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.