Barn Owl chicks rehabilitating at Ubizane

On Thursday morning the Ubizane team found four Barn Owl chicks in one of the Tree Lodge rooms.  Our first instinct was to search the area for signs of entry to ensure their mother hadn’t been entering and giving them food.  Unfortunately we realised that these chicks were placed there by their mother by entering in a gap that was closed a few days ago.  Sadly this meant that these poor chicks have been without food for almost three days!  Three of the chicks are about five weeks old with the smallest only about two weeks old.  We suspect there were two batches of eggs that hatched because of two empty eggs found in the nest and the varying sizes of the chicks.  The Ubizane team have decided to bring these chicks back to health until they are ready to survive in the wild.  We feed them raw meat every day to ensure they become stronger.

One of the older chicks and the baby chick being held by a staff member

 

Feeding raw mince to the smallest of the lot

Ubizane staff feeding the little ones

It is hard to believe that these fluffy little fragile creatures grow into the beautiful Barn Owl, one of the most gracious birds of prey.  We are excited to keep you posted on the progress!

Ubizane’s new Social Media Administrator!

Meet Ettioné Ferreira, the 23 year old photojournalist ready to spice things up with Ubizane’s online presence!  We sat down with her to get a deeper insight into her world.

Where are you originally from?

I come from Grahamstown in the Eastern Cape originally but moved to Pietermaritzburg in January with family.  So I’m still a newbie in Kwazulu-Natal.

What inspired you to join the Ubizane family?

I have always loved the wildlife and growing up in a town surrounded by game lodges such as Kariega Game Reserve, Shamwari, Pumba, etc. it was hard not to fall in love with nature.  When I saw the job opening and saw how beautiful it was at Ubizane, I couldn’t resist taking it up.  Best decision of my life!

What do you enjoy most about your job?

I get to take photos of this beautiful reserve and people enjoying nature.  It’s also really interesting and most of it is creative work which is awesome!  I also love working with New Media and its challenges after studying it for so long.

Do you enjoy living in the bush?

It’s a very new territory for me, especially the snakes and strange insects that make appearances but I’m enjoying it much more than I expected. Don’t know how I will ever learn to cope with living in a city again!

On those busy days with a thousand things to get done…what gets you through the day?

My iPod, coffee (and I mean the good stuff like Filter coffee or Nescafe), my Ubizane family and taking 5 minutes to snap some photos

Which animals have you enjoyed most so far?

The babies…baby giraffe, baby Zebra, baby monkeys, baby Nyala…they’re just too cute for words!

Tell us a bit more about yourself?

I studied journalism & media studies at Rhodes University graduating with a four year B.Journ degree and a year doing a Post Graduate Diploma in Media Management and yet the five years of studying  still couldn’t prepare me for living in the bush haha.  I do archery…but refuse to do bowhunting or any other hunting. I love animals and cry when they’re hurt – which is a little embarrassing. 
If you’d like to get to know me better just follow our Facebook page and keep reading the blog!

In loving memory of Shimba:

For many years, Shimba has not only been a part of the Ubizane family but she has managed to touch each and every staff member in her own special way. It is with a heavy heart that we say goodbye to our tame, but still wild common grey Duiker. 

Shimba, on one of her many visits up at Staff Quarters.

Life at Ubizane will be a bit different for a while, without her constant presence, although Shimba can never be replaced, we are comforted by the thought of spotting her last born baby; and in loving memory of Shimba, we named her Shimbaba.

Shimba receiving some tasty treats, while her baby
Shimbaba watches from a distance.

Rest in peace Shimba, you will forever be missed, but never forgotten! 

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.