August rangers digest

The windy month is in full swing occasionally accompanied by little dust-devils and wannabe tornados. While these weak attempts at swirling and twisting greatness are futile, they do result in us having to step up dust-patrol at the lodge. Fortunately, we are not in the league as other countries when it comes to natural disasters. Even our recent elections exceeded expectations. Apart from a last-ditch effort by winter to assert authority, the signs and sounds of spring are gaining momentum. Our senses are being diverted accordingly. There is new growth to enjoy. Summer will soon suffocate the cold like a Drikus vs. Adesanya bout. ‘Hulle weet nie wat ons weet nie’. Sneak a peek between dry leaves and spiky branches while being refreshed with fresh shoots and blossoms. This is particularly the case with Black Thorn Acacias and with Shepherds trees which are our earliest bloomers. Most trees are pollinated in Spring via the wind and with the help of bees and other insects

Sightings at Buffalo Thorn Lodge this month have been awesome with almost daily sightings of the Eastern pride. View the King of Jungle with fascination, respect and enjoyment. These beasts never fail to deliver and often a guest is noticed holding their breath as a lion amble past our vehicle. Seemingly inattentive to what is happening inside the vehicle, I suspect lions know exactly what is going on anywhere and everywhere within their immediate environment and beyond. Sometimes in spite of their muscularity they can appear docile, but they always remain deadly. This particular pride relocated themselves to Black Rhino about six months ago and it appears that they are here to stay. Tale the cheetah and her two youngsters have also been a delight, rewarding our guests with frequent and spellbinding sightings. One set of guests had front row seats (literally) of her catching a young Kudu. Not even a Springbok vs All Black test match is as thrilling as experiencing cheetahs close up in their natural habitat, doing what they do best.

Elephant sightings have been few as there is not really enough for them to eat or drink at this time of the year. The long distances they have to travel to reach us does not help matters. Having said that, we have not been totally void of them on the reserve. The greater Pilanesberg however had a lot of hail in the south of the park at the beginning of the year, which caused the plants to grow quicker and juicier due to the high Nitrogen content in hail. Elephants understand nutrition. They also understand Arnie Schwarzenegger and ‘they will be back’