The Bush Telegraph
“Adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience” – Ralph Waldo Emerson
Bush greetings from the Klaserie Camps team!
We trust that this finds you & your family all healthy & safe!
This is our second “lockdown newsletter” & although South Africa is at Stage 1, much of the world is going into further lockdown again.
Whilst international travel was still not an option by the end of September, we opened our doors to our fellow South Africans on 01 September.
Nzumba Self-Catering has been the popular choice & Frikkie & Natasha have enjoyed hosting some special family times! We have extended our special self-catering rate until 31 Dec 2020, so now is the time to start planning a special getaway at our little piece of paradise!
Nzumba Catered is still an option & our talented chef is ready to spoil your tastebuds!
September is our spring month & we are incredibly thankful that the bush still looked very good at the end of winter, traditionally dry but still with a lot of ground cover, & our wildlife in really good condition. We wait in anticipation for the rains to arrive & transform the bush.
Photo: Frikkie
Photos: OTS camera traps
On Track Safaris Camera Traps
We are still enjoying a great variety of photos from these camera traps, proving how popular & essential our waterholes are. We are so grateful to have use of these camera traps.
Photos: (L) Stefan // (R) Natasha
There was a great variety of bird sightings from our resident birdlife. It is time for our migratory birds to return, with sightings of Wahlbergs Eagles already seen at end August. Special sightings also included Ground & Trumpeter Hornbills.
Photos: (L) Natasha // (R) Nathan
General Game Sightings
We have not been disappointed & you can see from these photos that there has been a good variety of wonderful little creatures!
What has to be the most phenomenal sighting was an Aardvark seen by Craig in July at Thompsons Pan 1.
Photos: (L) Frikkie // (R) Karolina
Another unique sighting was a Caracoul seen by Frikkie on Nzumba Airstrip.
Other great sightings included Civets, Genets, Honey Badgers, Bush Baby & Porcupine.
Natasha’s photo of the hippo was taken at Dundee Dam, but there is also a hippo living in a pool of water just upriver from Kitara.
Our resident Klipspringers have made their latest young one public.
Photos: Nathan
Rhino Dehorning
In August, Fred & Manuela Crabbia, the owners of Klaserie Camps, sponsored the dehorning of a rhino to assist the reserve, as well as create awareness for their children & grandchildren.
Our sightings have increased, all sightings are of dehorned rhino.
Photos: (L) Craig // (R) Frikkie
Hyena
Sightings have increased again, with a lot of activity around Nzumba waterhole, as well as Thompsons. There are also consistent sightings throughout our properties.
Photos: (L) Stefan // (R) Natasha
In July we had a herd of approx. 100 buffalo at the sandy crossing. This is the biggest herd this quarter, although we have had regular sightings of smaller herds particularly around our waterholes.
There are also frequent sightings of small groups of dagha boys.
Photos: (L) Craig // (R) Nathan
Elephant Breeding Herds
There is no shortage in this quarter, each herd with numerous young calves.
In Aug & Sept, two very big herds were seen at Dundee & Nzumba waterholes, over 100 in size. Fantastic clip on social media of a herd at Nzumba waterhole by Frikkie.
Photos: (L) Nathan // (R) Stefan
Wild Dog
We had four separate sightings of wild dog: two sightings towards end Aug on Crabbia/Thompsons cutline & two sightings middle Sept on Thompsons.
All sightings where the same pack of five, one with a collar.
Photos: (L) Natasha // (R) Karolina
Leopard Sightings
(L) Dundee (R) Lamula & her cub
We have had such exciting leopard sightings!
A total 31 separate sightings: Manzi & her cub (getting bigger now) were seen on a kill, Craig came across Lamula & her tiny, adorable cub on TomKat, the Kitara female was seen frequently in the area & Dundee is still very relaxed around Dundee/Nzumba.
There have also been a few sightings of an unknown big tom.
Photos: (L) Stefan // (R) Karolina
Lion Tales
(L) Rusermi male (R) Timbila male
It’s such an exciting time with the newly formed Timbila pride still resident in the area & there have been sightings of a new set of cubs at Hot Spot.
The pride are incredibly vocal but also incredibly illusive.
In Sept, the Rusermi pride killed a giraffe in a drainage line off Segologolo drive close to Dundee.
The Rusermi male is still a youngster & already has character markings from a few beatings.
We had 15 different lion sightings in this quarter.
OUR TEAM OF TALENTED PHOTOGRAPHERS
THANK YOU FOR THESE INCREDIBLE PHOTOS!
For those of you who would like regular updates on exciting happenings and aren’t already on our Facebook, please “like” our Klaserie Camps page. We look forward to seeing you there!
We are on Instagram, so for all the Instagramers out there, please follow us and keep up to date on the wonderful photos we share: @klaseriecamps
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Written by: Lee-Anne Detert
Contact details: Reservations: info@klaseriecamps.com