19/11/2007
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 21*C
Max temp: 33*C
07:30 Did reports and e-mails
08:20 Headed to the lodge. There were 11 lambs (Impala) today.
08:30 We headed to the plateau and towards the back of the mountain. We drove along the Tugela.
09:00 We saw 2 x Hartebeest and a Kudu cow and calf along the way.
09:05 Not too far from there in the field we saw a Common Reedbuck male. It looks to be one of released ones.
15:30 We headed up to the mountain to go check on the Blesbok. 6 x Giraffes on the way up. We also saw a group of Zebra and the first Zebra foal of the year. There were some Waterbuck and Kudu nearby as well.
15:55 The 15 Blesbok were on the top right hand side of the mountain and there were now 7 lambs.
16:20 As we headed back we counted a further 4 x Impala lambs in the group near the house.
20/11/2007
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 22*C
Max temp: 27*C
07:30 Did yesterday's report.
08:30 Headed up to the lodge. We took Dave, Anthony, Rebecca and Mike around the Reserve to have a look at how we will approach security and other aspects.
21/11/2007
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 19*C
Max temp: 32*C
Rainfall: 17mm
07:30 Did reports and some other paperwork.
08:30 Headed up to the lodge. We took another game drive with Anthony and Rebecca just before they left for the airport. We saw some of the Giraffes and the Waterbuck near the lodge area. Got the lodge cleaned up. It started raining late night.
22/11/2007
Weather: Rain
Min temp: 19*C
Max temp: 22*C
Rainfall: 7,5mm
07:30 Did report.
07:45 Started washing the lodge's bed linen and did some fact file. It was a cloudy, rainy day and since it rained so much last night we could not go on the roads. We ended up doing some paperwork during the day.
23/11/2007
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 21*C
Max temp: 32*C
07:30 Did the rest of the linen and towels from the lodge.
09:00 It was still overcast but at least it did not rain and became sunny later. Some of the roads were still unusable but was drying out. I started doing backups of my PC through the day and Hannes went to check on the Blesbok and zebras on the mountain. Hannes had terrible hay fever today and was sneezing the whole day.
10:30 Hiked up towards the mountain. All the Blesbok lambs were there and the zebras still had no new foals
12:40 Headed to the dam for a check up. Did not see anything at the dam except for some coots and Egyptian geese.
13:25 Headed to the lodge to check up on the lambs there. All of them seem fine.
14:15 The Ryefield was quiet and nothing was happening there.
14:50 The Giraffe group were split up. One half was near the base of the mountain and the other half near the Ryefield.
15:30 Headed back for some antihistamine.
Tuesday, 27 November 2007
Weekly Report 12th - 16th November 2007
12/11/2007
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 20*C
Max temp: 32*C
07:30 Did reports and e-mails
08:45 Headed up to the mountain to check on the Blesbok and the new lambs.
09:00 4 x kudus about halfway up the mountain. 2 Cows and 2 2year old bulls.
09:15 Top left hand side of the mountain. There were 15 x adult Blesbok and 4 lambs.
10:20 Nothing round the back of the mountain. 2 x Kudu cows on the way towards the lodge.
10:30 6 x Kudu Bulls about halfway to the lodge.
10:45 At the plateau near the lodge we saw 6 x Zebras grazing. We also saw a group of Impalas and spotted the first Impala lamb of the season.
10:50 We headed to the Ryefield to check on the other Impala groups. They do not have any lambs yet.
10:55 At the 2 dams near the main gate there were 2 Egyptian Geese.
11:00 1 x Blesbok with a group of Impalas near the Ryefield.
11:05 3 Giraffes near the big stream
12:00 We headed to the school to check on the progress of the repairs to the building. Everything seems to be going well We took measurements of the school floor, as we will be fixing the floor.
13:00 Headed back to UmPhafa.
13:45 Made some cds for AFTW.
16:30 Done
13/11/2007
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 18*C
Max temp: 32*C
07:30 Did yesterday's report.
08:00 Headed to the lodge to pick up the guys to spray under fence line. There was a group of Impalas nearby. Did not see any lambs
08:30 We went to the top of the mountain.
08:40 9 x Hartebeest and a group of Zebras near the donga on the way to the mountain.
09:00 On the top left hand side of the mountain there were 2 x Hartebeest and a group of Zebras and Blesbok. We could not count them as did not want to disturb them too much.
09:10 There was nothing on the top right hand side of the mountain.
09:40 At the back of the mountain near the 4th dam we saw 4 x Kudu cows.
09:45 Near the 3rd dam there was a Duiker Female licking at the tree gum of an Acacia tree.
10:00 Halfway between the 2nd and first dam we saw another Duiker female.
10:05 Near the turn off towards the lodge we spotted 2 x Steppe Buzzards.
10:20 4 x Kudus near the plateau. 2 cows and 2 2year old bulls. Looks like the same ones from yesterday.
10:30 At the plateau near the lodge there was an Impala group. The new lamb from yesterdays still there.
10:45 Went home to download some photo's from the camera.
11:30 We headed to Vertrek to have a look around there. On the way there we saw another group of Impalas near the house. Near the dam close to the house we saw a year and a half old Kudu bull as well.
11:40 There were 13 x Giraffes near the Ryefield. All 5 calves look good and the new baby seems quite at ease with the vehicle so far.
11:45 2 x Giraffe males near the 2 ponds close to the main gate.
13:00 We did not see anything at Vertrek. The giraffes were still in the same spot when we returned. They were cooling down in the shades of the trees.
13:10 We headed to the dam at the base of the mountain.
13:20 The Waterbuck group was there although we could only see 5. There was also 2 x Egyptian Geese and 2 x Red-knobbed coots.
14:25 Headed to Colenso to get some things.
15:00 We were back on the reserve. Worked on the fact file some.
16:00 Done.
14/11/2007
Weather: Sunny and hot
Min temp: 18*C
Max temp: 35*C
07:30 Did yesterday's report.
08:00 Went to drop off the guys for the spraying of the fence line.
08:15 At the field near the house we saw a Black-backed jackal running along the road.
08:20 Headed up towards the mountain to check on the Blesbok lambs.
08:25 Near the donga on the way up there was a group of Impalas, but no lambs
08:40On the top left hand side of the mountain - Blesbok x 15 and the lambs looking fine. There were also 2 x kudu bulls and a group of about 12 Zebra.
09:00 On the way back down we saw a Kudu cow and 5 zebras
09:10 We then headed towards the plateau near the lodge to go check on the impalas there. There was a group of 8 Hartebeest 6 zebras, a group of Impala and a mountain reedbuck male.
09:20 Just along the road a bit further up, we saw 4 x Adult Kudu bulls, 4 cows, 2 young bulls and a group of Waterbuck. There were also some bachelor Impalas near.
10:35 Went to the Ryefield. There was a group of Impalas, but no lambs.
10:50 Headed to the dam at the base of the mountain
11:00 2 x Warthogs, 2 x Egyptian Geese, a Grey heron and a couple of Guinea fowls.
11:15 The Giraffes were near the 2 dams at the house on the side of the hill, browsing on the acacia's Had someone from Natal Agriculture to check some of the game numbers for stock purposes.
12:00 Did some insect identification.
16:00 Headed round the back of the mountain with Anthony, Rebecca, Richard and Keryn to show them the reserve so that Richard and Keryn can determine the potential of the Reserve for Rhino.
17:15 Near the 4th dam round the back of the mountain we saw a group of 15 Adult kudu bulls. Not too far from them, there were 2 more adult Kudu bulls and 4 cows.
17:45 2 x Mountain reedbuck on the way down the mountain and another 3 x Kudu cows and a calf.
18:00 Saw 6 x Zebras near the house and a group of Impala.
18:20 On the way up to the lodge the Impalas had about 4 lambs in the group and we also saw a small group of 6 x Mountain Reedbuck.
15/11/2007
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 22*C
Max temp: 30*C
07:30 Did yesterday's report
08:00 Met with Anthony, Rebecca and Ed and took Keryn and Richard around Geluk.
16/11/2007
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 19*C
Max temp: 30*C
Rainfall: 4.5mm Friday
17 Nov Rainfall: 13mm Saturday
07:30 Did yesterday's report. Took the workers to do some spraying under the fence line.
Anthony and Rebecca here.
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 20*C
Max temp: 32*C
07:30 Did reports and e-mails
08:45 Headed up to the mountain to check on the Blesbok and the new lambs.
09:00 4 x kudus about halfway up the mountain. 2 Cows and 2 2year old bulls.
09:15 Top left hand side of the mountain. There were 15 x adult Blesbok and 4 lambs.
10:20 Nothing round the back of the mountain. 2 x Kudu cows on the way towards the lodge.
10:30 6 x Kudu Bulls about halfway to the lodge.
10:45 At the plateau near the lodge we saw 6 x Zebras grazing. We also saw a group of Impalas and spotted the first Impala lamb of the season.
10:50 We headed to the Ryefield to check on the other Impala groups. They do not have any lambs yet.
10:55 At the 2 dams near the main gate there were 2 Egyptian Geese.
11:00 1 x Blesbok with a group of Impalas near the Ryefield.
11:05 3 Giraffes near the big stream
12:00 We headed to the school to check on the progress of the repairs to the building. Everything seems to be going well We took measurements of the school floor, as we will be fixing the floor.
13:00 Headed back to UmPhafa.
13:45 Made some cds for AFTW.
16:30 Done
13/11/2007
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 18*C
Max temp: 32*C
07:30 Did yesterday's report.
08:00 Headed to the lodge to pick up the guys to spray under fence line. There was a group of Impalas nearby. Did not see any lambs
08:30 We went to the top of the mountain.
08:40 9 x Hartebeest and a group of Zebras near the donga on the way to the mountain.
09:00 On the top left hand side of the mountain there were 2 x Hartebeest and a group of Zebras and Blesbok. We could not count them as did not want to disturb them too much.
09:10 There was nothing on the top right hand side of the mountain.
09:40 At the back of the mountain near the 4th dam we saw 4 x Kudu cows.
09:45 Near the 3rd dam there was a Duiker Female licking at the tree gum of an Acacia tree.
10:00 Halfway between the 2nd and first dam we saw another Duiker female.
10:05 Near the turn off towards the lodge we spotted 2 x Steppe Buzzards.
10:20 4 x Kudus near the plateau. 2 cows and 2 2year old bulls. Looks like the same ones from yesterday.
10:30 At the plateau near the lodge there was an Impala group. The new lamb from yesterdays still there.
10:45 Went home to download some photo's from the camera.
11:30 We headed to Vertrek to have a look around there. On the way there we saw another group of Impalas near the house. Near the dam close to the house we saw a year and a half old Kudu bull as well.
11:40 There were 13 x Giraffes near the Ryefield. All 5 calves look good and the new baby seems quite at ease with the vehicle so far.
11:45 2 x Giraffe males near the 2 ponds close to the main gate.
13:00 We did not see anything at Vertrek. The giraffes were still in the same spot when we returned. They were cooling down in the shades of the trees.
13:10 We headed to the dam at the base of the mountain.
13:20 The Waterbuck group was there although we could only see 5. There was also 2 x Egyptian Geese and 2 x Red-knobbed coots.
14:25 Headed to Colenso to get some things.
15:00 We were back on the reserve. Worked on the fact file some.
16:00 Done.
14/11/2007
Weather: Sunny and hot
Min temp: 18*C
Max temp: 35*C
07:30 Did yesterday's report.
08:00 Went to drop off the guys for the spraying of the fence line.
08:15 At the field near the house we saw a Black-backed jackal running along the road.
08:20 Headed up towards the mountain to check on the Blesbok lambs.
08:25 Near the donga on the way up there was a group of Impalas, but no lambs
08:40On the top left hand side of the mountain - Blesbok x 15 and the lambs looking fine. There were also 2 x kudu bulls and a group of about 12 Zebra.
09:00 On the way back down we saw a Kudu cow and 5 zebras
09:10 We then headed towards the plateau near the lodge to go check on the impalas there. There was a group of 8 Hartebeest 6 zebras, a group of Impala and a mountain reedbuck male.
09:20 Just along the road a bit further up, we saw 4 x Adult Kudu bulls, 4 cows, 2 young bulls and a group of Waterbuck. There were also some bachelor Impalas near.
10:35 Went to the Ryefield. There was a group of Impalas, but no lambs.
10:50 Headed to the dam at the base of the mountain
11:00 2 x Warthogs, 2 x Egyptian Geese, a Grey heron and a couple of Guinea fowls.
11:15 The Giraffes were near the 2 dams at the house on the side of the hill, browsing on the acacia's Had someone from Natal Agriculture to check some of the game numbers for stock purposes.
12:00 Did some insect identification.
16:00 Headed round the back of the mountain with Anthony, Rebecca, Richard and Keryn to show them the reserve so that Richard and Keryn can determine the potential of the Reserve for Rhino.
17:15 Near the 4th dam round the back of the mountain we saw a group of 15 Adult kudu bulls. Not too far from them, there were 2 more adult Kudu bulls and 4 cows.
17:45 2 x Mountain reedbuck on the way down the mountain and another 3 x Kudu cows and a calf.
18:00 Saw 6 x Zebras near the house and a group of Impala.
18:20 On the way up to the lodge the Impalas had about 4 lambs in the group and we also saw a small group of 6 x Mountain Reedbuck.
15/11/2007
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 22*C
Max temp: 30*C
07:30 Did yesterday's report
08:00 Met with Anthony, Rebecca and Ed and took Keryn and Richard around Geluk.
16/11/2007
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 19*C
Max temp: 30*C
Rainfall: 4.5mm Friday
17 Nov Rainfall: 13mm Saturday
07:30 Did yesterday's report. Took the workers to do some spraying under the fence line.
Anthony and Rebecca here.
Weekly Report 5th - 9th November 2007
05/11/2007
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 18*C
Max temp: 30*C
Rainfall: 2mm over weekend
07:30 Did reports and e-mails
10:00 Meeting with Mike concerning the alien plant species on UmPhafa.
10:45 On the way to the Ryefield and saw a water monitor near the 2 dams close to the house.
11:15 Went to the Ryefield for a check. Did not see anything on the Ryefield, bit close to the road near the Ryefield we saw a group of Impalas and bachelor group of Impalas.
12:30 Headed to the mountain - Gevonden.
12:45 Half way up to the mountain we saw 6 x Zebras and a couple of Impala bachelors.
12:50 Near the zebras on the way up to the mountain we saw the new Giraffe calf. All the Giraffe calves were there (5) and there was also 5 adult Giraffes. We do not however know the sex of the little calf. We stayed with them until they moved out of sight.
13:15 Headed up the mountain again.
13:30 2 x Red Hartebeest on top of the mountain, in the middle area.
13:50 Took some more photos of the flowers. There were a lone Blesbok and a Mountain Reedbuck male on the top right hand side of the mountain.
14:05 Top left hand side of the mountain we saw a group of Zebras, Blesbok and Red Hartebeest. We were unable to count them as they were quite close to each other.
14:30 3 x Kudu cows near the 4th dam at the back of the mountain. There was also a Kudu Bull nearby.
15:30 Zebra group (6) on the plateau near the show lodge.
15:45 Headed back home and sorted some photos of the day.
16:00 done
06/11/2007
Weather: Rain
Min temp: 17*C
Max temp: 19*C
Rainfall: 16mm
07:30 Did reports.
08:00 Headed towards mountain. We wanted to go do some road clearing. On the way there we saw some bachelor Impalas and a group of Zebras.
08:15 Further on we saw the new Giraffe again. It looks to be a little female as well but we are not sure yet. There were 14 Giraffe all together here. It started dripping slightly. There were also a group of zebras near the giraffes
08:35 There were some Impala and a female duiker as well.
09:00 We headed up towards the mountain again, but it started raining too hard and we had to turn back, because of the roads
09:35 We headed towards the main gate to pick up some guys doing spraying under the fence line. There was an Impala group near the Ryefield.
10:00 We got back home and the power was out.
11:30 Power came back on and we worked some more on the fact file.
12:30 Stopped raining for a while and we headed out again in search of some more photos.
13:30 Light rain and we headed back to sort and name photos
14:10 Stopped raining again and we moved some furniture out to be transported.
15:00 Went to Colenso for some things
16:00 Back home.
07/11/2007
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 15*C
Max temp: 19*C
07:30 Did yesterday's report and some e-mails
08:00 We went looking for a jackal on the Ryefield.
09:00 There were some Red Hartebeest and a group of Impalas near the Ryefield.
09:55 We headed back to get some of the Game guards to help us look for the jackal. On our way to the house we saw 8 x Giraffes near the road.
10:20 We dropped of some of the workers to spray under the fence line.
10:30 Headed back to the Ryefield to search again.
11:00 We still could not fine the jackal. Picked some old fencing near the tugela and took it back to the workshop.
12:00 Near the dam at the base of the mountain we counted 11 Giraffes. They moved away from the Ryefield area towards the mountain and were now near the dam.
12:15 2 x Warthogs (young male and female) near the Ryefield, mountain side of the road.
12:20 Group of Impalas near the 2 ponds near the house.
12:30 We headed out looking for the Blesbok that usually spends it's time with the group of Impalas near the Ryefield. We just wanted to get some good clear photos of it.
13:00 We could not find the Blesbok, but did get some more nice different pictures of wildflowers.
14:30 We headed back home to sort out the pictures and identify some insects.
16:00 Worked on the fact file a little.
08/11/2007
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 15*C
Max temp: 20*C
07:30 Did yesterday's report
08:15 Dropped the guys off for spraying under fence line. (Part of alien plant control)
08:20 Small group of Impalas near the Ryefield
08:30 We headed up towards the mountain.
08:45 On our way up we saw a Warthog with a porcupine quill in its hind quarter. Warthogs make use of Porcupine holes at night. They enter the hole backwards so that they face forwards. The quill might have got stuck in the warthog as it reversed into the hole and could not get it out again.
08:50 We could not go up the mountain all the way. The road was still too wet from the previous rain.
09:15 We headed to the dam at the base of the mountain
09:25 There were 2 x Yellowbilled ducks, some redknobbed coots and a water monitor sunbathing at the dam.
10:00 We loaded some photos from the camera on the PC and sorted them. We took photo of some wildflowers.
10:20 We headed to Geluk. Some of the Giraffes were near the base of the mountain. There was also a group of Impalas at the dam near the house.
10:30 Another group of Impalas near the main gate. Looks to be the one that was near the Ryefield earlier.
11:00 Went to the lodge at Geluk. On the way there we saw a Steppe Buzzard and a meter long Water Monitor as well as some Egyptian Geese and a Duiker.
11:50 At the lodge near the dam on Geluk there were some more Egyptian Geese and 2 Dabchicks. Also some Hadeda ibis.
12:05 Headed up the mountain on Geluk. Saw a young Kudu bull and a cow on the way.
12:30 We went to the back of Geluk to do a check up. No woodcutting is allowed and the people next door sometimes come over to cut some trees. They keep doing it even if we have warned them so we do check ups to make sure the do not trespass.
13:25 On the way out we saw another 4 x nice Kudu bulls
14:00 Headed back home and worked on the fact file and sorted out some more photos. Also tried to id some insects.
16:15 Went to pick up the guys doing the spraying.
09/11/2007
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 17*C
Max temp: 25*C
07:30 Did yesterday's report.
08:30 Headed to the top of the mountain to check on the Belsbok.
08:35 6 x Zebras and a group of Impalas near the donga on the way up to the mountain.
08:40 5 x Zebra stallions a bit further along the donga.
09:00 At the top left hand side of the mountain we saw the Blesbok. There were 3 lambs and 17 adults. There was also a Kudu bull nearby. 2 x Mountain reedbuck in the middle of top.
09:20 Small bachelor group of Impala near the house. We searched for the other Impala groups just to check up on them.
09:25 At the dams near the house we saw the same water monitor from Monday in the water.
09:30 The group of Impalas near the Ryefield looks good. No lambs.
09:50 Headed for the lodge in search of some more Impala groups. There were none up there.
10:00 We headed towards the back of the mountain and followed the Tugela back. There were some Zebras on the way.
10:10 We saw a small group of Impalas near the Tuglela but also no lambs.
11:15 Worked on the fact file and some photos
14:00 Hannes went with Mike.
15:00 Took a bicycle ride towards the main gate in search of some more photos. Saw 9 x Giraffes close to the dams near the main gate
15:45 Headed back home.
16:00 Picked up the workers doing the spraying under the fence line.
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 18*C
Max temp: 30*C
Rainfall: 2mm over weekend
07:30 Did reports and e-mails
10:00 Meeting with Mike concerning the alien plant species on UmPhafa.
10:45 On the way to the Ryefield and saw a water monitor near the 2 dams close to the house.
11:15 Went to the Ryefield for a check. Did not see anything on the Ryefield, bit close to the road near the Ryefield we saw a group of Impalas and bachelor group of Impalas.
12:30 Headed to the mountain - Gevonden.
12:45 Half way up to the mountain we saw 6 x Zebras and a couple of Impala bachelors.
12:50 Near the zebras on the way up to the mountain we saw the new Giraffe calf. All the Giraffe calves were there (5) and there was also 5 adult Giraffes. We do not however know the sex of the little calf. We stayed with them until they moved out of sight.
13:15 Headed up the mountain again.
13:30 2 x Red Hartebeest on top of the mountain, in the middle area.
13:50 Took some more photos of the flowers. There were a lone Blesbok and a Mountain Reedbuck male on the top right hand side of the mountain.
14:05 Top left hand side of the mountain we saw a group of Zebras, Blesbok and Red Hartebeest. We were unable to count them as they were quite close to each other.
14:30 3 x Kudu cows near the 4th dam at the back of the mountain. There was also a Kudu Bull nearby.
15:30 Zebra group (6) on the plateau near the show lodge.
15:45 Headed back home and sorted some photos of the day.
16:00 done
06/11/2007
Weather: Rain
Min temp: 17*C
Max temp: 19*C
Rainfall: 16mm
07:30 Did reports.
08:00 Headed towards mountain. We wanted to go do some road clearing. On the way there we saw some bachelor Impalas and a group of Zebras.
08:15 Further on we saw the new Giraffe again. It looks to be a little female as well but we are not sure yet. There were 14 Giraffe all together here. It started dripping slightly. There were also a group of zebras near the giraffes
08:35 There were some Impala and a female duiker as well.
09:00 We headed up towards the mountain again, but it started raining too hard and we had to turn back, because of the roads
09:35 We headed towards the main gate to pick up some guys doing spraying under the fence line. There was an Impala group near the Ryefield.
10:00 We got back home and the power was out.
11:30 Power came back on and we worked some more on the fact file.
12:30 Stopped raining for a while and we headed out again in search of some more photos.
13:30 Light rain and we headed back to sort and name photos
14:10 Stopped raining again and we moved some furniture out to be transported.
15:00 Went to Colenso for some things
16:00 Back home.
07/11/2007
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 15*C
Max temp: 19*C
07:30 Did yesterday's report and some e-mails
08:00 We went looking for a jackal on the Ryefield.
09:00 There were some Red Hartebeest and a group of Impalas near the Ryefield.
09:55 We headed back to get some of the Game guards to help us look for the jackal. On our way to the house we saw 8 x Giraffes near the road.
10:20 We dropped of some of the workers to spray under the fence line.
10:30 Headed back to the Ryefield to search again.
11:00 We still could not fine the jackal. Picked some old fencing near the tugela and took it back to the workshop.
12:00 Near the dam at the base of the mountain we counted 11 Giraffes. They moved away from the Ryefield area towards the mountain and were now near the dam.
12:15 2 x Warthogs (young male and female) near the Ryefield, mountain side of the road.
12:20 Group of Impalas near the 2 ponds near the house.
12:30 We headed out looking for the Blesbok that usually spends it's time with the group of Impalas near the Ryefield. We just wanted to get some good clear photos of it.
13:00 We could not find the Blesbok, but did get some more nice different pictures of wildflowers.
14:30 We headed back home to sort out the pictures and identify some insects.
16:00 Worked on the fact file a little.
08/11/2007
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 15*C
Max temp: 20*C
07:30 Did yesterday's report
08:15 Dropped the guys off for spraying under fence line. (Part of alien plant control)
08:20 Small group of Impalas near the Ryefield
08:30 We headed up towards the mountain.
08:45 On our way up we saw a Warthog with a porcupine quill in its hind quarter. Warthogs make use of Porcupine holes at night. They enter the hole backwards so that they face forwards. The quill might have got stuck in the warthog as it reversed into the hole and could not get it out again.
08:50 We could not go up the mountain all the way. The road was still too wet from the previous rain.
09:15 We headed to the dam at the base of the mountain
09:25 There were 2 x Yellowbilled ducks, some redknobbed coots and a water monitor sunbathing at the dam.
10:00 We loaded some photos from the camera on the PC and sorted them. We took photo of some wildflowers.
10:20 We headed to Geluk. Some of the Giraffes were near the base of the mountain. There was also a group of Impalas at the dam near the house.
10:30 Another group of Impalas near the main gate. Looks to be the one that was near the Ryefield earlier.
11:00 Went to the lodge at Geluk. On the way there we saw a Steppe Buzzard and a meter long Water Monitor as well as some Egyptian Geese and a Duiker.
11:50 At the lodge near the dam on Geluk there were some more Egyptian Geese and 2 Dabchicks. Also some Hadeda ibis.
12:05 Headed up the mountain on Geluk. Saw a young Kudu bull and a cow on the way.
12:30 We went to the back of Geluk to do a check up. No woodcutting is allowed and the people next door sometimes come over to cut some trees. They keep doing it even if we have warned them so we do check ups to make sure the do not trespass.
13:25 On the way out we saw another 4 x nice Kudu bulls
14:00 Headed back home and worked on the fact file and sorted out some more photos. Also tried to id some insects.
16:15 Went to pick up the guys doing the spraying.
09/11/2007
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 17*C
Max temp: 25*C
07:30 Did yesterday's report.
08:30 Headed to the top of the mountain to check on the Belsbok.
08:35 6 x Zebras and a group of Impalas near the donga on the way up to the mountain.
08:40 5 x Zebra stallions a bit further along the donga.
09:00 At the top left hand side of the mountain we saw the Blesbok. There were 3 lambs and 17 adults. There was also a Kudu bull nearby. 2 x Mountain reedbuck in the middle of top.
09:20 Small bachelor group of Impala near the house. We searched for the other Impala groups just to check up on them.
09:25 At the dams near the house we saw the same water monitor from Monday in the water.
09:30 The group of Impalas near the Ryefield looks good. No lambs.
09:50 Headed for the lodge in search of some more Impala groups. There were none up there.
10:00 We headed towards the back of the mountain and followed the Tugela back. There were some Zebras on the way.
10:10 We saw a small group of Impalas near the Tuglela but also no lambs.
11:15 Worked on the fact file and some photos
14:00 Hannes went with Mike.
15:00 Took a bicycle ride towards the main gate in search of some more photos. Saw 9 x Giraffes close to the dams near the main gate
15:45 Headed back home.
16:00 Picked up the workers doing the spraying under the fence line.
Monday, 12 November 2007
Weekly Report 29th October - 2nd November
29/10/2007
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 13*C
Rainfall: 3mm
07:30 Did last week's reports and e-mails.
09:30 Headed to the Ryefield but there was nothing of interest there.
10:00 We headed up the mountain.
10:20 On our way there we came across a group of 5 Zebra stallions. One had only half a right ear. It might have been bitten off in a fight with one of the other stallions.
10:25 Not too far from the bachelor group we saw a nice big group of about 17 Zebras. There were also 3 x Kudu cows near them.
11:20 On the top right hand side of the mountain we saw some Black-winged Plovers (Lapwings), but the Blesbok were not in the usual spot.
11:30 As we moved back we spotted the Blesbok on the top left hand side of the mountain. There was a group of 13 Zebras there as well.
11:50 We headed down the mountain towards the back. Near the 4th dam at the back we saw 4 x Kudu cows.
12:00 Near the 3rd dam we saw 5 x Nice big Kudu bulls.
12:45 Near the plateau close to the show lodge there was a group of Impalas grazing on the new growth.
12:50 There were 6 x Zebras on the plateau as well.
13:00 Also a group of Impalas near the lodge. We headed back to the farm house for lunch.
13:30 Sorted out some photo's and worked some more on the fact file on UmPhafa.
16:00 Done
30/10/2007
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 18*C
Max temp: 30*C
06:00 We headed for Mtontwane for some Giraffe capturing with Game Capture Africa.
07:00 We got there and everything was prepared for the capture. By 10:00 we had capture 4 and by 12:00pm another 3. 14:00 we went out for another 3 and ended up with 10 in total. We headed back to UmPhafa at 16:15 and got back around 17:00. It was a very exciting and interesting day. We just wish to express our thanks to Game Capture Africa for the opportunity to accompany them on this capture.
31/10/2007
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 19*C
Max temp: 27*C
07:30 Did the last 2 days reports.
08:30 Headed for the Ryefield.
08:40 Did not see anything on the Ryefield except some Hadeda Ibis.
08:55 On the other side of the Ryefield we saw a lone Blesbok and a group of Impalas.
09:00 We headed for Vertrek to see if we could find anything interesting.
09:50 At the Vertrek/Geluk border - We did not see the Blue Wildebeest or any Kudu there today.
10:30 Headed back to the house. Went hiking to find some photos for the fact file.
12:30 Went to Ladysmith for some things.
14:30 Back on UmPhafa and worked some more on the file.
16:00 Done
01/10/2007
Weather: Overcast with some rain.
Min temp: 19*C
Max temp: 27*C
Rainfall: 1mm
07:30 Did yesterday's report.
08:30 Had a meeting with Howard
10:30 Headed towards the mountain via the lodge. Went to drop Hannes and Mike off. They hiked down looking for a suitable place for a road coming down.
10:40 At the plateau near the lodge we saw 9 x Waterbuck and a group of Impalas. One of the Impala rams had what looks to be an abscess on the underside of his jaw. We will keep a close eye on it. The ram did not look underfed. There was also a group of zebras nearby.
11:10 3 x Adult Kudu cows and a calf at the back of the mountain near the N3.
11:40 At the top of the mountain on the left hand side we saw 17 x Blesbok and 13 Zebras.
12:15 On the way back down the mountain there was another group of Impalas grazing on the new growth.
12:25 Picked up the AFTW vehicle and dropped the Cruiser for Mike and Hannes.
12:30 Headed back for lunch.
13:00 Worked on the fact file some and went looking for some photos for it.
14:30 Headed towards the Tugela and followed the river along towards the back of the mountain to the lodge area.
15:00 Near the big dip I tried to ID a tree but was unable to find it in the book.
16:00 There was a lone Warthog sow near the plateau close to the lodge.
16:30 Saw 4 x Mountain Reedbuck on the way from the lodge towards the farm house. There was a juvenile Common Reedbuck amongst a group of Impala near the dams close to the house. Hannes and Mike saw a group of 7 Mountain Reedbuck (5 females, 1 juvenile an a male) on their way down from the mountain, as well as a Red-Chested Cuckoo ( Cuculus solitarius ) We also saw a Spotted Bush snake today near the farm house.
02/10/2007
Weather: Sunny most of the day
Rain during night
Min temp: 19*C
Max temp: 29*C
Rainfall: 3mm on Geluk
5mm on Gevonden
07:30 Did yesterday's report.
08:20 Headed to the lodge in search of the giraffes. Saw them near the 2 ponds close to the main gate.
08:35 Small group of Impalas near the road on the way back from the lodge.
09:00 3 x Giraffe bulls, a cow and calf (Vera) near the 2 ponds. They are the ones we saw from the lodge.
09:05 I stayed with the giraffes for a couple of hours to see if I could maybe get to see the others, but they did not really move from the area.
11:00 I left the Giraffes in search of some more photo's for the fact file.
12:30 Home for lunch.
13:00 We headed out again in search of some photos again.
14:30 Came back home and worked some on the fact file.
16:00 Done
Weather: Sunny
Min temp: 13*C
Rainfall: 3mm
07:30 Did last week's reports and e-mails.
09:30 Headed to the Ryefield but there was nothing of interest there.
10:00 We headed up the mountain.
10:20 On our way there we came across a group of 5 Zebra stallions. One had only half a right ear. It might have been bitten off in a fight with one of the other stallions.
10:25 Not too far from the bachelor group we saw a nice big group of about 17 Zebras. There were also 3 x Kudu cows near them.
11:20 On the top right hand side of the mountain we saw some Black-winged Plovers (Lapwings), but the Blesbok were not in the usual spot.
11:30 As we moved back we spotted the Blesbok on the top left hand side of the mountain. There was a group of 13 Zebras there as well.
11:50 We headed down the mountain towards the back. Near the 4th dam at the back we saw 4 x Kudu cows.
12:00 Near the 3rd dam we saw 5 x Nice big Kudu bulls.
12:45 Near the plateau close to the show lodge there was a group of Impalas grazing on the new growth.
12:50 There were 6 x Zebras on the plateau as well.
13:00 Also a group of Impalas near the lodge. We headed back to the farm house for lunch.
13:30 Sorted out some photo's and worked some more on the fact file on UmPhafa.
16:00 Done
30/10/2007
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 18*C
Max temp: 30*C
06:00 We headed for Mtontwane for some Giraffe capturing with Game Capture Africa.
07:00 We got there and everything was prepared for the capture. By 10:00 we had capture 4 and by 12:00pm another 3. 14:00 we went out for another 3 and ended up with 10 in total. We headed back to UmPhafa at 16:15 and got back around 17:00. It was a very exciting and interesting day. We just wish to express our thanks to Game Capture Africa for the opportunity to accompany them on this capture.
31/10/2007
Weather: Overcast
Min temp: 19*C
Max temp: 27*C
07:30 Did the last 2 days reports.
08:30 Headed for the Ryefield.
08:40 Did not see anything on the Ryefield except some Hadeda Ibis.
08:55 On the other side of the Ryefield we saw a lone Blesbok and a group of Impalas.
09:00 We headed for Vertrek to see if we could find anything interesting.
09:50 At the Vertrek/Geluk border - We did not see the Blue Wildebeest or any Kudu there today.
10:30 Headed back to the house. Went hiking to find some photos for the fact file.
12:30 Went to Ladysmith for some things.
14:30 Back on UmPhafa and worked some more on the file.
16:00 Done
01/10/2007
Weather: Overcast with some rain.
Min temp: 19*C
Max temp: 27*C
Rainfall: 1mm
07:30 Did yesterday's report.
08:30 Had a meeting with Howard
10:30 Headed towards the mountain via the lodge. Went to drop Hannes and Mike off. They hiked down looking for a suitable place for a road coming down.
10:40 At the plateau near the lodge we saw 9 x Waterbuck and a group of Impalas. One of the Impala rams had what looks to be an abscess on the underside of his jaw. We will keep a close eye on it. The ram did not look underfed. There was also a group of zebras nearby.
11:10 3 x Adult Kudu cows and a calf at the back of the mountain near the N3.
11:40 At the top of the mountain on the left hand side we saw 17 x Blesbok and 13 Zebras.
12:15 On the way back down the mountain there was another group of Impalas grazing on the new growth.
12:25 Picked up the AFTW vehicle and dropped the Cruiser for Mike and Hannes.
12:30 Headed back for lunch.
13:00 Worked on the fact file some and went looking for some photos for it.
14:30 Headed towards the Tugela and followed the river along towards the back of the mountain to the lodge area.
15:00 Near the big dip I tried to ID a tree but was unable to find it in the book.
16:00 There was a lone Warthog sow near the plateau close to the lodge.
16:30 Saw 4 x Mountain Reedbuck on the way from the lodge towards the farm house. There was a juvenile Common Reedbuck amongst a group of Impala near the dams close to the house. Hannes and Mike saw a group of 7 Mountain Reedbuck (5 females, 1 juvenile an a male) on their way down from the mountain, as well as a Red-Chested Cuckoo ( Cuculus solitarius ) We also saw a Spotted Bush snake today near the farm house.
02/10/2007
Weather: Sunny most of the day
Rain during night
Min temp: 19*C
Max temp: 29*C
Rainfall: 3mm on Geluk
5mm on Gevonden
07:30 Did yesterday's report.
08:20 Headed to the lodge in search of the giraffes. Saw them near the 2 ponds close to the main gate.
08:35 Small group of Impalas near the road on the way back from the lodge.
09:00 3 x Giraffe bulls, a cow and calf (Vera) near the 2 ponds. They are the ones we saw from the lodge.
09:05 I stayed with the giraffes for a couple of hours to see if I could maybe get to see the others, but they did not really move from the area.
11:00 I left the Giraffes in search of some more photo's for the fact file.
12:30 Home for lunch.
13:00 We headed out again in search of some photos again.
14:30 Came back home and worked some on the fact file.
16:00 Done
Weekly Report 8th - 11th October
08/10/2007
Weather: Raining
Min temp: 13*C
Max temp: 18*C
Rainfall : 27mm
Weekend rainfall: 38mm
07:30 Did yesterday's report
08:00 headed up to the lodge. There was a mention of a new giraffe calf and we went to see if we could perhaps find it. We are not a 100% sure that there is a new calf.
08:10 There was a small group of Impalas and about 5 mountains Reedbuck on our way up to the lodge.
08:25 We headed towards the back of the mountain but decided against it as the roads were still quite wet and muddy.
09:00 We instead took the road along the Tugela and back towards the farm house. We saw 2 x Warthogs and a Lanner Falcon near the N3 on the way.
09:30 We headed towards the Ryefield. There were about 19 Zebra near the big stream on our way to the Ryefield. There were no animals except a few Hadeda ibis on the Ryefield. We drove towards the gate to see if we could maybe see the Giraffes.
09:45 There were some Giraffes near the 2 ponds close to the main gate. They were more towards the mountain side.
10:00 We were asked to id a snake found by a neighbour. We picked it up in Colenso and as far as we can tell it is an Olive grass snake (Psammophis mossambicus)
10:45 We headed to the school to see if the department of education made a start on the school and it looks like they have actually started fixing up Ethuleni School. We will keep an eye on the progress.
11:30 Took a hike towards the mountain in search of the other giraffes and to see if we could find the new calf. We are staying off the roads as it is too muddy and wet still.
12:50 Near the base of the mountain we saw some more Zebras. Looks to be the group of bachelors.
13:25 It started raining softly and the wind picked up. We headed down the big stream towards the Giraffes we have seen earlier.
14:40 It started raining harder and we headed back towards the house.
15:15 We worked a bit on the new fact sheets.
It rained throughout the night.
09/10/2007
Weather: Raining
Min temp: 13*C
Max temp: 17*C
Rainfall : 14mm
07:30 It rained right through the night and throughout the whole day. We did some paperwork and worked on the UmPhafa facts.
13:00 Did yesterday's report. Raining.
13:45 Worked on some video and some more on the facts. Raining still.
16:00 It was still raining. All and all a very wet day.
10/10/2007
Weather: Sunny, partly cloudy
Min temp: 12*C
Max temp: 20*C
07:30 Did report.
07:45 Took a hike towards the dam at the base of the mountain. Saw some of the Giraffes in the area.
08:30 Found 9 x Giraffes at the dam, including the 3 youngest calves.
08:50 I stayed with the Giraffes at the dam for a while. They moved on after a while. Saw a reed cormorant at the dam.
09:30 I followed the Giraffes around. They moved about a lot but stayed in the area. I was hoping to maybe find the rest of the group.
10:00 I counted 12 Giraffes by this time and saw all 4 calves.
11:25 I walked around in the area in search of the other 2 but could not find them, so I headed back to the big group.
13:00 Headed back home.
13:15 Near the house I saw a small group of Impala (about 22)
13:45 Headed out again. This time towards the main gate. Hannes said he saw a female in the area there.
14:30 There was a group of Zebra with the 12 Giraffes. Still could not find the last Giraffe. Did see the female near the 2 ponds near the main gate.
16:00 Headed back home.
08:00 Hannes went towards the lodge. On the road there saw 5 Impala females.
08:10 The dam near the lodge is about a quarter full. 7 Impalas there.
08:15 On the main road near the Ryefield a warthog male.
08:20 At the 2 ponds near the main gate 2 x Yellow-billed ducks. Both dams have water after the rains.
09:30 The stream leading to the Tugela - Reed cormorant.
10:30 Went with Mike to Geluk.
11:30 Saw 3 x Blue Wildebeest at the lodge on Geluk.
12:00 2 ponds near the main gate a female giraffe on her own.
11/10/2007
Weather: Sunny, partly cloudy
Min temp: 14*C
Max temp: 25*C
07:30 Did yesterday's report
08:15 Hiked up towards lodge. The roads were still a bit wet.
08:30 11 x Impalas on the way up to the lodge
08:45 5 x Mountain Reedbuck and 2 Impala females further up the road.
09:30 At the plateau near the lodge we had a look if we could spot the Giraffes, but we could not see them.
10:00 On the way towards the big dip we saw a slender Mongoose
11:40 Hiked along the side of the mountain towards the road leading up to the mountain.
12:00 We saw a Duiker near the dam on the left side of the road leading to the mountain.
13:30 Headed home.
14:00 We spotted some of the Giraffes nearer the main gate and headed in that direction to see if we could spot the new calf. We were not sure that there was one but the game guards said they might have spotted one.
16:00 We were unable to see the calf and headed back home from the area. It rained a further 2mm on Geluk on Monday the 15th and Thursday the 18th it rained 9mm on Geluk and 8mm on Gevonden.
Weather: Raining
Min temp: 13*C
Max temp: 18*C
Rainfall : 27mm
Weekend rainfall: 38mm
07:30 Did yesterday's report
08:00 headed up to the lodge. There was a mention of a new giraffe calf and we went to see if we could perhaps find it. We are not a 100% sure that there is a new calf.
08:10 There was a small group of Impalas and about 5 mountains Reedbuck on our way up to the lodge.
08:25 We headed towards the back of the mountain but decided against it as the roads were still quite wet and muddy.
09:00 We instead took the road along the Tugela and back towards the farm house. We saw 2 x Warthogs and a Lanner Falcon near the N3 on the way.
09:30 We headed towards the Ryefield. There were about 19 Zebra near the big stream on our way to the Ryefield. There were no animals except a few Hadeda ibis on the Ryefield. We drove towards the gate to see if we could maybe see the Giraffes.
09:45 There were some Giraffes near the 2 ponds close to the main gate. They were more towards the mountain side.
10:00 We were asked to id a snake found by a neighbour. We picked it up in Colenso and as far as we can tell it is an Olive grass snake (Psammophis mossambicus)
10:45 We headed to the school to see if the department of education made a start on the school and it looks like they have actually started fixing up Ethuleni School. We will keep an eye on the progress.
11:30 Took a hike towards the mountain in search of the other giraffes and to see if we could find the new calf. We are staying off the roads as it is too muddy and wet still.
12:50 Near the base of the mountain we saw some more Zebras. Looks to be the group of bachelors.
13:25 It started raining softly and the wind picked up. We headed down the big stream towards the Giraffes we have seen earlier.
14:40 It started raining harder and we headed back towards the house.
15:15 We worked a bit on the new fact sheets.
It rained throughout the night.
09/10/2007
Weather: Raining
Min temp: 13*C
Max temp: 17*C
Rainfall : 14mm
07:30 It rained right through the night and throughout the whole day. We did some paperwork and worked on the UmPhafa facts.
13:00 Did yesterday's report. Raining.
13:45 Worked on some video and some more on the facts. Raining still.
16:00 It was still raining. All and all a very wet day.
10/10/2007
Weather: Sunny, partly cloudy
Min temp: 12*C
Max temp: 20*C
07:30 Did report.
07:45 Took a hike towards the dam at the base of the mountain. Saw some of the Giraffes in the area.
08:30 Found 9 x Giraffes at the dam, including the 3 youngest calves.
08:50 I stayed with the Giraffes at the dam for a while. They moved on after a while. Saw a reed cormorant at the dam.
09:30 I followed the Giraffes around. They moved about a lot but stayed in the area. I was hoping to maybe find the rest of the group.
10:00 I counted 12 Giraffes by this time and saw all 4 calves.
11:25 I walked around in the area in search of the other 2 but could not find them, so I headed back to the big group.
13:00 Headed back home.
13:15 Near the house I saw a small group of Impala (about 22)
13:45 Headed out again. This time towards the main gate. Hannes said he saw a female in the area there.
14:30 There was a group of Zebra with the 12 Giraffes. Still could not find the last Giraffe. Did see the female near the 2 ponds near the main gate.
16:00 Headed back home.
08:00 Hannes went towards the lodge. On the road there saw 5 Impala females.
08:10 The dam near the lodge is about a quarter full. 7 Impalas there.
08:15 On the main road near the Ryefield a warthog male.
08:20 At the 2 ponds near the main gate 2 x Yellow-billed ducks. Both dams have water after the rains.
09:30 The stream leading to the Tugela - Reed cormorant.
10:30 Went with Mike to Geluk.
11:30 Saw 3 x Blue Wildebeest at the lodge on Geluk.
12:00 2 ponds near the main gate a female giraffe on her own.
11/10/2007
Weather: Sunny, partly cloudy
Min temp: 14*C
Max temp: 25*C
07:30 Did yesterday's report
08:15 Hiked up towards lodge. The roads were still a bit wet.
08:30 11 x Impalas on the way up to the lodge
08:45 5 x Mountain Reedbuck and 2 Impala females further up the road.
09:30 At the plateau near the lodge we had a look if we could spot the Giraffes, but we could not see them.
10:00 On the way towards the big dip we saw a slender Mongoose
11:40 Hiked along the side of the mountain towards the road leading up to the mountain.
12:00 We saw a Duiker near the dam on the left side of the road leading to the mountain.
13:30 Headed home.
14:00 We spotted some of the Giraffes nearer the main gate and headed in that direction to see if we could spot the new calf. We were not sure that there was one but the game guards said they might have spotted one.
16:00 We were unable to see the calf and headed back home from the area. It rained a further 2mm on Geluk on Monday the 15th and Thursday the 18th it rained 9mm on Geluk and 8mm on Gevonden.
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