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In the African night, the beat of a drum means news... |
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September 2007 |
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Read about events at Djuma Game Reserve |
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Bush Lodge |
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| ""……the trees have finished dropping their leaves, making spotting game easier." Click here to read more… | |
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Vuyatela |
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| "The bush is exceptionally dry and runaway bush fires are a constant worry at this time of year…." Click here to read more… | |
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Galago
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| "This was a year of the lion……" Click here to read more… | |
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for more information visit www.djuma.com |
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If you would like to subscribe to this monthly newsletter, click here |
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This newsletter is archived in the Drumbeat section of our web site |
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Editor:
Pippa Moolman
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The above photos were taken on the Vuyatela Live Webcam,
the Wildearth Webcams (www.wildearth.tv) and the Djuma roving still
camera operated by Chris Stamper at Djuma Game Reserve.
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| Heartfelt thanks…. | ||
| Djuma was able to
boost our community development cause on behalf of Mr and Mrs Ken White
from California, USA. The pre-school in Seville B village received a
pile of much needed mattresses for the children's' nap-time. We also heard from Ian Watson, Ca, USA who told us an inspiring story: "Dear Jurie When we stayed at Bush Lodge 2 years ago we visited a local school with the tracker called Abel. The school made a big impression on us and our son Tim who was then 9. Tim kept talking about the school and wanting to help the children who had no books. Tim had a sale to raise money for the school and raised $500. Regards, Ian" Tim, thank you for your contribution to the school and we will gladly facilitate the process of buying the school books for the children. |
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| Bush Lodge | ||
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August has been a very windy month, mainly dry although a few days
have been overcast with a hint of dampness. The bush is looking particularly
dry and many of the trees have finished dropping their leaves, making
game spotting easier. This is also true for game viewing from
the lodge. Four elephant bulls were seen at the camp and they
managed to rip up the pipes which supply our waterholes out in the
bush. Repairs are being done as we speak, and we hope that burying
the pipes deeper underground, we may be saved further work as we still
has a couple of months to go before the dry season breaks. One night
we enjoyed watching a herd of elephant having a drink in the
pan in front of the lodge just before dinner. During two morning drives,
we were lucky enough to see a pregnant hyena drinking in front
of the lodge. A highlight would have to be the sighting of two
honey badgers under the flood light just before dinner one night.
Everyone was quite excited as it has been a long time since they were
seen this close to camp. One day we saw giraffe and warthogs
coming in for a drink. The giraffe must have been aware of something
as they were all looking anxiously into the distance. By the time
the warthogs caught on that things were not on the up and up, they
took off towards the safety of the camp. Only later did we find out
hyenas were the instigators of the problem. |
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| Vuyatela | ||
| It certainly feels
like the worst of the winter cold is behind us as we enjoy beautiful
sunny days, although there is still a nip in the air in the evenings
and early mornings. The bush is exceptionally dry and runaway bush fires
are a constant worry at this time of year. We have precautionary measures
in place in the form of fire breaks between reserves and mown areas
around the lodges. Vuyatela has been running at full capacity and the game sighting around Vuyatela have also been plentiful! The was no ignoring the Nkuhuma Pride of lions (or Huma Pride for short) which killed a buffalo between Kaya 8 and Warren & Marietjie's house. The kill happened early one morning waking every staff member and some guests with the spine-chilling noises coming from the buffalo for over an hour. This of course meant that we literally had nineteen lions sharing the lodge with us! Guests had to be escorted to and from their rooms during day and driven to their rooms at night. During the day we could watch the lions coming to drink at the dam and later the night-sounds were engulfed with the hearty roaring of the impressive males. We couldn't believe that a hippo came and spent a day or two in the dam. Poor guy couldn't even get deep enough to his back wet. We had a wonderful breeding herd of elephants that came down to the dam to drink on several occasions. Between family visits, lone bulls and bachelor herds have also visited the dam regularly. Karula female leopard and her cubs are still around and we see them frequently. We have been very lucky with rhino sightings this month, and did not even have to journey far to see them. One afternoon three of them came for a drink at the dam. On an occasion a huge herd of over four hundred buffalo ploughed into the dam to drink and wallow. There were so many of them we were sceptical as to whether they would leave any water behind for other animals. Out in the bush the hyena cubs are at a delightful age with curiosity getting the better of them when our guests visit them at the den. They venture right up to the vehicle and tend to show enjoyment at chewing on the tyres or tracker's boots! We are starting to see the return of migratory birds like Yellow-billed Kites. Vuyatela was graced with many newly weds on honeymoon. Congratulations to the Moniers, the Flemings, the De Kocks, the Sowerbys, the Schaffers, the Closes, the Weindruchs, the Symondsons, and last but not least Mr and Mrs Clanaham. It was wonderful to touch base with return guests Sue Spencer. Jimmy and Shirley Hurlimann along with mates Mark and Helen from the UK had their second Djuma safari this year. Fiona Hilton brought new hubby Richard to meet us and take some time relaxing before continuing with a new business venture. Happy birthday wishes to Solly, Jurie and Zoë, the latter celebrating the day with 1fourteen pre-teen friends. The highlight of one of their game drives was seeing nine lion cubs cautiously interacting with the pride leaders and drinking water at a dam. We wish Claire Chague, our latest volunteer, the best of luck as she heads back to France to continue with her studies. Thanks you Claire for all your hard work and being so wonderful to work along side. Fond regards until we meet again next month. The Vuyatela Team. |
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It was wonderful to have the Magnus Party at Galago Camp again
this month. Their entry into the visitors book made for good reading.
"This was a year of the lion. Six cubs gambolling
along, lionesses (2 pregnant) plus two huge black maned lions.
Three cubs' lionesses laid beside the wildebeest kill.
Lions on the move, fast asleep in the dark veld and sharpening claws
on the tree. The Taylor Party followed with the following compliments. The Walker family were silmilarly impressed. "We saw the big five, many new birds and had splendid service from everyone. An international group and everybody else were impressed. Well done Djuma, see you next visit." Thanks to Ephraim Xhosa for driving at Galago for the past month while Rexon moved over to Wildearth.tv. Aubrey Ngubeni will take over from Ephraim. Aubrey has been living and working at Djuma even before the lodges existed. Not many people know the territory quite as well as Aubrey, so we are assured that he will offer insightful safaris, as he has been doing at Vuyatela. |
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Join
us next month and share our experiences as the seasons march on.
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