September 2005 Sanctuary Talking
GENERAL NEWS
12th Annual World Travel Awards
A reminder that the World Travel Awards 2005 voting opened in June 2005 with voting forms available in English, French, Spanish, Russian and Arabic. There are various categories to vote for, so cast your vote for your favourite Sanctuary lodge or camp now! http://www.worldtravelawards.com/votenow.
Appointments
 John Nieuwoudt has recently been appointed General Manager of Stanley 's Camp. John comes from a very strong service orientated and community background, which will stand in good steed in his new position. We wish John everything of the best and welcome him to the Sanctuary Lodges and Camps team!
Vanessa Binnie, pictured left, joined the Sanctuary Lodges Reservations Team in October 2005 after Mandy Dippenaar left the team since she was relocating with her family. Vanessa comes to us with extensive knowledge in the hospitality industry. We look forward to working with Vanessa and wish her everything of the best!
Living with Elephants
Biography - Sandi Groves
 Sandi, pictured right with Doug and their three babies Jabu, Thembi and Marula, studied Zoology and Botany at the University Of Natal, South Africa. Ten years ago while working at Karkloof Falls Nature Reserve in South Africa , Sandi met Doug and his adopted elephants. They all won her heart and she then decided to join Doug in his commitment to the daily care and upbringing of the trio in the wilds of Africa . Sandi concerns herself greatly with the emotional, intellectual and nutritional well being of the elephants. Her ultimate satisfaction at the end of a day in the bush is when the elephant trio meander contentedly home with bellies full to the brim. Sandi has a passion for all animals, especially elephants and aspires to create a better understanding and bond between people and elephants.
 Field Note by Doug Groves
(www.livingwithelephants.org)
One morning as we scrubbed night stains from elephant sides, a laconic orange sun hovered high in a hazy horizon. A lone wild elephant loitered near our night boma. Prematurely, I assumed our visitor to be a solitary bull and I moved in for a closer look. When a young calf appeared at her side, I quickly revised my initial impression. Sometimes an older cow in declining condition will separate from a herd with her calf. These two, however, looked in excellent shape! The calf was 2.5 to 3 years old and its mom may have been in her thirties. Perhaps, I thought, they are the vanguard of a larger breeding herd. The mother elephant and I stood watching each other for several minutes, but no further elephants materialised. Eventually, she moseyed around the perimeter of our camp, calf in tow, I shadowed her from behind some bushes. When she appeared in a clearing I was able to get a better look while reassuring her with rumbles. Still sceptical, she turned toward me and I noticed that one of her plump pendulous breast sported some unusual coloration. The nipple half of her mammary was light pink, due, perhaps, to lack of pigmentation - Interesting!!
After she departed I escorted our elephants, Jabu, Thembi and Morula around camp in the other direction so they could feed in the bush. Jabu was in the lead and I was following behind the girls when all three elephants made an abrupt face and hurried back towards me. Ducking under their substantial chins, I manoeuvred to the front and found a big bull blocking our way. My scent, sound and sight must have been extremely offensive to this big fellow, for he wasted no time whatsoever in disappearing!
BOTSWANA
Baines' Camp
Where to begin with game viewing! It has been a bumper month for sightings and therefore very difficult to pinpoint one particular extraordinary sighting. The wild dogs most certainly have to be mentioned as we have been sighting packs of between 18 and 20 with around 9 cute pups. We have had a number of great sightings of leopard and lion as well. A truly thrilling sighting was of a lion and hyena interacting most viciously over a giraffe kill recently. The general game viewing is superb at the moment since the waters are subsiding and we have a lot of elephants moving into the area providing excellent photographic opportunities. The floodplains are filled with wildebeest, zebra, giraffe, baboons, impala, tsesebe and the ever present warthogs. The beautiful greenery makes the viewing of general game even more spectacular!
 Kate Mutindi, Assistant Manager, has been doing a sterling job on the implementation of our new summer menus, putting in a number of hours to train staff. Once again, we have had a number of honeymoon couples who have been welcomed with a special card and a bottle of bubbly in their romantic suites. Guests have complimented the superb service and commented that they enjoy the size and intimacy of our luxury camp. The highlight of the camp has once again been the sky beds where guests are able to experience a true sense of Africa by sleeping under the African skies without leaving the privacy of their own suites.
We have just received comfortable new cushions for guests to relax on when out on the bush lunch activity. We will be utilising these quite extensively on the activity especially once the new summer menus are implemented. The game drives have proved very popular with the great game viewing this month with guests also enjoying the boat and sundowner cruises. The pilot's tent and new sala walls, pictured on the left, have been completed and look absolutely marvellous! Thanks to the development team for their efforts!
Chief's Camp
A pack of six wild dogs were spotted near camp and are suspected to be part of the pack that was seen at Stanley 's Camp – exciting news indeed! General game viewing has been really good with a large number of elephant and buffalo herds in front of camp along with kudu, impala as well as lovely lechwe. Lions have graced us with their presence at night a few times, providing some really interesting ‘lullabies'!
Game drives have been exciting with the ‘Big 5' being spotted on numerous occasions. Leopard sightings have also increased with a sighting almost every day. Cameras were clicking away shortly after game drive one day when our guests arrived on the main deck and were greeted by a herd of an approximately a thousand buffalo, which surged to within 50 metres of us seemingly oblivious of the sensation they were creating. The same evening tent walls were vibrating with the reverberating roar of lions that infiltrated camp in hot pursuit of their bovine platters. Elephants have remained regular visitors in and around camp as well. Percival, the hippo, seems to be enjoying Chief's Camps tranquillity as much as we are and is regularly keeping our flora closely cropped.
Floodwater has started to decrease in certain areas but the grass remains succulent and green along the Piagio River providing stunning views. Mokoro trips may draw to an end soon – updates to follow.
We received our new coffee machine which we believe will be very popular in the cooler months and have also nearly completed the bead curtains in the main area. Thus far, guest feedback regarding the refurbishment has been positive and complimentary.
Chief's Upgrade
 A decision to completely rebuild the accommodation units at Chief's Camp has been made as we enter the seventh year of operation. The refurbishment of these units have been designed in line with the recent refurbishment in June 2005 of the main area of the camp. The internal area of the unit will increase from 39 to 50 square metres and will incorporate a spacious seating area while all tentage will be replaced with a new double skin insulated tentage. New carpets, bed throws and linen will be integrated into the units which will also include a gas heater, overhead fans, a generous mosquito net, two wardrobes, a mini bar, a book shelf as well as a comfortable writing desk. Three units will boast king size beds while nine units will boast twin beds. Lighting, electrical points as well as power generators and electrical systems will also be upgraded to meet the demands of our new upgrade to the camp.
The canvas tented roof will be replaced with a thatched roof while the front section of the unit leading to the deck will boast a large gauze segment with roll down blinds. New outdoor decks will be incorporated into the front of each unit and will include lovely hammocks and deck chairs. A revitalising outdoor shower, accessed through the raised timber bathroom, will be incorporated into the structure with the bathroom interiors receiving a fresh coat of paint and new canvas for the exterior. A new sewerage system including a recycle plant will be installed, which will allow water to be utilised for gardening purposes once recycled. All work will commence on site from 01 November 2005, with the first set of 3 rooms scheduled to be complete by December 2005 while the remaining 9 units should be completed by June 2006. Since there is extensive work to be done, the construction team will endeavour to minimise disturbances to our valued guests. Our reservations te am will contact all parties affected by the upgrade. We apologise for any inconvenience caused.
“The comfortable feeling we have here. It definitely feels and is Africa . We certainly look forward to our return. We thought the food was wonderful. The lunches with the salads were great.“
Steve and Ruth Loeb
Chobe Chilwero
Collins Danguranga, Chobe Chilwero – Art Exhibition, September 2005
 “ DANURANGU , is a Mbira song played by the Shona people of Zimbabwe at traditional functions. The Mbira instrument is used by my people to appease the ancestral spirits. Danurangu is believed to be played by the traditional chief's in our culture. During court sessions or at dinner time. It is from this music from which I get my inspiration for my art and the art inspires my music.”
Collins Danguranga
 Danguranga is Collins cultural name given to him by is father on his birth, 06 August 1974. Collins was born in a small town, Marondera in the Mashonaland of Zimbabwe near the capital, Harare . Collins interest in art and music started when he was in primary school although art was never a subject that was available to him at school.
 In 1997 he qualified as a Town Planner and in 2000 graduated with a diploma in Applied Art and Design from the Harare Polytechnic. In 2001 Collins started freelance painting on a permanent level.
Collins Danguranga has exhibited at various galleries around Botswana and Zimbabwe however Chobe Chilwero is his first solo exhibition.
Our best wishes to you Collins!
Stanley 's Camp
 The general game has been consistently good the past month and we have had the first wild dog sighting in several months with a pack of around 20 spotted late September. Ishmael, one of our professional guides, followed the energetic pack for a while as they headed up towards the Moremi boundary. We have also had regular leopard sightings with tracks spotted very close to camp. An exceptional sighting was of a herd of buffalo in access of 1000 head! We have also had many calm encounters with elephants ambling through camp and enjoying the flood plain. Giraffe have also been plentiful with a number of baby and youngster sightings.
We have had a number of couples celebrating their honeymoons with us over the past month and have spoiled them with bubbly and romantic private dinners.
Staff baskets continue to sell well with guests complimenting and enjoying the staff choir which now includes Olly, who joined us from Baines' and is a welcome addition to the choir with her beautiful voice and effervescent personality.
“This place is like being in heaven!”
Gemma Ribas & Susanna Lopez
“The service was charming and efficient”
Ken & Angela Race
EAST AFRICA
Kusini
 The unusually heavy rains in the Mara have caused confusion among the wildebeest and zebras and we therefore seem to be experiencing a ‘second migration.' In just about two weeks it appears that most of the herds have made a complete cycle from eastern Mara into the Mara Triangle, south into Northern Serengeti and then east before returning to the Mara - for the second time! The migration numbers are still very large and the weather pattern will probably determine how long the animals stay in the Mara.
Traditionally the wildebeest head back to the short grass plains of the Serengeti for the start of the calving season which is usually around January or February - the area around Kusini, our small luxury tented camp in South Central Serengeti, Tanzania, is usually a great location to view this amazing spectacle. Kusini is situated on a kopje (rock outcrop) and accommodation is offered in nine double tents. Part of Kusini's charm is its remote and private location within the park borders. Game viewing is done in 4-wheel drive vehicles with in the evenings, guests enjoying sundowner cocktails among the kopje boulders, while spotting for plains game.
Olonana
 There are huge herds of wildebeest south of Olonana where the grass had previously been burnt. With the recent heavy rains there the grass is fresh and juicy, attracting these animals. Guests at Olonana are taking picnic breakfasts and lunches along on game drives as they do not what to miss out on the exciting ‘second migration' events. Upon return to camp in the evenings, guests have been gathering by the fire to exchange interesting stories of the day. A number of stories have included a leopard which has been frequenting the camp recently providing  exceptional photographic opportunities.
Olonana Camp has taken another small step in our continuous effort to help protect the environment in the Mara by recently building a platform for its fuel pump and thus avoiding fuel spills that pollute the soil.
Olonana is at the forefront of eco-tourism in Kenya with solar power, a tree planting project and a wetlands project (which allows for used water to be totally recycled before returning it to the natural environment). In addition, Olonana supports various projects to assist the local community. The camp also received a Bronze rating award from the Ecotourism Society of Kenya (ESOK) Eco-rating scheme.
Swala
Jacob's (a professional guide) “eagle eyes” continues to impress guests as he seems to be the “Leopard King” of the park at the moment and pulls them out of the bush quite frequently. The game sightings in camp are plentiful at present with constant elephant traffic as well as regular visits from a herd of waterbuck and two small zebra families. The resident impala herd has increased by four since the start of the month and there are still a few pregnant females within the herd. The best day of the month saw some guests spot 5 lions, 2 separate leopard sightings as well as an attempted kill by a cheetah on an impala as well as a very rare sighting of 11 wild dogs close to camp – compliments abound from the guests!
We are glad to advise that the tents boast new wastepaper baskets. General feedback on activities is excellent although guests who only spend one night at Swala do not experience the area to its full potential since they arrive fairly late and depart early the next morning. However, guests who stay for two nights compare the viewing favourably to other parks at this time of year, whilst guests who stay for three nights have ‘hit the jackpot' since they usually spend the third day in camp watching the various animals pass by.
A few guests recently visited the nearby village and school that we support. They enjoyed the excursion and endeavor to send boxes of clothing and writing equipment to distribute with the assistance from their friends and family. A thoughtful gesture indeed!
DISH OF THE MONTH
Decadent Chocolate Mousse Pyramids
(recipe courtesy of Swala)
Cornets:
200g dark cooking chocolate
Mousse:
250 g dark chocolate
3 eggs
¼ cup castor sugar
2 tsp rum
1 cup whipped cream
Method
Cornets:
- Cut wax paper into triangles and curl to make a cornet, staple to hold in place.
- Place wax paper cornet in a glass and put aside.
- Melt chocolate over boiling water until smooth.
- Pour a tablespoon of melted chocolate into paper cornet and smooth around the side being careful to have a consistent thickness, not too thin.
- Place the above in the freezer until they the chocolate hardens.
Mousse:
- Melt chocolate over boiling water until smooth.
- Beat eggs and sugar in until the mix is thick, pale in colour and has increased in volume.
- Fold in the melted chocolate & rum, and then fold in cream. Work quickly and lightly until mixture has just combined.
- Fill the cornets with the mousse approximately ¾ way up and refrigerate until the mousse has set.
- Once the mousse is fully set, melt a little more chocolate to seal the top of the cornet. Do this by spooning a little melted chocolate over the top.
- Place in freezer until chocolate has set.
- Once the chocolate is set remove from freezer, trip off excess chocolate & remove the wax paper.
- Enjoy!
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