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News from Zululand
Greetings from a warm and dry Zululand! We are eagerly awaiting spring and all the excitement that goes with it. The first signs are starting to show as the Southern Masked Weavers are slowly but surely starting to show their faces. The Wild Pear Dombeya (Dombeya Rotundifolia) together with the knobthorn (Acacia Nigrescens) has also started flowering which are sure signs that spring is on the way.
The calls of the rain frogs in the pond is also a tell tale sign that rain is on the way as they provide background sounds during supper time in the Boma.
Bush Cuisine
For those of you who have received last months newsletter (also available on our website for those who haven't), and now know how to plant legumes, I have included a recipe in which you can use you home grown peas.
Cold (or hot ) Pea Soup
8 Cups fresh sugar snap peas in pods
3 Tablespoons butter
1 Tablespoon vegetable oil
1 Onion, finely chopped
2 medium potatoes, peeled & diced
Salt & Pepper to taste
20 Chopped Mint leaves
2 Teaspoons Sugar
4 Cups Vegetable Stock
½ Cup Milk
½ Cup Plain Yoghurt
Method
Melt butter in a saucepan and add the onion, peas & potato. Cover with a lid and cook for 5 minutes. Add the remainder of the ingredients, except the mint leaves, milk & yoghurt and simmer for about 10 minutes. Add the milk and yoghurt. Serve with a sprinkle of chopped mint.
(Derived from: Biophile Magazine Issue 22)
Have you ever wondered....?
Why do warthogs run with their tails up?
Ever thought about how animals of shoulder height get around in the long, thick grass of the Bushveld? With much effort I would say. Thus the reason why they have developed what is called a following mechanism. In the case of the warthog it is their long thin tail that has the ability to raise upright. This makes it so much more effortless for warthog to follow each other, especially piglets that most definitely need a taller physical beacon as a guide. A secondary function could also be to warn other species of animals of any potential danger.It is an involuntary action that occurs when the animal is alert, tense and running. The action is controlled by flexing the muscles of the forelimbs, neck and back.
What is the difference between male & female warthog?
In all respects males are larger than females. Males have two pairs of "warts" on their face, one set next to the eyes, the other on the cheeks. Females on the other hand have only one set of smaller "warts" next to the eyes. They have bigger lateral facial crests, possibly to mimic tusks as females have very small tusks.
Why do warthogs drop to their knees to feed?
This phenomenon is more common in winter as most of their food supply needs to be dug up. Warthogs rely almost entirely on rooting to find sufficient food. Digging is more easily accomplished while the warthogs are on their knees as more leverage & digging efficiency is obtained.
Warthogs have to work relatively harder than their forest relatives and spend a lot of time on their knees for comfort and convenience, if not out of necessity.
News from our Rangers
After visiting the hide with a friend one morning, Sandy came back with these incredible photos.
Not only is it always so very special to see any elephant, but this particular bull was also teaching us something extremely valuable. If at first you don't succeed...find another way.
Instead of just drinking from the waterhole like all the other animals, this one decided that it will be a lot more fun grabbing the hosepipe with his trunk and drinking from there. (It faintly reminds me of a television advert some time ago...) It always amazes me that animals never cease to surprise us, so full of glory and grace, and evidently has a lot more intelligence than what we sometimes believe.
Elephants also dig for water in the dry Season, knowing exactly where to find a fresh splash of H2O. If all else fails, they'll simply push over a tree, deriving the moisture stored in the roots of the tree, at the same time creating a future "waterhole" for smaller creatures. When the rain arrives, this "waterhole" will fill up making it much easier for others to enjoy the sweet taste of summer rain.
Day- Flying moths (Ctenuchinae)
Now here's something you do not see every day. We found this pair of day flying moths mating just outside our kitchen, ran for the cameras to take pictures, and 5 hours later they were still in exactly the same spot. These moths are slow in flight and have large narrow forewings and reduced hind wings.
Mousebirds
Mousebirds occur only in Africa (aren't we lucky) and more commonly in this area to be found are Red Faced- (Urocolius idicus) and Speckled Mousebirds (Colius Striatus). Although widespread, it prefers drier Bushveld with thickets, flying together in small flocks from tree to tree. Their name undoubtedly derives from a combination of appearance & habits. They have drab grey to brown plumage made up of particularly fine feathers on the head and body, giving them a mousy appearance. Especially when combined with their long tail. These birds can actually climb within trees using their curved bills and long sharp claws. They appear to scurry through the bushes much like a rodent, putting one foot in front of the other, not hopping as most small birds do.
Funny Bones
Over breakfast one morning, a woman said to her husband, "I bet you don't know what day this is." Of course I do", he indignantly answered, going out the door to the office. At 10 am, the doorbell rang, and when the woman opened the door, she was handed a box containing a dozen long stemmed roses. At 1 p.m., a foil wrapped , two pound box of her favourite chocolates arrived. Later, a boutique delivered designer dress. The woman couldn't wait for her husband to come home. "First the flowers, then the chocolates, and then the dress!" she exclaimed. "I've never had a more wonderful groundhog day in my life!"
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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
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Brain Teaser
Thank you to everyone who responded to our August competition! The winner of our Leopard Mountain competition for August is Stephan Pienaar! 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:
I'm cute and cuddly with big set eyes.
I have sticky feet and I'm very shy
I sleep during the day and play at night
My call - an odd cry.
You can't catch me because I'm way up high
I'm just a little sweetie pie
What am I?
A Bushbaby
.........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. Simply answer the riddle below to be entered in our lucky draw and email us the answer to
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(competition closes 20th September 2008 terms & conditions apply):
This month's competition:
My feet are not made for speed,
Grass is what I love to eat
My shelter sets me free,
When I'm slow as can be.
My tummy tells whether I'm a he or a she.
My Dinosaur skin is extremely rough
And I am very tough
You'll find me on land, in river or sea.
What am I?
News from the Lodge
Big congratulations to Phumzile from us all on the wedding and her precious little girl that was born on the 27th of July. Of course all the staff wanted to go to the wedding on the 2nd of August, and after a few hours of hard decision making we decided to take them and fetch them again the following morning. With a full lodge and absolutely no staff (except a chef ) Nicky, Rudolph, Estelle & Nadine took the big job of setting tables, washing dishes and mopping floors upon their broad shoulders. We had lots of fun of course, and also realized that it does take quite a bit of time opening beds during supper time...All in all it was a great experience for us, and it was very interesting picking them up again after the wedding the next morning, festivity still to be seen in their eyes.
Congratulations also to Tholakele with her little baby boy, born on the 25th of July.
Furthermore we would like to wish Precious all the best, or should I say good luck, with her pregnancy. Her baby boy is due in September, round about the 19th.
So many bundles of joy to be cheerful about...
Click here to have a look at our online gallery of Leopard Mountain Lodge!
Best guest comments of the month:
I have visited many a Game Lodges and was looking at everything very critically and cannot find anything to complain about. You will be highly recommended to all of our colleagues, friends & customers.
We thoroughly enjoyed our stay with you and will certainly be making every effort to return. The beauty of the lodge is enhanced by the peaceful surroundings and the quiet manner of the staff. All of whom are absolute stars. Thank you also to all of you for taking time and trouble on my folks, they would have moved in if they had been given a chance
A magic spot, charming chalets, beautiful Bushveld, great game drives..
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