Kruger2Canyon Vol19.08 by Mark Bishop

Hoedspruit

BOEREMARK

The next Market is on 6 March @ BOSVELD CENTRE 2.2KM out of town on R40

The paper that encourages dreams, supports people and builds the community! Vol 19 Issue 08, 26 February 2021, Kruger2Canyon News, Shop 12, Kamogelo Centre, Hoedspruit. Tel 015 793 2617 email: heidi.lee@mweb.co.za

Tracking an exploring elephant Gonerezhou National Park

Kayla Geenen

Elephants Alive has recorded Merlin travelling in excess of 5500km in one year. This graphic indicates the extent of his exploratory roamings. Day (red) and night (blue) movements of Merlin show him crossing three different protected areas in two countries across the GLTCA. Black points represent human settlements.

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Zinave National Park

Banhine National Park

Kruger National Park

Limpopo National Park Mozambique

Elephants in the Greater Kruger area are part of an open population which roams freely throughout the Greater Limpopo Transfrontier Conservation Area (GLTCA). These elephants help us to understand what drives their movements, and to gain more insight into their complex world, Elephants Alive has collared over 150 elephants over the course of two decades, each one unique in character and habits. They have proven to be incredibly resilient, adapting to the ever-changing seasons and an increasing global human population, teaching us invaluable information over time. Merlin, the adventurer, is an elephant bull who has constantly impressed us. Unfortunately, we don’t know much more about Merlin’s personality other than being an explorer. This is because we only monitor him via satellite ...cont on page4...

Greater Kruger Private Reserves 30 Kilometers

Maputo

26 February 2021 Kruger2Canyon

The gift of vision

It has brought much joy to the Kruger2Canyon team to have been, for more than a year now, an integral part of reporting on Bob Mashaba’s journey to restore his vision. Until recently he was unable to see himself in the newspaper. Last week we reported that: Bob was ecstatic about the sight in his left eye which had improved beyond his dreams! He beamed from ear to ear when, for the very first time, he could see himself on the front page of the newspaper, a real highlight for him and his mentor Brass Brassett who made the effort to get the page printed and laminated for him.

LOCAL IS LEKKER

Top 10 Lockdown Tips David Batzofin “In every crisis there is opportunity”. However, trying to find the opportunities in the circumstances in which we all find ourselves currently can be a challenge in itself. What can you do to stop the mental and physical rot? Here are my ten best! 1] Try to exercise regularly. I used to be a marathon runner that looked down on those who walked for exercise. Now I am that walker. I try to do between 5 and 7 km Tuesday to Saturday with a longer walk on a Sunday. Monday’s and ANY rainy day are my rest days. Having these outings to look forward to has done wonders for my mental health. I walk several different routes and find new ones on a weekly basis, using these opportunities to try and resolve problems and COVID-19 induced stress. 2] Have a routine. Get up at the same time, have meals at the usual times and more importantly, get dressed! You don’t have to be in a suit and tie but ditch the PJ’s. 3] Try to maintain a healthy diet without too much snacking. It is so easy to become complacent when it comes to calorie intake, and the weight sneaks up on you when you least expect it. There is a finite amount to the sourdough and banana bread that we can consume. 4] Be considerate. We might all be in the same storm, but we are certainly not all in the same boat. 5] Try to remain positive. Not easy when most of what we are experiencing is controlled by others. 6] Turn your weekend back into just a weekend. If you did not work on weekends prior to March 27 2020, then why are you working on them now?

Take back ownership of weekends and make them about you and your family. 7] If you are working from home, make set working hours. Office working hours are usually 08h30 to 17h00 with morning and afternoon breaks and a proper lunchtime. If you are working from home, then stick to this regime. Otherwise, it becomes sleeping at your office rather than working from home. 8] Set boundaries. You can say “NO”. 9] Not your circus, NOT your monkeys. Don’t listen to the naysayers or the conspiracy theorists. And DO NOT comment on social media if it is not your area of expertise. Steering clear of social media is good for both your mind and your body. 10] Communicate. This is probably one of the most important steps. Miscommunication in this time of stress and uncertainty

can grow into a Kraken of note that will come back to haunt you when you least expect it. In summation, not all of these will work every day, and the dark shadow of anxiety and frustration might still raise their collective heads on a regular basis. But be strong and persevere. Until next time, stay safe and stay healthy.

Contribute to Farm Watch Hoedspruit Farm Watch FNB 622 869 50954 Thank you to all the men & women of Farm Watch - you are appreciated!

NEWS & VIEWS

26 February 2021

Kruger2Canyon

Hoedspruit The inspiration of one man star a top IEB achiever David Byrne

Heidi Lee Smith

Congratulations to Uplands College top candidate Ceilidh Ferguson, also Uplands Dux Scholar, who achieved no less than 9 distinctions in the IEB Matric exams 2020. Ceilidh was placed in the top 1 percent in the IEB nationally for History, Life Sciences and Physical Sciences. ‘We are exceptionally proud of Ceilidh for being listed on the prestigious IEB Outstanding Achievers List, which means she achieved within the top 5% in 6 or more subjects and achieved a rating of level 7 in Life Orientation,’ says Uplands College Head, Heidi Rea. ‘As our top achiever, Ceilidh achieved 9 distinctions in the following subjects: English, Mathematics, Afrikaans, History, Life Orientation, Life Sciences, Physical Sciences, Advanced Programme Mathematics and Advanced Programme English,’ Heidi told Kruger2Canyon with pride. This talented young scholar also played women’s hockey for White River, under 16 A school hockey, first team cricket and she was selected to go to Mpumalanga trials for cricket when she was in Grade 11. She grew up in Hoedspruit on UKhozi nature reserve in Balule and attended Southern Cross School from Grade 00, joining Uplands College in Grade 10. She enjoys the company of animals and living in the bush. She enjoys reading, baking and watching quiz shows. Ceilidh aims to pursue a Bachelor in Veterinary Science degree at University of Pretoria’s Onderstepoort

campus. ‘Our top academic achievers are a great source of pride to Uplands College. We would like to take this opportunity to recognise all 92 pupils of our Matric Class of 2020 for their persistence, resilience and adaptability. 2020 was a year like no other and an enormous amount of work went into ensuring that all pupils achieved their full potential. We celebrate their achievements equally. Excellent results cannot be achieved without the dedication of an exceptional team of staff and our supportive parental community at Uplands. Preparation for Matric results begins at the Pre-Preparatory and continues through the Preparatory school and into the College. I would like to thank all the staff who have played a role in getting the Class of 2020 to where they are today,’ said Heidi.

#PEOPLESHALLEAT - it’s not just a truism or a platitude, it’s a philosophy, a way of life, and a deep belief for Bennedicter “Benica” Hlongos, the co-owner, along with his wife, Veronica, of Benica Fruits & Veggies. Benica is a self-made success story, having decided to change his life and leave the world of hospital administration to become a farmer in 2017. He was inspired by his grandmother who raised him from the age of eleven when he lost both his parents. His grandmother grew much of the food they ate and Bennedicter took this as an example of how to live his own life. His goal now is to help others become successful farmers to secure their own food security, establish an orphanage in which to teach children how to farm, establish a legacy for his children, and above all else - to make sure people in his community have enough to eat. Hence, his catchphrase #PEOPLESHALLEAT. Benica and I have worked together, along with many many

others, on various feeding schemes over the past couple of years. When my wife, Arda van Dongen, and I first moved to Hoedspruit in 2018 we were captivated by the efforts we saw from this dedicated man, to become a successful farmer and to achieve his goal of helping people become food secure. We decided we would do what we could to help. On February 3, I received a WhatsApp from Bennedicter with the message that he had a few thousand cabbages to donate to needy people, as long as he could cover his costs to harvest and distribute the produce, which amounted to R4 per cabbage. He had approximately 3000 cabbages to donate, so we needed to find R12000 very quickly. We reached out to various local charities to see if they could help fund the harvest but with the impact of COVID times and lack of donations, everybody was simply too low on funds. We agreed that an appeal on Facebook to the greater Hoedspruit community would be worth a try. On Saturday, February 6th, I created a post on the Ho-

edspruit Town page asking for donations to help Bennedicter feed hungry people. The great people of Hoedspruit came through in an awesome display of community support and by Friday, February 12th, all twelve thousand rands had been donated!! The amounts donated ranged from R20 from someone who simply couldn’t afford to give more, all the way up to R2000. Each and every Rand was hugely appreciated - the

fact that so many people, many of whom are also suffering due to the poor economy/COVID, were willing to help out has just been so touching - it has brought tears to my eyes more than once in the past week. Distribution of the cabbages has now begun, with the help of Rotary Hoedspruit, Nourish, Hlokomela and Trygive Nxumalo. The happiness on the faces of the recipients is a true joy to behold. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought many people to their knees. So many are suffering through no fault of their own, as the economy reels from the impact. We know a cabbage won’t solve all the problems or save the world, but if it gives one person, one child, somewhere in our community, an opportunity to feel a little less hungry, a little less alone, and be able to sleep, even if for just one night, with a slightly fuller stomach, then a cabbage can indeed change that person’s world for the better for a while. Thank you so much people of Hoedspruit. Your generosity is inspiring. Thank you also to Bennedicter for being the genesis of this idea by donating the output of his words to work so that #PEOPLESHALLEAT.

Senior Citizen | DISCOUNT (Age 60+)

Every Wednesday @ Hoedspruit SPAR & Tops

7% @ SPAR 5% @ Tops (Applicable on ALL products excluding Promotional Items, Airtime and Data) ID document to be produced Sorry – No ID, No discount!

26 February 2021

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LOCAL IS LEKKER

A draft of the controversial Expropriation Bill was published by the South African Government in October 2020. It introduces the concept of legalising expropriation without compensation in this country, raising fears that the situation may get out of control and that this country could end up in a similar situation as Zimbabwe. It can also put South Africa’s commitments to international investors under its investment protection treaties at risk. According to Deputy President David Mabuza, the purpose of the bill is to ‘to address the injustices of the past and restore land rights in a responsible manner’. The bill provides for ‘just and equitable’ compensation for expropriation, which in certain circumstances can mean no compensation. The bill undeniably presents risks to foreign investors. A British legal expert, Mark Philip Malcolm Horn, has expressed his opinion on the risks involved. ‘You can-

not have land expropriation without compensation, as it is illegal in international law and contrary to a dozen treaties that South Africa has signed and ratified. As such, it is a principle also enshrined in South African domestic law’. The proposal, if directed at land held by the white community, would also contravene half a dozen international treaties, notably those condemning apartheid, that South Africa since the ANC took power has signed and ratified. The expropriation plan is against the human rights charter, and cannot be done, according to Mr Horn. It would bring financial hardship; you cannot run a modern economy without access to the international market, and for that you need credit. Zimbabwe followed this route and their economy has declined by 70% from what it was at independence. The consequence of a policy of expropriation without compensation in South Africa

would be that the international community immediately takes note that the country has become a rogue state: South Africa would have signalled that property rights are insecure, and international investment would come to a screeching halt. Mondaq Ltd, a New Yorkbased international organisation which provides free expert financial and legal information, comments on the new draft Expropriation Bill on their web site. They also see the bill as presenting risks to investments in land and other property, and investors are advised to consider immediately how to protect their investments in the country. They also stress that the Government should ensure that its policy plans do not violate the country’s obligations to its neighbours and other countries under international law. The public has been given the opportunity to object until 28 February by sending a WhatsApp to 060 550 9848 or Email expropriationbill@ parliament.gov.za State your name and simply state your objection, and request it to be noted. Thre are petitions available for signing on the SA International Race Relations (IRR) and Democratic Alliance (DA) websites and facebook pages. Please take the time to make your voice heard.

Dr Joao Almeida

To object or not to? Tracking an explorer

...from pg1...data and not in the field. We first collared this majestic bull during 2017 in Limpopo National Park in Mozambique with the assistance of the National Administration for Conservation Areas (ANAC). Merlin has since provided us with incredible insight into elephant movements in the region, crowssing three different protected areas in two countries (Figure 1). He occasionally visits Kruger National Park and moves across into Banhine National Park, returning to Limpopo National Park on an annual basis. During 2018 we recorded him travelling a total distance of 5545km within a year. These movements help us

understand how corridors could be established in this region of Mozambique, potentially allowing for the safe movement of wildlife between protected areas. Potential corridors are becoming crucial for elephant management and species protection plans, as illegal poaching still represents a high risk in Mozambique. As the growing human population fragments their habitat, elephants need their incredible memory to know when and where they are safe so they can adapt accordingly and maximise their chances of survival. Merlin was recently recollared with the support of Dr Joao Almeida and Dr Hagnesio Chiponde from

Saving The Survivors, as his previous collar battery was running low. The OAK Foundation kindly financed his new collar. Replacing his collar was crucial if he were to continue to provide us with essential data of his movements and varied habits. We are extremely happy to be able to carry on monitoring Merlin over the next few years to see where his movements continue to take us. If you would like us to keep these valuable ‘intelligence agents’ collared and mapping the landscape, please contact info2u@elephantsalive.org to sponsor a collar as a number of the earlier collars we deployed are coming to the end of their battery life.

LOCAL FEATURES

26 February 2021

Kruger2Canyon

Kruger Park historical sites brought to life

Heidi Lee Smith The history of the Kruger has fascinated me since I was a child. I remember my dad telling me the story of Harry Wolhuter, who was taken off the back of his horse by a lion which he killed with a pocketknife while feigning death. I remember that he climbed a tree and tied himself to it with his belt, so that

if he passed out from loss of blood he would not fall. The punctured lion skin hung as testimony in the old Skukuza reception area – a terrifying sight for me when I was little. I have seen so many of the plaques written about in Ron Hopkins’s book, ‘Historical Sites of the Kruger National Park’, but I was oblivious to the stories be-

hind them. During a visit to the Kruger National Part In 2013, Cindy and Ron stopped at a few of the stone cairns which had been erected by the Parks Board to mark the sites of various historical events from the early days of the area. ‘There and then we agreed that the copper plaques that were affixed to each cairn were insufficient to tell the whole story of each site, and so the idea of writing a book was born,’ Ron told Kruger2Canyon. ‘The first thing we had to do was locate, visit and photograph each site, which was no easy task as they were identified only by a dot on the Kruger Park route map. Then followed a two to three month period of research into each site, using every historical book we could get our hands on, as well as the internet and Dr U Pienaar’s book ‘A Cameo from the Past’. Merging the text with the photos was another challenge, but with a little help from our friends we succeeded and eventually went to print in October 2013,’ Ron explained. ‘Browsing through our bookcase the other day I came across the first copy of our book. I was amazed to be reminded that the first edition was published in October 2013 and has therefore been selling

(quite successfully I might add) for eight years in the Kruger shops,’ said the proud author. The book tells the story behind every historical site in the Kruger as detailed in the Park’s official route maps (60 in all). Each site has a GPS reading and, as most sites are situated on the main roads, access is really easy.

‘Many people have written to tell us about their ‘site searching safaris’ throughout the Park to visit each and every historical spot. The average seems to be a four-day, three night trip covering the sites in the North, Central and Southern sections of Kruger. We have even had some enthusiasts send various ideas should we do an updated edition,’

says Ron enthusiastically. Just being able to read the story behind the plaque appears to be a major educational pastime for many tourists while enjoying the environment and a normal game drive. The book is available in all the shops throughout the Park or may be ordered directly from Ron at: ingwebook@gmail.com

26 February 2021 Kruger2Canyon

I was not alone! David Batzofin

Like all good anecdotes, this one starts with “Once upon a time”… My day started like any other in the African bush, an early morning game drive followed by a scrump-

tious if somewhat leisurely breakfast, served on the deck attached to the main lodge. Once the table had been cleared, I was left alone and I decided to use the time to start writing an article on my experiences at the

LOCAL IS LEKKER

camp. Little did I realize that the article would encompass an unexpected plot twist I had not anticipated. Did I say that I was alone? Well, I thought I was, and then I heard the large front door slam. I peered around the partition that separated

where I was working from the dining room and stared straight into the face of a VERY large male baboon that had wandered in and had the door close behind him! He and I took a moment to realize that we were now sharing the space before the adrenaline kicked in for us both. We reacted in different ways; I looked for a weapon or a phone to call for help, while the baboon took off doing circuits of the dining room, bouncing off the walls and the furniture in a vain attempt to find an escape route. Heart pumping, I could only stare and hope that this animal did not come into the lounge, which is where I found myself as the only weapon I could find was an umbrella. Not a great defense against the huge incisors of an animal that was getting more frenetic by the minute. Interestingly, on more than one occasion, we both took a ‘time-out’ to stare at each other before the madness continued in the dining room. At some point the baboon realized that the door to the kitchen swung inwards, and, possibly thinking he could get out, he barged through like a gunslinger in a Western saloon. From the clattering and crashing of pots and pans, I figured that he was taking out his frustrations on as many of the kitchen utensils as possible. I took the opportunity to

scurry into the dining room and open the sliding doors that lead out onto the deck and freedom for the baboon, should he realize that it offered him an escape route. For me, it was not an option as it was a sheer drop from the deck to the valley floor below. Much like a fly that can find its way into a room but then is seemingly unable to find its way out even if you leave the windows open, this baboon was so stressed that he returned from the kitchen to bounce on the dining room table and chairs without realizing that the road to freedom was right in front of him. The noise in the kitchen finally alerted the staff who came to find out what was going on. The external kitchen door opened outwards, and I could hear the shrieks of the staff as the baboon bounded to freedom. Some rather scared faces peered into the dining room and I had to warn them that

it was me and not another member of the troop in the lounge. After we had all taken the time to calm down, several interesting facts were discovered. The baboon was able to open the rather heavy front door. The emergency phone was in the kitchen and the cabling had been ripped up earlier that morning by a wandering elephant. The lunch menu would have to be started from scratch as certain of the appliances required had been smashed and were unusable. At the end of this interaction, one of my first thoughts was “If only I had had my camera with me”… it turns out that it had been on the desk next to my laptop all along. I still wonder when the baboon recounted his side of the story to the rest of the troop, he mentioned me in a favourable light.

FGASA FIELD GUIDE FUND Please support this fund set up for all FGASA Field Guides. To donate or find more info on how to access funds visit the FGASA website at: https://www.fgasa.co.za/ campaigns/guide-fund

26 February 2021

LOCAL IS LEKKER

Kruger2Canyon

La Moo, the vegan restaurant Laura Lewis

Pop in at Kamogelo and try out LaMoo the new vegan restaurant in Hoedspruit, you might be pleasantly surprised.

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I grew up in a home with parents who love animals and we rescued every cat and dog that needed help. We lived on a plot so there was plenty to rescue. We also had a game farm that we visited every weekend which intensified my love for animals. When I became an adult and started engaging in the world, I began to see what factory farming was and what that industry looked like. I soon became a vegetarian. We lived on the south coast and options for plant based food were so limited, and information was even less abundant. I continued living as a vegetarian, but when I stumbled across an article about the dairy industry my world was shattered. I had been made to believe my entire life that cows were there to give us milk and no harm was done in taking milk from them. It was all a lie. I started to change my diet once more, but once again was met with a massive inability to find any foods on the south coast that suited my diet. I also experienced teasing on a daily basis for choosing to preserve animals. I shrugged it off at first but slowly started to take a stand.

After leaving the south coast I began to see that there was an opportunity slowly brewing to cater for vegans. I found groups with similar beliefs and started to find comfort in the fact that there were people out there that also saw and felt what I did. My need to make the world better grew more and more as I discovered new information on the impacts of industrial farming, not only on animals but also on the environment and people’s health. I have been running a drug and alcohol rehabilitation centre for the past four years, and have been educating people on the environmental impact as well as how very cruel the farming industry is. Once I started trying to make all the ‘everyday’ food items vegan I began to realise that we can continue eating in the same way we are used to, just exchanging animal products for plant-based options and making what we knew healthier as well. I have been able to convert everything to a plant-based option. People started commenting on how nice the food was and that they really couldn’t tell that it was plant based, and they didn’t

feel deprived or forced to eat differently. Being vegan usually means that you can never really go out because there’s nowhere to go. I always have to eat salad or a meal minus a whole lot of Ingredients, and so the dream began to start up something that would show people there is a way to eat plant-based and enjoy your food, as well as provide vegans with a full menu of options. And so LaMoo was born, my dream for a better world. It’s the only way I know how to save animals on a large scale and try to

have a positive impact on the environment. We try to compost all our organic waste, we try to ecobrick all our plastic, we try to avoid buying single use plastic items, and we try to grow as much of our own veggies as we can. I hope every day for just one person to experience how good it feels to be on a plant-based diet and how easy it actually is. There are so many myths around plant-based diets that are completely untrue, and it saddens me as the impact on everything is so huge.

8 Raptors Safari Junction | 015 793 1895 email:info@africansummerspa.co.za

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20/20 for Lowveld Academy! Aadilah Razak

When matriculants of 2020 started their final year of academics, who would have thought that they would also be facing a global pandemic. Yet Lowveld Academy managed to achieve a 100% pass rate! The change in our day-today routines threw many challenges at learners and educators alike. Teachers had to find new ways of teaching and interacting with students at a meaningful level. Many relied on online platforms, while others sought to create safe environments for students to attend class, such as we did at Lowveld Academy. With the release of national matric results on Tues-

extra classes to mitigate the loss of academic time. All of these intervention strategies, along with the exceptional dedication of the grade 12’s of 2020, have resulted in Lowveld Academy achieving its first 100% pass rate! Of the 20 distinctions achieved by LA students, a special mention must go to Anika du Plessis, a dedicated individual and proud LA student, who achieved four distinctions and an average

day 23 February, we can finally see the outcome of the efforts made in 2020. Lowveld Academy has since its inception always sought to Strive for Excellence and has, through the valiant efforts of its matric class of

2020, achieved a 100% pass rate in the last NSC Examinations! The additional stress experienced by both students and educators, resulted in schools utilizing all available resources to keep a

percentage of 78.71%. Also deserving of special mention is Mosima Mabasa with 75.14% and Kagiso Kgamadi with an average of 71.0%. 46 Matrics wrote their Final NSC Exams during November 2020, each writing seven subjects. The past academic year caused much concern for everyone, but the results achieved by the class of 2020 proves that hard work and determination is the key to success!

constant academic programme available to all students. Lowveld Academy relied heavily on online teaching and WhatsApp support groups, and made use of personalised intervention programmes and

Well done to Anika du Plessis, who achieved 4 distinctions and an average of 78.71% and Mosima Mabasa with a 75.14% average.

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