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

May 2008

Read about events at Djuma Game Reserve

Bush Lodge

Vuyatela

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This newsletter is archived in the Drumbeat section of our web site

The bush is turning shades of golden yellows as autumn is in full swing and winter well on the way. We were lucky enough to receive 17mm of rain in April. Sightings from the lodge have included a big male hippo seen at least twice every week in the drainage line, close to the main building. Morris and his guests had been struggling to find giraffes for a couple of days. However on their return from drive one morning they were greeted by several of them in the clearing in front of the lodge. On another morning we heard alarm calls from bushbuck and monkeys about fifty meters from the staff village. After breakfast we went to have a look and found a big male cheetah feeding on a young female bushbuck. The cheetah fed until midday and then left the scene to take a nap, after all, which cat would be able to sleep with the relentless monkeys going bananas in the trees above? The highlight lodge sighting would have to be when a pack of fourteen wild dogs were seen a few meters from the lodge entrance as Abel was setting off on safari with his guests. They were seen later in the afternoon at the Molowati drainage line on Gowrie and again the following day on western Gowrie. Over dinner one evening we spotted Jordaan's male leopard. He is by nature rather shy and his spoor indicated that he had crossed the boundary into neighbouring property. On another evening Mandla was walking the small path leading to his house when he realized he was following close behind White Cloth female leopard! She was as relaxed as ever and silently disappeared into the long grass in front of his house.
Out in the bush sightings of the Nkuhuma pride of lions and the notorious Mapogo males have dominated the area. The Nkuhumas were seen in the north at Big Dam near the Manyeleti boundary while four of the five Mapogos were resting up at Galago Camp, followed by a two week absence. Naturally we are a little nervous that the two prides will cross paths again giving the males a chance to kill off the rest of the Nkuhuma cubs and start courting the lionesses. Then the Nkuhumas were spotted in the south near Bush Lodge at Buffalo Pan. Although they had stopped there for a drink they ended up in the mud pulling at a dead buffalo that had been there for a couple of days. The hyenas and jackals did not have much success at scavenging, but the vultures were able to get a square meal out of the situation. Most exciting was the fact that not far away at Three-In-A-Row Pan the Mapogos were sniffing the air for the stench of rotting buffalo and the Nkuhumas. They moved in towards the pan only to discover that the Nkuhumas had moved north towards Kudu Corner on Eastern Gowrie. They bagged their own buffalo there and are still on Djuma property adjacent to the Kruger National Park.
We had a very special visit from the Pearson family who traveled to Djuma from England to spread the ashes of their mom and grandmother, Enid Nichols. Enid visited Bush Lodge many times and although she had very little vision always enjoyed her safaris with us and was very much part of our Djuma family. We thank the Pearson's for allowing us to be part of the special tribute to Enid.
The group of doctors led by Dr Gustov Joyce returned to Bush Lodge for their annual conference. We wish them a peace and prosperity until we meet again. Bert and Nellie Dukhuizen celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary with us and we wish them much happiness in the years to come. Happy honeymoon days were spent at Bush Lodge by Jason and Charlotte North, Linda and Richard Norton, Christophe and Hermien Van Dromme, Amanda and Jane Darling. We would like to wish them well for their lives together. Young Steven Zeiler celebrated his 7th birthday with us and his parents. On the staff side Anet, Patrick and Rebecca all had birthdays and we wish them all the best for the coming year.
From Mandla and the Bush Lodge team, farewell until we meet again.

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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