Amakhosi Safari Lodge
Bush Beat (September 2009)
16 September 2009
Ranger Report – September 2009
When you open your eyes in the morning and see a distinct golden glow in the air, spring has arrived! It’s time to shake off the cold and embrace another exceptional summer season that lies ahead.
This year spring is a tad early one would think. The first rains fell in August and the temperatures climbed each day little by little. Enticing and waking the bush with the promise of new life and a fresh start to a new season.
This is always a wonderful time to be out at Amakhosi, seeing the Red Ivory trees pushing new shoots with bright green leaves from the early rains and of course the very definite return of the migrant birds, making themselves known.
Yellow billed Kites and Walhberg’s Eagles are soaring through the African skies once again as we hold our breath for the European Rollers to return with their beautiful bright colors that adorn our skies for the season.
Our amphibian friends are also out and giving rhythm to the deepest darkest parts, letting us all know the time is here. Another season has arrived. Wake up and smell the Weeping Boerbean!
Just over a year ago our Northern Pride of lions expanded with 4 cubs and all are healthy and still going strong. They have all survived their first year of being the kings of the beasts and are all growing up fast. Still playful and mischievous and learning the survival game in mom’s footsteps, always watching and mimicking her every move.
The older cubs are now getting hard to differentiate especially the females as they are catching up in size. And mom doesn’t seem so big and fierce any longer. They offer us unbelievable photographic opportunities for those who are the die hard wildlife photographers that just can’t get enough of any big cat for that matter!
We have also noticed some pink feet in one of our breeding herds of elephants, and one is always in awe of these little grey bundles and how the social structure of the breeding herd, protects and raises these defenceless little ones until they are big enough to fend for themselves. As always the elephants at Amakhosi delight us with close encounters as if they are trying to say, so who is viewing who exactly?
Right now the bush at Amakhosi is coming alive and there is a great anticipation for summer to arrive, the trees are turning into a display of colors, the migrant birds are back, the river is flowing, the frogs are out, but the best of all is that you feel the rhythm and the beat of the African bush pulse through your veins. You feel alive and free all at the same time, knowing that this is where time does not matter.
From one of the most beautiful places on earth, we hope to see you here with us soon, to experience life to the pulse of Africa.
Shane van Niekerk
Amakhosi Head Ranger
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