Hi all
Thanks for your concern, much appreciated! We are all OK, if somewhat shaken and wet. Hoedspruit has measured rainfall in excess of 450 mm in the last 36 hours – nobody can recall when it has ever rained like that here, the devastation is incredible; the road infrastructure is extensively damaged and we are cut off from the rest of the world.
The saddest loss of the day for me personally was Gowrie dam, the dam at Vuyatela, it simply could not release the deluge through its overflows and the water topped the wall; that wall has stood for more than half a century, but went in few minutes.
Anyway, nobody has been hurt and tomorrow is another day, I hope it is not as wet as today.
Thank you for letting us know. We are all sending good thoughts you way!
Just stay safe please!! The Dam wall can be rebuilt, but all of you there can not be!!!! Sending prayers your way!
Praying this will end soon and you will be spared further damage.
thanks for sharing..so glad everyone is ok
Thank you for the post Jurie.
Nature can surely be quite amazing but yet so destructive too can’t she.
Keeping thoughts and prayers for all affected.
Wow – the power of nature is truly amazing! I am so glad that everyone is OK. This is going to be a monumental task to clean up though.
Wishing I could be there to help with whatever needs to be done…prayers to one and all and to all our animals!!!
Pleased you are all safe.
God is with you – that’s all that carries me through. My son is a ranger at Thornybush so my knees and faith are going to bring you guys out of this! Keep safe, go well………..
Blerry hell! 😐 (pardon my French) Stay safe, folks!!
What devastation!!!!!Thank goodness the Djuma crew is okay.Hope your lodge faired well also. Pray there is not too big a loss of wildlife on your reserve and you have no rainfall for awhile so you can dry out and weather is good for all the cleanup you have ahead of you.
wiblkbear
My prayers are with you all
We are so sorry about this tragedy and are keeping you all in our prayers.
So sorry to hear the news! Stay safe! You’re in our thoughts!
Please stay safe!! You are in our thoughts & our prayers. Big Hugs
Wow, that’s just about 18 inches of rain in less than 2 days! I’ve seen news reports on the situation. I hope the rain ends very soon for all of you. Most importantly, stay safe. Sending positive thoughts your way! Thank you for the update, there’s been much talk about all the flooding.
That is truly incredible. Glad to hear everyone’s alright though.
Wow… I am just in shock…..
i am so glad you all are ok , and pray that everything goes better for you all
Good to know all are ok. Thank you for posting in the midst of the tribulation.
So glad everyone is safe .It must have been scary
We will keep you in prayer.
I’m so glad you are all safe. Hope Gowrie can be rebuilt–you have taught us what a life-saver it is for so many different animals.
Hope the animals have made it through, too! I will await your updates. Thank you for the photos–nothing quite like seeing it with our own eyes. Stay safe!
I am saddened to see the devestation that has taken place due to the deluge you experienced, but happy to see that all personnel are fine. Prayers being said for you and surviva of the animals. Gowrie is a loss, but can be rebuilt. Stay safe!
So sorry for this tragedy for all of you there – please keep yourselves safe and high as possible; things can be replaced, people cannot. Keeping you all in our thoughts and prayers.
Lee C.
I didn’t know about the rain or flooding until now. Thank goodness everyone is safe and I will keep you in my prayers. Hope the wildlife is safe too.
So sorry to hear and see this devastation in Djuma..Please be safe. God Bless^i^
Thank God you are all ok. What a loss and big mess this is. But roads can be rebuilt and nature will replace any vegetation gone, but you cannot replace a life and hoping that all the animals made it through this as well as you all have. Thank you so much for keeping us all updated. We may be spread out around the world but everyone at Djuma is part of our extended family and we worry when we don’t hear anything. The pictures really put in perspective just how much rain has fallen. Please stay safe and lets hope this rain is the last for a long time. ~~ Lisa
WOW, what a storm, all my prayers and blessings go out to all people and the animals involved. You all take care. I will pray for the hippos who were in gowrie dam at the time of the storm, and the folks at the lodge, I pray all are ok. Bless all! BLESSINGS AND PRAYERS FOR PENNY LEGG AND REDTAIL, JOE TOO.
Thanks for letting us know and showing us the pictures of the dam. So very glad you all are ok and hoping recovery won’t be too hard. Best wishes to all. Sincerely, Sally
Thank you for the updates, picks. I sure hope, and pray you all stay safe and dry.
I am so Sorry and my heart goes out to All People and Animals of Africa! May God stand by you and be your strength. I will be praying !
Oh no, what a scary predicament you are in. So very happy to hear that you all are safe! Sending prayers for everyones safety and peace of mind. Thank you for letting all of us know the situation there. Hugs to you!!!
Thank you for letting us know you all are ok.. I wish we all lived closer so we could volunteer to help clean up and rebuild Gowrie Dam… I hope our 4 legged critters found shelter from the storm.. Until we hear from you again.. Please know you are in our thoughts.
So sorry to hear of the devastation, please keep well and know you are with us in our thoughts.
Best wishes to all,
Molly
Thanks for letting us know and sharing the pictures….how sad to see that damage.Best wishes to all and hope for a fast recover.
Please keep us updated. Sending positive thoughts to all…Take Care!
What a crazy year for weather.. Need rain, WAY too Much rain.
Just you all (people and animals) be safe.
puppetgal
Thank you for the update and the pictures. Know that you all are in our hearts and prayers. You are all special to us and we hurt with you. Wish we could mail ourselves to you and help with the clean up. Do take good care and let us know how things progress. My best to you and your family. Much peace to you.
WOW this is terrible news but at least you are all safe. I do wonder about the animals though, hope they got through the storms and will be back when things have settled down. Our thoughts are with you all during the coming weeks when life will slowly get back to normal..and hopefully Gowrie will return as good as new. Take care everyone.
thank you for the update,,,,,,,l hope everyone can stay safe,,,,,,,, the weather is so unpredictable anymore,,,,,,hope penny, red and tara are safe as well,,,,,,,,,,,
Hello to you all,
I am so relieved to hear that everyone is ok! Djuma needed the rain but we were all wishing it not be at once! The pictures of the dam going are shocking! Thankfully, the damage can be repaired but not yourselves. I am also hoping for news on how the animlas fared in this disaster. Especially our Queen Karula’s family. There are so many of us that still feel connected to Djuma animals and yourselves. We are too far away to help you but are thinking of you every day and wishing the best for you all in the cleanup ahead!
Sending hugs.
All of the Djuma’s, staff and visitors alike are in my thoughts and prayers. Thankful that nobody was hurt – Please know how much we care about each and every one of you.
xxxx please take good care of yourselves ~ Julyia
So sorry you have had such damage. Gowrie Dam is a huge loss. It was a place we loved and visited every day on safari.tv and its predecessors. I hope all the animals took safe shelter. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Penny C.
My thoughts are with you, lately it seems you just can’t catch a break there. I agree with others ….. the dam can be rebuilt as long as everyone is ok that is all that matters. Thank you for the pictures and taking the time to keep us informed. God Bless
Jurie, Pippa, and all our friends and extended family: If prayers were work hands, all would be cleaned up in an hour. THANK YOU for the update. Please keep letting us know how you all are doing because we are worried sick about you, Dixie, the animals, other villages and lodges. Blessings to all with many prayers
You’re in our hearts and prayers. I hope all of Djuma will be well.
Much love and good wishes being sent your way.
Your in my thoughts. Wishing a fast recovery. Glad all are ok. We can replace walls and roads but not our lives. Grateful your all ok.
Water can be so destructive, and intrusive. I am thankful that the people in the area are safe. May the force of love and family come together for the support you will need at this time.
Nature can wipe everything in a few seconds – thankfully the people are safe – hope that not too many animals were lost . You are all in our thoughts and prayers – stay strong, sad about Gowie Dam
Jurie, Pippa, and friends ~ Our thoughts and prayers go out to you and everyone affected by the terrible flooding. We are thankful you all are okay and while the loss of Gowrie Dam is heartwrenching, it can be rebuilt. God’s Blessings to you all.
That is a lot of rain, And Gowrie Dam gone. I hope any animals in the area were able to get to higher ground. Stay safe and warm. Please continue to keep as posted – when you can. Jurie, Pippa and all your staff you are in my thoughts.
OH i am so sorry Pippa Jurie and staff and helpers, this has been a dreaful happening My thoughts are with you i hope it has not left to much damage to the lodge and suroundings,Mother Nature can be very cruel take care look after yourselves.
Glad all of you are safe. I couldn’t believe Gowrie Dam, heartbreaking to see it this way; still the most important thing is all of you are safe. Big Hugsssssss
Oh, my, Pip and Jurie, Fantastic shots of your loss of the dam but so sorry to see that happen. .
I wish i still had the video that you sent to me..probably in 2000?..not sure of that date. It was of Pippa walking ahead of you, across the damwall to where it had overflowed . ..and the sound of the water rushing by was almost unbelievable…and Eric barking at the onrushing water !! Looking at your pictures, I can almost hear the water and its sound…
It was on my oldest PC..and all new MS systems apparently coudn’t save it…
I am so glad that all are safe and that the lodge and your house are both uphill from the dam. …..and i do hope that your tomorrows are not as WET as your yesterdays..
regards,
Elaine.
So sorry to hear about it. Glad all are well. Lots of good energy coming your way, and to the way of the animals in the area.
Hey, Djuma! avuxeni!
A second morning i am sitting on pc,…watching pics and reading news,..i am very concerned!,…u ti/hu hylaisa!!! take care and stay safe – if possible! Wish i could help,…..
Caddie HEike *Waves* from Germany
Glad to hear there was no one hurt. I hope the dams can be rebuilt without too much trouble and expense. I may live in the USA, but my heart will always lie in Djuma….
Hard to believe those pictures are real! Keep heart, and faith. Stay safe…..Remember, that something good always results from something bad! Hoping the good will reveal itself to you soon. Thoughts are prayers go out to all at Djuma and all who were touched by this devastation.
So sorry for your loss in these floods and rains. Glad that everyone at Djuma is OK.
if you want to see pic’s from the floot please look here http://www.sanparks.org/forums/viewtopic.php?style=2&f=67&t=59027