Weekly Report 13th - 17th August 2007

13/08/2007
Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 27*C Min Temp : 09*C

07:30 Did the reports and emails

08:00 We headed up the mountain to go check if everything was still fine up there. Blesbok were relaxed and fine (15)

10:10 We saw 2 x Giraffes on the way back down from the mountain (mum and calf).

10:15 We saw another 7 x Giraffes not far from the cow and calf and we were lucky enough to see the newborn calf and its mom. It looks to be female which brings the number of calves born on UmPhafa to 4 and all female.

11:00 We went to Ladysmith to fix a puncture on the left back wheel of the AFTW vehicle. A drill bit was stuck in the tyre and went straight through

13:00 On our way back from Ladysmith at the 2 ponds near the main gate we were very fortunate to see 2 x Grey Herons on the pond

14:30 We headed to Vertrek to check on the progress of the new road. There is about 100m left to go.

15:20 We also went to Geluk to check up on things there after the fires.

15:45 We did see 2 x Grey Duikers on Geluk

16:45 There was a group of 20 Impalas on Geluk as well

16:20 We saw 3 x Kudu cows and 2 of them are pregnant on Geluk

16:45 On the Ryefield we saw 95 Impalas and it looked as if most of them are pregnant. We also saw 3 x Blesbok Rams

17:00 We headed home


14/08/2007
Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 26*C Min Temp : 12*C


07:30 Did the report and got things ready to head to Ladysmith and then the school to start with the repairs

08:30 Headed off into Ladysmith for the building material.

10:50 We saw 7 x Waterbuck near the donga in a clearing near the base of the mountain.

11:30 We went looking for the Giraffes and found some of them on the way to the mountain.

12:00 We spotted 5 x Giraffes, 3 calves and the youngest calf's mother (one without horns) and another adult. It was the 1st, 3rd and 4th born calves we saw here

12:05 Near base of the mountain we saw 2 x Kudu cows

12:10 We found the 2nd oldest calf a little further up. She was on her own and we could not see any adults around She looked healthy as well

12:35 About halfway down the back of the mountain we saw our first Duiker of the day.

12:40 Near the base of the mountain round the back we saw 5 x Kudu cows, a 2 year old bull, a 3 year bull and a calf

13:30 Near the plateau at the show lodge we saw 4 more Giraffes. 3 Bulls and one cow that looks to be pregnant

15:00 We headed to the Ryefield to check up on things. The usual Impalas were there, 3 Blesbok and 4 x Warthogs.

15:30 We headed to Ethuleni School to go pick up the builder and bring him back. All the windows in the classroom were fixed for the new frames to be put in. We have ordered some frames and doors and it will be put in as soon as they arrive.

16:00 We headed home and saw 5 x Warthogs at the 2 ponds near the main gate.

16:15 Near the house at the ponds we saw the 6 Zebras and a small group of Impalas



15/08/2007
Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 24*C Min Temp : 11*C

07:30 We saw a black stork on an electricity pole just outside the house early morning. Did the report

08:30 Went to have a look at the Ryefield.

08:40 The usual Impalas, 3 x Blesbok, a warthog and about 20+ Spurwinged Geese (Plectropterus gambensis)

09:00 Headed over the mountain to the back to get a tree out of the road that was blown over because of the wind.

09:15 On the right hand side of the mountain top we saw the 15 Blesbok that is usually there. They look good and some of the females look pregnant

10:00 We got the tree out of the road

10:15 At the back of the mountain near the N3 border fence 1 x Duiker

10:35 Back of the mountain we saw another Duiker

10:40 We saw a slender mongoose, red in the face from the aloe flowers running across the road and falling asleep on a rock in the sun. We spent about 30 min trying to get a photo off it, but it was too far and when we went closer it took off

12:00 Headed back home

13:00 Organised with Gail for the practice bibs for Ethuleni School

13:45 2 x Warthogs near the road as well as the 6 Zebra's, close to big stream

13:50 We went to Geluk for a look around and near the entrance saw 3 x Kudu's. 1 x young bull, a cow and a calf

14:15 Geluk - Weenen border - 2 Kudu cows and a calf, on the other side of the fence we saw 3 more cows and a bull. It was mostly burned down in this area

15:00 We headed up the mountain at Geluk for a look.

15:50 On our way back from the mountain near the entrance we saw 2 more Kudu bulls and 6 cows

16:00 At the entrance to Geluk there were 3 x Warthogs. 2 piglets and a sow

16:30 Headed back home


16/08/2007
Weather : Sunny + windy
Max Temp : 20*C
Min Temp : 09*C

08:30 Did yesterday's report

09:20 Went round to the back of the mountain to fix the fence. It was damaged by some Kudu trying to get through.

09:40 At the back of the mountain near the border fence at the N3 we saw a Duiker female

09:50 Not too far from the first Duiker at the back we saw 2 more. Too far to identify sexes

10:40 We were done with fixing the fence

10:50 We saw a single mountain Reedbuck running across the road

10:55 At the back by the rocky valley we saw 2 x Dassies

11:05 Open Field by the Tugela near the house there was a small group of Impala's

11:30 At the pond near the house a Hammerkop

11:35 On the road towards the main gate 6 x Zebra's

11:55 On Geluk a Gymnogene in a tree. We were trying a new road there. We will have to go back and clean it up a bit, and make sure it is good for the AFTW vehicle to go through

12:30 At the dam at the foot of the mountain a group of Impala's (6 female, 1 male)

13:00 Washed the AFTW vehicle

14:25 Ryefield had 114 Impala's on today. 3 Groups (39), (40), and bachelors (35). There were also 3 x Blesbok and 8 Warthogs.

13:00 I took a walk up towards the mountain in search of the Giraffes

13:30 Found 5 of them. 3 Adults and 2 calves. It was the first and 3rd calf. I could not see the rest of the Giraffes. They might be split up because they were not together the last time we saw them.

14:00 Took a walk down the big stream towards the main road but did not unfortunately see anything. I did identify some serval tracks

15:00 Headed home

16:00 We went to Vetrek to check the progress on the road. They have finished it to the border of Geluk/Vertrek.

17:00 Headed back home

17/08/2007
Weather : Sunny
Max Temp : 24*C Min Temp : 08*C

07:30 Did yesterday's report. Also filled up the vehicle and saw a Grey Heron in the tree by the house. Almost at the same spot we saw the black Stork

08:15 On the Ryefield the usual groups of Impala. The bachelors and another group. The third group was on their way down to the field

08:55 We went to the dam near the base of the mountain to pick up some rolled wire the game guards collected and took it back to the workshop.

09:00 We took a drive towards the mountain to check on the giraffes. We were unable to find them though

09:15 6 x Zebras on our way to the top of the mountain

09:25 On top of the mountain in the middle we saw 5 x Kudu's

09:35 Right hand side on mountain top the 15 Blesbok. All were looking good.

09:45 Left hand side on mountain top we spotted 3 x nice big Kudu bulls enjoying the sun

09:55 On our way back down the mountain near the base of the mountain on the right hand side we saw the same 6 zebra's from earlier (1 x foal) and on the left hand side we saw 6 more zebra's (1 x foal).

10:00 We headed up to the show lodge to go look for the giraffes again but we could not see them. On our way there we saw a small group of Impala (24 + ram)

10:20 We had a meeting with Charles.

11:30 We went to Geluk to clear a new road for the vehicle. We could not go up all the way, the road needs some fixing and will be seen to in the future

14:00 We were done with the road and saw a Duiker on our way back as well as a small group of Impalas near the entrance to Geluk. When we drove back to Elworthy, on the burned side on Geluk we saw more than 50 Guineafowl


14:30 Went home and did some paperwork

15:00 We went to Vertrek to have a look around.

16:15 We had a look around there and found Blue Wildebeest tracks and a latrine site. We could see it clearly because of the fire. Mike also said he had seen them in the area before (9 of them) Charles and Mike also saw 4 x Kudu cows.

17:00 We headed back home.