Nikita, the new social media Administrator:

Nikita recently joined our Social Media Department, we caught up with her and got to know her a bit better. 

Where are you from? 

I am originally from Edenvale, Johannesburg. 

Who inspires you? 

My late Great Grandmother, she lived till 100 and was as strong as an Ox! She never had a bad word to say  about anyone, I will be extremely lucky if I can live to be half the person she was!

What do you love about the job? 

I love the fact that I am in the bush! There is never a dull office day. I also enjoy meeting and dealing with new people. 

What made you become a social Media Administrator?

I have worked in the IT field for a few years now, i enjoy the challenge of spreading the word about the company I work for. 

Do you enjoy living in the bush?

Yes, I love it! Its my 2nd home! 

What animal/insect scares you and why? 

African Buffalo, as they are quite temperamental and aggressive.

What animal would you be and why? 

I would be a bird as having  the ability to fly must be such an amazing feeling!

What computer equipment would you use to fight off a monkey, and why? 

A keyboard, as they will probably be fascinated with they keys and then I can make a hasty escape. 

Tell us a bit more about yourself: 

I lived in Edenvale all my life, where I eventually worked as a web developer for an IT company. I have recently discovered a new passion

Ubizane's New House Keeping Manager:

Wayne Connor Matthews has joined the House Keeping Department, and he ensures that every room has a 5 star standard and no less! We caught up with him recently: 

Where are you from? 

Originally from Durban North. 

Who inspires you?

Everyone.. when I say everyone, the people around me throughout the day I learn so much from, from the way you walk to the languages you talk. I get inspired by every one around me.  

What do you love about the job? 

I'd have to say the great team we have and its not every day you get to wake up with a Giraffe or an Ostrich at your front door.. or is it! 

What made you become a Housekeeping Manager? 

The passion for perfection and seeing the  satisfaction from guests. 

Do you enjoy living in the Bush? 

Yes, Absolutely. The fresh air, the wild and just being forced to relax and clear you mind under the amazing blue sky with millions of stars. 

What animal/insect scares you the most? 

The Lochness Monster. 

What animal would you be and why?

I'd be Shimba (Common Grey Duiker) because there is so much love coming from the entire team, and food (yeah) but mostly because Shimba can make an Ostrich run like there is no tomorrow. 

If you can have a super power for the day, what would it be and why? 

Time travel definitely,to make it possible to go back in time and stop all the naught people from poaching the Rhino. 

Tell us more about yourself: 

I'm tall dark and handsome... I always believe that positivity will overcome any blue Monday, I am a peoples person and an extrovert, always friendly and willing to help others. 

I will make your day and your stay when you feel its time to break away. 

I am fully Bilingual (English and Afrikaans) and pretend to speak French 

My favourite colour is green and my favourite food is anything fresh from the garden 

Hobbies: Gardening, feeding Shimba, chasing Ostriches and occasionally playing Golf.  

Jade the new Reservationist:

Our reservations department is eager to Welcome Jade Foxcroft to the Ubizane Team! We sat down with her and got to know her a little better: 

Where are you from?

I grew up  in an area in the South of Johannesburg called  the Hill, most of my childhood and the beginning of my adulthood was spent there.

Who inspires you? 

It might sound cliché, but it would be my mother. Through all the hardships that she has had to face she has inspired me to know that no matter what i do or no matter where I go, I can do anything I put my mind to and succeed.

What made you become a reservationist? 

A friend of mine in Durban told me about the opportunity. When he told me that i would be based at a lodge in the middle of the bush, some thought I was crazy but I have always been a lover of nature and the outdoors as well as  being a person that loves my own company, i just knew it was for me. 

What do you love about the job? 

Having the opportunity to give the world a place to go; to feel what it feels like to live amongst nature and all its splendour, is really wonderful. Also to deal with people on a daily basis is something that I have always enjoyed.To see the guests faces when I show them around this beautiful lodge is always so rewarding. But what I love the most about the job is being surrounded by nature all day.  

Do you enjoy living in the bush? 

What is there not to enjoy about living in the bush, the animals, the trees, the fresh air... 

What animal/Insect scares you the most? 

Don't laugh... but I'm scared of frogs... and all types of spiders; and yes I have moved to the bush where there are millions!

What animal would you be and why?

I have always admired The Eagle and how they seem to have the freedom to go anywhere; how they have not a care in the world as they glide through the air. They are such fearless birds, though the fish eagle is one of the smallest and most recognised; he is my favourite… I fell in love with him the first time I heard his cry the one morning I woke up and he was gliding through the air and going for a catch in the river that was just outside my flat, it is truly an amazing sound and sighting.

What office stationary would you use to fight off a monkey and why?

Don’t tell the boss…

But I have always been a fan of stapler shooting, so I would probably shoot staples at the little buggers.

Tell us a bit more about yourself?

I am a very simple person; I have never been one for extravagant living even though I’m originally a city girl. I have a love for reading books; but my greatest love is a little Netherland dwarf bunny that goes by the name of Fuzzy Pepper who has joined me on this amazing new chapter in my life.

  

Ubizane's New Receptionist:

Ubizane had the pleasure of welcoming  Sithembile to the family! We recently sat down with her to get to know her better! 

Where are you from? 

Mtuba-Tuba, KwaZulu Natal. 

Who Inspires you?

Andre Erasmus and Thembi Mkhize

What do you love about your Job? 

Being the first to welcome the guests!

What made you want to work in the Hospitality Industry? 

The fact that I will have the opportunity to meet new people from all walks of life. 

Do you enjoy living in the Bush?

Yes. 

What animal/insect scares you the most? 

Snakes. 

What animal would you be and why? 

An Elephant, because they are so big and strong and they always look after their family. 

Tell us a bit more about yourself:

I am a loving kind easy going person and always dedicate myself 100% to what I am doing.

An Amble through Hluhluwe Imfolozi:

Competition Questions:

       1.  Who is Shimba and where is her favourite hang out?

 

2. Chaulmoogra oil is from which tree and what was it used to treat in the late 1800′s and   early 1900′s?

 

3. True or False:  You can now get wireless interest access as soon as you drive through Ubizane’s gate? 

 

4. What percentage of Ostrich chicks survive to see their 1^st birthday?

 

5. How many cheeses are served on an Ubizane cheese platter?  

E-mail your answers and contact details to social@ubizane.co.za 

Ubizane’s unofficial mascot:

If you have been to Ubizane Wildlife Reserve, you may have had the pleasure of meeting Shimba, or most probably heard the numerous tales of her presence and daily antics via the staff. 

 Our tame, though still wild Common Duiker, Shimba has been part of the family for as long as any of the staff can remember. Gradually becoming more and more relaxed around people over the years, Shimba along with the not so little Tiban are the only animals we feed on the reserve.  

The Grey or Common Duiker is typically a very shy animals, sticking to areas that provides lots of cover. Grey or Common Duikers are known to be monogamous (having only one partner) this brings a comforting thought to all of us here at Ubizane, as we know somewhere on the reserve Shimba might have a partner!

Her favorite hangout is the Staff quarters where she has her own dinner party almost every night; strolling from one house to the next getting ever so tasty snacks and scrap vegetables from anyone around at the time. You can almost certainly set your watch to her arrival, it’s as if she knows when you are going to be home from work and preparing dinner.   

Over the years Shimba has become increasingly brave and given half the chance she comes into your house and has a good sniff around. Lately her favourite obsession is to stand by the fridge and give you the sweet ‘puppy dog’ face, hoping you will give her more delicious treats – who could resist?! A favourite with guests and staff alike, Shimba has become a part of the family and Ubizane’s very own mascot. 

Extending our Family:

One of our gorgeous female ostriches is about to become a Mom! We could hardly believe our eyes when we came across her nest, or more accurately just a simple hollow in the ground. Ostriches generally nest communally, so we are very excited to see if the other ostriches will join the nest.   

Laying up to 20 eggs the female Ostrich is able to distinguish between her own eggs amongst the others in a communal nest. The glossy cream coloured eggs average 15cm long and 13cm wide, and can weigh up to 1.4 kilograms in weight. Interestingly the yolk of an ostrich egg is the largest single cell but the smallest egg relative to the size of the adult bird. 

The clutch is incubated mainly by the female during the day and by the male during the evenings. This is a rather ingenious way of sharing a duty, as this uses the colouration of the two sexes to blend into the natural environment and prevent the detection of the nest. The female with her drab plumage blends in with the sand, while the black male is nearly undetectable in the night. The pair shares the incubation process for 35 to 45 days. Typically, the male defends the hatchlings and teaches them to feed, although males and females cooperate in rearing chicks. Fewer than 10% of nests survive the 9 week period of laying and incubation, and of the hatched chicks, only 15% of those survive to 1 year of age. 

  

We are hardly able to contain our excitement, as we anticipate the arrival of our ostriches chicks. Watch this space as there will soon be new hatchlings running around here at Ubizane, extending our feathered family one step further! 

What’s in a name?

When it comes to trees Ubizane has definitely got them in abundance, however have you ever thought how many there are, what is in a name and if there are special uses for them?

I was fortunate enough to accompany Darius, our on-site ecologist and Denis Oscroft a member of the Kwazulu Natal Tree Society, as they ventured around Safari Lodge identifying and labeling an array of foliage most unique to Ubizane.  

A selection of trees along the winding Safari pathways was identified and a name plate made by WESSA (Wildlife and Environment Society of South Africa) was attached. These name plates have the scientific, common and Zulu name, as well as the national number of that particular species. This allows the guest (as well as the ever curious Ubizane team) to easily look up the tree in a book. 

As we passed by certain trees, Darius and Denis gave interesting facts about each particular specie. My favourite example was that of the Snuff Box Tree - when the tree flowers the flowers resemble a fried egg and the fruit of the tree has many traditional uses. The tree is a source of chaulmoogra oil, valued for its medicinal properties and originally used to treat leprosy around the world in the late 1800′s and early 1900′s.  As the name suggests the fruit can be used, once hollowed out, to store snuff inside. 

It was a morning well spent, as now most of the visible trees on the pathways in and around Safari Lodge have names, and it is difficult NOT to learn about these fascinating plants. 

Temptation on a plate:

Dinner at Ubizane is always a much talked about event, whether it be in the boma, the bush or the restaurant, the one certainty is that our chef’s food never disappoints!

This week it was the cheese platter that stole the show with luscious, buttery, soft, gourmet Camembert and Brie accompanied by dried fruit and biscuits, delicious homemade Beetroot Cream Cheese, a mature blue cheese, finished off with an Orange Marmalade which was of course also homemade.

For those of you who are not so familiar with the gourmet French cheeses, here is a basic rundown:

So despite the obvious that Brie and Camembert are different cheeses, they both have one essential thing in common: milk. Brie however, was originally made in an area South-East of Paris where the cattle grazed on stony river beds. Camembert on the other hand originated in the West, near the coast in Normandy, where a different breed of cattle grazed on lush green pastures.

That being said the two cheeses are very similar in their soft white colour and similar consistency.

Here at Ubizane every meal is completed with a very special cheese board. All our cheeses are locally sourced and often infused on site. Go ahead: indulge.  

For more information on this tasty cheese platter and all the other delicious food Lance our chef makes, be sure to follow Diary of a bush chef on www.diaryofabushchef.blogspot.com

Wireless access @ Ubizane:

Here at UBIZANE we understand that some people retreat to the bush to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. But we also understand that some would like to have the option of technology, should they need it. 

That is why we have recently installed wireless internet access at Zululand Tree Lodge.

On Thursday 16^th of August, a rather brave team of IT Technicians scampered up a lightning conductor pole to install the devices needed to supply wireless internet - this is the bush after all!

Soon enough the wireless was up and running, and I’m sure it took longer to climb the lighting pole than it did to install the wireless…  

Nevertheless Tree Lodge Restaurant, Tree rooms 13 to 24 and the conference centre have all been connected, all you have to do is buy a voucher!

This ensures that even though you are taking a break from a busy city lifestyle, you are still able to stay in the loop!  

2 nights stay at Zululand Safari Lodge:

Want to spend two magical nights at the secluded Zululand Safari Lodge?

Follow the next Blog Posts, and answer the questions that were posted on our Facebook Page! 

Email your answers along with your name and contact details (E-mail and Telephone Number) to  social@ubizane.co.za

* Winners will be announced on the 21st of September 2012, Should there be more than 1 correct entry a lucky draw will take place! *

Night out with an Ostrich

Rehabilitating Tiban:

If you have been following Ubizane Wildlife Reserve’s Blog, Facebook and Twitter accounts, you will be somewhat familiar with the story of Tiban, our rescued Warthog. For those of you who are new to the Ubizane family, Tiban was found along our fence line when he was just a few weeks old and weighing less than a kilogram, abandoned by his mother he was a bundle of nerves and  very wary of humans. Tiaan, one of our General Managers managed to rescue him and bring him back to the lodge, where the hand rearing process begun. 

At 11 months old Tiban is now maturing into a healthy, boisterous male warthog, and we have decided to begin a rehabilitation process, so that he can eventually be released back into the wild where he belongs. 

Due to warthog’s extreme sensitivity to poor grazing conditions he is being kept in a large enclosure until the rainy season starts again. 

Tiban is constantly taken for walks in the bush to give him as much exposure as possible to the outside conditions, as well as opportunities to graze in his natural environment. As soon as Tiban seems comfortable enough in his natural environment, he will be taken to a central area of the reserve, away from buildings and people and released to fend for himself. 

 Tiban has become part of the family in more ways than one, with his friendly grunts and mischievous games; and as much as we would like to keep him forever it was always our intention to release him back into the wild; where he belongs! His cheerful little face, and trail of muddy hoof print will forever be missed here at Ubizane, but he will never be forgotten, as he touched each and everyone’s heart in his own special way.  

Heavens Temptation:

Our afternoon high tea is always a tasty affair; Lance our chef made the most delicious Honey Biscuits and was kind enough to share the recipe:   

 Ingredients:

210g Flour

1tsp baking powder

1tbs finely grated orange zest

1tsp cinnamon powder

60g walnuts, finely chopped

60g Butter, softened

55g caster sugar

60ml olive oil

60ml orange juice

Syrup:

75g caster sugar

2tbs honey

1tsp cinnamon powder

2tbs orange juice  

Method: 

Preheat the oven to 180c.

Line a cookie tray with a silicone mat or grease it with spray and cook and prepare it for baking.

Sift the flour and baking powder into a bowl. Mix in the zest, cinnamon and half the walnuts. Cream the butter and sugar in a bowl using electric beaters until pale and fluffy, mix in the oil and orange juice slowly, into the butter mixture, whisking constantly.

Mix in the flour carefully and then bring the dough together with your hands. Shape tablespoons of dough into balls and place on the tray. Flatten slightly and bake for 20-25 minutes until golden. Cool on the tray.

To make the syrup, mix all the ingredients with 60ml of water and the remaining walnuts in a small saucepan. Bring to the boil over a medium heat until the sugar dissolves, then reduce the heat to low and simmer for ten minutes. The syrup will thicken. Using a slotted spoon, dip a few of the biscuits at a time in the hot syrup, use another spoon to baste them. Transfer to an airtight container. 

Splish Splash...

As many of you may know our ostriches have really become part of the family, quite literally. However, we were really surprised as to what one female got up to the other day.

 On Monday the 30^th one of our guests was enjoying a relaxing mid afternoon swim, and didn’t think much of the curious Ostrich’s presence (Those of you who have been to Ubizane know that the ostriches are very inquisitive and are forever milling in everyone’s business).  This time however it seemed it was more than mere curiosity that drew the Ostrich closer and closer to the edge of the pool.  

Clearly the heat had gotten to the Ostrich as well, and she boldly took a step forward and landed with a splash into the pool at Safari Lodge. After a casual swim to the steps of the pool, the drenched ostrich elegantly climbed out the pool and casually strolled away, as if nothing was wrong. This I’m sure you can imagine left our guest in amazement!  

Even though the ostrich may have a brain smaller than its eyeball, it clearly has enough brain capacity to realize when it is getting hot, and that the pool is an ideal place to cool off. Our only concern is that if the ostriches are taking a dip in winter, what are they going to be doing in summer?