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The Leopard's Tale - February 2011

Good Day to all our Leopards Tale Readers

Love is in the air!

Over the past few weeks we have been host to 3 weddings, congratulations to Leanne & Simon, Melissa & Lavelle, Sharon & Mark!

What a wonderful way to start the year and definitely in time for Valentines.

Don't FORGET, coming up this month
Do your bit for conservation, check out these websites to see how you can help!

THE THREE CRANES CHALLENGE - 25TH, 26TH & 27TH FEBRUARY 2011
The Wildlands Conservation Trust has obtained sponsorship from Bonitas Medical Fund and The Sunday Tribune and Heidi Mocke is very excited that they have 170 runners taking part this year as well as a waiting list!! A portion of the profits made at this event will be donated to our Conservancy. Visit Three Cranes Challenge for more information.

OUR RESERVE

The Rangers Report, our head Ranger, Johann, gives us some wonderful updates as to what everything is up to:- Every month I write this article it seems that I have more and more interesting things to report on.

This past month has been no exception and to be frank, I don't even know where to begin. The area continues to experience great rainfall and the uMsunduze hasn't even had a single chance to dry up yet. Needless to say, the reserve is bustling with all kinds of life, big and small.

I'll try and stick to the highlights and make it short, but this time around its going to be difficult.

Imagine this: You have had a great night's rest and awake at sunrise, eagerly awaiting the departure of the early drive. Before even exiting your room you are alerted to a cacophony of noise some meters from your deck. Imagine your absolute amazement when upon further inspection you see a pack of wild dogs- Lyacon pictus- dragging an impala into a nearby bush. This is the incredible sight which awaited one of our recent guests. The pack of about 20 dogs took up residence in the reserve and has been enjoying the rich spoils available to them. We had the privilege of spending many quality hours with Africa's rarest large carnivore. We observed them doing everything from taunting buffalo's to hunting Blue wildebeest to playing like they have no care in the world. This just continues the trend of the ZRR being an absolute haven for endangered species.

Other Predators

Other predators were also sighted more regularly this month. Cheetahs were especially prominent with two males regularly spoiling us with some amazing encounters and one of the shy females putting in a couple appearances on Leopard Mountain. Spotted hyena is heard calling from the lodge almost every night at this stage and their tracks are frequently found all over the reserve. There is a lot of black-backed jackal and these highly intelligent animals can also be found in good numbers.

One of my personal highlights was the huge, but extremely elusive and nocturnal aardvark we had strolling around our vehicle on one particular night drive.

Birding

Birding has been very good once again. All the local specials such as pink-throated twinspot, Rudd's and yellow-breasted apalis, all the honeyguides, golden-tailed woodpecker, brown-backed honeybird, yellow-throated longclaw, flappet lark and many more are very vocal and easy to locate. Raptor birding has been especially good with plenty of white-backed and lappet-faced vultures, secretarybird, martial eagle, African hawk-eagle, brown snake-eagle, African crowned eagle, tawny eagle and migrant Steppe buzzard and Wahlberg's eagles. The high rainfall has also caused the more nomadic species to visit the reserve in much higher numbers. These include: Temminck's courser, long-tailed paradise-whydah( and their green-winged pytilia hosts), red-billed quelea, common waxbill and breeding plumaged dusky indigobird, lesser masked weaver and plenty of displaying white-winged widowbirds over the rank grass areas. Other migrants you will come across are: broad-billed and European rollers; grey-headed and African pygmy kingfishers; European bee-eaters; violet-backed starlings and tons more.

Our Environment:-

Each month we take a look at something that we find in our environment, whether it be a Tree, Bird or Animal, this month we look at the Fever Tree:-

The Latin name is ACACIA XANTHOPHLOEA
The Afrikaans name is KOORSBOOM

The genus name Acacia is derived from the greek word acantha meaning spine, thorn or prickle and the species name xanthophloea is derived from the greek words xanthos meaning yellow and phloios meaning bark.

How the Fever Tree Got Its Name
In the past, people thought that this tree caused a fever since people travelling or living in the areas where it grew contracted a bad fever. They therefore associated the fever with the tree. This however was erroneous as the swampy places where fever trees grow are also ideal breeding grounds for mosquitoes, which carry malaria. Thus through these early settlers the myth was born and the plant acquired its name as the fever tree.

What Is So Remarkable About The Fever Tree?

The fever tree is an attractive, semi-deciduous to deciduous tree approximately 15 to 25 meters tall and has an open, rounded to spreading or flattish crown which is sparsely foliated. The characteristic, almost luminous, lime green to greenish-yellow bark is smooth, slightly flaking, and coated in a yellow powdery substance described by some as sulphurous. If the powdery surface is rubbed away with the finger it will reveal a green bark beneath. AND IT HAS FLOWERS TOO......
Bright yellow, golden, ball-like flowers which are sweetly scented are borne in clusters on shortened side shoots at the nodes and towards the ends of branches. Flowering occurs from August or September to November. Flowers are followed by the production of yellowish- brown to brown pods which split open to reveal the small hard brown seeds, which may be harvested from January to April.

Well What Does The Wildlife Have To Say About This???

This tree is popular amongst birds for nest building as the thorns add extra protection against predators such as snakes. Young branches and leaves are eaten by elephant and the leaves and pods are eaten by giraffe and vervet monkeys. The gum and green seeds are eaten by baboons. Insects such as bees are attracted by the yellow colour and sweet scent of the flowers and perform a pollination role. WOW ISENT THAT A THING TO KNOW?? I guess they all love it.

IT EVEN HAS MEDICENAL VALUES!!!!! Its bark is used for treating fevers and eye ailments.

HAVE YOU EVER WONDERED?

Is there something that you have always wondered and never been able to answer, let us help, send us your questions and we'll send the answers!

How a Lion Roars so Loud?

As you may know already how loud and far a lion can actually roar, I thought i might just want to add a little more depth to how it actually works.

Lions Roar
PANTHERA LEO

A lion usually roars in the early mornings and late afternoons when they are more active, this is because of several reasons. One is for advertising that the area is occupied by another pride and any intruders should be aware.

Vocal Fold

Another is for gathering members of a pride together either for being lost or after a hunt, because they can be split up or a lioness that has become successful can summon the rest of the members to the kill.

Early morning and late afternoons the inversion layer of the earth's atmosphere has also dropped, causing the decibels of the lions roar to travel further.

PANTHERA LEO
Panthera is Latin for Roaring Cat, therefore any cats that don't roar do not classify as true cats as in the case of a cheetah, which Latin name is Acinonyx Jubatus, meaning spotted cat without retractable claws.

Anatomy of the vocals Lions can be heard from as far a distance as 8km or 5miles to the human ear, but to lions can be heard a lot further, how far we still don't know. Males can also be heard further away than what females can due to the Fibre Elastic tissue which makes up the vocal folds that are larger in the oesophagus. In the roof of the throat of a lion, just behind the palette, there is a more defined indentation in the skull which helps to amplify the sound created when roaring. If you have ever heard a Trumpeter Hornbill (which is a bird) ever call, I'm sure you have picked up it is very loud, that's because on the top section of the bill there is a cavity where the sound can bounce around and amplify, this is very similar in lions, Or in our case using a megaphone.

BUSH CUISINE

Lemon, Cinnamon & Mint Ice Tea

To Make Ice Tea:

Ingredients
200ml Caster sugar
100ml Lemon juice
4 Rooibos tea bags
5 Cinnamon sticks
2 litres of Boiling Water

Put together in a pot, stir and leave for 5 minutes. After 5 minutes take out the tea bags, allow to cool, once cooled place in jug with lemon slices and put in fridge.

Glasses
To Rim The Glasses:

Some Lemon Juice in a saucer
Some Castor Sugar in a saucer

Dip the edge of glass into the lemon juice and then into the caster sugar.

Garnish for Glasses

½ slice of lemon
2 mint leaves
1 small Cinnamon Stick

Something refreshing on those super hot summer days.

Leopard Mountain Wine of the Month

Rustenberg John X Merrimen 2006
Star Images

This month I chose the Rustenberg John X Merrimen, not only because it is classy but also because it has this great ability of complimenting any great meal. It originates from the South-West slopes of the Simonsberg Mountain in Stellenbosch, the heart of all good South African wines.

This is a fantastic high quality fancy wine, and truly the ideal bottle of Red for your Valentine's dinner. With its 4 ½ star platter's ratting, it is enough to impress anyone!!

Plum & Cigar box aromatics prelude a multi-layered palate with an elegant tannin structure. Aromas such as Blackcurrant, Licorice and exotic flowers are very distinct. Very ripe dark berry flavors are complicated by hint of truffle and tobacco leaf. The finish is quite dry and uncompromising, with big chewy tannins and powerful backbone.

This red blend is rich, broad and smoky with superb fat and depth.

Food suggestions are; Roasts, Grills of Red Meat and a sweet Curry. It can also be enjoyed with a soft strong flavored cheese. You can even try Leopard Mountain's - Mustard Crusted Ostrich Fillet served with Creamy Polenta & Roasted Vegetables

Awards: 91 Points – Steve Tanzer's International Wine Cellar,
March/April 2009 Online Edition
4 ½ Star Jon Platter South African Wine Guide

Blend Information – 45% Cabernet Sauvignon, 38% Merlot, 13% Petit Verdot, 3% Cabernet Franc & 1% Malbec.

Have a lovely Valentines!!

Funny Bones

The Centipede

Why was the centipede late?

Because he was playing "This little Piggy" with his baby brother!

THIS MONTH'S COMPETITION

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 25th January 2011 terms & conditions apply):

Solve this Riddle:

I have an eye but cannot see.
I am stronger and faster than any man alive
but have no limbs.
What am I?....

LAST MONTH'S WINNER

Thank you to everyone who responded to our competition! The winner of our LEOPARD MOUNTAIN competition for Sally Mackay. Congratulations - you have won yourself and a partner a complimentary night at our Lodge.

Last Month's competition was:
I lie, abandoned, on the beach.
My watery home I cannot reach.
My former owner set me free.
He has no further need of me.

What am I? - a Shell

BEST GUEST COMMENTS

From the moment we arrived everyone has been so warm accommodating, the staff is fantastic! We loved the privacy and intimacy of the lodge and the design of everything is first class! A big thank you to the kitchen who consistently delivered beautiful and testy food in vast quantities.

The game drives were very enjoyable and we were part of the really restful rhythm of each day. We planned to stay 2 nights which ended up being 4 as we loved it so much here! We really don't want to leave and we will be back and be telling the world about you!!

Thank you again for the outstanding hospitality,
James & Fjona Hill
Allan, Laura and Mary Blach (UK)

Wow this place is amazing and seeing the wild dogs, just made it even more special!

Sarah Rowins (S.A Westville)

Thank you to a wonderful hospitable people for accommodating us, we have been treated with utmost respect and warmth of the staff. The food was delicious and the game drives were fantastic!

Jagadesan family

My sincere thanks & appreciation to management and staff at Leopard Mountain for making my dream come true!! I am eternally greatful to you guys, May God continue to bless you! Lots of love to you guys.

The drive up here-Scenic
Our stay here-Awesome
Service & seeing animals-Priceless!!

Thank you,
Caleb

GOING GREEN

In the world today we all need to make an effort to help our environment recover from the damage we have caused. Some of us look at this and head for the hills as we think that only a huge project will make an impact, this of course is not the case any effort, no matter how small is a start!

THIS MONTHS TIP

Love buying books and magazines, but starting to feel a bit guilty about the impact these have on the earth! Well never fear… technology has of course kept up with the times. Purchase Ebooks. Kalahari.net has many wonderful e-books for sale. Now you don't have to worry about postage or finding the time to get to the shops. Just a click away! Click here to see what they can offer.

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH

'Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.' – Maya Angelou

Happy Valentines everyone! Don't forget our Valentines Special we are running for the whole month of February -

till we chat again next month...

Editor
Melissa van Rooyen

All pictures courtesy of Ivor van Rooyen & Kim Steinberg