: "What a wonderful way to spend Christmas. Despite the rain the animals were out in force!!! 2 leopards, 2 Cheetahs, 3 lions, elephant - the list go on and on….. Great fun spotting from the dinner table but still feel sorry for our lonely grumpy hippo. Camp Staff, ranger and tracker was fantastic. We are leaving with bigger brains and bigger waist lines. Thank you for everything."




Join us next month and share our experiences as the seasons march on.


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Djuma Game Reserve
P. O. Box 338, Hluvukani, 1363, Mpumalanga, South Africa
Tel: (+ 27 13) 735 5118
Fax: (+ 27 13) 735 5070

Webmaster: Jurie Moolman