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Warm greetings to all our friends from around the world!!
This past month delivered quite a few interesting sightings and the game within the Zululand reserve provided us with some entertaining stories that we can’t wait to share with you.
News from the rangers: by Johann Lotreit
As the summer migrants depart for other parts of the world and the special kudu lilies lay in bloom, we are left to reflect on a month that has offered us many new and exciting discoveries and sightings. The reserve feels as fertile as ever after more good rain filled the Msunduze’s majestic banks to the brim once again.
Rhino
Leopard Mountain and the Reserve continue to be a top destination to view both species of these magnificent beasts. The endangered black rhino continues to be more elusive than its broad-mouthed cousin, but sightings are still frequent and of good quality. Even now we are coming across rhino’s that none of us have ever seen before, so good is the population.
The larger white rhino is seen very regularly, almost every drive! Amazing sightings of solitary bulls, mothers with progeny of all ages and crashes of 3-6 animals are commonplace but very special indeed! Apart from this we now also have TWO large bulls frequenting Leopard Mountain. These two have made themselves at home in the lodge vicinity and we were privileged enough to see an intense territorial battle between the two at the Leopard Mountain hide.
Buffalo
Buffalo sightings are now too numerous to count and the frequency of these sighting is incredible. The Reserve population is very healthy and we regularly encounter large herds of anywhere between 30 and 70 individuals.
Cheetahs
Two females and a coalition of two brothers still frequent the southern section of the reserve and there is lots of activity. The two males are especially relaxed around vehicles and sightings of them are as good as you can get anywhere else! Quite a few kills are also found around this area and we have stumbled upon numerous fresh kills on game drives. The males in particular are capable of taking large prey items such as sub-adult wildebeest and zebra, but seem to prefer the Nyala’s and reedbuck.
Leopard
Good sightings of Leopard were recorded around the southern section of the Reserve for the month. Fresh tracks litter the Leopard Mountain area and occasionally droppings are also found, so you are always aware that these wary beasts could lurk around any corner. Two cubs of approx. 6 months were sighted just a few days ago, also in the south.
Elephant
The last couple of days we have had a particularly large visitor to Leopard Mountain, in the form of a large elephant bull which was seen on various occasions over the last few days, including an awesome sighting of the beast drinking at our hide on Leopard Mountain. The breeding herd was also at home in the south during the past month.
Birding
The month was a particularly good one to find some new feathered friends. Twitchers from all over are impressed by our abundance and variety of all the bushveld and woodland species as well as a high density of local specials and endemics. Sought-after species such as eastern nicator, Rudd’s Apalis, grey-tit flycatcher, 8 species of sunbirds, including Neergaard’s, Jacobin’s cuckoo, pink-throated twinspot and striped pipit are just a few reasons for birders to come visit our part of paradise. We had a confirmed sighting of a Grey-headed kingfisher to add to the African pygmy- and striped kingfishers. Raptors really enjoy the reserve and African crowned eagle, African hawk-eagle, Bateleur, African goshawk, brown snake-eagle and martial eagle can be seen together with some of the best populations of lappet-faced and white-backed vultures anywhere in the country!!! Undoubtedly the best birding moment for the month was Heinrich’s sighting of a Shelley’s francolin on game drive in the south. This is very exciting as this is quite rare and none of us have ever spotted this species here. Even now new discoveries keep popping up!!!
The abundance of species also makes the area very special. Some of the other interesting sightings for the month are: white-tailed mongoose, mountain reedbuck, slender mongoose, porcupine, black-backed jackal and large-spotted genet.
Bush Cuisine
Capreze tower served with biltong and pesto:
250g Mozzarella (plain or buffalo)
3 (each) fresh tomatoes (medium sized
100g (each) Basil pesto (store bought or homemade)
100g beef biltong (sliced)
50ml Balsamic vinegar
3 fresh basil sprigs
Method
To start of with put the biltong in a bowl and add vinegar then leave for 6 hours to soak (this can be done the night before). Wash and skin tomatoes and cut into 3 equal slices and set aside. Cut mozzarella into 4cm X 4cm X 5mm squares and set aside. Drain any excess vinegar from the biltong and keep to one side. On a medium sized plate start to stack your tower, start with tomato (if desired start with the cheese) followed with the cheese then biltong then the pesto and repeat the process until you used all the tomato and cheese. For the garnish use a little of the pesto and swirl around the tower on the plate, do the same with any of the biltong you have left, top with a basil sprig and serve.
And finally…enjoy!!!!
Have You Ever Wondered?
What is the difference between a beetle and a bug?
At first glance, beetles and bugs seem to look the same in appearance and behavior, but closer inspection will reveal quite the opposite.
Beetles belong to the scientific order Coleoptrea, and bug to the order Hemiptera.
Two differences most obvious to the human eye, is their diet and also their wings. Bugs follow a more liquidized diet, and are equipped with piercing mouth parts. Their food consist of plant materials, where as beetles are equipped with mandibles a chewing apparatus to feed by biting off pieces from prey or other food sources.
Bugs (if wings are present) have membranous or partially thickened wings. Beetles on the other hand, have forewings modified to form hard leathery coverings called elytra, and hind wings which are membranous. The membranous hind wings fold under the elytra when not flying for protection.
Apart from appearance, these two species also follow two different lifecycles. Bugs have an incomplete metamorphosis, where they are born from eggs and resemble adults, except that they are smaller and lack wings. Beetles have a complete metamorphosis, where their lifecycle begins at a larvae or pupae stage, with hardened heads, chewing mouthpart and usually also legs.
Examples of beetles: Dung beetles and long-horn beetles
Examples of bugs: Cockroaches, ladybird bug and stink bugs.
So, the next time you see something that looks like a bug, try to figure out if it’s not actually a beetle.
Hammerkop
Scopus umbretta
This medium-sized water bird is a near-endemic to Africa and its islands. Its uncommon name comes from an Afrikaans word which means ‘hammer head’ and this refers to the shape of his head when seen from the side. Although no one is quite sure which birds are its closest relatives, it is often thought to have affinities with the storks. Unlike storks however, it partially retracts the neck in flight, does not rest on the tarsi, and does not defecate onto the legs in an effort to cool them.
They are always associated with water where they prey on fish and frogs, especially the platannas. Because these birds are dependent on water for feeding, they may make local seasonal movements to ensure a sustainable food-supply.
No one knows why Hammerkops build such big nests; they just seem to be DIY addicts. Only a single breeding pair generally builds the nest. The size of the nest may serve as an advertising beacon, letting other Hammerkops know that the area is occupied – although they are not territorial and will therefore not defend an area as such.
The Hammerkops are seen regularly at the hide and we are anxiously waiting for the breeding season, to see where they going to construct their abnormal nest.
The Weeping Boer Bean Tree
Schotia brachypetala
This handsome, medium to large tree with its wide-spreading, densely branched, rounded crown can reach a height of 22 m, but most commonly grow 11 to 16 m with a spread of 10 to 15 m. It has a single low branching trunk, with the bark rough and brown or grey brown.
The leaves are compound, with 4 to 6 pairs of leaflets, each with an entire, wavy margin. The foliage is reddish to coppery when young, turning bright green and maturing to a glossy dark green. In warm frost-free areas this tree is evergreen, but in colder regions it is deciduous, losing its leaves for a short period in winter to spring.
The flowering time is somewhat irregular in that a tree in bloom may be a few meters away from one that has no sign of flowers. This irregularity is of value to the nectar feeding birds, and ensures a longer feeding season.
The name of the tree originates from its luscious red flowers. These flowers produce a large amount of nectar, which overflows or drips or ‘weeps’ from the flowers, thus the common name, the weeping boer bean, or huilboerboon in Afrikaans.
Funny Bones
How does a Leopard changes his spots?
When he is tired of the one spot he simply moves to another….
What is the difference between an African Elephant and an Indian Elephant?
About 3000 miles…
.........You could be the lucky person to win yourself and a partner a free night including dinner, bed & breakfast and game drives at the lodge. You may email us your answer to
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
(competition closes 20th March 2010 terms & conditions apply):
THIS MONTH'S COMPETITION
What always runs but never walks?
Often murmurs, never talks,
Has a bed but never sleeps,
Has a mouth but never eats?
What am I?
Thank you to everyone who responded to our last competition! The winner of our Leopard Mountain competition for February is Penny Kearns. Congratulations - you have won yourself and a partner a free night at the lodge including dinner, bed & breakfast as well as game drives!
Last Month’s competition was:
Finally I’m free
From my trap in a tree!
My escape
Changed my shape;
and my movement.
I don’t crawl anymore.
My new wings let me soar
Like a kite!
It is quite an improvement.
What am I?
Butterfly
Best Guests comments of the month:
- Thank you for a wonderful stay – such amazing hospitality –unexpected touches, the tranquility, friendly staff, abundant birdlife and magnificent views. We will certainly be back and will recommend you to everyone! We have been blessed to visit you and we pray that God’s love and hands will be here as people take time out.
- Thank you all for such a fantastic experience. The lodge accommodation, food and staff were all absolutely first class… but above all thanks for the friendship. We will definitely be back and bring the rest of the family. Thanks again.
- Thank you, thank you, thank you…… need we say more, it was all too wonderful and your hospitality fantastic – all credit to you! We will be back…
Thought for the month:
“What you do today is important because you are exchanging a whole day of your life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever; and in its place will be something that you had left behind... let it be something good...”
Good wishes until we chat again next month...
Editor
Hilke Klingenberg
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