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News from Zululand
With guests coming from so many different parts of the world, it is hard to find something relative to add to the newsletter. This month we have found something that affects us all. Something we have all heard about in a casual way, but the seriousness of which remains unrealized. Global Warming or the Climate Crisis is not merely a theory, it is a fact based discovery that affects us all and affects our children. It is not something that will take a thousand years to materialize but something that has begun and we can see the changes even in our own small area of Zululand. The unique balance of nature has been affected, the flowering of specific trees, the Umsunduze river which still remains dry, once flowing for the majority of the year, and the rain which just does not seem to be coming. Individuals throughout history have made unthinkable bounds in politics, abolishing of apartheid, medicinal discoveries and have managed to positively impact problems thought to be unsolvable. That is where it begins, if each individual did what was possible in their own environments, made a plea to governments or industries, or simply educated themselves to become more aware, then this problem would begin to take on a bit more focus and changes could be made.
For the first time in history human beings have an opportunity to save the world from a man made problem... and it can begin with each individual and it can be done. We urge everyone to get Al Gore's DVD, 'An Inconvenient Truth', spend the hour and a half to make yourselves aware and then why not pass it on to a friend to do the same. It is worth it...there is just so much worth saving!
I close in quoting Robert Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times, "In 39 years, I have never written these words in a movie review, but here they are: You owe it to yourself to see this film. If you do not, and you have grandchildren, you should explain to them why you decided not to."
Bush Cuisine
Seafood Potjiekos
The weather has perked up and the rugby world cup has begun which means warm evenings and cookouts. The following potjie provides a colorful and tasty welcome to Spring nights...enjoy.
(6 portions)
10 Prawns cleaned
2 Calamari steak sliced
4 Crayfish
12 Mussels cleaned
5 ml Oil
2 cloves fresh Garlic crushed
1 Onion cut into segments
1 Red pepper sliced
5 ml Salt
5ml Origanum
1 Bay leave
5 ml Lemon juice
25 ml Tomato Paste
125 ml Dry White Wine
Method
Heat oil in a large cast iron pot and sauté garlic and onion. Add green pepper, prawns, crayfish and mussels Add the remaining ingredients and stew for one hour over hot coals. This goes well with brown rice or served on its own in a bowl.
Tales from Africa
The people of Africa are renowned the world over for there unusual tales explaining life and the creatures that inhabit this beautiful continent. As we have shared the Zulu customs with you, allow us now to share their imagery...
The Lion's Share
The sun was shining high in the African sky when the lion, the jackal and the wild dog went out hunting together. It did not take them long before they had brought down a wildebeest, a springbuck and a hare. The lion spoke to the wild dog. "My cousin, how shall we divide our food for today?" The wild dog answered, "My King, I think you should have the wildebeest, our friend the jackal shall have the hare, and for myself, I don't mind if I only have the springbok." The lion's eyes had grown wide and fierce. He raised his mighty paw and brought it heavily down on wild dog's head. With a crack of his skull, the wild dog died. The lion, with one eyebrow raised, turned to the jackal, "Now you my good friend, may try to divide our meal a little better." The jackal spoke with a serious heart, "My King, the wildebeest will be your lunch, the springbok will be your dinner and the hare will be your breakfast tomorrow morning." With surprise the lion asked, "Jackal, when did you become so wise?" The jackal replied, "When I heard wild dog's skull cracking." (Tales & Tails - Art Publishers)
News from our Tracker
We have been having so many unexpected sightings. Due to all the surrounding controlled veld fires, some of the game usually seen more on the less rocky sections of the reserve, have been visiting us more frequently. Animals like the white rhino, red and grey duiker, reedbuck and waterbuck have been showing their faces (and often their backsides!) for us to appreciate.
It is also that time of the year again... you guessed it, weaver time! The Southern Masked Weavers, so common to this area, have started the long journey to building the perfect nest. However this year, I have noticed that they have an obstacle to overcome first. Due to the immensely dry weather and the shortage of rain, they are struggling to find building material, in turn, I am sure, making it more difficult to impress their partners with the perfect home.
One of the majestic elephant bulls has also been surprising us around every turn and corner. It seems he has made a habit of walking in the dry riverbed at least once a week, giving us hours of amusement off the front verandah, carefully navigating around the stones in the river bed as elephant have such sensitive feet.
Trees
The Tamboti (spirostacyes africana)
If, whilst walking through the veld, you happen to come across seeds that appear to be jumping, do not be alarmed. They are simply the seeds of the well utilized and multifaceted Tamboti tree. Between the months of September and November the seeds form home to the larvae of the caterpillars of the Knotthorn Moth. The larvae develop in the seeds and once they have fallen to the floor they begin to retract and straighten out rapidly in an effort to escape, causing the seed to jump off the ground. The dry, brown capsules are three-lobed and on hot summer days open with an audible explosion releasing the seeds. Although the milky latex from this tree is poisonous, and the toxic fumes released when burnt make it impossible to braai with, the Tamboti also has many good uses. The latex is often used to treat boils and toothache and has been used to stupefy fish for easy fishing. Extracts of the root and bark were used to cure stomach ulcers and kidney ailments and even a couple of pieces of the bark amongst your clothing can act as insect repellent.
The Bushbaby
We often are asked interesting questions and a good number of years ago we were asked something particularly memorable. Whilst on the veranda we heard the sound of what sounded like crying in the bushes in the river... the guests at the time asked where the sound was coming from, to which the ranger replied. "It is a bushbaby." "What do they eat?" the guests asked. "They live in the trees and eat fruit, insects and acacia gum in winter." The shocked expression grew until finally they asked, "But what do these children do for education?" Miraculously keeping a straight face the ranger explained that they were in fact nocturnal primates. Silver grey to dark brown, these creatures live high up in the branches and are usually only noticed on the night drives when there enormous, forward-facing eyes shine brightly in the light of the spot. The bushbaby has a small head, with huge rounded ears and a large fluffy tail longer then the head and body. This agile climber can leap 2 meters horizontally and 5 meters down and the sounds in the late evening are loud, drawn-out cries...which might have lead the guests to believe that they were in fact children living in the trees, crying in great distress.
Funny Bones
The Escape Artist
A kangaroo kept getting out of his enclosure at the zoo. After recapturing the kangaroo, the zookeeper put up a ten-foot fence. Again the kangaroo was out the next morning, roaming around the zoo. So the fence was extended to twenty feet. But again the kangaroo was out the next morning. Frustrated zoo officials built a fence forty feet high. A camel in the next enclosure asked the kangaroo, "How much higher do you think they'll go?" The kangaroo said, "About a thousand feet I guess – unless somebody starts locking the gate!"
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Feel free to drop us an email with your favorite jokes to add into future newsletters. You can send them to The Lodge - Leopard Mountain - do not simply reply to this newsletter.
Brain Teaser
Thank you to everyone who responded to our August brain teaser! The winner of our Leopard Mountain competition for August is Rose West. Congratulations - you have one yourself and a partner a free night at the lodge including dinner, bed & breakfast as well as game drives!
Last Month's brain teaser was...
A mother is four times as old as her daughter. In 20 years time she will be twice as old as her daughter.
How old are the mother AND daughter now?
And the answer was...
The mother is 40 and the daughter is 10
........You too could be the lucky person to win yourself and a partner a free night including dinner, bed and breakfast at the lodge. Simply solve the riddle below to be entered in our lucky draw and email us the answer to our competition mail address (click here) - do not simply reply to this newsletter (competition closes 20th October 2007, terms and conditions apply)
This months competition:
Instead of our usual riddle, this month we want to hear your suggestions on how to combat Global Warming and ideas on how to make your every day living environment more environmentally friendly. The winner will be randomly selected and all the interesting ideas will be included in next months Leopards Tail with a mention of the contributors. We hope to be able to forward these ideas to various media groups and newspapers so please leave nothing out! Already, with the distribution list of this newsletter, we are able to get over 3000 people thinking about it...a good start I think!
Personal Note
News from the Lodge
Winter is well behind us and what a pleasure to once again be moving into warmer weather. We have begun to take more notice of ways in which we can create a more environmentally friendly lodge. Living in such a beautiful piece area of the country it is strange that we have not been more aware of the smaller things we can do to make a difference, e.g. energy saving light bulbs, using recyclable glass bottles as apposed to cans, closing of geysers when they are not required. There are so many little things we overlook that can make a small difference... and if everyone tries...a huge difference. We had some excitement a few days ago when the vet had to be called in to assist with a white rhino which had been in a fight with another rhino and suffered injuries. A couple of our guests at the time were lucky to go along for the ride and were able to watch as the helicopter herded the rhino towards them and then darted it from the air. The wounds were then treated and stuffed with mashed banana in an effort to keep the medicine in and to act as an antibacterial treatment. Lastly a microchip was embedded in a hole drilled into the horn so that in the event of poaching they would be able to discover where the rhino horn had come from. The rhino was then given the antidote and woken up and after stumbling around drunkenly for a moment, disappeared back into the bush.
Best guests comments of the month
Another wonderful visit. Renews one's spirits, restores one's faith.
It was obvious to us that your particular brand of service came with full heart and we were very impressed with the pride you have for Leopard Mountain Lodge.
I can't describe the feeling of awe at how a small lodge can care so much for their guests. |
