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Newsletter February 2002
Dear All
Another year has come and gone and we would like to
take this opportunity to thank you all for your support
and assistance. Without you we would not be where we
are today. Our success is a direct attribute of your
input and a working relationship that has blossomed
over the years. We look forward to many more happy years
working with you all.
Reflecting back to a truly festive Christmas and New
Year, we had a full camp of fun loving people who all
participated in our annual Christmas initiative day.
Divided into 3 equal teams, each with their own guide,
landrover, instructions, they had to complete numerous
tasks, answer many written questions, complete some
barely possible missions in a set time, in order not
to be awarded the notorious booby prize. It brought
out the best in all involved, and was hours of good
clean fun for everyone. Outward bound or Survivor has
nothing on this. The incriminating photo evidence will
be on Auction soon. Highest bid secures. Only USD cash
accepted.
We had a good start to our rainy season, however our
initial excitement is slowly turning into a dismal realisation
that we might be experiencing the worst rainy season
we have had for several years. More rain fell in February
2001 than our total rain for this year to date. The
grass is prematurely drying out and there is no surface
water left over from the rains. The National Parks stopped
pumping their waterholes in anticipation of good rains.
Their waterholes in our area are all dry resulting in
large number of animals coming to drink at The Hide's
pan everyday. The elephant are still coming to drink
in the hundreds. One day as we sat on the verandah having
afternoon tea with our guests we counted 8 different
animal species & I I different bird species around
the waterhole all at one time. We had 3 of the "Big
5" drinking at the same time, elephant on the left,
buffalo, on the right and a mother leopard with her
two cubs in the middle.
The Zebra. Wildebeest, Impala & Warthog had an
exceptionally good birth rate with young ones running
around everywhere, but we have also had an unusually
high number of very active predators whom have successfully
wiped out most of theses young.
With 13 wild dog in the Mhlope pack, and 15 in the
Situli pack, and I I in another unnamed nomadic pack,
we witnessed the daily reduction in the young impala
population. We witnessed 3 baby impala killed in separate
incidents in one day.
We have the privilege of observing the 4 prides of
Lion that frequent our area. The 4 prides have a total
of 14 cubs ranging from 5 months to 10 months old, between
them. It has been interesting watching the mums teach
their young the art of hunting. Their blunders have
been so funny.
Another unusual sighting has been a very proud Leopard
mum showing off her two playful cubs during the early
evening. Sadly we have recently noticed that mum only
has one cub now and suspect our massive resident male
leopard as the culprit for eliminating the young male
cub. Our massive male openly struts around in broad
daylight "sawing wood" & making his presence
well known. Our guests witnessed him standing his ground
at the waters edge as a whole herd of elephant came
to drink. The arrogant cat would not budge, not even
after-finishing having his fill. The elephant gave him
a wide berth, drinking to his left and right.
In general it has been wall to wall action ... Who
needs a TV? This is reality TV in the flesh.
We look forward to hosting your clients and making
sure they enjoy the "Ultimate Wildlife Experience".
The Hide is very honored to have been awarded Best
Safari Camp in 2001 by AZTA.
All the best from the "Bush Happy" Hide Staff
Best wishes from all at "THE HIDE"
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