Camp Calling - As I write this
letter The Hide has just received 45mm of rain
in the last few days…what a relief! The
nights of the last few months have been filled
with the trumpeting and shrieks of thirsty Elephant
herds battling it out in front of camp for their
chance at the water trough.
Even rare & reclusive Roan Antelope ventured
to our door in broad daylight for a fill and of
course the mighty Buffalo herds of Hwange converge
continuously in clouds of dust. The record is
10 species around the Hide waterhole at once.
The diversity of Hwange remains one of its greatest
attractions – Gemsbok have been spotted
as well as a Red Hartebeest that now thinks it’s
a wildebeest.
One of our regular & avid photographers has
this year’s record for 43 individual sightings
of Lion during a single stay – the feast
of carnivore sightings have included a 2-hour
encounter between lionesses and a sub-adult elephant;
Single Leopard, Cheetah pairs and a pack of 19
Wild Dog; Hyena attempting to pull down Kudu at
first light…
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Water! - Many will have heard of
the water problems in Hwange, and factually relatively
low numbers of animals have expired from the heat
and lack of water.
However on a very positive note, tremendous and
generous effort and finances from concerned “Friends
of Hwange” worldwide has resulted in thousands
of litres of diesel being given to National Parks
to keep the key waterholes operating. Special
mention must be made of Johnny Rodriguez who initiated
the urgent plea and personally has sourced and
driven in over 15,000 litres.
The Hide is privileged to be assisting in the
distribution of this ongoing and critical water
supply management in Hwange in addition to the
4 waterholes we are already maintaining in our
specific area.
Exciting news is that a trust has been formed
called “FRIENDS OF HWANGE” which will
encourage and properly manage funding from all
interested parties in water supply of key waterholes
in Hwange for the long term. For more information
please contact Beck Edwards
on beck@thehide.com
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What Do The
Guests Say?
-Good day, just to let you
know that we had the most wonderful trip at the
Hide. Our American friends reckon it was one of
their most memorable travel experiences ever,
which is a fantastic reflection on the Hide, as
they are very well travelled.
So thanks very much, we definitely will be returning!!
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New Roads – Barry and son have done some
hard work for a change and sweated the days out
in making some new loop roads in and around Kennedy1
and Kennedy2 waterholes – well done Barry!
National Parks gave us the go ahead and we’re
thrilled to have the variation for clients especially
in the acacia forests close to Kennedy 2 where
the dappled light and thick forest offer an enchanting
drive-through and walking experience!
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Christmas & New Year – well sorry
I’ve offered you this lovely cerise pink
and not traditional Christmas colours –
how else could I get you to read our newsletter!
It’s going to be a superb family time with
all you lucky guests joining us in camp for December
and January; and Christmas & New Year meals
are going to be a real feast!
As we think of, and hopefully give to those less
fortunate than ourselves at this time, I was encouraged
by the following: -
“It is one of the most beautiful compensations
of this life that no man can sincerely try to
help another without helping himself”
– Ralph Waldo Emerson -
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