The
weather, particularly the rainfall is a hot topic of conversation
in these parts. Most conversations start with, "How much rain
did you get?" or "Did you get any rain?" At Djuma,
our annual average rainfall is about 500 mm (20 inches) that is not
really that much, but can make such a difference as to the veld conditions
that carry the game through the dry winter months.
In 1996, three years after starting Djuma Game Reserve, we had our
first wetter than normal year. Most of the roads became impassable
and at one stage we were limited to a mere 7 km of usable road. Going
off the tracks was a serious no-no as the game drive vehicles would
invariably get stuck. Luckily the flora and fauna was still out and
about and most of the time we did get stuck, the guests were game
for the experience of digging the vehicle out of the mud. On one occasion,
the morning safari was about to leave Bush Lodge, but as the guests
got on the vehicle it sank up to the axles in mud! We managed to get
them onto another car and continue their drive. During that season,
the access roads to Djuma were only drivable in 4 x 4 vehicles, so
most of the guests and supplies could only get here by plane. Most
often, the plane used for transferring guests and supplies was covered
in mud after a landing!
We were in for a surprise in early 2000, when we got about 1 200 mm
of rain, just over double the average. Vuyatela had opened in December
1999, in time for the millennium celebrations. The rain was in full
swing after Christmas with the promise of a very wet New Year approaching.
We had a big sundowner planned for the 31st, with all three lodges
getting together to watch tribal singing and dancing. We were very
appreciative that the rain abated briefly as the last sunset sank
amidst the dark clouds to the sound of drums.
This was a serious flood season, and not just an above average wet
season. The rain would go on for days on end and at one stage we has
to close the brand new Vuyatela as moss was growing on the walls!
A large group involved with Amarula, had come out from Argentina in
a big over-lander type vehicle. They had managed to drive into the
lodge via a back route as some of the local rivers were in flood.
When they were to leave a few days later, the huge truck got stuck
in the parking lot and was towed out behind a huge tractor. Following
that, there was a problem: the only two bridges that could carry their
vehicle had been washed away. We had to organize them alternative
transport and their over-lander stayed at Vuyatela for a few months
until the bridges had been rebuilt.
The floods also complicated the day-to-day running of the lodges.
Each day has to be evaluated as to how the guests will get in or out
and if supply trucks can make the journey. If the weather had closed
in, air transfers had to be converted to road transfers and vice versa.
Self drive guests would have to park their cars at Hluvukani police
station, about 20 km away, and transferred in 4 x 4's to the lodges.
The lodge workshops also work overtime, with brake pad replacement
happening on a regular basis. All the adventures do however add spice
and variety to our usual routines.
Normally, our summer rains start to fall in late October, but last
year the rains were late and we were dreading the dry conditions that
would follow into winter. Most of the dams were dry and we had to
pump water selectively to the bush for the animals. By January this
year, we had only had 100 mm, way below average! Then the heavens
opened and bush turned green and the dams filled up. Up until now
we have had over 500 mm of rain and enough grazing to keep the herbivores
going through winter. In fact it hardly looks like the start of winter
out there! There is still the odd Marula tree bearing fruit, a buffalo
calf was seen being born as well as baby francolin chicks and Egyptian
goslings! Sort of like a second spring!
Philippa Moolman
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April
meant chocolates galore, school holidays and cooler weather. The camp
was particularly busy over the Easter period, mostly with family groups
from the UK. Of course having children in camp gave us a good excuse
(like we needed one) to stock up on Easter eggs and decorate the main
building with painted eggs etc. We did, however, decide to forgo a traditional
Easter egg hunt (in case anyone found more than they had bargained for
in the garden) so it was chocolates for breakfast instead! We welcomed
the Drys family back after an absence of 8 years and believe they are
already planning their next visit; so we're thrilled it won't take another
8! The Dewdney family visited with their children, as did the Ricks
family. Yet another reminder of how small a place the world can be came
in the coincidence of Jimmy (currently on leave in England) perchance
meeting the Ricks family and in conversation with them putting two and
two together and realising they had just the week before been staying
at Bush Lodge!
The bush is still green and lush and if it wasn't for the cooler nights
we might be fooled into forgetting that winter is just around the corner.
Some of the migrant birds have left (like the woodland kingfishers)
but many are still here. The impalas are presently rutting and for most
of the day and night we can hear the males snorting and loudly proclaiming
their territories as they constantly keep out intruders wanting to lay
claim to their 'harems'. Depending on which side of the territory you're
standing on it's either heaven or hell. We've had a few sightings of
the female leopard with her cub and there have been great sightings
of lion. Some a little close to home... Leaving camp one mid-morning
for a village excursion, Abel encountered a lioness just near the lodge.
Some of the staff decided to take advantage of her proximity to have
a quick look. When we caught up with her it was to find her very intent
on looking at something in the direction of the camp. Imagine our shock
to realise the 'something' was Nick's parents sitting on the veranda
of No 7, immersed in their reading and oblivious to her stealthy approach!
A speedy response from us sent Nick hurtling to their room and the somewhat
disgruntled cat had to make do with impala instead. That's one visit
Nick's parents won't forget in a hurry!
An unusual opportunity arose one day to see the wildlife vets from KNP
in action with the discovery of a lone juvenile African wild dog, not
in good health close to Vuyatela Lodge. Piet had gone out with some
guests to view the animal when the vets arrived and they allowed them
to stay and view the darting and capture of the dog for removal to Skukuza's
veterinary facilities for testing and hopefully relocation to re-join
a pack. The guests were thrilled to be part of the experience and gained
a rare hands-on insight into the work of the vets.
Congratulations go to Piet and Patience on the birth of their second
daughter, whom they've named Trish. Both mother and daughter are doing
very well and we all look forward to making her acquaintance. Jimmy
has taken a long-leave of absence to do some travelling abroad and his
presence is already missed around camp. Nick has been covering for him
this month and May sees Peter Pretorius (one of our previous guides)
joining us again. Our student Natalie has left to travel to the UK to
join her parents there and we wish her all the best. Brigitte, a previous
student from Austria, returned for another stint as 'slave' and it was
great to see her again and catch up on all her news. Regular readers
of Drumbeat might recall the rangers and trackers preparing for their
National firearm exams a few months back. Well, good news is that Piet,
Abel and Morris passed so congratulations go to them for all the effort
they put in.
Well on that happy note it's a fond farewell till next month.
Regards,
Liane and the Bush Lodge Team
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Another
divine month has past in this glorious bush. We have been blessed with
more rain at this late stage in the season. The grasses are all seeding
at the moment and will continue over the next couple of weeks. The bush
overall is looking lush and pristine. We have just started repairs to
our road network as it has taken a while for these areas to be dry enough
to allow for this. The guys are all very busy out there at the moment.
On a community note Warren has got cricket coaching sponsorship from
the Lampoon Cricket Union. He has approached a number of schools in
the area to assist with introducing cricket to the schools. Jimmy will
be helping with this too. These two have already got most of the staff
children hooked on the sport - boys and girls alike. We will keep you
posted on the developments.
We are in the process of building a Health Spa at the moment. Neliswa
is thrilled to bits and can be seen supervising the building team every
now and then. George, the actual supervisor, has mentioned that they
are building as fast as they can and that she should relax at the lodge,
as a building site is not the place for a therapist. We hope to have
it in use by the end of May. It promises to be a delight as we have
used a number of funky building ideas in the Spa. An example is the
use of various bottles in the walls. As the sun comes round it gives
a charming lighting effect in the room.
We had Vincent and Tony come as spend some time with us this month.
As usual all had a good time. They kindly offered to assist us with
getting all our goodies to Indaba, the annual tourism trade show held
in Durban. We have decided to do our own stand this year and need to
get some furniture and artworks to the show. Pippa was chatting with
Vincent and Tony and they insisted that we use their business van to
get the goods to Durban. We are all grateful, as the idea of having
to drive through rain with furniture etc on a trailer was alarming.
They will be driving down to the show with us and we can guarantee an
amusing time.
We had a few days of having a Wild Dog around the Lodge. At tea we had
one of our guests Anneli Teddar spotted the young dog run past the tea
deck. We later located it as it hung around the lodge for some time.
We soon discovered that the young dog was only 8 months old and alone
so as it was in a poor state we called the district vet Dr DeWalt Keet
and he came and darted the dog. The young female will be treated at
Skukuza until all tests are completed and then will be sent to a rehabilitation
center to be introduced to a new pack, as we do not know what happed
the pack she was part of. Patsy, our lovely Jack Russell, was in a tussle
with a Baboon and was rushed to the vet in Hoedspruit. She is recovering
at the moment and is in tiptop shape. One would not imagine that she
had a punctured lung and liver if you see her cavorting around the lodge
and in the garden at home.
The open area in front of the lodge has been busy with game. We have
the Waterbuck and Nyala daily and Zebra, Giraffe, Impala, and Wildebeest
etc join them regularly. The Waterbuck have four young calves at present.
Even though we lost one to Lion a couple of weeks ago. The same Lioness
was back a few evenings ago but was not able to sink her claws or teeth
into one.
All in all dinner at the lodge has been quite exiting over the last
couple of weeks with the Lion stalking etc with Marietjie and Suzi Holtzhauzen
redoing our menus. We have all gained a good couple of pounds as they
have come up with amazing new dishes. We have also spent many a late
night and early morning chatting about said new menus amongst other
interesting things!
We had a young volunteer with us while Helen was away on leave. Richard
Budd took care of the virtual game drives and rangers diary for us,
as well as a few odd jobs around the camp. We hope to see him in the
future and wish him all the best with his new job back home in London.
Lusile, one of our chefs, returned from maternity leave this month.
It is great to have her back and also better to see her divine baby
girl regularly. We also wish Becky Moolman and happy 6th birthday from
the Vuyatela Family.
Until next month Mark and the Vuyatela team.
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