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News from Zululand
Half way through the year and we greet you from a surprisingly green Zululand Rhino Reserve. Yes, the most unexpected rain has fallen in the last two weeks and the dry bushveld has had a burst of growth.
An almost audible sigh of relief can be felt from both the animals and landowners who are very familiar with the strain that is felt every year from going into a dry winter with hardly any grazing. The drought has had such a negative affect in previous years that Lucerne had to be brought in to feed the Game which unsettles the natural location of the animals.
We trust this growth will be enough to sustain the animals for a while longer, especially as we now have a new mouth to feed! Our third Black Rhino baby and the first to have been conceived on the ZRR... made its arrival a couple of weeks ago. The mother managed to hide it so well in the dense bush that our Black Rhino monitoring team only managed to have their first sighting a few days ago. Congratulations to everyone at the WWF and all those involved on the ground here in the ZRR... a true indication of the absolute success of this initiative and the dedication of all those who made this possible. So many proud parents...I think you'd agree?!
Bush Cuisine
Hot Chocolate for Winter Chills!
A delightful blend of chocolate and coffee!
100g Dark Chocolate
½ cup Cream
4 tsp Soft Brown Sugar
4 cup Freshly made hot Coffee
2 tbsp Drambuie Liqueur (Or Amarula Cream!)
Method
Combine chocolate, cream and sugar in a heavy saucepan. Heat gently, stirring with a hand whisk until mixture is melted & smooth. Whisk in hot coffee and remove from heat. Add liqueur and pour into warmed mugs.
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...
Why the Crocodile has knobbly skin
Many years ago, the crocodile was a very handsome creature. He was long and sleek and his skin was like golden silk. The secret to his beautiful skin was...no...not 'Lux soap'... but the fact that he remained deep in the muddy, cool water during the day and only come out at night. The other animals were amazed to see this magnificent reptile shining like liquid gold in the moonlight showering compliments and adoration on the grinning croc. The next evening there were even more animals with lovely things to say...making the croc more and more proud. The croc became very conceited and the next day thought he would sneak out just once during the day as he was sure the sunlight would make his skin shine even more. The admirations proved too much to resist and soon the crocodile was out in the sun every day. After a while his admirers became fewer and fewer as something terrible had happened. The animals began to laugh, 'Look at your funny knobbly skin' they jeered. The croc was so embarrassed to see his grey knobbled skin that he slipped back into the water in embarrassment. He never recovered and to this day he shamefully covers his body till only his eyes and nostrils are sticking out of the water.
News from our Tracker
(Rudolph – Head Ranger)
The Aloes are making their usual statement during this time of year... bursting into flower, providing a stark contrast to the dry veld with their arresting Orange flowers. Truly an amazing sight and the buzz of all the insects and birds that seem to have been waiting anxiously for the sweet pollen. The Cape White-Eye's are among the bird species fluttering about, often fooling amateur bird watches who mistake them for the Yellow White-Eye as the Zululand variant seems to have more of a yellow tinge. One might think that all the birds are in on the deceiving game, emerging from the Aloe flowers with bright orange beaks, as though attending a Masked Ball, deluding bird watchers into thinking they have discovered a new species!
A Blue headed Lizard got in on the action as well... shooting out his tongue with lightening speed, catching unassuming bees busily going about their work on the Aloe flowers.
Interesting sightings on the ZRR include Wayne and Nicky's Leopard 'spotting' alongside the road. The Leopard definitely appear to be becoming more comfortable in the presence of vehicles as we have had monthly sightings for the last 5 months. Two Blackbacked Jackal were seen making an exit into the bushes as well as a Porcupine and a White Tailed Mongoose scampering down the road, tail in the air.
Trees
The Common Coral Tree (Erythrina Lysistemon)
(Ranger – Janine)
The Common Coral tree with its bright red flowers (hence the Latin name Erythrina meaning Red and Lysistemon meaning loose stamen) is one of the few trees that flower in winter. This makes it a target for Vervet monkeys who enjoy eating the flowers as well as many browsers, such as Kudu, that eat the leaves. If you're feeling a bit achy or breaky this is a good tree to have around as the bark is used to treat rheumatism and arthritis. One can also make an infusion from the bark to ease toothache or from the leaves for earache. Some people also collect the beautiful red "beans" from the narrow pod once it has split open for good luck.
The Small 5
So you've heard about the Big 5? But what about the Small 5?
Now for the 3rd and the member of the Small 5 closest to our hearts...
The Leopard Tortoise:
(Ranger – Janine)
After the tortoise beat the hare to the finish line they probably had a good laugh together over a drink at the local water hole: that is if the tortoise in question was a leopard tortoise. They are one of the only tortoises that can lift their heads as a result of a dent in their shell, similar to a hairdresser's basin, in order to swim or in fact wade along the bottom of a shallow pool. The tortoise, who definitely "got it all" the morning of the race, would've also been a great mascot for Kellogg's as they prefer high fiber grasses, occasionally eating fruit. Although they are water dependant they prefer dry ground and do not do well in damp climates but if nothing dampens their spirits they can live up to 50 years. You might be pleased to know that the Leopard Tortoise breeding project has proven to be a huge success as many baby tortoises have been spotted!
Can you guess which of the Small 5 will be next? Stayed tuned!
Funny Bones
A man was in his front yard mowing grass when his attractive blond female neighbor came out of the house and went straight to the mailbox. She opened it then slammed it shut & stormed back in the house. A little later she came out of her house again went to the mail box and again, opened it, slammed it shut again. Angrily, back into the house she went.
As the man was getting ready to edge the lawn, here she came out again, marched to the mail box, opened it and then slammed it closed harder than ever.
Puzzled by her actions the man asked her, "Is something wrong?"
To which she replied, "There certainly is!"
(are you ready? . this is a beauty ...)
My stupid computer keeps saying, "YOU'VE GOT MAIL."
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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 last brainteaser. Congratulations to last months winner - you have won yourself and a partner one free night at our award winning lodge; dinner, bed and breakfast.
Last Month's brain teaser was:
Before I came confusion abounded, 'I'm late', 'I'm late' was frequently sounded. I'm not average, but was based on a mean. My size, in theory, is constant: fifteen. I'm two dozen steps, again in theory, but walk my length and you'd get weary. I take half and a quarter steps at a time. In reality, I don't follow the lines. I shrink to nothing in two cold extremes, whilst over a thousand miles wide in the betweens. What am I?
The answer was:
The Time zones!
........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 15th July 2007)
Reply with the names of the creatures derived from the following phrases (Not necessarily South African animals). E.g.: 'A dull person' the answer would be a 'Boar'
1) Hair-control foam
2) Very exposed
3) Tellin' falsities
4) A lamenting cry
5) First you get a parking ticket, then you get this
6) A precious or loved one
News from the Lodge
It is so delightful that we are able to share in the excitement of so many special occasions. The last month has been another array of anniversaries, birthdays and even the wedding of an Australian/ British couple (Congratulations to Sean and Charlotte Elliot!) Perfect blue skies for a wedding in the Umsunduze river bed.
We are delighted to say that the wedding chatter did not end there. Rudolph (our head ranger) at long last found that perfect moment he had been waiting for for the last 6 months and proposed to Estelle. Having received endless words of encouragement and exclamations to 'Just go for it!' from parting guests, those of you who have met Rudolph and Estelle will no doubt be pleased. We wish them many happy years and memories together!
The winter chill is about to become a little colder as a different beam of sunshine is also leaving in a few weeks. Claire, one of our rangers, is moving on after her 6 month prac with us. Visitors who have popped into the lodge in the last half a year would have been privileged to have been informed and entertained by our delightful Claire. We wish her all the best with her future endeavors and many more brilliant starts to every sunny day. Hopefully your early morning cheerfulness has been contagious!! Best wishes.
MySpace Profile
Leopard Mountain has set up a MySpace profile - www.myspace.com/leopardmountainlodge. This site will be updated regularly with news from the lodge. If your a currently a MySpace user add us as a friend and automatically be entered into the monthly competition for a night for two at the lodge.
Best guests comments of the month
My daughters wedding was held at the lodge and was magical. No detail was left without attention. The staff were wonderful, scenery spectacular and wildlife fabulous. We certainly will return.
Words cannot express our sincere thanks – you have a special piece of South Africa and are true ambassadors for the country.
We came for my sisters wedding and we were given much more then that. We were given an experience we will never forget.
The lodge is a real gem and a place you can really unwind, the staff are just fantastic to be with and so interesting. Can't wait to return. |
