September / October 2004 Sanctuary Talking
GENERAL NEWS
Website Upgrade
www.sanctuarylodges.com has been updated with the latest pictures of Baines' Camp and a full picture library on each of the camps will be available for individual downloads soon. This monthly newsletter will be available for our potential guests on the website at the beginning of each month.
Appointments
 We are delighted to advise that Ryan Powell, Sales Manager – Sanctuary Lodges & Camps Southern Africa for the past 4 years, has been appointed as International Sales Manager for East and Southern Africa , effective 1 st August 2004. Another announcement is that Lynne Butler has been appointed as the new Sales Representative for Sanctuary Lodges and Camps Southern Africa effective January 2005. Lynne has been a valuable member of the Sanctuary Reservations team and we look forward to working with her in her new role.
BOTSWANA
Baines' Camp
 There have been regular sightings of leopard and increased sightings of large herds of buffalo. A pack of 11 wild dogs has also regularly been seen in and around the airstrip. With the water receding more plains game are coming closer to the camp ensuring fantastic game from both the land and water. A sighting of a water vole feeding in the sedge right at tea was a treat for everyone, as the group had not seen one before. It was great to see the aquatic rat swimming around and not at all worried about everyone around it. At a different sighting that day guests were treated to a 20 minute sighting of a male lion - a sudden movement in the tree above made the group realise that there was a male leopard sitting quietly observing their feline counterpart!
A number of combination activities have been done with guests rating these activities very highly. Boating activities have provided a number of sightings of great water birds, many different pods of hippo and many small crocodiles in the channels. Whilst the walking, night drives and bush dinners have ensured a well-balanced safari experience.
“If you had given me the option, I would have rated everything at Baines' Camp +10. Thank you all for making this a memorable and heavenly stay! I certainly hope to return and Visit my ‘Baines' Family'.”
Shelby Tauber
Chief's Camp
 This past month has showcased a number of big cat & rhino sightings. Brown (a guide) has made it a habit of locating a leopard that has adapted it's hunting technique by pouncing on its prey from the trees they graze under. This is a female leopard, with cubs, who has an injured leg. The guests with Brown have been fortunate enough to see this very bazaar hunting technique playing out twice this past month. The recent action was captured by one of the camp managers Matt. The rhino's have moved closer to camp and on two occasions wandered down the front of the camp and could be seen from the deck.
Birdlife has been spectacular - variety being replaced by sheer numbers of waterbirds. The clear blue skies and landscapes has been a photographers' heaven!
Room deck chairs at Chief's Camp have been changed & we are pleased to advise that a new cordless intercom system has been installed at Chiefs Camp, which allows 24 hour communication - Tent to Reception, Tent to Tent and Tent to Management unit after hours!
Chobe Chilwero
 The Chobe River has dropped substantially and hippo are starting to concentrate in bigger groups - especially visible from the boats. As it is drying, game are starting to concentrate along the waters edge in the afternoon before heading inland for the evening. Afternoon boats and drives are therefore yielding spectacular concentrations of elephant (often swimming), buffalo and red lechwe. Lions are also being seen regularly. There are also a number of small fresh water jellyfish.
The most unusual sighting was of an altercation between a hippo and an elephant. It was late afternoon when a herd of elephant went down to the river to drink. A resident hippo male took exception to their presence and reversed up to a young male and started spraying his dung all over the bank (the way they mark their territory). The elephant was very taken aback – he ran backwards and charged at the hippo whilst trumpeting. The hippo casually just walked back into the water and then the elephant turned and fled!
Stanley 's Camp
Over the next eight months we have taken it upon ourselves to introduce you to the camp managers, they make our camps special and ensure that things run smoothly. This month we focus on Pamela Nhari and her partner, Patrick.
CAMP MANAGER PROFILE: Pamela Nhari & Patrick Runyemba
PAMELA NHARI attended the Chisipite Senior School, Zimbabwe and was then educated at Speciss College where she obtained a LCCI Third Level Group Diploma in Marketing. Pamela also attended Bulawayo Polytechnic where she obtained her National Diploma in Tourism and Travel. She is the Senior Camp Manager at Stanley 's Camp. PATRICK RUNYEMBA attended Mount Pleasant High School, Zimbabwe and was then educated at Bulawayo Polytechnic where he obtained an Intermediate Diploma in Hotel and Catering Management; a National Diploma in Hotel and Catering Management as well as a Higher National Diploma in Hotel and Catering Management. Patrick also attended the Mandel Training Centre where he did the Block Release Management Development Program. Patrick married Pamela Nhari in 1998 and they have no children together but he has a son and daughter from a previous marriage. Both Pamela & Patrick have a wealth of knowledge & experience which they have brought to the camp.
Access to the drier sand island has yielded some good game viewing, particularly for lion, hyena and herds of elephant. There have been good sightings of cheetah, wild dog and big herds of buffalo. Most of the channels are still full and water is still coming into the concession on the Santantadibe River . Water lilies adorn most pools and a variety of water plants are now flowering making this a spectacular time to visit as the bright green grass along channels, coupled with the deep blue water and flashy flowers, contrasts with the colourless surroundings.
The most interesting sighting was of a male lion that had killed a buffalo. He was very shy and would left the carcass every time a vehicle approached. In his absence, a female leopard would come and feed on the meat – an extreme case of opportunism! They alternated on the kill for an entire morning before the lion finally abandoned the kill.
EAST AFRICA
Olonana
CAMP MANAGER PROFILE: Job Leboo
Job Leboo is a 48 year old Kenyan, maasai by tribe, and is married with children. He has 25 years trained experience in the hotel industry. Job attended Kenya Utallii College in 1977, which he attended again later when he did some management courses. He previously worked at Block Hotels, Conservation Cooperation Africa(CCA), Heritage Hotels and NAS Airport before joining Sanctuary Lodges & Camps..
We are delighted to announce that Olonana is now on Conde Nast Traveler's list of the “Top 15 Safari Camps” in the world! Sanctuary Lodes & Camps now have two of the top safari camps as Chief's Camp is also one of the top 15.
Kusini
 The latest on the magnificent wildebeest migration is that they are currently in the Mara and Western Corridor of the Serengeti. Traditionally it is expected that the first Wildebeest will start to arrive into the Kusini area around mid December.
DISH OF THE MONTH
Spinach Cheesecake
(This recipe comes to us from Baines' Camp)
60g Butter
250g Crushed Savoury Biscuits
1 Bunch Spinach
1 Onion Chopped
1 tub Cottage Cheese
½ cup /125g Feta Cheese
1 cup Mayonnaise
4 eggs Lightly beaten
3 tablespoons Parmesan
- Melt the butter and mix with crushed biscuits.
- Press the biscuits into a loose bottom tart tin, pressing the biscuits around the side too.
- Boil spinach until tender, drain well and chop.
- Sauté onion.
- Mix cream cheese and feta until smooth.
- Add mayonnaise and eggs and mix well.
- Add Spinach and onion and mix well.
- Pour into biscuit shell and bake until golden brown, about 45 min.
- Sprinkle with Parmesan before serving.
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