The Count is On! (Part Two)

The deeper we went into Ubizane the worse the roads became. That Landy looked like Elvis, rockin’ and rollin’ while battling through some very small spaces.  Luckily I got over my claustrophobia a long time ago! While tensing our eyes looking for any sign of movement or animals next to us we suddenly looked up with the tall...gigantic...Giraffe standing right in front of the Land Rover! We couldn’t help but laugh at our own stupidity for almost missing these massive creatures right in front of us! So Hamilton called out the number of males, females and youngsters for me after analysing them carefully while I wrote all our findings down.  We were slowly but surely making progress.

Giraffe were closer than expected!

Another interesting creature we met on our road while counting the game, was a big, furry Cane Rat.  Rats aren’t really the most gracious or most beautiful animals but these Cane Rats are just too cute! They are huge with little crooked teeth and fluffy fur. I enjoyed seeing this interesting friend. Now on the other hand if I saw him in my house at night – maybe I wouldn’t enjoy his presence as much!

A Cane Rat

At one point we went down a road that, to me, looked like a game trail rather than an actual road! We counted some Wildebeest and saw a few hiding Nyala.  With an overgrown trail (I’m calling it a trail because roads are different in my mind) we bundu bashed into the bush. Leaves were flying everywhere and I was covered in branches and plants, so much so that I could probably start my own garden in the Landy! Hammy laughed as I cringed and ducked for oncoming Acacia thorn branches.  As we came to a stop in an open area where the trail connected to a road which I perceive as a REAL road, I realised the Landy was a little heavier than usual. I did not know if I wanted to look back...maybe a Wildebeest decided to join the party or it could have been my worst fear – a gigantic spider on steroids! This is Zululand after all where ANYTHING is possible! After plucking up the courage I looked behind me and there it was...a massive tree branch – the size of pretty much HALF THE TREE stuck in the row of seats behind me. So I explained the situation to Hamilton in the only way I saw fitting, “Ah Hammy you shouldn’t have! Normal men give a bunch of roses...not half a tree!”

 After driving for hours with the sun piercing through my pale skin, we were finally confident that we covered as many animals in our designated area and went back to Tree Lodge.  It was important to go through your designated area as many times as possible before calling it a day.  It helped to use landmarks such as a certain odd looking tree, etc. to ensure that game weren’t counted more than once. It is also easy to get lost in the endless bush so we were all equipped with a handy Ubizane map which we also used to mark and pinpoint the animals’ locations. 

 

Hammy looks over the Ubizane grounds to see if he can spot any herds
and to plan our next route...

While driving back I realised how dirty my pants were, not only with leaves covering it but also from pen marks. Driving in a shaking Land Rover with an open pen shaking around in your hand with beige-white pants – not the greatest idea.  It is now decorated in blue Vincent Van Gogh style stripes to remind me every day of my fun outing during the game count!  The end of our journey also brought about another critter which I did not appreciate as much as Hamilton did; a small jumping spider.  Yes, I do live in the bush and this should not faze me but unfortunately for me I really dislike these small eight-legged beasts. This little critter knew I disliked him and kept jumping back on me – and I admit; I did let out a girlish squeal every time it landed back on me! Hamilton enjoyed it very much, for him it was like an episode from his favourite comedy.  I just want to add this spider continuously made his way back to me after countless attempts of trying to get rid of him every time for the whole journey back to the lodge!  He’s probably still awaiting my return to the Land Rover since that fateful day...

Upon return at the lodge I ran for my lunch and water realising that we were gone from 10am until 2:30pm! We counted again for two days after the first trip and I can now say I’m a pro at game count and I am ready for the next one next year!

10 Tips to get you through your first Game Count!

 Here are a few tips that I picked up from my experience which might help you one day if you are asked to help in a game count on a wildlife reserve:

1. Use sun block... a lot
2. Wear a hat & sunglasses
3. Wash your face when you get back to the lodge...people tend to laugh at your red dirt-filled face
4. Don’t leave your pen-cap off while driving in a Land Rover – I drew on myself without even knowing
5. In fact (following point nr. 4) don’t wear white or light beige pants!
6. Look in front of you as well as to the sides to avoid catching a fright with a massive unseen Giraffe suddenly appearing right in front of the Land Rover
7. Get over your fear of spiders – you might get a follower like my jumping friend
8. Eat breakfast before you go!
9. Remember to pack a water bottle filled with fresh water
10. Keep your eyes open and find those animals! 

©Ettioné Ferreira

  

Talons of Power

Our fascination with Barn Owls have been evident these past couple of weeks after our discovery of little Barn Owl chicks abandoned by their mother, in a Tree Lodge Room.  We have been hand-raising these magical creatures in an effort to keep them alive and rehabilitate them to become the self-sufficient birds of prey they ought to be.  One of our goals of keeping these birds around is for educational purposes. We want to educate people on the instincts and habits of these birds and why they are so valuable in eco-systems.  One of the many interesting things that we have noticed about these beautiful birds is their powerful talons (claws).

 The talons have an immense strength, and it is used to crush the skull of their prey.  We have definitively seen the evidence of this in our Barn Owls.  They grab the food out of our hands with their talons sometimes instead of their beaks.  Then they start bashing the food onto the ground continuously.  They stomp their feet and start hissing revealing their aggressive nature when there is food involved.

 They also use these talons to fight off enemies. When noticing a threat, they start stomping their feet and hiss to try and intimidate the enemy. They also stand up straight and ‘puff’ out their feathers to appear larger in size for intimidation purposes. It is a captivating process to witness. When finally eating their prey, they tear off chunks by clasping to the prey with their talons while the beak pulls and tears.  These pieces then gets swallowed whole because of their lack of teeth. The food is broken down by powerful stomach fluids.  They later regurgitate the indigestible pieces such as bone and fur in a similar way as a cat would get rid of ‘hair/fur balls’.

 It is interesting to know that prey is believed to be killed by mostly the bashing against the floor as well as suffocation from the strong clench of the talons rather than the peck of the beak.

 On your next visit to Ubizane, be sure to ask our Lodge Managers to view these magnificent birds!

Safari Bring & Braai night

Last night, 30 March 2013, in the spirit of Easter SafariBoma hosted a “Meet you Neighbor” Bring and Braai for all Safari guests. This was the first time this year that we have done a Bring & Braai and it proved to be a very interesting night.  After sending out flyers to all Safari rooms to inform them of the Braai we prepared for a great evening. 

We made two delicious salads for safari guests  to enjoy as part of their meal; one potato salad and one Greek salad.   The salad was enjoyed by all and some went back for seconds and even thirds!

 Three braai’s were set up with grills, ready for guests to use and a bonfire in the middle of the boma was lit up to create a campfire atmosphere.  Walking through the Boma it was a sight of parents chatting away and children gathering over a fire roasting their marshmallows. Wayne, our Lodge Manager, even had to help a few to master the art of roasting!

 The Braai was a success with memories of campfire stories and the smell of burning charcoal and wood still lingering in our thoughts.  The event fit in perfectly in the Bush and will definitively be a favourite for staff and guests this year.

 The Braai is a way for guests to mingle and get to know each other in a truly South African way.

 So if you are at Zululand Safari Lodge during one of these organized Braai’s be sure to head down to the Boma for an unforgettable evening!