February 2005 Sanctuary Talking
GENERAL NEWS
FLOODS
The 2004 flood was the biggest flood in 20 years, with the huge volume of water attracting unprecedented concentrations of mammals and bird life. The Delta was turned into a water wonderland of shimmering channels and lagoons, many of which were covered in beautiful water lilies. Much of the floodwater is still around in the larger channels and lagoons that are invariably dry by this time of year, having also been boosted slightly by the summer rains. Although there have not been good rains in Angola (the source of the Delta water) this summer, the 2005 floods already pushing through at the Panhandle in the north of the Delta should add to this to ensure another good season. Although the current water flow is not nearly as high as 2004, the Delta geographic dynamics generally have a ‘memory' of 3 – 5 years, giving a good indication that direction and dispersion of the headwaters will be very similar to last year. In other words, there should be water in the same places, but not as much.
Essentially therefore we can look forward to a great game and bird-viewing winter, with the headwaters due to reach the Chief's Camp area in May. This may well change – updates will be forthcoming!
INDABA 2005
Sanctuary Lodges & Camps will be at Indaba, stand 023, ICC representing East & Southern Africa from 07 - 10 May 2005 and would like to meet with you. Lynne Butler, Joanne Beatt and Trevor Carnaby will be available for Southern Africa appointments while Ryan Powell and Brian Gardiner will be available for East Africa appointments. Should you wish to make an appointment to learn more about these exclusive and luxurious lodges and camps please contact Ryan at rpowell@sanctuarylodges.com or on +27 11 781 1497.
Appointments
Pamela Nhari based at Stanley 's Camp has been appointed the Community Liason Officer for the Stanley's and Baines' Camp NG32 community concession.
Ishmael and Julia have joined the Stanley 's management team in mid-January. We welcome them and look forward to a long and happy relationship with them. They have settled in very well and we have achieved a lot already since their time here. We now have a solid and stable team formidable enough to tackle and achieve our set objectives this year.
Elephant Outreach 2004 - Update
 The first excursions for community children have been underway with regard to the fantastic Living With Elephants Outreach Programme. It has proven to be a brilliant way for future generations to learn about our natural heritage and in particular how man can live harmoniously with these gentle giants. The teachers involved thus far, have all expressed their gratitude for the environmental education the children have acquired during these visitations. We are looking forward to a successful 2005!
BOTSWANA
Baines ' Camp
The resident Hippo pod in front of the camp has offered wonderful behaviour observations. As the water levels drop the hippos are forced into closer proximity in available waters and we watched a rather amorous couple court and mate. Their display - an impressive vocalisation of groans and grunts. A few days later another bull moved in and we got to witness his challenges on the resident male! Later the resident alpha male was again observed mating within 30m from the front deck. What was very interesting was the behaviour of the other hippos - the mating pair were surrounded by virtually the entire pod who all had turns coming within touching distance of the two and going under the water for a closer look!
Some big crocodiles have also been spotted from the front deck swimming in the water and basking on the banks. Leopards have been located quite frequently with a beautiful young female spotted hanging around in a rain tree within a kilometre of camp. The hyena den has also proved very popular with guests. Three male lions killed a young Buffalo about 800 meters from camp in the early hours of the day. As they moved off the finished carcass, they headed straight through the camp, which was a thrilling experience. One lion laid down in the car park of Baines' while another ran under the walkway between rooms 4 & 5. As they moved off, the Hyenas closed in for their share of the kill.
 Another interesting sighting was a Brown Snake Eagle that was seen eating an African Rock Python. On closer inspection, it was noted that the snake had lots of small holes picked from its flank proving that the Snake Eagle had killed the Python.
The Baines' and Stanley's soccer teams have been playing some fantastic games against the nearby villages and nearest lodge, Eagle Island Xaxaba. Eagle Island and Baines' ended ninety minutes of play with a three all draw. Spectators were thrilled to the last minute as the teams battled it out. The following day, Ditshipi played against a mixed Baines' and Stanley's team to end in a one all draw. Lots of action and fun had by all. Tony Arabang, employed at Baines' Camp was voted man of the match!
Chief's Camp
 An exciting sighting was that of the Matata pride trying to dig out a warthog. The lions were first seen at 07:00am where they started digging into a termite mound. It was known that there were 3 warthog present as another vehicle had spotted the lions chasing them into the mound. These lions were very hungry and proceeded to dig throughout the morning. When checked at 11:00am they were still digging having dug so deep that the tail of the head lion was all that could be seen.
The pans throughout the interior of Chief's are lower than usual thus initiating a flow of game to the west of the island and enhancing our game viewing. Great elephant herds were sighted at the Martial Eagle Pan moving from the woodland. The impala have began to establish their territories as their testosterone levels increase due to the shortening days. A young female leopard has also established her territory at Chief's, around the waterhole.
Some guests were lucky to come across a rock python that had just killed a baby impala. They then witnessed drama as lions came by and stole his kill. There are still a few fish-traps (areas where the drying water has high concentrations of fish) that are ravenously preyed upon by a variety of storks and pelicans – making for great bird sightings. Some mammal predators can also be seen around these sites – such as the opportunistic leopard that will try to scoop fish out of the shallows.
Comment on Brown (guide) “ Super – exceptional.”
Dunja & Tyron Vomberg
“Paul (guide) is absolutely charming. He is a first class guide and very Knowledgeable”.
K eith & Marion Renouf
Chobe Chilwero
Two fantastic leopard sightings were experienced in two days - one from the river and one whilst on a game drive. Unusual sightings for this time of the year has been of single Sables while there have been a number of mating lions in the park just past Chobe Game Lodge.
There have also been various sightings of wild dogs with 6-7 dogs in the pack. Unfortunately it does not look like any of the off spring from last year have made it. Elephant sightings have also been very good so far. Giraffe, zebra and antelope have also starting to make an appearance.
Stanley 's Camp
 There have been various leopard sightings at the airstrip - a female leopard with two cubs and leopard feeding on an impala on top of a tree. Other great sightings were lions on a buffalo kill as well as a pack of 15 wild dogs. The positive side of the lack of rain is that it is drawing animals to the few remaining watering points, making for spectacular sightings. This is making predator movements more predictable as well. The light rains have also brought the beautiful Nidorella flowers into bloom, which has blanketed many areas in carpets of bright yellow.
A basket-making project has been established at the camp to encourage staff to bring out their talent. We hope to make it a self-sustaining project benefiting participants as well as providing an exceptional cultural experience for our guests.
Most guests have commented that they have enjoyed having dinners in the open, under stars and love the idea of the staff singing upon their arrivals.
EAST AFRICA
Gorilla Forest Camp
 Gorilla Forest Camp have replaced the transfer vehicles with 2 refurbished and safari-modified 4 wheel drive minibuses. With these vehicles, new activities such as day trips to the Ishasha sector of Queen Elizabeth National Park , famous for its tree-climbing lions, are now possible. The camp is now also able to accept Visa, MasterCard and JCB for all purchases. This makes us the only accommodation in Bwindi (and indeed in south western Uganda ) to do so.
Gorilla Forest Camp was honoured to have Phillip Briggs, author of the "Bradt Guide to Uganda " stay with us recently. His comment on his stay, "Gorilla Forest Camp is the best camp I have stayed at in Uganda , and I have stayed at quite a few". A ringing endorsement of our team in Bwindi!
Swala
A Crowned Eagle attacked one of our resident impala juveniles close to the Mess area. The entire herd of impalas ran to its rescue, surrounding the eagle whilst making the loudest collective alarm calls ever heard. The eagle was driven off but unfortunately the impalas' hind legs had been paralysed in the attack. The mother stood watch over its young for most of the day, fending off the patrolling eagle and some resident marabou storks. Sadly the juvenile eventually died that night due to the wounds.
A rare occurrence has been a number of zebras and wildebeest that have turned back from their usual migration and could be found at the river during the middle of the month! A small herd of buffalo also returned to Silale Swamp , while gerenuk were also spotted in the swamp (the first seen in northern Tarangire in years). A pack of wild dogs were seen around the main gate area – these were the first animals to be seen by a number of our guests as they arrived in the Park!
DISH OF THE MONTH
Funky Monkey
(this recipe comes to us from Baines' Camp)
820g canned pineapple chunks
1 tablespoon Granadilla pulp
120ml Lemon juice
1/2 cup white sugar
6 tots white rum
1 l soda water
- Blend pineapple pieces until smooth.
- Add the lemon juice and sugar and mix until sugar has dissolved.
- Add granadilla and blend briefly.
- Put one tot of rum in a large glass filled with ice.
- Fill the glass to half with the mixture and then top with soda.
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