Hoedspruit Explorer Issue 20 May 2020

Hoedspruit Explorer Issue 20 May 2020

Issue #20

Photo by: Noelle van Muiden (Tchagra Trails)

aha Makalali Private Game Reserve

4.5

9.5

96

aha Makalali Private Game Reserve is located close to the mighty Drakensberg mountains west of the Kruger Park, this ethnic bush retreat lies on 26 000 hectares of bushveld in the North Eastern Lowveld, South Africa. Makalali Game Reserve boasts the 'Big Five' – Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Buffalo. Other characteristic species areCheetah, Giraffe, Zebra and Kudu. MAKALALI MAINLODGE akalali's contemporary 5 star Main Lodge was completed in November 2017. Accommodating a total of 60 guests in 30 rooms, this grand yet beautifully simple structure was designed to enhance the organic beauty of the surrounding wilderness. Natural light, fresh free-flowing air, open space and spectacular views of both sky and bush are uninterrupted within the living areas of the lodge. Each of aha Makalali Main Lodge's 30 rooms, spread across 3 detached river-facing units, is ideally positionedwith optimumvantage over the surrounding bush. Breakfast and lunch are enjoyed within the dining area, or out on the deck. Bush dinners are ideal for an evening under the African sky and guests can enjoy an array of African cuisine akalali River Lodge is situated on the banks of theMakhutswi River. This 5 star lodge consists of three camps that have six luxury suites each. All the camps are private yet within easy access of one another, featuring a plunge pool plus enclosed dining and lounge area. All suites have an en-suite bathroom which includes an indoor and outdoor shower and fireplace. The raised, private timber viewing deck (sala) offers spectacular views from which to observe the bird life and game. It's also an ultimate spot for private luncheons or dinners. Dining at Makalali River Lodge is a culinary adventure. The cuisine is a combination of regional African cuisine which represents a melting pot of cooking styles that have evolved over the centuries of exploration on this great continent. served at the outside boma. MAKALALI RIVER LODGE M M

Reservations: [email protected] 010 442 5888 www.aha.co.za/makalali-lodge

View our location on the map:

http://www.natureguidetraining.com [email protected] +27 73 468 9267

Part two...

Another fascinating group of wild flowers is the carrion flower family. Incredibly varied, and fascinating in their form and design, these range from the commonly seen giant Stapeliad, the Zulu giant or toad plant, (Stapelia gigantea) right through to the tubularly formed devils trumpet (Tavaresia barkleyi). The plant, also known as a thimble flower, is occasionally seen in the Hoedspruit area, mainly where it is rocky and dry, with its succulent cactus like stems, and, if you are very fortunate you may even see the long purple flower. Flies pollinate this plant, attracted by the special smell of a rotting carcass produced as the flower blooms.

Small creatures in the class of reptiles may a l s o a d d t o y o u r experience on a walk. The highly amusing antics of the spotted Sandveld lizard can entertain me for ages. They meander along, dragging their long reddish tails behind their brown, black and y e l l o w - s p o t t e d bodies, stopping every few steps to perform a series of bizarre leg w a v i n g a n t i c s . Somet imes all four feet are in the air, as

A young spotted sandveld lizard

they rest upon their bellies, enacting swimming-likeaerial motions with their legs and feet. Even the tiny black and yellow youngsters do this. The young also walk with a hunched back posture, jerkily strutting along, looking for all the world like the dangerous acid-spraying Anthis beetles. The tail of the young lizard is brown, and camouflaged, even presenting the right shape of a beetle. This is a form of Batesian mimicry, using the aposematic (danger-warning colouration) colours and patterns of the beetle. An amazing formof defence. Other lizard types are also present on the landscape. Geckos are a well-known group, and the Turner's thick-toe is common around our homes. They are active by night, and often come to the ground to forage, and often the only sign of them in the morning is a little star-shaped sequence of footprints. The much smaller daytime active geckos of the Cape dwarf group leave less sign on the ground, although their tiny eggs can be found in themost surprising places.

The beautiful thimble flower

Another flower which gives off a very noticeable smell is the flower of the purple-pod terminalia, (Terminalia prunoides), a common Lowveld tree. Its flowers are yellowish-white and clustered together and give off a powerful odour. The smell reminds me of a pungent cheese, or, perhaps less complimentarily, a pair of sweaty socks. This, however, is just what the plant needs to produce in order to attract the flies and wasps whichwill facilitate pollination.

The flowers and fruits of the purple-pod terminalia

Dwarf gecko eggs in a hole in a tree

back to the tunnel entrance too, re checking the size and measurements! Once they find the right pebble, it is carried in, sometimes dragged, sometimes flown in small hops, and carefully placed in the entrance, and it is wedged securely. Other smaller stones are flown in now to fill any openings around the main plug. Then sand is carefully flicked, gently covering the plug-pebbles.

Frass of caterpillars can be used by the wasps to find them

Now the wasp can fly off and look for a suitable meal for her soon to be laid egg after it hatches. She scouts vegetation nearby, watching for frass (caterpillar dung) and uses it to locate one of the many well camouflaged butterfly larvae that may be suitable. She will sting her chosen prey, and then start to carry it to the tunnel. It may be many times her weight and needs to be dragged between her feet. Once she gets it to the site, she will faultlessly find and then open up the hidden entrance to the chamber, insert the caterpillar, lay her egg, and then repeat the seal ing up process with her plug- stone...before flying off and starting again!

The tracks of a Turners Gecko

Thread-waisted wasps are also incredible to observe. These common wasps have an amazing method of preparing a comfortable life for their offspring. These remarkable creatures spend time testing different sites for the correct tunnel digging properties. Then, when the correct site is found they proceed to dig a tunnel, using their mouthparts. This tunnel goes vertically downwards, until the wasp is satisfied with the depth. During the digging process, if an ant should wander by and find the excavation, the wasp will grab it with its jaws andfly it away to another spot. This is presumably to keep potential predators such as ants far away from their nesting chamber. Another method used to prevent detection of the burrow is that each mouthful of soil held against themandibles by the front legs) is flown away and deposited, usually about 1 to 2 metres away, and always in the same spot. (They repeatedly use the same “zone” for dumping and can cover a sheet of paper strategically placed in the “dump area” in no time). Then they start to search, testing small pebbles and stones, and gauging their size and suitability as a plug. They often fly

A wasp transporting a caterpillar to its nesting chamber

These are just a few of the little details one can expect to find around the lodge, bush home or on a walk, and show yet again the diversity of signs we can potentially see. To be continued…

Shop 20 & 21 Kamogelo Tourism Centre Main Road (R527), Hoedspruit

Wildlife

Mike Dodds 082 906 7004 | WEB REF: 1248995

Jason Jones 083 267 4794 | WEB REF: 1319831

R 1 500 000

21 hectares in Ndlovumzi Nature Reserve

Farm in Belfast R 6 700 000 This neat and peaceful farm is tucked away in the South of Belfast, only 2,5 hours fromGauteng. It is 346 hectares in size, it is ideal for syndication or for your own private use. This stunning 4-bedroom farmhouse has been completely upgraded 3 years ago with superb finishes. The house overlooks an amazing 4ha dam; this gives you the most beautiful views from the living room, the bedrooms and the patio with its built-in braai. Thismagnificent farmhas loads of opportunity.

This property’s residential footprint is on a superb 21ha stand with indigenous trees and wonderful bush views from the entertainment & swimming pool area. The home has lots of charm and potential, just requires some tender loving care. The home has an open plan living room and kitchen, one main en-suite bedroom and two additional bedrooms which share a bathroom. Additional infrastructure includes a small loft room, covered lapa area, storerooms, borehole and boundary fence.

Delaine Muller 072 117 1133 | WEB REF: 1323610

Michelle Severin 083 469 3821 | WEB REF: 1209372

Stunning bush stand with big trees R 250 000 The stand is in a quiet area of Escarpia which consists of 69 stands situated on 23 ha and located next to the famous Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre. Each stand has a surface area of approximately 2500 square meters. Stands are not allowed to be fenced, which makes it possible for wildlife to move freely between the stands and the natural central park, which is co-owned by all stand-holders. Escarpia Village is an extension of Kampersrus.

Plot and plan in Moditlo Nature Reserve R 4 500 000 This 1-hectare stand located on the dry riverbed is truly beautiful, with many large iconic trees. The stand is deeper in the estate and has stunning Jackalberry, Weeping Boerbean and Maroela Trees. The proposed home will be built by a reputable builder and will feature 3 en- suite bedrooms, an open plan living area with lounge, dining area and kitchen. There will also be a courtyard, laundry, double carport, covered patio area, boma and pool.

Rob Severin 083 469 3820 | WEB REF: 1306344

Mike Dodds 082 906 7004 | WEB REF: 888043

Stand in Riversdale, Moditlo This stand is situated in a popular area. Trees on the stand include an attractive Umbrella Thorn tree, as well as a variety of other trees like False Marula, Apple Leaf, Magic Guarri and Sandpaper Raisin. There is a good balance between bush and open areas. The stand is good quality at a good price. Don’t miss out! There are no deadlines from when you buy the stand towhen you need to build. Secure this beautiful stand nowand start planning your home in the bush. R 450 000

Go to: www.century21wildlife.co.za E&OE Each Century 21 office is independently owned & operated R 3 508 000 Stunning home located adjacent to the Kruger Park, surrounded by beautiful bush, various plains game, eland, ostriches and occasional elephants. This house is built on a private 21 hectare freehold stand in a secure estate. Ideal to be used as a holiday home or for full time living. This stylish 479m2 house has 3 en-suite bedrooms, high quality finishes, double garage, storerooms, covered patio and pool. 3000m2 of the stand is game-fencedwith a security system in place. Mahlathini Nature Reserve, Phalaborwa

A WORLDWIDE LEADER IN REAL ESTATE Call us on: +27 15 793 1534

It’s finally here! Summerhaze is the latest development in the heart of Hoedspruit. Selling off-plan, there are 23 units, in this fully fenced and secure complex. It's a full title development that is totally off grid, so nomore Eskombills or load shedding. There are 4 different designs available, ranging from a 2- bedroom, 2-bathroom unit at R1.7m to the larger 3-bedroom, 3-bathroom unit at R2.4m. You can also choose between single and double storey. The units come standard with ceiling fans, inverter aircons and gas ovens. You will also have the ability to add a splash pool

The whole project will be built by Bermacon, which is a well- known and respected development company in the area. Bermacon is well known for its build quality and superior finishes. The units are selling fast, so it is time to secure your one today!

should you want to, and the development will be pet-friendly. The units have been architecturally designed and have spacious and light interiors. The natural setting of t h e d e v e l o p m e n t w i t h i t s indigenous trees and pr ivate gardens will give you a peaceful bush destination, and you will still be close to the shops in town and local schools . The pr ices are inclusive of VAT and thus exempt fromtransfer duty. These units are ideal investments, as pet-friendly rentals are in high demand!

UNIT TYPE 2 | WEB REF: 1320943

UNIT TYPE 1 | WEB REF: 1320985

Single storey 2 Bedroom 2 Bathroom House floor area: 110 sqm Total covered area including house, carport and terrace: 170 sqm R 1 705 000

Single storey 3 Bedroom 3 Bathroom House floor area: 150 sqm Total covered area including house, carport, covered entrance and terrace: 225 sqm R 2 375 000

UNIT TYPE 3 | WEB REF: 1320957

UNIT TYPE 4 | WEB REF: 1321001

Double storey 3 Bedroom 3 Bathroom House floor area: 165 sqm Total covered area including house, carport and terrace: 220 sqm R 2 145 000

Double storey 3 Bedroom 3 Bathroom House floor area: 173 sqm Total covered area including house, carport and terrace: 230 sqm R 2 405 000

Drakensig

Wildlife

Shop 20 & 21 Kamogelo Tourism Centre Main Road (R527), Hoedspruit

Wildlife

Michelle Severin 083 469 3821 | WEB REF: 1276566 Mik Dodds 082 906 7004 | WEB REF: 132303

Michelle Severin 083 469 3821 | WEB REF: 1303490

153 RV

Brand new family home in Raptors View R 3 950 000 This is a grand 3-bedroom family home with an expansive entertainment area that gives you the true feeling of bushveld living! The double wooden front doors open into the open plan lounge, dining and kitchen area. Huge sliding doors open onto the sprawling covered patio, deck and sparkling pool. A well designed boma completes the ideal entertainer’s family home. Majestic Marula trees tower over the front and back of the home. This is your dreamdestination in theAfrican Bushveld!

Opportunity in Klaserie Nature Reserve R 11 500 000 This 342 hectare private camp has everything you need to get you settled in Big 5 territory. The main building has a lounge, dining room, 2 kitchens, large open patio / veranda with an outdoor splash pool and functional solar panels to provide electricity. Behind this is two air-conditioned guest suites, interlinked with a carport for 3 vehicles. There are also 4 luxury air-conditioned tents on a structured timber deck with full bath and shower. Each tent has its own private splash pool. Sold furnished.

Delaine Muller 072 117 1133 | WEB REF: 1325825

Jason Jones 083 267 4794 | WEB REF: 1267034

25 Hibiscus

COMMERCIAL - Tented Safari Camp R 3 295 000 Two luxury tents, fully furnished with en-suite bathrooms, on stilted wooden decking overlook the magnificent Olifants River. Both tents have a built-in boma braai, cooking area and fire pit. There is an amazing entertainment area with a large raised rim-flow pool, kitchenette, built-in braai, center island, shower and guest toilet. The best of it all - the property’s entire residential footprint overlooks the river! The property also has an inviting 4 bedroomfarm-style homewith 2 bathrooms.

Affordable and pet-friendly in Kampersrus R 1 590 000 A family can live comfortably in this spacious 3-bedroom home. The home has a large open plan living room with the kitchen set to the one side and two bathrooms. Outside you have the garden, which is easy to maintain, and views of themountain. The yard is fenced, and the property is pet friendly. This property also a separate storeroom or workshop facility, double garage with outside bathroom, a double carport and a 10000lt Jojo tank with pressure pump.

Jason Jones 083 267 4794 | WEB REF: 1080914 Delai e Muller 07 117 1133 | : 293755

Rob Severin 083 469 3820 | WEB REF: 1208333

Bush and river stand in Moditlo R 450 000 This 1 hectare stand with large trees and a huge sand river frontage has beautiful lowveld trees such as Leadwood, Knobthorn, and Buffalo Thorn. Good vegetation and loads of animal tracks are found down to the river. This area is well known for predators. This stand will sell quickly! Become one of the privileged to own land in this well managed private game reserve. Entrance gate approximately 15 minutes from Hoedspruit.

Go to: www.century21wildlife.co.za E&OE Each Century 21 office is independently owned & operated 20% share in Jejane Private Nature Reserve R 850 000 Purchase a 20% share in the bush home and you can enjoy bush holidays every fifthweek with full access over 2,300ha of Big 5 reserve open to the Kruger National Park. That’s effectively 10weeks per annumwhereby you can come to Hoedspruit and game view on a private reserve at your leisure. The house is rustic and made from thatch, wood and mortar, with 4 en-suite bedrooms, connected on an elevated walk way. It has great character and suitable to investors.

A WORLDWIDE LEADER IN REAL ESTATE Call us on: +27 15 793 1534

Love your garden, love our planet! source: lifeisagarden.co.za

Your garden has somany benefits. It improves your mental and physical well-being while adding value to your property and providing a tranquil escape from a busy lifestyle. But even greater than all of this is the benefit that your garden brings to our planet. That’s right, by taking care of your garden you are contributing to the greater environment and helping tomake a difference to our world. Here are some of the benefits that gardening brings to our planet and a few things that you can do tomake a difference to our world, after all, there is no planet B! Clean the air Plants are the planet’s air purifiers as they convert carbon dioxide into oxygen through the process of photosynthesis.

This is vital for animals and humans as we rely on oxygen to survive. In addition to this, plants remove chemicals and bacteria from the environment which has added benefits for us as it makes our environment healthier and cleaner. While all plants clean the air, there are a few that are better air recyclers than others. For the benefit of our environment, consider planting indigenous plants that are better suited to our climate and opt for air purifiers such as Aloe ( Aloe Vera ) or Spekboom ( Portulacaria afra ). These plants require minimal maintenance, consume less water and provide maximum air cleaningbenefits. Growyour food Growing fruits and vegetables can reward you in several ways including saving you money and providing nourishing and flavoursome foods. More than this, growing your food can have a significant benefit to our environment. Commercially grown fruits and vegetables rely heavily on pesticides and chemicals to prevent damage to the harvest, while households may rely on repellents to prevent damage to homegrown products, these are often usedmore sparingly, minimizing the impact on our environment. In addition to the chemical component, commercially produced products need to be transported to various outlets for retail purposes which adds to air pollution. By growing seasonal vegetables you can provide sustainable fruits and vegetables for your family throughout the year at a more affordable cost andwith greater benefit for our environment.

Replenish the soil Our plants are only as good as the soil they are grown in and as such, we need to keep the soil in tip-top shape tomaximise the benefits of our efforts. While plants suck up carbon dioxide from the air, they also take in chemicals and other harmful elements from the soil and this can impact on their growth. To keep your soil at its best, plant indigenous plants that will change according to the seasons. These plants often lose their leaves in the winter which decay to nourish the soil and the plants that grow in it. To make sure your plants are getting sufficient nutrients throughout the year, consider creating a compost heap. This is a great way to use your garden and kitchen waste to put valuable nutrients back into the ground where they can help your plants grow lush and beautiful.

you as the birds and bees spread seeds around your garden and neighbourhood to grow more plants and contribute to a healthier environment for all of us.

We all have a role to play in conserving our environment and it couldn’t be easier than starting with your garden. Visit your nearest garden centre to find out which plants are best for your climate and start planting your way to a cleaner, healthier planet.

Protect the birds and the bees Birds, bees and other insects have an important role to play in our ecosystemand environment as butterflies, bees andmany birds are key players in pollinating our plants. To attract these creatures to your garden, plant some colourful, fragrant flowers and you’ll have a hive of activity taking place around

At the start of 2020 we were amazingly donated money to be specifically used to renovate our clinic! We cannot thank ex- volunteer Bjorn Persson and his wife enough for enabling us to create a better, more hygienic and efficient workspace to continue treating and saving SouthAfrica's wildlife!

Along with a busy few month of admittances; we have had numerous releases also! Following our huge vulture release in late January, we had a further vulture release of 3white backed vultures. Two of our lesser bushbaby orphans from last year were ready to go and we soft released them in the area. Soft releases always prove to be very successful… the two bushbabies were living in a large cage in our staff garden and when the day came to release them, we simply opened the door and allowed them to come out in their own time. Since that day the cage remains in the same spot with the door open and we place food in there each evening, which allows them to return to a place of safety and shelter with a supply of food until they establish themselves in the environment. We also released an alpine swift that was found on the floor. Swifts do not have the leg strength to take off from the ground as they would never land on the ground. They are either airborne or hanging from a palm or on the side of a ledge for example. Swifts have pamprodactyl feet… this means that all 4 toes face forwards with none backwards. We took the swift and gently threw him up into the air and watched as he took off over the trees.

With all of the building work happening in the clinic at the moment we have had to relocate all of our patients down to our staff accommodation…this baby season we have been inundated with all of the smaller creatures…so luckily everythingfits into carry boxesmaking themove easier! In the past month we have come to care for and raise 4 orphaned lesser bush babies, 2 dormice, 2 bats, 3 bronze mannequins, 1 white eye, 1 purple crested lourie and are rehabilitating 1 palm swift who has lost his secondary feathers. All these smaller patients are requiring intensive care with some being fed every hour. The 4 little bushbabies, 2 dormice and 2 bats are thriving in our care and now that they are stable, they have moved into the care of our long-term volunteers. Each of the birds are growing up very quickly, developing their adult feathers and bright plumage! Once they are old enough, theywill all be released.

It was a huge worry that if we released them straight away that the twowould separate, and then ultimately the babywould be defenceless. It has now been 5 months and the baby has grown immensely and is a great hunter! We decided it was time to return mum and baby back to the wild! If the scenario arose where baby would separate from mum, we were confident she would be successful, although we were hopeful that they would remain together. So, we planned their release and the day came when it was time to place mum and baby into a soft release enclosure that we would place in a secluded and safe spot on the reserve that they would be calling home. We left them there for 4 days; they were fed each day by the reserve owner and after some days acclimatising to their new environment it was time to let themgo. Students and staff all sat deadly quiet as the cage was opened and we watched the two incredibly clever creatures slowly emerge! It was a wonderful release as we witnessed them explore their new environment with growing confidence and watch as eventually mum scurried off with baby following behind to freedom. We chose to also soft release these badgers, meaning that the cage they stayed in for acclimatisation will stay in the same location for about a week. This provides a known place of safety and shelter until they establish themselves in the environment.

The most recent and special release has been the mother and baby honey badger that we came to care for towards the end of last year. We were called to a nearby farm after being asked to humanely remove a caracal from the land, so we set about setting the trap in order to capture and relocate the cat. However, after a few days of bating the trap to everybody's surprise we had instead captured a honey badger! After arriving at the trap site, we noticed that this female honey badger in fact had swollen teats, meaning she must have offspring somewhere! Wonderfully the owner of the farm allowed us to release her back onto the farmso that we wouldn't separate her frombaby and arranged that we come back later down the linewhen baby is bigger and relocate themthen. The original trap was set oncemore and once again we were all surprised when this time, we had caught baby honey badger!! We used the baby as a lure to attract mum, honey badgers are incredible mothers which meant she immediately attended to baby calling. Thankfully mum was captured the next day and both badgers were brought to the rehab where they were put back It was decided that mum and baby would remain at the rehab temporarily until baby was older when they would then be relocated. Honey badger babies stay with their mum for a minimum of 1.5 years to 2 years old and with this youngster being only about 4 months old she is much too young to be without hermum.

Jason 083 267 4794

Yvette Thompson 083 655 7176 | WEB REF: 1323421

Jason Jones 083 267 4794 | WEB REF: 1292575

B & B in Hoedspruit Wildlife Estate Nestled in the quiet “exclusive block” of the estate, the property overlooks an extensivewilderness areamaking this the ideal position for a boutique B & B. This magnificent home has B & B rights and offers 6 bedrooms, all en-suite. The lodge comes fully equipped with furniture, appliances, linen and equipment. It is an expansive property with 671m2 under roof. The entertainment area is large consisting of a formal dining room, lounge with gas fireplace, an open plan “eat-in” kitchen which opens onto the covered patio. The patio overlooks the large pool and surrounding bushveld. The outdoor boma is set under a majesticMaroela tree andmakes for the perfect setting to enjoy the sounds of nature. R 6 900 000

R 1 300 000

Free standing 21 ha in Liverpool

Wonderful Lowveld bush and this property also offer views of the Drakensberg Mountain range. Lots of potential to increase the current residential footprint, or build your idyllic bush home, perhaps even consider a commercial setup. The property currently has a farmhouse cottage comprising of two bedrooms, open plan kitchen, living room, bathroomand a covered stoep. Electric-fencing surround s the residence and it is gated. Additional infrastructure includes: ESKOM three-phase, automated borehole system, Jo- Jo tanks and pressure pump, storeroom, outhouse with toilet and a planting tunnel with irrigation. The property is located amere 35 kmfromthe town of Hoedspruit.

Rob Severin 083 469 3820 | WEB REF: 1307782

Michelle Severin 083 469 3821 | WEB REF: 1217475

392 Leadwood

Agricultural farm in Trichardtsdal A fertile agricultural farm, with good water, cash income and growth potential. This farm is a gem and offers serious farmers an opportunity to take it to a new level. The farm is 240 ha in size, of which 80 ha is under Agriculture and irrigated, currently used for peppers, sweetcorn and beans (even during winter) using drip irrigation for vegetables. There is 40 ha, non-irrigated, with various varieties of mangoes, including some Tommy Atkins. The remainder of the farm is used for grazing, but additional agriculture can be added. A seasonal river runs along one border of farm. There are some undeveloped bushveld areas as well as a developed areawith a number of residential buildings. R 16 000 000

Modern home in Leadwood Game Estate R 6 800 000 A beautiful modern home is going to be built on a one hectare stand. The stand features lovely big trees including Tamboti, Leadwood and Weeping Boerbean. There is also a stunningmountain view! The home to be built, will comprise the following: Open plan living area; made up of kitchen with scullery, courtyard, dining area and lounge; 3 en-suite bedrooms, Outdoor entertainment area, Sun deck, Swimming pool, Guest toilet and Double Garage. At this early stage, the property can be purchased and transfer fees will only apply to the sale of the stand. This is a large saving for any purchaser. The price may change due to changes made by the purchaser or changes to building costs.

Editor: Lizette Pienaar ǀ Cell: 082 082 2081 ǀ Tel: 015 793 153 8 ǀ [email protected] View all the properties listed on www.century21wildlife.co.za