Bush Lodge
June has brought about cold mornings and cold evenings. Average temperatures this month have been 26C high and 10C low. However, we have clear blue skies in the day and the stars bursting from the sky at night. In the mornings the mist hangs over the drainage lines, this makes for some magical sightings as the animals move through the mist.
The aloes are in full flower around the camp and have not disappointed us, or the sunbirds that have so eagerly awaited the sweet nectar they offer. Other animals have also blessed us with their presence in camp this month. The bushbuck have moved in and signs are showing on the garden plants as they move through their personal buffet! The beginning of June seems to be the time for elephant invasions, very similar to last year when we also had a large visitor. This year he came back with a vengeance. His first visit was on 3rd June, when he pushed over the fence near one of the staff houses. Patrick heard something and when he opened his door of his room, the elephant was about one metre away. Grant (our new assistant manager) also got alarmed when he looked out from his room and all he could see were ears and a trunk. The elephant continued to come into the camp for the next four nights. Hyeana have also found they way into the camp, eating a decorative calabash from the table near the bar. The genets have also made a come back, three different ones have been sighted. Also banded, dwarf and slender mongoose have also been seen in and around the camp. One of our guests visiting us from Paternoster, Theunis, decided to stay behind one morning with his young daughter, Mila. While they were sitting quietly at the pool, they had a fantastic surprise, White Cloth (female leopard) decided to appear near to the dam wall, she then carried on her way heading off into the thicker bush.
Sightings in the bush have also been fantastic. We were very lucky to have White Cloth (female Leopard) and her two young cubs near the camp for a few days; she had killed an impala and hoisted it into a nearby tree. A rare sighting of her previous cub, Ncila, also joined them, at first it seemed all very cosy until he and his mother started fighting. You could hear the growls from in the camp. Luckily White Cloth and her cubs made a retreat and Ncila went on his way again.
Some fantastic cheetah sightings were also had during the month. One female and her 1-year-old cub moved into our territory and guests were fortunate to watch them attempt hunting. Two male cheetahs have also been thrilling the guests. Some unusual sightings were Lions feeding on a young hippo, rarely seen. Also Newington (male Leopard) killed a baby giraffe close to Kudu corner. A rare sighting of Aardvark was witnessed with Morris and Andrew.
We welcomed back Sarah Pharo visiting from Cape Town and Duncan, Corne and Leyla from Nelspruit; it was great to see all of them back at Bush Lodge. Julie Kern visited again before joining up with her family. Theunis, Angelique and there new baby Mila visited us from Paternoster. We also celebrated Alex Briggs 7th Birthday here with his family.
Honeymooners - Joanne & Daniel from Germany, Russ & Beth from California, Zoe & Paul from England, David & Katie from Scotland and Chris & Sarah from Wales joined us, we would like to wish them all the happiness for their futures.
We welcome Grant McDonald, from England, to Bush Lodge. He has joined us as the assistant manager, after spending many holidays here with his family and friends in South Africa, decided this was the place he wanted to be. Lots of our staff celebrated birthdays this month, myself another year younger!!! Chris, Ester, Eunice and Abraham, a big happy birthday to you all.
We say a fond farewell to Ian Corder; we are sure he will take some valuable and happy memories back to the UK with him. Best of luck at University and we hope we will see him and hear from him soon, thanks for all your help around camp.
Half way through 2006, we look forward to catching up with everyone again, next month. Until then, stay well.
Kim, Piet, Grant and the Bush Lodge Family
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