September, the month of SPRING, when we bid farewell to Winter and eagerly anticipate the arrival of warmer weather and hopefully rain. Reserve Management have been busy burning blocks all across the reserve as they do every year to encourage growth of new more palatable grasses, and to return nutrients back into the soil. We were fortunate to receive a small amount of rain, which encouraged the nutritious sprouts to burst through the seemingly barren, burnt soil. These burnt areas are now hot spots for our grazing animals such as blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, zebra, blesbok and warthog. The high concentration of these plains game brings along with it the grumbling stomachs of our hungry lions. Viewing these cats on the burnt surfaces is a real pleasure because of the lack of grass for them to hide in.
This controlled burning, along with hopefully more rain, should create the perfect environment for the flood of new calves and babies expected in the coming months. Our impala and blue wildebeest are already looking ready to pop! We are pleased to update that of the 13 ostrich chicks hatched last month, 10 of them are still alive and kicking and have joined the plains game on the newly burnt areas.
In Lodge news, the renovations and building work are coming along nicely. Thatching has begun so it’s not long to go now. The new kitchen has been tiled and the new offices walls have been plastered. Such an exciting time for us – we cannot wait to have the extended dining room space and individual offices for the GM, Lodge Manager and Rangers.
We have also started an Instagram account where we post photos daily of what we see in the bush along with other lodge updates.
Please follow us @thespringboklodge and share your holiday snaps by tagging @thespringboklodge in your photos.
In rangers news, after almost two years with us, one of our Rangers has “flown the nest“ to experience new fauna and flora in a different reserve in the Western Cape. We wish Marte-Lize all the best in her new adventure and we will miss having her as part of our team! However, where one door closes, another opens and we are happy to welcome the newest member of our team, Tanya Truter.
We wish you all the best as the countdown to the “Silly Season’ and 2018 begins and as always we really do look forward to seeing you at Springbok Lodge. Look out on our Facebook page for some cost saving MOVEMBER specials … We would also like to take this opportunity to wish the 2017 Grade 12’s good luck for their finals – once you’re done – party like it’s 1999!!!
Keep Calm And Just Go On Safari!