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