March - June 2005 Sanctuary Talking
GENERAL NEWS
Rodgers Sibanda
  Rodgers Sibanda , one of our longest serving guides at Chobe Chilwero, experienced difficulty with his eyesight and required a medical procedure called "Phaco emulsification". Warm hearted guests, a doctor included, who stayed at Chobe Chilwero in August 2004 decided to open their hearts, homes and pockets to ensure that Rodgers regained his eyesight – imperative in his profession! The guests in question organised that Rodgers travel to France, received the necessary operation and treatment as well as stay on for some touring. Rodgers departed for Paris on 22 October 2004 and returned to South African soil on 24th November 2004. Whilst travelling, Rodgers saw the magnificent Eiffel Tower , toured Paris and visited their beautiful vineyards.
Rodgers has now regained his eyesight for long distance and will have to utilise reading glasses. Rodgers and his family expressed their gratitude to all concerned and thanked everyone for their assistance as well as the wonderful opportunity to travel abroad, which was a first for Rodgers. “My health is now the best. Life is now much easier for me because of their effort and love, which they had. May God bless them. Their offer was of fundamental importance to my future and life.”
Rodgers Sibanda
A big thank you from Sanctuary Lodges and Camps to our kind hearted guests who chose to remain anonymous.
STAFF
  Debbie Smith, pictured left in ‘bathroom' attire, joined the Sanctuary Lodges & Camps Development team as Personal Assistant to Graeme Labe. Debbie join's us from a Turnkey Interior Design company based in Johannesburg and is responsible for all matters including management of printing and stationery, co-ordination of uniforms as well as day to day office administration of especially while Graeme is out of the office.
Yeukai Dombodzvuku, joined the Sanctuary Lodges & Camps Reservations Team from the 12 May 2005. Yeukai is pictured, right, with Allison Budde (centre) and Mandy Dippenaar (right) who are also in the reservations team. As you can see they are all enthusiastic, ‘geared' to go and ready to serve you!
Catherine Mutindi was awarded the position of Assistant Manager at Baines' Camp as Ali Tiego has joined Trevor Canaby's (our private label guide, author and guide trainer) team at the end of March 2005.
Elephant Outreach 2005 - Update
Biography: Douglas Alan Groves
 Doug (pictured with Sandi, Jabu, Thembi and Marula) has been working with and studying elephants since 1972. Before coming to Africa in 1987 to work on a film project involving elephants, Doug worked with elephants in zoological and wildlife parks on the west coast of the USA for 15 years. Once in Africa his attachment to and passion for elephants deepened and he decided to commit the rest of his life to studying them and their needs as well as teaching everyone about these beautiful animals. Doug has since been involved in numerous research, educational, film and eco-tourism projects involving African Elephants. He is also full-time caregiver to three orphaned African elephants whom he adopted shortly after arriving in Africa . The moments in life he finds the most fulfilling are when, with an elephant trunk gently resting in his hand, he walks the elephants single file into the bush to find their food for the day and shares his knowledge with visitors walking beside.
BOTSWANA
Baines' Camp
Activity continues in front of the camp with hippos bobbing in and out of the water exclaiming in sheer delight. A recent highlight has been sightings of various lions mating as well as viewing some cute lion cubs, with a number of lions viewed at an elephant carcass! An interesting occurrence has been of a beautiful, small female leopard frequenting the camp on various exploration activities. A few guests, whilst on a walk, experienced a particularly good sighting of leopard. General game viewing has been fruitful.
 Sanctuary Lodges and Camps recently hosted a press group from the USA . The group experienced the delights at Chobe Chilwero, Chief's Camp as well as Baines' Camps' with its glorious skybeds! The group experienced the magnificence of the Okavango Delta and Chobe National Park and enjoyed various educational game drives, walking safaris as well as night game drives. A highlight of the trip was the unique elephant interaction with three gentle giants Jabu, Thambi and Marula! Each magnificent in presence and yet so different in charm, the group learnt about elephants and were able to touch and ‘hold hands' with the elephants – a wonderful experience indeed!
“VIP clients love Africa, and, nowadays, Botswana is more sought-after than ever before as a high-end safari destination.”
Baines' Camp
“Less than a year old, this intimate lodge, with just five thatched-roof suites, offers “romance in the wild,” as guests can sleep under the stars in mobile four poster beds wheeled out on the suite's terrace.”
Jonathan Siskin, Luxury Travel Advisor
Chief's Camp
The floods have arrived and filled the pans in the interior and periphery of the island. Interestingly, with the combination of the grasses and the full pans, game have been moving from the west to Chief's Island . Water has also been pushing into the Boro flats and Lethaka hippo pool mainly due to the climatic conditions over the Gumare fault line. Another rhino calf, number 5, was sighted at the end of the Paigo channel and indicates that the rhino population seems to be flourishing!
A truly interesting sighting was that of two honey badgers attacking and killing an African Rock Python! These two honey badgers wasted no time in attacking the python and then devouring it! Wildogs galore! Guests were treated to a sighting of 14 wild dogs in front of the camp – a treat indeed to see them make their kill! Impala, Tsesebe and Elephant have also been quite active around camp during the day with lions and hyenas roaming the camp at night. A magnificent male leopard has been seen moving towards the camp while the two male cheetahs are back in the area providing spectaular game viewing.
Upgrade
An upgrade to Chief's Camps main area was successfully completed in June 2005. The refurbishment included new furnishings in the reception and lounge area with new artwork. The main deck area also received a ‘face lift' with complete new furnishings while the bedrooms have been equipped with mini-bars.
 
Bush Bliss!
Birgitte and Kasper experienced the romance and bliss of a unique bush wedding! (pictures below)
“The staff at Chief's Camp did everything even more memorable than Timeless Wedding had planned for us. Every single member of the staff at Chief's will forever have a special place in our hearts and we'll be back many times over. We can't possibly thank the people that made this dream come true (and then some) enough.”
Birgitte & Kasper
 
 
“If you take everything into account, few lodges can hold up with the price / quality of this camp.”
Johan De Bondt
“My group appreciated not having to sit with other clients at meal times, it was a great stay and I hope to be back.”
Terry Stevenson
“I thought everyone went out of their way to help us, everyone was very polite & incredibly welcoming. Very impressed with everything would certainly recommend.”
Kate & Mark Jones
Chobe Chilwero
A family of lions has been frequenting the camp and a number of unsuccessful hunting occasions have been seen. Lofty giraffes have also been in the area with 11 being spotted together! There have also been a number of elephant, leopard, antelope, sable and zebra sightings hence game viewing has been quite impressive. A highlight was a sighting of some majestic lions killing a young elephant.
The park has also included a new road which is approximately 12 kilometres long providing an additional route for game viewing.
Guest feedback has been very positive towards the lodge management as well as the guides.
Chobe Chilwero, is without hesitation
The ultimate lodge and the perfect location.
The food was delicious with amazing staff,
Who worked so hard just to find a giraffe.
For the best experience & perfect safari
You must drive with Paul from the Kalahari
With incredible skill, he seemed to be able,
To see through the bush, to the lion and the Sable
He read all the tracks and was a fantastic spotter
And kept his cool, as it got hotter and hotter.
We've had a lovely time – can we come back soon?
To seek out the leopard and the BA-BA-BABOON
The guests “Judd” provided this poem for our newsletter – many thanks!
Stanley 's Camp
There was a spectacular evening drive where guests were delighted to see leopard, two female lions with five cubs, a herd of about 100 buffaloes as well as a herd of over 20 elephants with their little ones. Various lions were seen mating and 13 wild dogs were spotted just outside the camp near the staff village on the way to the elephant picnic. A male elephant died very close to camp and guests were able to see a number of lions feasting on the giant.
We are glad to report that the unique and educational elephant activity continues to be the highlight of visiting Stanley 's Camp (also available at Baines' Camp).
 A group of six South African Agents (left) lead by Lynne Butler, Sales Executive for South Africa , stayed at Stanley 's Camp. The group were thrilled with their experiences at the camps visited and enjoyed all the activities and luxuries the camps had to offer. A wonderful time was had by all with the elephant interaction once again being the highlight!
“We absolutely loved everything about our stay if the number 10 was an option you would have gotten straight ten's.”
Witz VIP Group.
“Your staff is wonderful, and helpful and very friendly all the time,”
Witz VIP Group.
“I enjoyed how every meal was staged differently – I have eaten more in three days then I do in a week – everything was presented and tasted delicious. We look forward to returning here.”
“Very satisfied, very friendly and obliging staff, will recommend to friends.”
Border
“Love the Bush Braai, the stories and the professionalism of the staff”
Mc donalds
“We have had a wonderful time at Stanley 's and have received outstanding service from the staff. Alan was very friendly and professional, we will have to come back one day.”
Sullivan
EAST AFRICA
Kusini
The migration was late in leaving the Southern Serengeti this year with a large amount of the wildebeest within a 30-min drive from the camp. The resident pride of 25 lions have been helping themselves to the endless supply of Wildebeest and Zebra during the migration. Large herds of Eland have also been seen on a regular basis. While seeing off some guests, an African Harrier Hawk (Polyboroides typus) was noticed in a dead tree moving from one nest hole to another in search of food. Using its double-jointed limbs, probing holes made by Wood peckers and Barbets looking for Hatchlings was a sight indeed!
Earlier this year after a huge racket from Rupell's long tailed Starlings (Lamprotornis corriscus) it was established, after close inspection, that there was a desperate struggle from the birds to defend their nest from Great spotted Cuckoos (Clamator glandarius) risking life and limb to gain access to the nest of the Starlings! As the Cuckoo stuck its head in to the hole, one of the Starlings would grab onto it from behind and the both would plummet to the ground. The Starling would hand out a few bites and pluck out one or two feathers and eventually chased off the Cuckoo.
A ‘Honeymoon Couple' of lions spent time in and around Camp! During the day they moved away from the hustle and bustle of the camp and at night they would move in amongst the tents. Our hot water is generated from wood boilers behind each tent and it is the responsibility of the ‘Askaris' (night guards) to light the fires in the morning. On one particular morning the askari of tent one was kept away by the Honeymoon pair!
Refurbishing at Kusini
May was the month of repairs and maintenance at Kusini. All the woodwork and decks have been repaired and are shining with a new coat of stain. All the steelwork on the tents has also been painted and all tents have been equipped with new linen, towels and duvets.
Swala
A Crowned Eagle attacked a resident impala juvenile close to 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 impala's 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, however the juvenile eventually died that night.
A number of zebras and wildebeest turned back from their usual migration and could be found at the river. A small herd of buffalo returned to Silale Swamp , and gerenuk have also been spotted in the swamp (the first seen in northern Tarangire in years)! A pack of wild dogs have been spotted around the main gate – these were the first animals to be seen by a number of our guests as they arrived in the Park!
The Tale of Two Giants
Tarangire is renowned for the vast quantities of its two resident giants: elephants and baobabs. These shape the background of the Tarangire experience – they form the first impression a guest has upon entering, and they are the enduring memory people take with them when they depart.
‘Poachers Hide' is the name given to a baobab tree about an hours drive from Swala Camp, and here guests can fully appreciate that even a seemingly inanimate plant can have its own unique character and history – a story every bit as remarkable as that of any elephant. This tree may well be over 500 years old, and as you walk around its vast circumference you notice the scars, layered upon other scars, reaching up to the full extent of an elephants reach; for this tree has fed generations of them – providing a little moisture and nutrition during the lean dry seasons. The bark is pockmarked with holes, and some of these still contain the ebony pegs that the Bushmen once used as ladders to gather honey from the beehives that are still found under the tallest branches.
At some point they cut a hole into the base of the tree – and inside the hollow trunk they could have made a comfortable camp, for the cavern within is cool and shaded in the day and ventilated with a large natural hole towards the top of the tree. A fire could be made inside the hollow to drive away the insects and the chill of a long night. They cut a door from solid rock found in a hill about a kilometre away, and then rolled it down to the tree to seal the entrance. As you walk around inside this living home you can see the tracks of numerous animals that still shelter here, and hanging from the uppermost inner reaches you see the fruit bats that pollinate the baobab's flowers.
Years later, when the area first became a Reserve and later a National Park, it is believed that poachers used the tree as a camp when hunting; so ironically that same tree which bore the scars of sustaining the elephants, now harboured their greatest threat. Today poaching is under control and the elephants have recovered their numbers. But as the elephants continue to multiply, so do the people and their farms around the Parks boundaries: hemming the animals inside and strangling their ancient migration routes. So today no one can find any young baobabs in Tarangire – the elephants preferring whole young saplings to the bark of an old giant.
TZANEEN ORANGE AND WALNUT DESSERT WITH ORANGE SAUCE
(this recipe comes to us from Stanley 's Camp)
Serves 8-10
11/4 cups sugar
½ cup butter
2 eggs
1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 cups cake flour (or all purpose)
11/2 cups buttermilk
½ cup chopped walnuts
Grated rind of 2 oranges
TO MAKE THE CAKE:
Preheat the oven to 160 Degrees Celsius. Oil a spring-form cake tin and line the base with baking paper. Beat the butter and sugar together in a bowl until smooth. Gradually add the eggs and continue to beat until creamy. In a separate bowl sift flour with bicarbonate of soda and baking powder. Add flour to the butter, alternating with buttermilk, a bit at a time until everything is used up. Fold the orange rind and walnuts into the mixture. Spoon the mixture into the prepared cake tin, level the surface and bake in the preheated oven for 45 minutes or until a skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. While the cake is in the oven, prepare the sauce:-
TO MAKE THE SAUCE:-
Juice of 4 oranges
Juice of 2 lemons
1 cup white sugar
Heat the juice and sugar in a saucepan and slowly boil to from a light syrup. Leave to cool. Pour the sauce over the cake as soon as it comes out of the oven. Using a cake skewer, poke a few holes through the cake for the sauce to soak somewhat into the cake. Leave to cool. Serve with vanilla ice cream and with warm custard in winter.
Wine tip:
Vintage 2003: Style :- Rich, without airs, style without cost made by trusted hands and wisdom to grace the table and make laughter. Good with red meats, ideal for braai nights. |