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

September 2003

Read about events at Djuma Game Reserve

Vuyatela

Bush Lodge

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

Another fond (maybe not so fond) elephant in the garden story has to be told now. We had just completed building Chalet No.7 at Bush Lodge when we decided that we had to put in an instant garden at the entrance to welcome the first guests that would be arriving there two days later. In the early days, and even now, we run a very tight ship. Jurie and Campbell prefer to spend money on tools, vehicles and machinery, whilst Pendrae and I prefer spending on plants, décor, and kitchen and lodge amenities. To Pendrae and my surprise, we squeezed R1000,00 (a lot in those days) out of the budget (actually, more like out of our husbands) to plant a small area of about 10 square meters. We went wild: Fever Trees, Strelitzias, wild irises, agapanthus, elephant ears, and arum lilies were amongst the shopping spree. We worked like mad women planting and ended up with an instant garden that would have made any landscaper proud. Our joy was rather short lived, as the following morning just a few shredded remains of an elephant's meal littered the entrance. The worst was that guests staying in the closest chalet watched the whole thing from their bathroom window snapping photos, without thinking of alerting us to the pachyderm's midnight snack! Not to be shattered by this little setback, we took another grand, replenished the order of the previous day and replanted the garden. The long and short of this saga is that Bush Lodge now has an electrified wire strand running around the perimeter and no elephant has ever set foot in there again! Many years later I ponder the thought of how much damage has to be incurred at Vuyatela before this camp gets it's elephant protection?
When we were nearing the completion of Vuyatela Lodge I started planning a smallish garden joining the guest parking facility and the main reception area. Through many a lesson learned in the past, I wanted the majority of open spaces in and around the lodge to remain covered with wild grasses and the established trees in the area. The only other planted areas would be around the outdoor showers alongside the guests' khayas. An essential bit of the builders/architects budget was allocated to restoring a few areas where we had broken down old buildings and needed to instantly grass the unsightly scars. This was cheaply and successfully done by Campbell's idea of digging out wild grass sods from the bush and planting them where need be. Now back to the reception area garden, I envisioned an indigenous flower garden to attract butterflies and birds, terraced down from the exterior walls. There was also a large pond set into the timber deck that needed foliage too. To create the terraces, truckloads of topsoil and kraal manure were deposited against the reception building's exterior walls, retained with logs found in the bush. I must mention that my allocated budget was miniscule, and against the mounting odds of exceeding the budget, I got my own way and set about making a plant list with Mrs Crafford, the architect's mother. She had assisted in landscaping some of her son's previous game lodge projects, and I thought this would be the way to go - get a professional to do it! Although she insisted that she was not young and spritely enough to take on the project, her advice was invaluable. When the 8-ton truck arrived laden with plants, I saw the colour draining from Campbell's face. Needless to say that two months later with the garden in full bloom, buzzing with butterflies and birds, Campbell gave in and said he had faith in my gardening abilities! I still have to squirrel away at the budgets for plants, but I do so with pride now, knowing he can do with a few less tools in the workshop.
Two years later after One Tusk, Vuyatela's resident elephant gardener/landscaper and pruner all in one had left a heavy toll on our efforts. The final straw was when he pushed down a stunning triple stemmed Albizia near the reception building when we decided enough was enough. A simple electrified wire strand was erected right around the camp and we could relax and breathe again. With the new safe edging around the camp, a "forest" of 30 fever trees has been planted, and in time to come the garden should be splendid! Just recently we lost another spectacular tree, but this time not to One Tusk. A huge Marula, near the main building had been showing signs of dying for some time. We guessed to our dismay, that we may have disturbed its roots during the building operation, which was not an easy thought to deal with. However we knew that the tree would have to come down before it fell on the thatch roof of the lounge. We eventually found a tree feller who usually worked for the State forestry department who would do the job. The snag was that the company who recommended him did not have any insurance coverage should anything go wrong. So typical to our characters, we put out faith and trust into this man with the chainsaw and took a step back…. literally! He performed well and the only mishap was three broken planks on the decking where the largest branch fell. We have planted some other trees near by to fill the void, but time will have to run its course before a difference can be seen.
Galago Camp was much easier to beautify. An established lawn of "Swazi" and some huge trees were already there. Due to the camp being built around a huge courtyard, I utilized some huge faux terracotta pots and placed them here and there. This makes the greenery very easy to maintain as well as being secure from foraging wildlife. Ephraim Xhosa, Galago's manager and guide, has green fingers and he has created vast flowerbeds around the guests' parking area. Depending on the season, marigolds, Namaqualand daisies, Californian poppies, portulaca, and pelargoniums, to name a few, put on the brightest show to welcome the guests. Galago is also surrounded by a thigh high electrified wire which ensures a fairly critter free camp. While this type of fence in very effective, they are very unobtrusive and are barely seen from the safety of the camp.
Due to the remote location of the lodges, several attempts have been made at vegetable gardening to supplement the staff and guests needs. My first attempt was undertaken with the encouragement of Dixon Mkanzi. The plan was to utilize the sub-tropical climate and plant and harvest year round. We basically made a huge cage out of chicken wire and with pickaxe in hand, chopped away to make beds. By adding kraal manure and a rudimentary drip irrigation system we thought we had all bases covered. Not so! Monkeys managed to open our "Fort Knox" on many occasions and reaped harvest upon harvest of tomatoes, cucurbits (butternut, pumpkins and cucumbers), peas and beans. Needless to say, the chillie peppers flourished. After monkey proofing the cage, we found that scrub hares, squirrels and mice got in. How we persevered year in, year out is beyond me, but it did give us a project away from lodge life to concentrate on, and many a meaningful conversation was held there. My only semi-successful attempt at growing tomatoes happened when we moved to our new home at Gowrie, near to where Vuyatela would put down roots a few years later. Taking full advantage of the great soil here, and observing the variety of "Roma" tomatoes that grew successfully in neighbouring villages, I sowed a couple of packets of seed. In those days I had two fairly intelligent dogs that would not abide the company of monkeys or baboons, and kept them beyond the garden confines. These combined advantageous factors enabled an initial crop of over 1000 tomatoes in a few short months. After the loss of Bingo and Douglas, and subsequent arrival of Roxy and Eric, who were/are "monkey-ignorant", happily sleeping in the very same yard that was being pillaged by primates. Needless to say the sum-total of the following crop was a dismal 20 tomatoes! Now days, I just dabble in the fairly successful growth of spinach and parsley.
Looking back, remembering the hard work and stress of gardening against all odds, and still being able to walk in an oasis of beauty surrounded by creatures, the sense of achievement I feel is incalculable. Just reward indeed!
Pippa

As August came round so did the dry winds and we are in need of some early rain to get it all back on track. Most of the dams and watering holes have dried up and we are still pumping the crib, which is being used extensively by all.
This month we said good-bye to an old friend who touched us all at Djuma in some way. Yes, we bid farewell to "One Tusk" the Elephant, our herbaceous border invader. Chris was on hand to see him loaded into a game capture crate destined for Phinda in Kwa Zulu Natal. Over the past couple of months there have been a number of Elephants relocated. We trust that One Tusk will be in heaven in his new luscious forest home. He will be sorely missed by all of us (some more than others).
This month has been the Family Travel month at Vuyatela. We have seen a number of families from the United Kingdom and United States. With the wonderfully hot weather in the U.K we have seen a lot of newly weds coming to explore the African bush on honeymoon. Another wonderful couple came to the wild African bush to tie the knot. Matthew and Lorna Palmer exchanged vows at sunset on Sunday 24 August in the middle of the bush. Pendrae, Jimmy, Rain and Mark were on hand to witness the blessed event. There were a couple of tears shed by both bride and Pendrae, as it was rather special day. We had added a couple of touches of colour to the bush in the form of rose petals and white lilies. Our local Minister Pierre Naude was there to bless the wedding, which also saw the exchange of some traditional African gifts, which are symbolic in an African wedding. The sunset ceremony was followed by a couple of glasses of bubbly as we welcomed the newly weds to the evening calls of the bush. On returning to the lodge we had the staff waiting to escort the bride and groom to their suite with a lot of singing and dancing. The happy coupled settled in for the evening to a romantic dinner in their private lounge. Congratulations once again to Matthew and Lorna.
August saw the return of Sue Spencer for the USA for another 7-night safari with us. She has brought one of her good friends along to share the experience with her. Graham Cooke guided and looked after these ladies.
We have had a lot of activity around the lodge with our Leopards coming in for a closer look at things. Basile, the young male Leopard, popped up to the lodge whilst we were having dinner in the boma. Warren spotted him and as the guests all turned to look he slowly walked across the deck between the bar and boma, and down the steps of the viewing tower. He walked off towards the water trough and then disappeared into the drainage line. We have had Lions in the area after they killed two young Giraffe a couple of hundred meters from the lodge so have been coming down to the water trough to drink. We have had huge herds of Buffalo make use of the watering trough. Out in the bush we have seen some great sightings too. Lions on kills, Lions fighting, Lions mating, Lions being chased by Buffalo all in all a great month. We had a Lioness that was caught in a snare a couple of weeks ago. Solly came across the Lioness in the middle of a Buffalo sighting. She could not move as the snare was keeping her tied down. As the snare is a man made problem Solly quickly intervened steering the Buffalo away from the Lioness that broke the snare eventually. She was tracked and darted so the snare could be removed. She is alive and well now after rejoining the rest of the pride. We have had a small herd of Buffalo move into the lodge grounds the last few evenings. They are keeping us on our toes as we drive our guests between their rooms and the lodge.
Chris has been awarded the medal of bravery after his encounter with a charging male Hippo. His was on a walk with guests at the time and handled the situation very well. The guests were given instructions and guided out of harm's way while Chris stood to face the Hippo. Apparently Hippos understand loud bad language. Charmian gave him some advice on the exact words one should use to stop the Hippo in his track but those words are all part and parcel of survival in the bush. Needless to say, the guests were so impressed by the event they raved about it for days!
Join us for more news next month.
Mark and the Vuyatela team.

Spring is officially here! Of course for regular readers, you will know that calendars aside, spring has long been present in the African bushveld. A number of trees have blossomed and there are birds aplenty in the lodge grounds, including the first returns of yellow-billed hornbills (knocking on windows again of course) and the Natal Francolin pair has successfully raised three of their four chicks and are a common sight scratching for morsels - even at times in the dining area! A family of dwarf mongoose who have long resided in a large termite mound near the swimming pool, have also become more relaxed and are now often found foraging in Andrew's carefully tended gardens. With still no rain, the waterhole has become even busier and some days it's like rush hour in the bushveld as all manner of creatures take their turn. One particular evening, a leopard was sighted drinking and no sooner had he wandered off, than a large male lion appeared out the twilight gloom to take his turn. As he was finishing up a large breeding herd of buffaloes arrived!! A lion may well be 'king of the jungle', but when a lone male is faced with over a hundred thirsty bovine approaching, discretion is the better part of valour and so he beat a hasty retreat leaving them to their waterhole. A quaint family of six warthogs of varying ages have also become a regular sighting, along with an ancient, one-horned male giraffe who drinks almost daily.
A number of return guests have visited this month including the Kern family, who last visited two years ago; James Stanley (pilot extraordinaire) who after a number of visits decided to introduce his son to African wildlife Djuma-style; Cedric Sarkin from the USA returned with a group of friends after a number of years away and Piet Marimane was specially brought in to drive them again; Jackie Fox returned to be entertained by Graham Cooke, her private guide and we trust she got some fabulous photos in her 10 night stay! On the student front, Rob Forbes (who was here over two years ago) came to visit from the UK and it sounds like he hasn't dropped his 'wild ways' one bit. Brigitte left to return to Austria dressed in her gorgeous African Shweshwe amidst tears, singing from the ladies and the traditional cake baked by Kim. Somehow we doubt it's the last we'll see of her... Our rangers, Jimmy and Nick, have both enjoyed a well-earned break and have both spent time lazing on the white sands of Mozambique's gorgeous beaches. As we await the much longed for rains of Spring, we hope everyone enjoys the last balmy days of summer up north and may all us 'southerners' have good rains this year!
Till next month,
Liane and the Bush Lodge Team.

Return guests took almost the whole month, which is very comforting to camp life in general. The weather has been dry and windy, with the plain in front of the lodge turning a dull grey. The only green appearing around the crib that is pumped to quench the thirst of countless game species that come and go all day long. The game has been outstanding with unusual sightings happening alongside the elephant capturing. While for the most part this exercise being successful, there were two tragedies that we also experienced. The relocation transport truck overturned near Acornhoek and one of the elephants died as a result. The carcass was brought back to a neighboring piece of land where the elephant was captured. In another case, a darted elephant fell down a steep embankment and later died from the unplanned event. However, the predator interaction at both these locations was very interesting and we hope that our guests have benefited in some way from this.
On the camp front, at last we have invested in a microwave oven after many pleas from our ardent self-caterers! We look forward to seeing all of you again.
Pippa and the Galago team.

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