A Walk Down Safari Lodge Memory Lane...

Today marks Zululand Safari Lodge’s 43th birthday! It opened its doors for business on 15 October 1970 for the first time, changing the future of Ubizane Reserve forever. In co-operation with Cape Hotels Group, Safari Lodge was established and realized Norman Deane’s dream for the beautiful reserve to become a tourist destination.

Back in those days, Safari Lodge had a very different look and feel to it.  As the only lodge on the reserve, it had a dining room, cocktail bar and 42 double rooms.  Safari Lodge also had two boma’s – one for dining and one for Zulu dancing.  Today we still have the one boma which we use as a dining venue. The dining room and bar has been moved to Tree Lodge as the main restaurant. 

Ownership has shifted tremendously throughout the years moving from private ownership to leisure companies such as Sun International and the Three Cities Group, and then back to private ownership again.  With each owner bringing their unique atmosphere to Ubizane, Safari Lodge soon became a popular tourist destination. 

 The Three Cities Group owned Ubizane until 2009 with the group consisting of the main investors from three different cities; Mark Taylor, Mike Harrison, Robert Maingard and Alan Burke.

In 2009, one of the Three Cities investors, Mr. Alan Burke, saw the potential of Ubizane Wildlife Reserve. Ubizane was in desperate need at that stage for renovation and a make-over.  Mr. Burke bought out all the shares for Ubizane Wildlife Reserve in December 2009 and renovations began in 2010. 

Now, three years later, Safari Lodge (and the whole of Ubizane) is still under Mr. Burke’s ownership and has been showing remarkable progress as rooms have been beautifully refurbished and a team works hard every day to keep the original dream of Norman Deane alive. 

If you have any photographs of Safari Lodge throughout the years, send them to social@ubizane.co.za and we’ll post it into our “memory lane” album on Facebook.

New Home for the Barn Owls

Our beautiful Barn Owls that we have hand raised have finally found a new home! We built an aviary especially for them and a new project we have decided to tackle.  Ubizane is proudly entering the world of bird rehabilitation and we invite the public to bring any birds of prey that needs rehabilitation to our brand new aviary! Email: social@ubizane.co.za for more information about this exciting new project!

 We went from an open patch of grass with only a few poles to a full aviary in only a couple of weeks time.

The Release over the weekend:

Feel free to come visit our two Barn Owls and get to know these birds of prey better! 

A Month with Barn Owls

From ugly ducklings to beautiful swans, it’s been a month of caring for our little wise owls and they’re still going strong!  Our Barn Owl chicks have almost lost all their down (fluff) and are now covered with interesting brown, white and grey feathers with small black spotted detail.  It’s a wonderful sight as we’ve watched them grow over the last few weeks. We have been used to small fluffy birds that looked like cotton balls and now we have big strong birds of prey with striking feathers.  They have been catching mice with the help of traps set by the Ubizane team in an effort to teach them to deal with their prey as it would present itself in the wild.  It is always hard, as a human with no clue of what is going on in the mind of an animal, to rehabilitate and try teaching them how to become wild and follow their instincts. However we have seen these birds find their natural grounds as they show more and more of their natural instincts every day.  We are starting to recognise facial structures in the birds that make each one unique which makes the connection we feel towards these small, incredible creatures stronger and stronger every day.  It is an amazing transformation that has just reminded us of how wonderful wildlife really is and why it is so important to conserve it. 

The heart-shaped faces of our Barn Owls.

We had to place the owls on a cardboard service because their claws slide on the slippery table when we feed them.  

Barn Owls are different to normal owls not only with their heart-shaped face appearances but also because of the sounds they make.  Other owls make “hooting” sounds whereas Barn Owls only make a hissing or screeching noise.  During the time we have spent with them we have experienced these sounds first hand and realised that they have a peculiar way of intimidating their enemies.  They hiss at enemies while standing up straight and puffing their feathers to make their bodies appear bigger.  They then make circular movements with their heads.  It has been very interesting viewing these owls and we are looking forward to keep witnessing these magnificent birds of prey.

April is Prevention of cruelty to animals month!

April is Prevention of Animal Cruelty month and Ubizane likes to support the cause! We would like to inform the public on how it is not only domestic animals suffering from cruelty.  The wildlife has been put in the line of fire and some species risking extinction if humans carry on destroying at this rate.  We have compiled a few facts to spread awareness of how much damage wildlife conservation is suffering. 

   Speeding Kills.  

Normally this would be an AA ad to prevent human loss but what most of us forget is that speed also kills a lot of our wildlife every year. 

Thousands of reptiles get killed on roads in South Africa every year because it’s hard to see a small creature walking over the road when you are driving speedily to your destination.  When in areas with long grasses on the side of the road, try be extra vigilant about what’s going on, on the road.  There might just be a snake sneaking over the road or a tortoise slowly making his way across.
The larger animals are a lot harder to miss when crossing the road but if you speed, there’s a big chance you can kill the animal as well as endanger yourself.  Larger antelope and animals, such as Kudu are known to jump in front of cars during early morning hours and late at night.  They jump high enough to jump fences easily so if you’re in an area with a lot of wildlife during those hours, make sure you drive slower to ensure you have time to stop for the animals crossing the road.

    Report animal abuse

If you witness someone harming any wildlife, report it.  It’s the only way you can prevent it from happening again.  You can get in contact with the local SPCA and if they cannot help you, you can ask them the contact details of the nearest Wildlife Conservationist. 

    Rubbish!

The worst habit some of us have is to simply throw a paper wrapper, empty can or bottle or an empty plastic bag out the window or in the water when nearby a river, dam or the ocean.   This is the easiest way of damaging not only the environment but also endanger animals who do not know what the foreign objects are.  Animals can eat the plastic and choke on it and fish can get entangled in bags.  So the golden rule is to never throw rubbish on the ground and rather keep it until you can find a rubbish bin.
 

   Don’t feed animals

It is sometimes hard not to feed a helpless little creature but in actual fact you are disturbing the natural ways of living for the creature.  If there’s a monkey in your area, don’t feed him and make him used to eating at your house, off foods that he might not normally get.  One day you will stop feeding and when that happens the animal won’t know how to find its own food.  This goes for birds as well.  If you have a bird feeder in your garden, you either keep feeding the birds or don’t feed them at all.  When you forget to feed them, they will not know where to find other resources of foods and might suffer because of this.  The best thing to do for any animal rather than feeding them, if you want to help, is to build a pond with a water source for them.  Water is always something that all animals need.  If you can make a pond in your area, make sure it has a constant source of water and doesn’t dry up in summer or freeze in winter. 

     Minimize amount of herbicides and pesticides

Poison might be good to keep the pests away but not all animals are pests.  Remember that animals – any animal – can eat the poison that you spread outside and it is just as dangerous to them as the pest that you’re trying to keep out.  Try to minimize your use of these poisons and spread it responsibly where other animals will be safe from it.

If you have any other tips for April’s Prevention of cruelty to animals month, feel free to comment on this blog to inform readers on more handy tips!

From City Madness to Serene Nature

Yesterday we drove from Pietermaritzburg to Ubizane Wildlife Reserve for four hours which proved to be well worth it! At the gate I was greeted by a friendly guard who contacted the reception to let them know I have arrived.  Leaving the gate, entering the beautiful property the first sight I had the privilege to see was the long necked giraffes, eating a few leaves while staring curiously at the new visitor. 

Reception was just as beautiful and peaceful as the rest of the reserve with small water fountains to create an ambiance of serenity whilst the friendly receptionist, Bongani, welcomed me at the front desk.  I was offered a warm towel and a warm cup of hot chocolate for refreshment after the long drive.  It was clear that I was going to be spoiled well at Ubizane - a perfect place to rest the soul from the busy, stressful life in the city. 

After checking in, I was on route to Safari Lodge where I would be staying for the evening.  The hut-shaped chalets (“rondawels”) blend in perfectly with the Zululand area and the safari theme.  The area contains a swimming pool and a bar area.  There is also a restaurant and entertainment area which looks perfect for functions where you want a fun evening in a bush environment.  I can just imagine how this area lights up with laughter and the sound of splashing water during the summer times by the pool. 

Showing me the area was the hospitable general manager, Natascha Pienaar who explained about how the animals are very relaxed and peaceful.  I was also warned not to keep windows or doors open to defer monkeys from making their way into the room for their favourite treat; sugar packets stacked next to the kettle.  Inside, the room was transformed into a magical calm space with white and brown interior design.  Making it extra special to me was the leaves and Frangipani flowers scattered on the bed and in the bathroom, reminding me of nature’s presence in every corner of Ubizane.

After unpacking and settling in I sat on the porch watching Zebra and Nyala grazing in the area.  I decided to go closer and carefully walked over, expecting them to run away with every step I make.  To my surprise the Nyala were unaware of human presence as they stood only two metres away without running.  It is something you never think you would experience in your life! I never imagined I could be standing so close to a wild animal without it being scared.  The Zebra were not as trusting of me and I suspect it was because of the young one they had in the herd that they wanted to protect.  I still can’t believe they were so close to me. 

Dinner time came at 7pm and I was surprised at Tree Lodge restaurant by a five star buffet which was filled with foods for all tastes.  Again pleasant staff members filled the area with welcoming smiles to make me feel like I’m part of their family.  The food was delicious and the staff served it with a hospitality that is hard to find in the depressing city life.  Some staff members took a few moments to get acquainted with the guests and chatted like friends would.  It looks like the type of place you make friends that always stay close to your heart. After dinner I returned to my room with an amazing star filled sky, with the milky-way brighter than ever.  It was finally time for some rest and it was the best night’s rest I have had in a really long time.

The breakfast once again made me feel like I was eating for ten people.  A buffet with continental breakfast, yogurts, fruits, eggs, bacon, and many more started my day fresh and fully nourished.  You can’t help but get out of the right side of the bed if you know what is waiting for you here!  It’s not just the food putting a smile on your face but also the staff greeting you and asking about your nights rest.  It felt like I knew everyone personally and entered the day with excitement and in good spirit.  After my breakfast I went to take a better look at the Tree lodge.  These rooms are absolutely stunning and completely original.  With the feeling of staying in a tree house, I have to say it’s very interesting and magical.  I just cannot wait for my next visit to this wonderland and will hopefully have a longer stay.

If you want to get spoiled and meet wonderful people – and animals, this is the place to come to! When you leave Ubizane it is assured that you will feel sad to leave a family and a second home-away-from-home behind.  

Impala bucks staring curiously outside Safari Lodge at Ubizane Wildlife Reserve. ©Ettione Ferreira

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! 

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! *

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.