XAKANAXA NEWS
- August 2011
Returning migrant birds and hippos in camp
Hippo have made camp appearances even in daylight, which have been welcome, but do keep the camp staff on their toes! Bushbuck are so relaxed at the Camp, that guests almost have to knee them out of the path, unless when they want to take a picture, then they move away quite promptly! Some females are pregnant again, which will be a delight for our guests, once they have given birth. Sadly, four have recently been killed and eaten by baboons.
The weather is slowly improving and has started warming up, but there was a day or two when a quick cold spell returned with a chilly wind making guests once again wrap up warmly and request hot water bottles once again be slipped into their beds before they turned in for the night.
However, the signs of spring are there, with the Migratory birds having arrived early this year, which is great for our birding enthusiasts. Carmine Bee-eaters and Red- headed Weavers have been seen in large numbers and are already very active. An Ashy Tit Flycatcher has been seen in camp along with a Collared Sunbird. Geoff Lockwood, a well-known ornithologist, was most excited to have seen a Scarlet-chested Sunbird in the area recently. Water birds have also been seen in good numbers, even though water levels are slowly dropping.
Flowers are appearing on the trees such as Knobthorns, Candlepods, Camelthorns and Sausage trees, bringing the bush to life with their different colours and scents. The Jackalberry trees have been a big draw card to various species, who enjoy eating the fruit that this time of year brings.
Our resident female leopard should produce cubs sometime soon having been seen mating this past month. Lion have been moving over larger distances and have been heard rather than seen. Wild dogs have also been seen less frequently and this maybe because they are expanding their territory, seeing that they have been in the area for the past couple of months.
Elephant numbers have been super and the herds with tiny calves have been calm with the vehicles close at hand. They have also caused great excitement on the afternoon boat cruises, as they have been seen playing in the water and crossing the channels.
There are three new routes which have been opened by the DWNP, due to some roads being underwater.
A wonderful improvement is that the Department of Wildlife have opened new roads in both scenic and good game viewing areas. This has resulted in there no longer being any restriction in the range of game drive areas, due to high water levels, resulting in the closure of some roads that were underwater. 4th Bridge and other areas are now once again accessible.
Herewith details for self drive clients.
- Turn off by Paradise Pools and drive through some super scenery to the new Airstrip. Game need to get used to new vehicle activity there, which will come with time. It is mostly Mopane woodland, but nice.
- From the new Airstrip go down to the end of the clearing and then through the sandy zone to the road opposite the weather station, which goes past a pan.
- Turn off from the new Airstrip onto the road that passes by the water near 4th Bridge and continuous to the Bodumatau road. It is however very sandy in places.
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Newsletter Archive
January/ February 2012 :: February 2012 :: view
Veronica Roodt in Moremi Game Reserve :: December 2011 :: view
CAUSE AN UPROAR! :: November 2011 :: view
New Xakanaxa representation :: October 2011 :: view
A near 'deadly experience' :: September 2011 :: view
Returning migrant birds and hippos in camp :: August 2011 :: view
Rising water, stargazing and aborted landings! :: July 2011 :: view
Sable, baboons, Pels and leopard :: June 2011 :: view
Lion, wild dog, leopard and cheetah :: May 2011 :: view
A new pool, sitatungas and cheetah :: April 2011 :: view
