Weekly Report 17th - 22nd September 2007

17/09/2007
Weather: Sunny and warm
Min temp: 15*C Max temp: 29*C

07:30 Did report and e-mails

09:00 Took the AFTW vehicle in for its service.

14:00 Got back on Geluk and took a walk down the mountain towards the house. We saw 2 x Zebra's on the road down.

15:00 Got to the house and headed for the Ryefield with Mike to turn the Centre Pivot on. The Giraffes were on the ryegrass at that time. As we headed for the farm house on Gevonden we came across a young Common reedbuck male near the big stream. It was quite at ease with us and when we headed back to go pick up the vehicle it was still there.

16:30 We headed into Ladysmith with Gail to go pick up the vehicle. The Ryefield were full of animals. Most of the Giraffes and about 12 Zebra's were there, as well as the usual 3 Impala groups and 3 Blesbok. Some of the Blue cranes were also there.

18/09/2007
Weather: Sunny and warm
Min temp: 14*C Max temp: 27*C

07:30 Did yesterday's report.

07:50 We left for the Ryefield and saw 3 x groups of Impala, 6 x Warthogs and some Blue cranes.

08:20 We headed for Vertek in search of the Blue Wildebeest but were unable to find them. There were 3 x Kudu's, a cow, a young bull and a calf.

08:40 Geluk/Vertrek border - We did see another group of kudu, all young females.

09:30 We stopped near the river at Geluk to have a look around for the vervet monkeys but could not find any.

11:45 On the way to Geluk we saw the Hartebeest down on the Ryefield.

13:05 We went to the back of Geluk along the fence and were very lucky to see a Steenbok female (Raphicerus campestris). This would be the first sighting of these little antelope we have come across since starting here in February.

15:00 Near the main gate we saw a Slender Mongoose in a tree.

15:30 Went to the dam at the base of the mountain. Some of the Giraffes were there and 2 x Egyptian Geese.

15:40 On the way back I came across Bossie, Stompie and Dogterjie, they were browsing on a Sweet Thorn Acacia. (Giraffe calves)

16:00 Headed back home.


19/09/2007

Weather: Sunny and warm
Min temp: 14*C Max temp: 32*C

07:30 Did yesterday's report.

08:25 Near the 2 ponds at the main gate 3 x Kudu cows, 1 bull

08:40 On Geluk on our way to the top we saw 5 x Warthogs (1 sow and 4 piglets)

09:40 We headed to the back on top of Geluk to see if we could perhaps see any more Steenbok.

10:10 On our way back from Geluk, near the main gate we saw a rock monitor.

10:15 Near the big stream we saw 6 x Zebra's and a waterbuck.

11:00 We went to Ethylene School for a meeting with the headmistress.

11:55 Near the Ryefield near the road we saw 5 x Kudu cows and a bull. It was the same ones as earlier.

13:00 There were 4 x Giraffes near the house.

13:10 Near the Ryefield we saw a Slender Mongoose running across the road.

13:15 The Ryefield had the usual on. 3 x Impala groups, 2 x Egyptian Geese, 32 Blue cranes, 2 x Blesbok.

13:40 Took a hike towards mountain and came across the Giraffes. Speedy, Bossie and Stompie.

14:20 Went halfway up the mountain. Did not see any animals but did see loads of animal tracks (zebra, giraffe, jackal)

14:35 Top of mountain 1 x Kudu cow.

15:25 On the way back near the other giraffes we spotted Dogtertjie, Bossie and her mom.

16:00 Headed back.

20/09/2007
Weather: Sunny and warm
Min temp: 21*C Max temp: 32*C

07:30 Did yesterday's report.

09:00 Headed to the Ryefield. 3 x Impala groups, 2 x Blesbok, 10 x Warthogs and some Blue Cranes.

09:20 Small group of Impala's on the way to the lodge.

09:30 Went to check on the game block near the lodge. It is almost finished. There were some Kudu, Impala and Zebra faeces.

09:45 Kudu cow and calf near the big dip on the way to the back from the lodge.

13:00 Headed up the mountain.

13:15 Saw 2 x Kudu cows browsing on my way up.

13:45 There were 16 Blesbok on the right hand side of the mountain top. One came up from the Ryefield.

14:10 There were also 9 x Zebra's on the top left hand side of the mountain.

14:40 On the way back from the mountain we saw some of the Giraffes in the valley by the lodge.

15:00 Did some Video Footage and sorted some photo's

08:00 Hannes and the Game Guards took a hike round the back of the mountain.

09:45 There were 2 x Kudu's near the lodge.

10:30 They saw some Mountain Reedbuck round the back of the mountain near the N3.

11:30 Spotted a group of Guineafowl near the Tugela.

11:45 Headed back home.

21/09/2007
Weather: Sunny and warm
Min temp: 16*C Max temp: 34*C

07:30 Did yesterday's report.

08:30 Headed to the Ryefield. The Bachelor Impala's were very playful this morning, running around crazily. There were around 27 Blue cranes, the 3 usual groups of Impala and 4 x Warthogs. The 3 Blesbok were also there, one had moved back down from the mountain.

09:00 We headed up the mountain and found 3 x Giraffes on our way up (2 were calves).

09:30 The 15 Blesbok on top were looking good. There was also a Mountain reedbuck near them.

09:50 On our way down the back of the mountain we saw 5 x Kudu bulls and 3 cows browsing on the acacia's

10:35 Near the 2nd dam at the back of the mountain we saw 1 more Kudu bull and cow.

10:40 On the plateau near the show lodge we saw another 3 Giraffes.(1 calf)

11:00 Had a meeting with Charles.

13:00 We headed toward Vertrek/Geluk to check on the Wildebeest.

14:00 We found the 6 of them. They were quite calm and did not run off so we were able to get some photos.

15:00 Headed back home.

22/09/2007
Weather : Sunny and warm
Min temp : 17*C Max temp: 32*C

08:00 Headed to the Ryefield for a check up. Everything seemed fine. The Hartebeest were on the Ryefield this morning.

09:00 There were some Kudu near the house browsing on the acacia's. We spotted 3 x Redbilled Oxpeckers on the Kudu cows. Near the ponds by the house we also saw the Giraffes.






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