BushSpots Blog

Conservation in South America

Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:30:43 -0400

Conservation in South America

News

Tue, 14 Jul 2009 09:54:14 -0400

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Exciting news from Zarafa is that we have HMS ZIB under construction with a launch date still to be advised. This vessel will be stationed at Zarafa camp for guests to go on cruises around the Zibadianja lagoon & down the Selinda Spillway. HMS ZIB will also be decked out for an overnight adventure on the water if guests so choose. The theme and style of the boat will follow the ‘Zarafa’ image with all the creature comforts included. Watch this space!!
With the water levels reaching record levels this year, a new jetty is being built at Zarafa for water based activities. This will be located away from the camp so not to interfere with the tranquility. There are now 2 ‘Canadian’ canoes for morning or afternoon guest activities as an additional game viewing option.
Zarafa has just installed vintage “World War 2” type wind up telephones in all the rooms. This allows our guests to contact the main camp area if in need of assistance or request the resupply of that ever important bottle of Champagne whilst enjoying their private pool in the midday heat.
We recently started converting our game drive vehicles to run on Bio Diesel. This has process has gone remarkably well & the roll out of converting the rest of Selinda’s and Motswiri’s vehicles will continue.
Some camp staff snippets
Always keep the staff gate closed!!!
One morning just after the guests had gone on their morning drive I heard a very loud scream. Stopping and listening, I realised it was a member of staff in distress but thinking it was the local troop of baboons harassing the staff or trying to raid the kitchen, I calmly went on with my work. The shouts of "Tau, Tau!" though caused me to leap out of my chair, whilst trying to keep my balance as I bolted down the office stairs, in the direction of the staff village meeting a coule of pale faces enroute - only to find two young lion males strolling around the staff village. After closer inspection we found their tracks entering the staff area through a gate which had been left open. Moral of the story ? Make sure those gates are closed!

Game viewing from a bath tub?
After high tea one afternoon one of the guests said she was opting for a quiet afternoon in the bath tub & some reading rather than going on a drive. At dinner when we enquired if she had had a relaxing afternoon her reply was: “Well, I was sitting in the tub when a herd of elephants walked past my room. They came right up to the pool where one stuck his trunks in the pool to drink while the others were splashing about in the lagoon. Later I watched as they crossed the lagoon. Having finished my bath I started a bit of horizontal reading when I heard a very strange noise. This noise was followed by creatures which I had never seen before. Checking my little game drive animal identification book I discovered that what I have just seen was in fact a pack of 7 wild dogs!” Just shows you, one does not always have to sit in a vehicle to look for the animals, sometimes they come to you…

This is how you impress your guests
Recently we woke up to noise of hyenas & lions, & leopard grunts around camp. After our guests had left on their morning drive, their guide radioed in to request that I please collect their camera bag from their room as they had forgotten to take it with them & meet at our solar farm. Hurrying off & having retrieved thier camera I made my way to the solar farm. To get to the solar farm though one has to walk through the fenced off staff village. Upon reaching the last gate to exit the staff area one of the staff members told me not to go outside the gate because there are lions around & that the guide will meet me at the gate. As I stood there I caught a glimpse of a young male lion. He was very interested in me & came closer, with 3 other lions later emerging in the bush behind him. After circling the staff village they decided to do a site inspection of Zarafa, strolling in between all the guests tents before walking past the main deck. It was then that we heard a wild roar from the other side of camp & along came “Silver Eye” - our very experienced & our resident male. Naturally there was a little turmoil with the younger lions bolting away - most probably being scared of the older male. Out of the blue an additional 4 lions appeared from the thickets, resulting in 9 lions in camp! The lions then got bored with staff and guests admiring them with their cameras & opted for some lunch - this to our horror was our swimming pool pipes & pool cleaning net.

Selinda Camp has recently also enjoyed some developments as we continually raise the standard of guests experience coming to our wildlife rich concession.
The Selinda Camp curio shop has been moved to the upper gallery allowing for a larger space & spectacular views over the flooded plains in front of camp. This move has allowed us to refine the guest experience whereby we have created a place for guests to come & browse our shop, download images onto a CD, catch up on a bit of reading in the library corner, mull over the maps with their guide or just catch up with the host, Rose, over a cup of coffee brewed in the gallery.
A channel from the Selinda Spillway through to the Zibadianja lagoon has also just been opened up & this adds an extra dimension to the existing Selinda Camp boating experience. The recently refurbished boat is being used extensively for guest airstrip transfers, fishing or sunset cruises along the spillway, & is now stationed at the new jetty in front of Selinda’s main camp area. In addition to the boat activities, Selinda also now offers canoeing activities along the spillway for guests to enjoy as part of their game viewing experience.
To make sure Selinda maintains a high standard of food coming out of our kitchens, we have appointed a Food & Beverage manager – Shirley, who hails from Gaborone. With Shirley’s supervision & training we are confident that the cuisine at Selinda is going to become even more famous.
Solar geysers have been installed in all guest rooms & staff village. This camp will soon follow in Zarafa’s footsteps & function completely on renewable energy.
Planning ahead, due to increased requests from our travel trade partners, is news that we are about to start the conversion of Room 1 into a family unit. We expect this to be completed by the end of October. The plan is that the Family room will enjoy 2 separate rooms, sharing a bathroom. The unit will also boast its own private deck with pool.
Recently we have noticed that there are 2 dominant male lions who have returned to the area nearby Selinda Camp & seem to be spending more time in the Selinda concession area. These 2 male lions were seen engaging in territorial battles with other lions from the northern Kwando region. Another game highlight during the month of June was an inter-clan dispute between two large groups of hyenas. It is a fascinating spectacle to witness these animals facing off & having an aggressive battle.
At the time of writing the floodwaters are starting to encroach onto our Selinda airstrip. Guests staying at Selinda are currently being transferred for 10 minutes from the airstrip to the boat station by vehicle & from there a further 10 minutes to Selinda by boat. Zarafa guests enjoy a 45 minute game drive to camp. If it does happen that the Selinda airstrip gets flooded, our alternative is to make use of our neighbour’s airstrip. This will then entail a 30 minute road transfer to Selinda camp, while Zarafa guests will be transferred for 30 minutes to the boat station near Selinda camp followed by a 20 min scenic boat transfer.
Motswiri has been in the limelight recently as we been hard at work refurbishing this splendid camp. Motswiri camp is sold as an 8 bedded camp & is an ideal getaway for families or small group of friends / colleagues traveling together looking for more of an active safari. Activities on offer include canoeing, tag & release fishing, walking trails & traditional evenings in addition to morning & late afternoon game drives. At the beginning of the year we relocated Motswiri Camp to its original site, amongst the leadwood trees on the banks of the Selinda Spillway. The spectacular setting overlooks a large bend of the channel. The guest’s refurbished "Meru" en suite tents are now placed some distance apart & connected by pathways to the main camp area, with each enjoying spectacular views over the Selinda Spillway. We are moving away from generator power at this camp & each unit will have its own solar panel that will run lights & a fan further reducing the camps dependence on diesel whilst lowering our Carbon Footprint further.
Our new western concession managers, Ellery & Rhalda, joined us in early June. Between them & long standing manageress, Kea, Motswiri is going places. Ellery is a specialist in raising the bar in terms of camp experience & guest activities. His added expertise extends into an area that is very important to us as a company - Sustainability. Amongst the projects he is working on right now includes creating a worm farm & recycling model that will be carried over to all our camps once the pilot project is perfected at Motswiri.
Great news is that Motswiri now also has its own boat, in addition to the canoes, that can be used for guest activities such as fishing, sundowner trips & game watching. During the high water levels, this is a definitely a good option for viewing game. Ellery has discovered that there is a large amount of activity along the spillway at night, so for those who are prepared to brave the chill - this is a must.
There are exciting times in the western section of the Selinda concession in terms of wildlife & game experiences right now: The Magegwana spillway has also flooded for the first time in at least two decades. Game sightings from the water have opened up a whole new dimension to the game viewing in the area, with regular sightings of some rather large breeding herds of elephants, buffalo, kudu, impala, hippo & even a male black-mane lion. Between sightings & viewing the secluded spillway scenery, the fishing still remains fantastic, with several species of bream easily seen swimming through the crystal clear waters as they chase the spinners. With winter temperatures steadily dropping, the Mopane woodlands are slowly starting to take on their golden hue & early mornings are met with a definite chill and mist over the waters accompanied by the distinctive call of Meyer’s parrots & pygmy geese. Fortunately the days are still comfortably warm with the spillway water still warm enough to offer a refreshing dip during the day. The advantage of the cold clear evenings is the spectacular view of the southern skies, with the Magellan clouds, Scorpio, Libra & the Southern Cross prime conversation topics during the bush dinners whilst guests enjoy the warmth of the ever-present camp fire & the symphony of steam frogs taking full advantage of the high waters.
It is now official that the Selinda Spillway is at its highest level in almost 30 years. For most guests and agents, what comes to mind when thinking of the Selinda Spillway is this small trickle of Okavango water journeying through an open savannah plain in the direction of the Kwando & Linyanti Rivers… Well that is true except that the water body is more than just a trickle, widening to hundreds of yards in places. For the first time in the history of the spillway, guests have enjoyed the Selinda Canoe Trails, canoeing almost the entire length from Motswiri Camp in the East to Selinda Camp in the west – a distance of over 90 kilometers in 4 days.
The journey has been a highly rewarding experience for those who have imagined the idea & decided to partake in an once in a life time adventure of epic proportions. Buffalo, roan antelope, sable antelope, elephants, kudu, tsessebe & hyena are amongst animals that have been seen on the trails, with new male lions trying to claim the territory around the Tshwene area being very vocal at night. Water birds have also followed the spillway with a sighting of a pair of the uncommon lesser jacana whose official distribution barely touches the Selinda Spillway. Marabou & saddle-billed Storks, hammerkop, pied kingfishers & African Fish Eagle have also been following the waters.
Currently the two waters flowing easterly from the Okavango & westerly from the Kwando Rivers are some 3.5 kilometers apart as the crane flies. With the Kwando river now rising & Okavango waters still pushing in there is a very good chance these two waters will meet in late July. This movement of water has been characterized by numerous species of birds & small predators feeding on all the insects, rodents, beetles, reptiles & crickets that are being flooded out. Barbel & bream have also been in frenzy with new territory & a great feast awaiting them as they follow the headwaters. The water table in the immediate area of the spillway itself is so high that burrows that are as far as 20 meters from the water’s edge are being flooded out creating an unusual green flash along the banks. This gives one an idea of exactly how much water has gone into the sponge of the spillway whilst in the process of filling it.
Congratulations to our youngest canoeists to paddle the Selinda Trail to date. Aged 8 & 11 the young adventurers paddled with enthusiasm & their joy could not be hidden when it came to marking the end of the water. We look forward to enjoying this extraordinary adventure with the surprises & rewards that have characterized it until early October.

Congratulations must go out to Philip Keter, our fantastic guide at Mara Plains, for being awarded his Gold Certification from the Kenya Professional Safari Guides Association. He is truly amongst an elite crowd as he is only the FOURTH person in the whole of Kenya to achieve this level!

In prepartion for this year's annual migration, we recently completed the refurbishment of Mara Plains & the camp looks fantastic. The access area for guests to enter camp has also been moved with guests coming into camp via a new suspension bridge over the Ntiaketek River. Mara Plains main areas, guest tents & bathrooms have all been spruced up during their total make over.
The Mara rains have been good so far this year & the latest school of thought is that the annual wildebeest migration will be phenomenal but perhaps a little delayed as the animals appear to be late in leaving Tanzania this season. There is a lot of grass in the Olare Orok Conservancy this year which promises to attract many of the migration herds to the Mara Plains environs which will inevitably lead to some pretty spectacular predator/prey activity. One particular game highlight this month, while the camp was closed for refurbishments, is that mother cheetah with 3 small cubs has taken up residence just a few kilometres from the camp.

Ride Kenya has had a truly busy June, with a lodge full of riders & a mobile safari to finish.With spectacular views of Mount Kilimanjaro this month, riders have been lucky to experience one of the wonders of the African landscape almost daily. It has been an amazing month to see the mountain, & to see fabulous wildlife as well. Whilst we did not have any rain in April, resulting in a much drier environment than expected, there is still a lot of wildlife relying on the remaining grass here in the Chyulus.
On several occasions, we enjoyed riding with a coalition of 3 cheetahs who live on the edge of the acacia forest & the plains. They are becoming used to our presence on horseback, allowing us to watch them from close quarters as they slink through the trees or lie in the shade keeping cool.
At this time of year we also see many migratory herds of zebra & wildebeest that traverse between sources of water & grass, with riders enjoying galloping amongst these herbivores on the plains. One recent guest narrowly avoided stepping on a lesser kudu fawn on the edge of the acacia forest, which had been stashed by its mother in the grass. It remained so still that only a tiny blink of its eyes gave away the fact that it was alive.
Night game driving has also been very productive, & we go out several times during each Mobile Horse Safari. The night drive highlight of our latest safari was finding 5 hyena pups just emerging from their den one evening. They all came to within 5 feet of the vehicle, where they lay in an affectionate heap, playing, leaning on each other & rolling about in the dust for some time. They did not seem to realize that 8 people were watching them, carrying on as if they were alone.
Lastly, we narrowly missed seeing a black rhino on horseback - instead finding its fresh dung & tracks ahead of us on a ride one day. We did manage to see two caracal later the same day, which was wonderful.
Back in November 2008, Ride Kenya purchased some new horses in South Africa. All of these horses have have settled in well & also have been ridden out by guests. They are doing a great job. Tembo the Percheron is a very popular member of the new team, & is proving invaluable for day rides for Ol Donyo Wuas guests, due to his strength & yet gentle temperament.
The dry conditions here mean that many elephant are congregating in the forest near the stables. To access more water, & food, they are pushing trees down often. Fortunately for the mammals unable to otherwise reach the treetops, this is providing important food sources, & fortunately for us, it also providing some excellent cross-country jumps. We have taken the time to clear the landing & take-off areas & now can enjoy our own course of great jumps in the acacia forest & on the edge of the plains.

On safari in June we decided to offer guests the chance to work with the Chyulu bloodhounds, on horseback. We wanted to raise awareness of our Maasailand Preservation Trust here, & the work they do to prevent poaching. Guests took the opportunity to participate in a Chyulu hound hunt, though the quarry was to be a human, with no kill at the end! We sent out a willing volunteer, posing as a poacher, with guests on horseback watching as the hound set off on the scent. Despite the hound being worked on a leash, there was still chance to follow him at a fast trot & canter through the scrub & trees, until we came upon the "target" some 45 minutes later. It was a great training session for the dog, who regularly works with our scouts to track poachers, & a fun exercise for our riders with the added highlight being the important work the chaps at the Maasailand Preservation Trust do from Ol Donyo Wuas

Great Plains Conservation 

40th Birthday Safari

Thu, 9 Apr 2009 13:00:01 -0400

Dear Friends

We have for a number of reasons, moved the dates of this safari from July to October.

Our plans are to be in Victoria Falls on October 14th, Hwange NP on October 15th to 21st, Chizaria NP from October 21st to 24th and then in Victoria Falls from October 24th to the 26th.

We have space for two more couples.

It is going to be a great trip at a price you will never see again! Please remember that this is a family safari so kids be with us!

If you think that you may be interested, please contact us for detailed information.

M&M

Mana Pools National Park

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:42:40 -0400

Mana Pools

Mana Pools is a national park on the Zambezi River. Mana itself is not very large by national parks standards as it covers a little over 800 square miles but Mana sits in the centre of a wildlife area that is larger than the State of Connecticut and spans two countries. What sets Mana pools apart from most reserves in Southern Africa are the flood plains and park like woodlands that are so unique to this area that it was proclaimed a World Heritage Site in 1984.

The park itself was designated as a non-hunting area as early as 1952 which was unusual for those times, and as a result the wildlife has lived in relative tranquility, largely left alone by mankind. Strictly protected there are only a few established camps in Mana and the best way to see the Park is in a Mobile camp. Safari activities focus around the Zambezi River and the inland springs. This is arguably the finest place in Africa for walking and canoeing safaris. Below is a photo diary of a mobile camping safari in Mana Pools with Classic Africa Safaris.

Flying Balloons and catching Crocodiles: News from Singita Grumeti Reserves

Thu, 12 Mar 2009 09:20:03 -0400

January heralds the onset of the long rains. The first half the month was dry but later in the month we experienced afternoon thunderstorms somewhere on the reserve nearly every day.
Some staff had the opportunity to enjoy the balloon experience first hand and thus give an informed opinion to our guests. With the balloons based here it will be a far more accessible activity and well worth it.

Singita Grumeti Reserves were given permits for the capture of six Nile crocodiles from the Mara River on village land fifty kilometers north of the reserve. These animals are habitual livestock thieves and regularly prey on goats, cattle and sheep coming down to the river to drink. The alternative to live capture and relocation would be the destruction of these animals by the wildlife authorities of the region.
The crocodiles are caught using a cylindrical trap in which bait (goat meat) is placed attached to a cable triggering a trap door to fall in place behind the crocodile once the animal pulls on the bait.
Setting the trap, the water is also chummed with a mixture of rumen and blood obtained from butcheries in the villages.
Once the crocodile is in the trap the animal has to be blindfolded and noosed around the snout before it can be removed from the cage. This is of course the trickiest part of the operation.

Once out of the cage, blindfolded and noosed, the snout is secured with tape and made ready for transport.
Some effort is required in loading the crocodile onto the back of the pickup; this animal was about seven and a half feet long with a foot and a half of its tail missing. The missing tail would have more than likely been the result of bite from a larger crocodile at some earlier stage in its life.

After a hour & a half journey the crocodile was released at Sasakwa Lake. The crocodile is sexed, measured and marked for identification purposes before release.
On its way to release; once the crocodile hears the splashing water underfoot it comes very much to life again.  The weight and strength of this incredible reptile takes six very strong men to get it to the waters edge.
With the tape removed and all fingers out the way, the blindfold is removed and the croc prepares to enter its new habitat.

This entry was submitted by Ryan Schmitt & Nick Bester  All photographs were taken on location at Singita Grumeti Reserves  

WildCast at Pamushana

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 09:31:07 -0400

Wild dogs playing with death: Video
It’s so easy to always just wait for the wild dogs to get moving and pop out on a road. But I have my own little rule, which is to keep visual of the dogs whenever possible because you never what they might encounter on their way to the road or what they might get up to. And if you want to get lucky you have to spend as much time with your subject as possible even if and when the going is tough [READ MORE]

Why travel to Zimbabwe?

Mon, 9 Mar 2009 15:40:36 -0400

Zimbabwe: A beautiful land in need of a change of fortune

Visitors once flocked to Zimbabwe, but abhorrence for President Mugabe's regime has all but destroyed tourism in the country. When will the tourists be tempted back?
By Jeremy Laurance
Saturday, 28 February 2009

COURTNEY JOHNSON
Paradise found: Makalolo plains camp at sunset

Almost the first thing Bryson said on greeting my 20-year-old daughter Olivia and me at the border post next to Victoria Falls bridge was: "You are the first British tourists I have seen in so very long. You are most welcome to Zimbabwe." [READ MORE]

Simon Calder: Should tourists now return to Zimbabwe?

Two months into the year, and the language used by some in the travel industry is open to interpretation. I deduce that "We're a little down on last year" actually means "We're a lot down on last year". "Promising" translates as "We took a booking last week", while "There's definitely... [READ MORE]