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

August 2007

Read about events at Djuma Game Reserve

Bush Lodge

Vuyatela

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Bush Lodge
July has been far milder than last month even though we had a few drops of rain at the start of the month. Most days were windy but as soon as the sun began to set, so did the wind, giving way to stunning clear starry skies.
One evening, while Chris and Mandla were preparing for the guests to return from drive for dinner, they spotted a Giant Eagle Owl under the floodlight at the waterhole. It took time to identify it as an owl, as it looked a bit like a leopard lying down - it was not moving and it was really a big owl! It was confirmed as an owl when a White-tailed Mongoose came directly towards it and the Owl took the opportunity to attack the Mongoose by flying over and trying to catch the Mongoose on the ground.
A large herd of Buffalo were seen several times around the camp making it very difficult to take the guests out on walks. One day as Abel and Chris were leaving camp on a bush walk, two Elephants, coming down to drink at the pan, confronted them on the clearing to the south of the camp. The guides then decided to walk towards the north when they were approached by fifteen dagga boys (Buffalo bulls), part of the herd that were hanging around Bush Lodge. With this, Chris and Abel decided to go back to the lodge because there was obviously quite a lot of big game around the lodge. As they approached the entrance they stumbled across the same Elephant bulls that had by now finished their drink and were on their way back to deeper bush. They managed to avoid the ellies by checking the wind direction. It was really interesting hearing the guests tell how the guides worked out the bush signals and returned safely to camp, avoiding confrontation with the dangerous animals. Whitecloth female leopard has been heard calling west of Bush Lodge on the neighbouring property where her grown male cub was killed by lions last month. It is really chilling for us to hear Whitecloth calling every single morning and is perhaps a sign of how caring she was towards him.
Guests have been enjoying Andrew's birding walks around the camp's garden. The aloes and impala lilies are in full bloom, and attract white-bellied and scarlet-chested Sunbirds which relish the nectar from within the flowers. Those guests that have not fallen in love with the colourful plants have certainly been smitten by the dainty little birds going about their business.
One of the best highlights of the month was when eleven Sable Antelope were seen north of Big Dam on Buffelshoek. This is a very rare sighting, the last one on that land being about four years ago. We are sure that the dry bush conditions in the Kruger National Park and Manyeleti have sent them looking for water in the Sabi Sands.
Congratulations to our honeymooners Gregor & Iona MacKenzie, Kevin & Gemma, Paul & Alexandra, David & Lisa, Alex & Charlotte. May your lives together be long and happy. Congratulations to Gordon & Catherine for their 30th wedding anniversary. They were joined at Bush Lodge by friends from Scotland.
The Bush Lodge crew welcome Kim back from her long pregnancy leave and enjoy having her around camp again.
From Mandla and the Bush Lodge family, cheers until next month.

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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