Leopard Mountain “News Update”
Good day to all our Leopard’s Tail readers!
Returning from our weeks leave at the beginning of March, the reserve looked as if it was already in winter. However, with the amount of rain we have had in the first few days of March it could not help but burst out into green, looking a lot more like the summer bushveld I so love. Even with all the rain we have had, which makes game viewing quite challenging, you can see from our rangers’ report that the drives have been far from boring!
Our Reserve
The sightings this month have ranged from common to unique, from big to small and from near to far. We have had a lot of luck with the rarer bird species recently with no less than five Black Coucal sightings, four of which were in one drive! A Pennant winged Nightjar was also seen recently just after sunset. These magnificent birds are rare visitors to this part of South Africa but the males are easily recognisable by their protruding wing pennants that stretch up to twice their body length behind the back of the bird.
Our Leopard sightings have, despite the long grass and thick bush, been surprisingly good this month averaging one visual a week. Saying this, their tracks have been found on most drives just indicating how elusive these cats really are! The first sighting was of an adult cat less than a kilometre from the lodge. We picked her up in the spotlight as she crossed the road but as soon as she knew she had been seen, she vanished into the long grass. A young female has been seen hanging around between the lodge and the hide. At one point she sat in the grass next to the road watching as cars drove past. But best of all was a big male seen dragging a large male Impala kill under a bush so he could enjoy his breakfast in peace. It is wonderful to see that we are maintaining our healthy Leopard population around the lodge and it seems as though with every sighting, they are becoming more relaxed around the vehicles.
After a recent drought of Cheetah sightings, we are delighted to report that a mother and her 5 cubs have been observed twice this month. We are even luckier that some of the cubs posed quite nicely for a picture while mum was scanning the plains for food from up a Marula tree!
We were also lucky enough to follow a Spotted Hyaena down the lodge road for about ten minutes on the way back from an evening drive. There had been signs of this individual in the area as its tracks had been found behind the kitchen in the week previous to the sighting. Even so, seeing the hyaena took us all by surprise.
This Months Competition
You could be the lucky person to win yourself and a partner a free night including dinner, bed & breakfast and game drives at the lodge. You may email us your answer to win@leopardmountain.co.za (Competition closes 5th of April 2014. Terms & conditions apply).
Solve this Riddle
From that which comes within itself It builds its table on my shelf. What am I?
Last Month’s Winner
Thank you to everyone who responded to our competition! The winner of our LEOPARD MOUNTAIN competition for February 2014 is Florian Beck. Congratulations! You have won yourself and a partner a free night
To view our last month’s competition Click Here
THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH
“He who has health has hope, and he who has hope has everything”
BUSH CUISINE
Frozen Strawberry Yoghurt
For this Recipe Click here
FUNNY BONES
A missionary was wandering the African veld when he encountered a Lion. There was nowhere to run so the man fell to his knees and said, “Lord, please make this Lion a Christian beast!” Surprisingly the Lion also fell to a crouch and bowed his head. “Lord, for these blessings I am about to receive, let me be truly thankful.”
Best Guest Comments
Dear Kate and team
We miss you all already and want to return! Just a most enjoyable few days with you guys.
I have raved to all we know here in England and bored them with loads of photos! So many fantastic memories of Leopard Mountain, too many to list, the best game drives and hospitality second to none. You could not have catered better for us and all your guests. Not a negative word whispered by anyone during our stay!
Friends have asked what game we did not see during our visit, answer was none. In fact too many animals to make our fishing trip on time! They were all blocking our route out to the N2, very inconsiderate of them. Said fishing trip was non-productive at mid-morning, as we actually caught nothing larger than bait. OK beginning to sound sycophantic but genuinely mean all of it. You guys were superb.
The cushion covers look great and the mask is hanging in the hall as a reminder every day.
We will complete a Stirling Guest satisfaction but time is the enemy right now. Hope you have had no more slithery visitors to the restaurant or stubborn elephants on the drive.
We will be back. Brace yourselves!!
Lots of love and keep up the unique experience.
Kate I bought my bling…. Browns were ace, thank for the heads up.
Soph & JJ Read More
GOING GREEN
In today’s world, we all need to look at finding ways to repair and prevent further man-made damage to our environment. Any effort, no matter how small is a start. Lots of small positive changes will lead to a large positive effect.
This Month’s Tip – Ten Easy Ways to Go Greener at Home
For this month’s tip Click here
RANDOM ACTS OF KINDNESS
Pick Up Trash For this month’s tip Click Here
CONTACT US
Dave CEO
African Travel Solutions
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Little Ponton, Lincolnshire. NG33 5BX
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