MANAGERS REPORT

Dear Friends and Colleagues

A deluge of rain has fallen since the last Report; we have had over 100mm in the course of November, filling the dams and pans thorough out the Reserve. The early downpours have seen an early dropping of the Impala Lambs, a beautiful time out here in the bush.

The summer heat is building, and on many afternoons we see the building of clouds in the west, promising more rain with the advent of late afternoon thunder storms. Temperatures have already reached the high thirty degree mark and it is not long before the thermometer will tip the scale at over forty. The early morning drives are a pleasant experience, getting back to Camp again before the temperatures become too warm. The heat of the day is spent in and out of the private plunge pools, situated on the deck of each Suite, and the comfort of the air-conditioning brings a welcome relief. The tranquillity of the day is only interrupted by the occasional animal passing on its way too or from the waterhole, or even approaching one of the pools to quench its thirst. It is not an uncommon event for us to have to replenish the water in some of these pools while our Guests are having lunch, due to the fact that elephants have drank most of the content in one session. As the afternoon temperature begins to dissipate, we head off out into the bush again for the evening Safari, ending with dinner served in the Boma under the stars, or up on the main deck where a welcome breeze can be a welcome relief after a hot day in the African Bush.

So Many Familiar Faces back in the Bush with us this month.

It was wonderful to see Tom and Enid Taylor back with us during the month, officially our most regular Guests at the Lodge, great spending some time with you both again.

We also enjoyed the company of Johan Priz and Wilma Koevoet at the end of the month, great to see you back again, look forward to the same time same place next year. Also Doug Seymour paid us a visit again as did J B and Sherry Williams, and finally Robert and Els, so great to see you all again.

A Couple of Couples tied the knot.

We hosted two very special weddings at Leopard Hills this month. Firstly on the 4th of November Mr. and Mrs. Gower tied the knot, congratulations Nick and Linda, it was a very special day, and despite the weather, could not have been a more beautiful ceremony.

 

 

A week later on the 11th of November we had the privilege of hosting the wedding of Tony and Sam Gore, and again the weather played its hand, we had to hastily move off the upper pool deck ten minutes before the ceremony was due to take place, credit to Louise and her Team in making alternative arrangements so timelessly. 

 

 

An Unexpected Delivery

On the 14th of November the day started the same as always, and ended with Louise and I having witnessed something extraordinary. For those of you who are regular visitors to our weblog, you will have read the full article on the day it happened, if not, click here for the full story and pictures .

Staff

As we head towards the end of the year, we say goodbye to Lisa who has been with us for three years, carrying out the vital function of Teacher at the Leopard Hills School and covering the afternoon reception duties. Many of you will remember Lisa taking the dinner orders in the Library prior to the afternoon drives. We thank her for her efforts and wish her well in her future endeavours.

In Lisa’s place we welcome Marlise to the Team and wish her many years of happiness in her new role.

Community Development

The Jeremiah Crèche has been going from strength to strength since we opened it earlier this year and it is so pleasing to see how well the children are progressing in the new facility. We are gearing up for the end of year Christmas Party at the Crèche which will take place on December 5th, we will report back in the Dec Report with feedback and pictures of the event.

We are also planning ahead for next year and some exciting new projects on the cards, we look forward to increasing our responsibility in the Community and will keep you posted on developments as and when they happen.

I would like to make a special mention of Leanne, Angie and Rosanna who carted a huge suite case all the way from distant shores, full of presents to hand out to the children at Jeremiah, it was a wonderful thing to do, and the children had such a fun day, thanks from us all. The pictures below attest to the fun had by all.

 

 

Until next time.

Duncan and Louise Rodgers
Operations Director and General Manager

RANGERS REPORT

We have had another amazing month of game viewing at Leopard Hills. After receiving our first big rains of the year, more than 100 mm, and the African bush has transformed into a lush green paradise.
We have had an early Christmas present in the form of the pack of 8 wild dogs returning at the end of the month.

Leopard

Seeing mating leopard must rank as one of the greatest experiences on safari anywhere in Africa. In the last month we were fortunate enough to see 2 different pairs mating. For our guests and guides this was truly a remarkable experience. Spending time with the ultimate predator is a life changing experience for anyone.

Another phenomenal sighting was of the Hlaba Nkunzi female leopard. She killed a massive impala close to camp late one evening. The following morning Gary and I went back to the sighting and found not only her, but also the Tekwaan male leopard at the kill.
Both leopards were lying on the ground, when the Hlaba Nkunzi female suddenly started circling the male leopard. With submissive behavior and sounds she kept on circling until see was only meters away from the male. Suddenly the male jumped up and chased her for several hundred metres.

Returning to the sighting that afternoon we found 2 hyenas continuously harassing the leopards. In true gentleman style the Tekwaan male jumped into the nearest Marula Tree, but the Hlaba Nkunzi female showed no fear. The first hyena approached her and with a swift clip to the hyena’s ear she sent the 2 hyenas running away, looking for something a little easier to confront.

Lion

One day Gary and Hannes followed 2 of the 6 Mapogo male lions for most of their morning safari. The 2 lions were following the oldest female in the Ximungwe pride of lions. Watching them drinking water and hearing them roar twice was a great experience for their guests.

On the same day around lunch time our guests had a sighting of the two female lions of the Sand River Pride chasing an adult male lion in front of the lodge.

The male lion retreated back east very quickly and the females moved off in the opposite direction. That afternoon they found the 2 male lions devouring a massive kudu bull. Even though the Mapogo male lions do most of their own hunting, they were sure that the kill was stolen from the Sand River females. The 2 females must have killed the kudu earlier in the day and the males heard them and their 5 male youngsters feeding off the kill.

At least 3 members of the Mapogo male lion coalition spend most of the month in our traversing area. We are still awaiting the arrival of new lion cubs. At least one female from both our prides has been mated with.

Wild Dog

On a morning safari in the last couple of days of the month we got a call from the East that a pack of 8 wild dogs had crossed into our property.

After an extensive search by some of my fellow guides the call came over the radio that the dogs had been located. My guests and I went south as soon as the dogs were found. When we got to the sighting it was quite late in the morning and the dogs were already lying in thick bush.

That afternoon we went back to the dogs and as soon as we arrived the dogs got mobile. We followed them as they ran through the bush in search of potential prey. Then suddenly the pack split up and 3 adults and one pup went west and the rest of the pack headed east. An adult female spotted a duiker antelope and after a burst of speed caught the small antelope. After a couple of minutes all the dogs were back and after securing the area they all started to feed. What followed was a feeding frenzy.

 

Cheetah

Another month of great cheetah sightings, we were also lucky to see the male cheetah on kills on at least 2 occasions. All of the sightings were from the Southern Part of our traversing area.

Elephant

For only the second time in the last 5 years that I have been guiding in the Western Sector of the Sabi Sand game Reserve were we fortunate to see a herd of more than 300 elephants. A herd of elephants numbering so many individuals only occur when most of our herds get together for a period of time.

My guests and I watched a herd of about 30 elephants all feeding on the banks of the Sand River. Three of the small bull calves were play fighting around our vehicle and after a call from the matriarch the whole herd crossed the river in front of us.

Rhino

We have had another month of great rhino sightings. The crash of 7 rhinos is still together and we see them on a regular basis. Also in the last month we have had several sightings of rhino in the Northern part of our traversing area.

 

Buffalo

Although the big herd of Cape buffalo were absent in the last month we still saw buffalo on a regular basis. In the Northern part of our traversing area is a small herd of buffalo numbering more than 30 individuals that were seen on many occasions.

Specials

In the last month we have had 2 incredible sightings both involving jackal. My guests and I watched 2 black-backed jackals doing battle with more than 7 vultures over the remains of an old elephant carcass. The 2 jackals first chased each other around and when the dominance hierarchy got established by the jackals the battle with the vultures began.

The second jackal sighting involved 2 side-striped jackals and a massive African Rock python. Raymond and his guests watched in awe as the 2 jackals were trying to protect their den site from the massive snake. The male jackal even went as far grabbing the snake by the tail and pulling it away from the den site.

Kind Regards

Marius Coetzee and the Leopard Hills rangers.