Klaserie Chronicle

July 2012 no. 21

Kroniek/Chronicle

The Bach Bridge Things that go bump and growl in the night

A rhino with a very bad temper African Spoonbills - a first for Klaserie

inside|

Eco-school conference ...4 | Bugs with attitude ...6 | Schools work during holidays ...8 | Greenest Event...11 Vulture Culture ...16 | Notice Board ...24

photo: Karen Randall

2 | Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21

Pieter Steenkamp – New KPNR Administrator Klaserie Chronicle / Kroniek Team

Zani’s

Keyboard Hi there Another edition brimming with information and sightings! It really feels like spring with new people coming and changes taking place.

They will find, like you have, that the Klaserie is a great place to be and the KC a wonderful mouthpiece.

Keep on sending your contributions.

Soos julle kan sien groei en ontwikkel CET daagliks a.g.v. al julle bydraes en ondersteuning. Kom loer gereeld in en word deel van ons suksesvolle program. Die redaksie van die KC het met elke uitgawe hulleself oortref, baie hard gewerk en die KC laat blom.

I am joining the Make a Difference Foundation team, a partner and sponsor of CET. I will miss the Eco Kidz and the wonderful staff and volunteers who helped to teach and enrich their lives.

I am happy to hand over to Corné, who is enthusiastic to embrace this new challenge. The CET Board of directors, KPNR Exco, and the KPNR management and staff were a formidable team who made sure we stayed on track and who were always supportive in one way or another, thank you and I wish you all the best.

Ek groet julle, maar kom gou-gou weer kuier!

Auf wiedersehn Zani

Editor: Zani Kunz Advertising and articles: Laura Craig Proofing: Littcor Layout and design: Lynette Strauss Contributors: Colin Rowles, Pieter Steenkamp, Zani Kunz, Janus Roets, Winky Mokgope, Rhulani Mathonsi, Laura Craig, Kate Meares, Amy Clark, Judy Meeser, Dr Allan Connell, Angela Lund, Michael Johnson and Karen Briggs, Jochen van de Perre, Lynette Strauss, Wayne Donaldson; Luci Crookes, Johan Smallman, S.J. Esterhuizen, Amy Clark, Alexis Mes, Karen Randall, Corné Havenga, Zandi Mathebula, Zena Baxter, Mathews family, Nada Vermaak, Cristiena Kruger The Klaserie Chronicle is published quarterly and distributed to KPNR owners, as well as CET donors, partners and Chronicle advertisers. If you would like to send a contribution, please forward to admin@ecochildren.co.za or fax: 086 628 8733

B

orn and bred in Cape Town, I now find myself writing from my porch in the Lowveld. I have taken over the position of Administration Manager at KPNR and would like to thank Exco, Colin and Anton for the respective parts they played in my appointment.

Growing up in the city, I was very fortunate in that my parents introduced me to the wonders of the natural world at an early age.

The first hike that I can remember was a strenuous path starting at Constantia Neck over Table Mountain to the cable car.

Being young, and able to get away with anything, I rode piggy-back for the largest part of the hike, enjoying the scenery along the way.

When we reached the bottom cable car station, I had enough energy to want to climb back up again. Needless to say my energy levels were not shared by my parents or their friends.

Having hiked that route a few more times in recent years, I can say that their efforts were not in vain, as a seed was planted on that day that would only grow stronger as the years went by.

Through my studies towards a B Comm and nine years working in the IT industry I have tried to keep my passion for nature alive and would go fishing, hiking and camping as often as possible.

I am very fortunate to be granted this opportunity, and would also like to thank my family and friends for their support and understanding.

I am looking forward to life in the bush, the challenges of the job, the building of meaningful relationships and making a small contribution towards the conservation of nature.

If I have not had the pleasure of meeting you, I hope to do so soon and would like to share some stories and some laughter along the way.

Thank You Pieter

Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21 | 3

The “Bach� Bridge Colin Rowles

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he raging flood waters of January effectively divided the reserve in half, even after the water had subsided. The peaceful and tranquil Klaserie River was transformed overnight into a raging monster that destroyed and removed everything in its path, including all the low level causeways, some of which had provided decades of safe passage across the river.

In an instant, large slabs of reinforced concrete and rock were displaced and removed leaving absolutely no evidence of their previous existence.

The implications of this were farreaching for management and members alike. Owing to the loss of the HQ causeway, access to the western half of the reserve for management purposes, required exiting at Incheni Gate and travelling round on the Hoedspruit tarred road and re-entering at the Xikankaneni Gate in the south west.

A round trip from the HQ on the eastern bank of the river to Dover on the western bank and back, entailed a trip of approximately 170 km which took about three hours.

Management efficiency was both ineffective and extremely costly. With the risk of rhino poaching a

reality, a means of crossing the river was imperative.

Being aware of the legislative requirements that need to be met before the reconstruction of the HQ causeway could begin, it was proposed that a temporary bridge be placed across the river near the existing site.

A draft design was prepared and this was forwarded to Mr Tommy Bach, one of our members and owner of Nova Engineering. The expertise available at Nova Engineering checked the structural integrity of the bridge and ensured that its load-bearing capabilities were sufficient to provide in our needs. When the necessary budget was approved, Nova Engineering fabricated the six steel pylons and the seven spans of six metres each, and arranged for them to be transported from Johannesburg to the reserve.

As can be seen from the photos, with

a bit of ingenuity, the segments were manoeuvered into place within the riverbed and the bridge progressively took shape. The final step in the assembly required the fitment of the wooden platform, across which vehicles would travel.

The bridge has been designed to carry light four wheel drive vehicles only. The four-wheel drive necessity stems from the requirement to negotiate the large sand bank that has been deposited on the western bank opposite the bridge.

Later this year and when the legal requirements have been met, the old causeway will be reinstated and the temporary bridge will be dismantled and removed. The new concrete structure will, as before, provide for the full spectrum of vehicle traffic.

A sincere word of gratitude to Mr Bach and his team at Nova, for their assistance with this project.

bush snippets

4 | Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21

Environmental Education Conference 2012 Janus Roets

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n Saturday 19 May while still dark and cold, the staff from CET, Matikinya and Seganyane Primary Schools set off for Mbombela for the annual Environmental Education Conference. On arrival at Lowveld High School, they were greeted by students and parents from the school with welcome refreshments.

There were fascinating exhibits by key role players in environmental education, such as Sappi and Nelspruit Botanical Gardens. They had some eye-opening

presentations about wetlands, climate change and the role the Mpumalanga Department of Education plays regarding environmental education.

In fact it is the only province that encourages environmental education.

After the first session they were divided into groups to attend workshops on topics such as biodiversity, recycling and rainwater harvesting.

All of these topics form part of the CET curriculum at the schools they are involved in. The educators who attended the conference with them could not wait to get back to the schools to share the

newly acquired knowledge with fellow colleagues and students. Watch this space for future reports on the projects resulting from the Environmental Education Conference 2012.

Eco Schools Conference and Awards Ceremony 2012 Rhulani Mathonsi

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n 14 April 2012 at Upland School, White River, CET Staff, teachers of Seganyane Primary School and Matikinya Primary School attended the Eco Schools Award Ceremony.

Various guest speakers like Manqoba Dlamini from the Department of Education, Louise Wiliamson from Energy and Sustainability Project, Zuzette de Beer from Eco-Schools and Keith Dyer from Stress Relief were part of the programme.

The good news of the day was that Matikinya Primary School received a certificate to show that they maintained Green Flag status, and for the first time Seganyane Primary School also received a Green Flag.

Congratulations to both schools on this great achievement.

For account and delivery queries, please call us on (015) 793 0482 or e-mail us on fhoedspruit@pnp.co.za

Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21 | 5

Things that go bump and growl in the night Colin Rowles

T New CEO for CET

Welcome Corné!

M

y name is Corné Havenga and I am an outgoing and vibrant young lady from Benoni. I am extremely passionate about education and developing the youth of tomorrow.

I cannot think of a better place to embrace my passion to its fullest extent, than in the pristine wilderness of the Lowveld.

The pure peace and tranquillity of the bush is inspiring to one’s soul and I can only look forward to the magic of the night sky and the unpolluted air. I am very excited to form a part of the CET team and to continue with the amazing work they have been doing in the local community.

I was humbled by extraordinary change that CET has already made in so many individuals’ lives and I am thrilled to join such a distinct organisation.

Photo: Karen Randall

he winter night sounds are amplified by the dense cold air that hangs in the valleys, the eerie whoop of the patrolling hyena’s echo up and down the river, and now and again the distant wail of a black-backed jackal can be heard.

On occasion we are fortunate enough to witness these wonderful nocturnal creatures, with which we share our space on earth.

The sensor light outside the kitchen switched on in response to something lurking outside. The illumination raised me to a level of consciousness following a deep sleep. I lay still, listening. The light remained on; at first I heard a strange hollow bumping sound and a deep but soft growl. The bumping sound grew louder as the minutes ticked by, so too did the growl.

I realized with some relief that the intruder was at least an animal, although exactly what kind was a mystery. I climbed out of my warm bed, and cautiously made my way through the dark house to the study.

I approached the window and carefully parted the heavy curtains, being careful not to frighten the mysterious creature.

There, in the light were two honey badgers desperately trying to get into the animalproof dustbin. The male, who was considerably larger than the female, stood on his hind legs and tugged at the edge of the rubber lid with his teeth, removing large pieces with each ferocious headshaking pull. Frustrated with his efforts and driven insane by the delicious smell of the roast chicken that we had discarded earlier, he dropped to the ground and consulted with the female, who had been waiting patiently for her man to make a plan.

He returned to the bin with renewed enthusiasm. He stood up on his hind legs as before, leaning against the bin. He forced his shiny wet nose under the lid and raised it up sufficiently to push his head underneath the lid, using his powerful front legs he pulled himself up onto the rim, raising the lid even further.

From this position, sitting on the rim and with the lid on his back, he dropped his forequarters down between his back legs and into the bin, all the time holding onto the rim with his hind legs. Eventually he abandoned the idea of holding onto the rim and fell completely into the bin with the lid closing on top of him. The thumping within the bin carried on for some time as he rummaged and scavenged for any morsels of food that he could find. All the time the female remained outside, pacing up and down patiently waiting for his return.

Eventually and after some time the tiny wet nose appeared again, this time from the inside, between the bin and the lid. The lid slowly lifted as he forced his way up and onto the rim. For a moment he stood straddled across the bin, wearing the lid like a hat. He then dropped to the ground and the two of them trundled off into the dark night.

Photo: Colin Rowles

6 | Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21

Dr Allan Connell writes about the green milkweed locust

T “We were recently at the KPNR Exco meeting. I took a photo of an exotic looking hopper. I thought you might be interested for your magazine.”

Luci Crookes asked their “gogga” specialist friend to give the scientific name and more information. photo: Luci Crookes

he photograph is of the Phymateus viridipes, the green milkweed locust. They feed on milkweed and other poisonous plants, and seem to thrive on, and maybe even accumulate the poisons, making them inedible to most predators.

People accustomed to eating locusts, have been known to die after eating this species. Their other party trick is to ooze bubbles of evil-smelling (and presumably tasty) liquid through pores in the thorax when handled.

They will also display, by lifting the

fore-wing and opening the bright hindwing, and even rubbing them together, to make a rustling noise. Bugs with attitude!

They are known to swarm, though not nearly as prolifically as the brown locust, and the red locust in Africa.

The young are very gregarious; sometimes when walking on grassy areas you will come across a cluster of them. They are a striking yellow and black. If you Google the scientific name, and open the Wikipedia page, you will see pictures of them.

Zandi Mathebula (14) will never forget the touch of a rhino

Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21 | 7

A rhino with a very bad temper Photos: Angela Lund

Angela Lund

A

aron Mathonsi is a well-known character in the eastern Klaserie with an endless repertoire of bush tales, yet all pale next to his harrowing encounter with a rhino in April this year.

He was strolling back from the Ross cutline one day.

A small flock of oxpeckers alerted him to the presence of two rhino some distance away, but he took little notice of them, knowing from long experience that rhino pose little threat, and he continued on his way. When glancing in their direction again, though, he was alarmed to see one of them coming straight at him, and closing in fast. He

tried shouting and gesticulating, but it kept coming.

By then there was no time to reach the safety of the leadwood nearby, so he took shelter behind a stubby three-stemmed rooibos, hoping that the rhino would call off the charge when he disappeared from sight but it did not.

It continued its charge and things started looking very ominous. “Ek het gesien ek moet iets doen. Ek het in die rooibos probeer klim, maar die tak het in my hand afgebreek en ek het uit die boom uit op my rug geval.

Altwee my gumboots het tussen twee takke gehaak. Ek kon nie my voete uit kry nie. Toe was die renoster by my. Ek was plat op die grond, op my rug, met my voete in die lug. Die renoster het my probeer doodmaak, maar hy kon nie sy horing onder my in kry nie.

Ek het vir hom geskree,“Hey! Hey!” As jy sien jy gaan doodgaan, maak jy ‘n lawaai. Ek het hom met die tak in my hand op sy kop geslaan.”

We visited the scene two weeks later and it bore witness to every detail of Aaron’s account. The ground around the rooibos was all churned up, and the rooibos bore the scars of a very angry rhino. “En toe, Aaron?”

“Die renoster het my gelos, en daardie kant gegaan. Of dit ’n witrenoster of ‘n swartrenoster was, kan ek nie sê nie, ek het nie ’n kans gehad om te kyk nie. Ek

Aaron Mathonsi on the farm Mafula.

was net gelukkig ek was plat op die grond. Die renoster kon my nie skep nie. As ek gestaan het, was ek dood.”

Aaron will re-enact the scene for anyone genuinely interested, and that person will be left in no doubt that he had the narrowest of escapes. I mentioned to Aaron that he had told me only the previous Thursday that he was not scared of rhino. As Colin remarked – someone was listening.

beautiful sighting “Louis Kruger was lucky enough to see these beautiful cheetah while driving through the Klaserie.”

8 | Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 20

Schools hard at work during holidays Winky Mokgope

D

uring the April holidays one day was set aside at each school to do renovations, gardening and general upkeep. Under the watchful eye of CET volunteers, parents, learners, teachers and headmasters all joined in to do the necessary work.

Seganyane Primary School on Tuesday

Rhulani Mathonsi supervised all the projects of the day. The children worked in groups, namely the rhino, butterfly, elephant, giraffe, lion and crocodile groups which worked very well.

There were also two sessions, the morning and afternoon sessions so that the groups could rotate.

In one day they managed to do all of the following, an amazing accomplishment:

• • • • • • • • • •

Weeding the gardens Watering and taking compost to the right places Building foundation of keyhole garden Collecting bricks in front of staffroom from Lowveldbou Digging holes for fencing and putting poles in with concrete Painting fence white Dividing the garden of grade 6 and 7 with fencing Cleaning the storeroom and packing garden tools.

Planting four trees in the garden Watering the gardens

Teedi crèche on Wednesday Educators, the school governing body and learners from Seganyane Primary School, grade 6 and 7, all pitched in to help. They arrived early and with the help of the learners they

did the following; • Clearing the garden • Building a keyhole garden • Planting 20 trees at the crèche

Matikinya Primary School on Thursday

Educators, the headmaster, 30 learners from grade 6 and 7 and volunteer, Trico Chiloane who is studying tourism at Phalaborwa. He was a project assistant at CET for two years, and still comes back to help the schools during holidays.

They accomplished the following: • Putting a fence up round the garden • Dividing the garden for grade 6 and 7 • Strengthening the poles with concrete • Cutting poles for fencing • Weeding the garden.

MAD Eco-Villages

A

s reported in the April edition of the Klaserie Chronicle, CET initiated the eco-village concept at Matikinya and Seganyane Primary Schools, and already it is

showing good results.

The two schools really worked hard during the first half of this year in their respective eco-villages. They planted tomatoes, spinach, onions, cabbage, butternuts and green beans in the new gardens.

Many of the learners attending these schools come from underprivileged households, and are orphans who are raised by family or friends. The school is able to fulfil a need by preparing nutritious meals for them.

These meals are sometimes the only food the kids have for the day.

They were very excited to tell us that they started harvesting their first spinach.

The vegetables they harvest from

these gardens will be used as follows: • 70% will be used by the school to supplement the feeding scheme • 20% will be sold to generate an income and to develop their entrepreneurial skills • 10% will be given to orphanages and charity organizations in the area to encourage social responsibility.

CET has already started to plant fruit trees and a herb garden is also in the pipeline. The Greening Committee (consisting of teachers of each school) is attending workshops on the various and beneficial uses of herbs. They are learning about the medicinal values and how to apply the herbs as pesticides in their gardens. All the vegetables are organically grown in the eco-villages.

Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21 | 9

African Spoonbills

— a first for Klaserie Colin Rowles

O

n June 16, a visit to one of the larger dams on the western side of the Klaserie provided a very interesting observation. In a dead tree in the centre of the dam, a pair of African Spoonbills had constructed a nest of sticks on top of an abandoned buffalo weaver’s nest.

This is the first time this species has been recorded breeding on the reserve.

At the time of the visit, the female sat tentatively at the nest watching over two fluffy white chicks while the male probed the shallow water edges for food items. The male would occasionally fly back to the nest site and hand the female a dry stick which she’d carefully weave into the nest.

Literature tells us that nest construction continues throughout the nesting period.

In Warwick Tarboton’s book, Nests and Eggs of Southern African Birds, it reads, “Breeds widely in the region of

freshwater wetlands, and erratically in arid areas after exceptional rains.

It always nests colonially and usually in association with other colonialbreeding species, especially Sacred Ibis.”

The Klaserie pair is breeding in isolation of similar or other colonial species.

Kenneth Newman’s Field guide, Birds of the Kruger National Park reads, “A rare, non breeding visitor that has been recorded at scattered localities throughout the park, at all times of the year”.

Perhaps the heavy rains of January have stimulated this pair into doing things differently?

SWARTROOIBOK IN KLASERIE Cristiena Kruger

F

amilie het kom kuier en ons ry die plaas vol, maar al wat ons kry is rooibokke! Mens hoop altyd vir , n leeu of luiperd want dit veroorsaak vreeslike opgewondenheid by die kuiermense. Soos die oggend vorder, begin ons huiswaarts ry vliegveld om, en jou waarlikwaar daar kry ons weer rooibokke! Ons bewonder maar die bokke en die volgende oomblik , weergalm daar n gil, “Kyk julle daai een lyk anders.

Sy is donkerder en dit lyk of sy in olie gerol het!” Foto’s word geneem en almal is vol verwondering en ongeloof oor die swartrooibok in die Klaserie.

10 | Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21

Where to Charlize?

In this article we bring you an update on the movements of Charlize, Our most recently collared female within the APNR, Collared in Balule Private Nature Reserve on 23 April 2012 Amy Clark

F

irstly, to help you understand the images in the first photo; Charlize’s movements are represented by the pink tracks. Her starting point is marked with a diamond and her last point with the elephant symbol.

Charlize was collared just east of the railway line that runs through Balule Private Nature Reserve towards the Phalaborwa mines. Her first seven days’ movements after being collared, stayed consistent as she travelled north crossing the Balule – Klaserie border back and forth along the way.

The following month and a half she consistently stayed north of where she was collared, moving back and forth between the railway line in Balule PNR and the Klaserie River.

On 22 May we found Charlize and her herd in the Klaserie River whilst out in the field, and were able to record the demographics of her herd.

Charlize is estimated to be in the 20-35 year age bracket and has a male calf approximately three years old. She was seen with another 38 individuals, comprised of 13 mature females, seven young females, 12 immature males and five calves.

We look forward to following her movements and recording the changes within the herd over the course of the next few years.

We would like to take this opportunity to say a big thank you to Chris Pearson and his group (WildCon Safaris and Events) for funding the collar and operation. Without them this would not have been possible. We would also like to say thank you to all involved on the day of the collaring, insuring its success. Craig Ferguson (Balule Head Warden), Craig Spencer (Olifants West Warden and director of Transfrontier Africa), the Transfrontier Africa Team, Mario Cesare (Olifants River Warden), Dr Peter Rodgers (ProVet), Ben Osmers (Big Game Heli Services), African Wildlife Tracking (Collar manufacturers), the WildCon team and last but not least, Tanda Tula Safari Camp for accommodating the African Wildlife Tracking team – Carel and Dina Haupt, Manuel Ferreira and Marielise Laubscher.

Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21 |11

World Play Day

CET’s Janus Roets, Zani Kunz, Winky Mokgope and Laura Craig with Dr John Ledger.

Laura Craig

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n 5 June CET staff members attended The Greenest Event, an inspiring environmental conference at the Sandton Convention Centre in Johannesburg.

Although only in its second year, The Greenest Event is earmarked to become the most important date on the SA environmental calendar. The invitation was to attend “A One Day MBA in Planet Management” and that, it certainly turned out to be. The conference was backed by the eight leading non-governmental conservation organisations in South Africa, among them The Endangered Wildlife Trust headed by Dr John Ledger, a name that needs no introduction.

Dr Ledger welcomed guests and opened the conference with an interesting introduction to the Planetary Boundaries Concept.

To avoid catastrophic environmental change, humanity must stay within defined ‘planetary boundaries’.

Following on, delegates were treated to informative presentations by local and overseas speakers. Lawrence Padachi explained Eskom’s plans for a greener future, and reiterated the importance of biodiversity if both man and earth planned to survive.

Standard Bank showed they were prepared to go a long way to investing in a greener future.

Possibly the light at the end of the tunnel came from SA’s leading water

Janus Roets

O guru Dr Anthony Turton who asked the question, “Can South Africa’s abandoned mine shafts be turned into massive water storage facilities to safeguard water for the future?” The answer is YES, it has already been done in coal mines.

Interesting facts were put on the table

by Keith Anderson, Executive Director of Electronic Waste Association of SA (EWASA). Modern society is in danger of choking on its own waste. What do we plan to do with our tons of electronic waste?

Yolan Friedman stressed the importance of Biodiversity if man and planet intend to survive. There has to be room for every living thing. We have to co-exist.

The most mind-blowing talk came from an interesting character in the form of Piers Corbyn, an astrophysicist from England. He turned the conference upside down with his unique perspective on weather forecasting and how the climate is driven by energy from the sun. He turned Al Gore’s Inconvenient Truth on its head, saying there is no global warming, the earth will be cooling down over the next 20 years and heading for a mini-ice age in the year 2035. For those interested, visit Piers Corbyn’s website http://weatheraction. com/ he appears to be the new clairvoyant for future weather conditions.

With the MBA done and facts swirling about our minds, the team headed back to Hoedspruit motivated and determined to do our bit in the Go Green race that South Africa must run.

n Monday, 28 May 2012, was World Play Day. This was celebrated at the Gorutha Centre and Toy Library at Bavaria.

Gorutha Centre invited all the crèches in the area to attend this event. CET decided to take the little ones from Teedi Crèche to join in the fun. World Play Day’s vision is to emphasize the importance of play in a child’s life. At first the kids were a bit reluctant to get on all the “strange” equipment, but it was not long before everyone decided that the merry-goround was the favourite spot. They were spinning round and round with faces alight with laughter, but some were quite aghast.

With the help of volunteers from the area, and the Hoedspruit Air Force staff, they were encouraged to explore and experience the different play areas and equipment. They jumped on the trampoline, played “make believe” in the dress-up corner, to mention but a few of the activities.

They were later treated to doughnuts, hotdogs and juice, before they had to head back home - to reality.

With a packet of sweets in hand, they boarded the two Quantums, and within five minutes they were fast asleep after the excitement of the day.

Instead of laughter the only sound was the soft snores coming from very tired little bodies.

12 | Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21

If God had a name for Paradise, it would be Klaserie!

Jochen van de Perre

W

e are Mira and Jochen, from Belgium - land of chocolate and beer, but also of lousy weather and overpopulation. The latter can get to you after a while. I believe you use the term “gatvol”.

So we try to get away and are regular visitors to Africa on Foot. We have learned that there is something better - eco travel! Spending time in a natural environment is food for the soul.

We have been coming to Klaserie regularly for the past three years, because when it comes to escapism, it is the ultimate. Let me describe a day at nThambo for you.

On 12 May we woke up just before dawn, grabbed hot cocoa, some rusks and hopped into the Cruiser. Our guide, Rein, took us north to check for tracks, and drove in the general

direction of where we heard lions. The radio crackled to life. Another lodge had elephants at their dam, but we had three rhinos crossing the road.

I snapped a few pics, but then put my cam down, just sitting back, watching them graze. Such beautiful creatures.

Then we decided to go and check the elephants. On our way there, Isaac, our tracker, found the spoor of a leopard going into a big and dense block on the Ross farm. We drove around but found no further spoor. However, we saw a steenbok and a big male kudu that both posed for a picture.

Then we came across the spoor of the lions we had heard, but the area they went in was impenetrable. A little later we passed the guys from the other lodge. Greetings and a few jokes were exchanged, as well as information on what everyone had seen.

We met the elephants on the road.

Rein stopped the car far away from them, leaving the choice to come closer to the elephants. Some were feeding.

One had a nap on the road. When it was clear that we posed no threat they decided to come closer. Eventually they passed us by at fewer than five metres.

One young bull was rather inquisitive and wanted an even closer look (or rather a sniff). A loud, “No!” from both Rein and Isaac in unison was enough to make the elephant understand that that was too close for everyone’s comfort, man and beast alike.

When it moved on, Isaac said, “Thank you.” Strangely enough, that sounded right. It made sense. I just knew the elephant understood. With a huge smile on our faces, and our souls replenished, we headed back for a breakfast fit for a king.

I have five metres of African-related reading material at home (I gave up

Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21 |13

photos: Jochen van de Perre counting books long ago, so I count in metres), but still Rein managed to teach me new stuff. Time and again I am amazed at how much knowledge the guides at Africa on Foot and nThambo possess.

Back at our tent, I decided to read a few chapters of my book (Oepse Daisy

by Johan Bakkes) in an attempt to improve my Afrikaans. The complete front canvas of our tent was rolled up, and a gentle breeze flowed through the tent.

Two hours later I woke up with my book on my face. My wife laughed, “Even on holiday you FaceBook!”

After lunch it was time to hit the road again. We drove straight towards that block where the leopard was in. Isaac soon found what we were looking for using his senses − tracks, smells, sounds, all of it combined.

Tracker magic!

There they were, Rhulani and her brother, Tsotsi, on an impala kill that was almost finished. We even caught a glimpse of the tail of their mom.

When we had seen them the previous year they were just small cubs; then Isaac found them while on foot. How much they had grown!

And amazing how relaxed they were with the game drive vehicles next to them, especially Rhulani. She lay down on a termite mound and started

grooming herself; typical of girls, always wanting to look their best on camera.

It was a busy afternoon. The lions popped out somewhere else, in another area.

So after Rhulani, we paid them a visit.

It seemed as if the whole Ross pride was together again. Well, except for the males, but we had already seen them a few days before. It was during the night drive, and we had them roaring on either end of the car. It was so loud the door panels rattled.

The Ross pride had four females and two sub-adult cubs, but there were two new additions. Grass moved behind the sleeping female and one head popped up, then the other. Mom had finally introduced them into the pride. They stared at us like only curious kittens do. It is always a special feeling when a cub looks straight into your lens. It feels like someone is using a feather duster on the inside of your ribcage. I went shutter crazy.

Then it was time for sundowners. Spicy biltong (my gift to the group) made us even thirstier. The Amarulas, G&Ts, and beers went down faster than a homesick mole (quoting Rein here)!

On the night game drive we saw a chameleon, a bush baby, and a genet.

For once, it was not running away. It was actually asleep in a tree, and at intervals it popped up its head! It was a perfect end to a perfect game drive after what had been a perfect day. However, the cook

had one final ace up her sleeve - Boboti, our favourite dish! What was that mole expression again?

So you see, people from the Klaserie, how can we not choose Klaserie? The guides and trackers have an amazing level of expertise; we sip from their knowledge like from the most expensive wine. They have the correct attitude: proud of the environment they are working in, sticking to the rules, placing animal welfare first.

Plus, after the photo session, this reserve still allows us the time to observe the animal and to let the encounter sink in.

That animal is walking around in a natural environment, not a manicured lawn like in Sabi Sands. We do not mind a little landscaping. Open areas and waterholes lure game from the plains; we understand that. But if we wanted to photograph a rhino on a football field, we would go to the Antwerp Zoo. Klaserie, Africa on Foot and nThambo Tree Camp are perfect camps, operated by and staffed with the perfect people, in the perfect reserve! When we are back in Belgium, people at work ask us how our holiday was. Invariably, our reply is always, “What holiday?”

“You didn’t go on holiday?”

“No, we just went home.”

Truth be told; we might even make Klaserie our home one day. A bush camp with Belgian beers on tap; wouldn’t that be something?

CET is supported by the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund

Bye Zani!

14 | Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21

photo: Jaymee Roodt

you go, ad to see b i, is n a It Z ! r s D ea the huge new deed, sad find anybody to fill in , ge is is h T h to to exchan ill be toug behind! However, w w e n it e r c u in o s as y aving le rg u re b a s e u n Johan gap yo UIT for I HOEDSPR omprehensible! areer and r future c u inc s : o rd e y a il r g ic fo re m k o c d best of lu stay in touch! warm The very an c e w , e p ho sincerely r la & Raine u rs U m o fr

Dea r Zani, r side of On the othe devastated am the coin I are losing to learn we y people at you! The luck ve done an MAD!! You ha with CET b jo incredible e a huge and have mad so many difference to I on ly . people’s lives acement pl re hope your the up keep can u yo k an momentum. Th d an i D

. so much Zani success in I wish ever y ure. your new vent st wishes, be ry ve ith W n so Mike Ander

Dear Zani It is with regret that I accept your resignation.

On behalf of the Board I want to sincerely thank you for a tremendous contribution made to CET. You can be very proud of your efforts.

In many ways the work at CET is a thankless task and sometimes difficult to perform because of distances and the many aspects to cover.

Your ability to work with children, parents, the school community, KPNR members, staff, etc. stood out and you were always a proud ambassador for CET. In the wider Hoedspruit area you were a well-known personality who promoted the CET brand with energy.

People appreciated your efforts. In the recent flood situation you again went the extra mile to assist people and to give comfort.

During your tenure at CET you made a huge difference to the lives of many people. I want to wish you success in your new career with the MAD Foundation in Johannesburg. It is a new and perhaps bigger challenge in your next career step.

Thanks again and know you will always be welcome in the CET family.

Kind Regards, Deon Huysamer, chairman CET

Dear Zani, On behalf of KPNR I would like to thank you for your commitment and dedication to the CET programme. Thanks to your input, CET is respected and has grown beyond our expectations. We wish you all the very best in your new venture which will surely be successful. We are also pleased to hear that you have not abandoned us totally and look forward to meeting with you in the future.

All the very best.

Mike Myers

IT’S NOT GOODBYE IT’S, SEE YOU NEXT TIME! Who would have thought, you leaving, it never occurred not even once in our heads but I bet in life sometimes you must grab every opportunity that comes your way (you taught me that).

On behalf of the trainers, I must say we loved you and still we adore you, because you were like family to us. And I don’t believe in goodbyes because as a person you aren’t supposed to let go of family, so we say “see you soon or until we meet again”. But it’s still sad though.

And on my part, let’s just say since I have known you for most of my boring life and you made it interesting, because you taught me a lot about life, its values, morality and ethical living. It’s fascinating because you may have not known that you were sometimes directly or indirectly pushing me to the man I am today, and last but not least I can’t imagine where I am today with my education, without your help. I know that overall it was CETs help but you are the one who discovered me, I take my hat off for that.

And you also motivated me in times of need, even with a pep-talk; you would say stuffs that really lifted my spirit. It’s like I said, somehow it’s like when I lose my reason of going forward you just write it on the wall for me, you show me the bigger picture. You are like my super charger.

Thank you for everything that you have done for us, may you excell in whatever work you are going to do next, good luck!

Lots of love, Kind Regards KEITH NDHLOVU. (Keith did not a miss a workshop since 2004 and returned as a volunteer after leaving school. CET is currently providing financial assistance towards Keith’s studies at the Tswane University of Technology.

ough fascinating trip thr from a long and d ting ne ur ica ret ind g lin vin Co ha H email to Ch ina I saw your ren , ild ch the r fo s Bh utan, Tibet and los What a great T!?

CE g vin ble ea lea that you are body is replac ow they say every kn I am R! I PN st.

K mo d CET an ficult then fo r it is a lot mo re dif pressed bu t then fo r some ways been ve ry im al ve ha with you. I se ca that is the is ess t en tha tiv ec re su ecially your eff esp t bu sm some sia r thu fo ll be a gain with your en the loss fo r CET wi ell W ts! un co ? en at after all wh be going to and wh . Whe re will you re thanks, other organisation deavors and since en r your fu ture fo es sh wi st be ith W de Mike von de r Hey

Hi Zani Louis and I and the entire Sharalumi team would like to wish you everything of the best for your future as General Manager of the Make-a-Difference Foundation.

Congratulations on the appointment! They have got a gem in you! You have been an inspiration to all of us in Hoedspruit and it was an absolute pleasure to get to know you and also to have had the opportunity to work with you on certain projects. We will miss you and look forward to your visits to Hoedspruit in the future! All the best Zani!

Love and blessings, Louis and Lee-Ann Rautenbach

Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21 |15

PLANETARIUM WORKSHOP Alexis Mes and CJ McDonald

A

s a joint bush-lore and community service project, the grade 11 class created the programme for the Klaserie Children’s Eco Training during the first and second term. Many fun hours were spent in Mrs McDonald’s classroom and after school, working out the sporting activities, craft projects and the workbook. The programme had to run from 9:00 to 16:00 and during that time they had to teach the children as much as they could on the chosen nature-based topic: the solar system.

This was a difficult and foreign concept to teach the children, as lessons happen during day time. The travelling planetarium they hired (to help the children visualise the concepts they were trying to convey), needed an area of 11m x 11m x 3m high, and the only area to fit those specifications was the hangar of Mr Taljaard at the Incheni gate.

Despite a few problems on 6 June, the first day of the training, everything was sorted, and a couple of Grade 11 volunteers drove to the Klaserie to help out and oversee the running of their programme.

The children enjoyed themselves and the basis of the structured syllabus was taught and understood.

The children seemed to have benefited immensely from the course. The feedback from the owners who quizzed the children on the topic, was very positive, and they were greatly impressed when the youngsters could name the planets and explain the concepts.

Visitors and volunteers during the workshop were Mrs Janovsky and her family (children and grandchildren), 24 American students for compulsory community service, children from the orphanage in Thulamahashe, and Kirsten Braun from Uplands who contributed hugely to the success of the Holiday Workshop.

Again there was a record attendance for July, 250 children, considering that it was the period for the children to attend initiation schools and learners in grade 11 and 12 to attend extra lessons at school. CJ McDonald and the grade 11 learners executed a very successful workshop and we are looking forward to the next one in October! photos: Karen Randall

16 | Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21

Vulture culture Judy Meeser

I

f you drive to Klaserie Private Nature Reserve via the Able Erasmus Pass you will no doubt blow the horn as you drive through the tunnel, marvel at the difference in temperature as you enter the Lowveld and breathe in deeply, savouring in the aroma of the bush.

Next time you should take time to also look right; up onto the soaring cliffs of Manutsa Mountain where the red ochre rock face is streaked with the white excrement of the 450 active nesting sites of this Cape Vulture colony.

The Cape Vulture is the only cliff nesting vulture in our area. The birds in this colony are fortunate to live close to the Greater Kruger where food in the form of a carcass is plentiful. However, the proximity to a food source will mean very little to the Cape Vulture that has specialized in travelling great distances and living a semi-nomadic existence for part of the year. In the breeding season and when the chicks are in the nest, both the male and female are almost homebound and hugely attentive parents.

Somehow this representation of a vulture does not quite relate to the accepted image of these large

scavenging birds with a grotesque posture squabbling over the pickings at a smelly carcass in the bush. If this image is incongruous then try this; much like a swan is a picture of elegance on the water, vultures are masters of the sky, fascinating in flight, but sadly are often so high they are difficult to see. The creamy plumage of the Cape Vulture shapes a broad and long wing with slotted wing tips. The broad wing provides a larger surface area for the warm air rising within a thermal to lift the heavy bird into the sky while the slotted wing tips are there to facilitate the tight turning into the circles of a thermal and also allow the bird to fly slowly without stalling.

With a wing structure adapted to soaring effortlessly, taking off is entirely another matter, and requires a long runway and a swift breeze to get these bulky birds airborne.

The cliff-nesting Cape Vulture has a smaller and more common cousin in the White-backed Vulture. Their untidy nests, consisting of a platform of sticks on the top of a tree canopy, are a familiar sight in the Lowveld. These two vultures appear very similar although the Cape is much bigger than the White-backed. Both are classed as Old World vultures, and have strong curved

photos: Wayne Donaldson

beaks and a deeply grooved tongue with backwards pointing barbs adept at scooping the viscera from inside the carcass, and at stripping meat from the bone.

Both species fly at high altitudes and scan the ground for carcasses while watching eagles and other vultures flying at lower altitudes. The Whitebacked Vulture can cruise at 60 km per hour at 2 000 m above sea level and cover large distances in an environment where food is scattered and scarce.

They are exclusively carrion feeders, and are not physically capable of killing as eagles are.

Lappet-faced Vulture The impressive Lappet-faced Vulture plays an important role in the drama that unfolds at a carcass and especially one where the animal has died of natural causes and not predation. This is because of the massive bill these vultures possess that easily breaks into the tough hide of a carcass. They fly at low altitudes and are often one of the first species to arrive at a carcass.

White-headed Vultures are similar sized and adapted to getting inside carcasses making it more accessible for other scavengers. These beautiful continue on page 17

Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21 |17 birds favour Baobab trees for their nesting sites.

Less typical are the Hooded Vultures that have adapted well to rural Africa, and like Marabou storks frequent rubbish dumps and even the inner villages, hopping around and foraging like chickens.

This, the smallest and least vigorous of vultures has a featherless head with a slender hooked beak that is able to probe into fine bone crevices for morsels of meat and marrow. It is forced by the more dominant birds to hang around the periphery of a carcass and rush in for scraps. Owing to their lowly status, the Hooded Vulture is often the first at a kill pecking away at the soft parts of the carcass. They are also adapted to eating termites and catching lizards where they can.

There are nine species of vulture in Southern Africa and many of these are endangered. Apart from the more obvious reasons such as habitat destruction and human impact, much of the basis for their decline is almost unique to vultures as a species.

Vultures cover enormous distances and are for the most part out of protected areas. Here they fall prey

to poisoning, both deliberately and inadvertently. Their body parts are sought after as traditional medicine or muti for the allegedly clairvoyant properties of vulture parts. Farmers, until recently, remained convinced that vultures were responsible for killing their livestock. However, recent efforts to educate farmers have resulted in vulture restaurants and responsible farming practices.

Furthermore, while taking off and landing these heavy birds battle to gain altitude and sometimes collide with power lines.

They also perch on pylons and become electrocuted. In conjunction with EWT and other concerned bodies, Eskom has gone to great lengths to develop vulturefriendly electric pylons (the latter has not been scientifically proven).

Vultures live to about 25 years; they pair for life and only raise one chick a year. They play a vital role in the ecosystem by preventing the spread of disease. While some species are widespread, the Cape Vulture is near endemic to Southern Africa and like the other endangered species needs our active intervention in this downward spiral of vulture numbers.

The White-backed Vulture.

Photo: Mark Anderson

DONATE R250 to clothe one child in a complete school uniform for 2012

contact Zani @ 082 713 8778 or zani@ecochildren.co.za

White-backed vulture under threat

T

he white-backed vulture, Gyps africanus, the most widespread and common vulture in Africa, has been uplisted from Near-Threatened to Endangered on the IUCN Red List for birds.

The white-backed vulture is one of three South African birds that have been uplisted on the list.

It occurs from Senegal, Gambia and Mali in the west, throughout the Sahel region to Ethiopia and Somalia in the east, through East Africa into Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa in the south. The species is currently undergoing a rapid decline in population numbers and faces similar threats to all the other African vultures. In East Africa, white-backed vultures are primarily threatened by poisoning ­— particularly from the highly toxic pesticide carbofuran; whereas in southern Africa they are utilised for the muti trade — as they are perceived to have medicinal and psychological benefits.

The decline and possible extirpation in West Africa has been attributed to the trade in vulture parts for traditional ‘juju’ practices.

Other threats include the loss or reduced availability of carrion, electrocution by powerlines and poisoning.

Another vulture species, Rüppell’s vulture, Gyps rueppellii, a vagrant to South Africa, has similarly been uplisted from Near-Threatened to Endangered.

This species, which is native to western, central and eastern Africa, faces a suite of similar threats to the white-backed Vulture.

T hank yo u for you r ge ne r osit y a nd fantastic suppor t in 2011!

18 | Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21

Winky and Rhulani sponsored to volunteer at Moholoholo Michael Johnson and Karen Briggs enjoyed their volunteer experience at Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre so much they felt they wanted to share the experience with previously disadvantaged South Africans. They created scholarships for black South Africans at Moholoholo. The selection process was left to Moholoholo, who invited CET’s Winky Mokgope and Rhulani Mathonsi to take up the scholarships.

Hello Zani

T

hank you for your email and the letters from Winky and Rhulani and the photos of them at Moholoholo. Moholoholo did forward them to us but it is nice receiving them from you also.

We were volunteers at Moholoholo last year and found that Brian and his staff do wonderful and important work. When we were there, all of the volunteers were white and none were from South Africa. We felt that for South Africa to protect its bush, it is going to take South Africans, not foreigners, and that it is essential that black South Africans take leadership roles in this. We were both teachers and know that education is the key to solving the problems humans create. We saw the scholarships as a way of making a contribution to this effor t.

We are very pleased that Moholoholo chose Children’s Eco Training to find volunteers for the scholarships. We did not know of you before this, but went to your website when we learned that the scholarships went to your staff. We are very impressed by your work.

We believe that the protection of South Africa’s environment is of critical importance and that teaching young people of this is the most effective way to achieve this.

Not only did Rhulani and Winky have valuable experience for their own sake, but they will pass on their leaning to the next generation.

Please pass on our best wishes to Winky and Rhulani in their personal lives and in their careers of teaching your nation’s youth. We are pleased to have been able to provide them with the experience they enjoyed at Moholoholo.

Our best wishes to you and everyone connected to Children’s Eco Training.

Kind Regards Michael Johnson and Karen Briggs

Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21 |19 Dear Michael Johnson and Karen Briggs Greetings to you. I live at Acornhoek and I am 39 years old, working at Children’s Eco Training as a project assistant. My job is to educate the grade 6 learners at Seganyane and Matikinya Primary School about environmental education and to help them with vegetable gardens for their feeding scheme at school, and for the kids of child-headed household and orphans.

I want to thank you for sponsoring my studies, 3 meals per day ( food), and pocket money of R780.00. It was a pleasure to have this kind of opportunity.

Now I have a certificate.

I went to Moholoholo Rehabilitation centre as a student on 16 April till 29 April 2012.

My reason for going to Moholoholo was to learn more and implement my skills to the people in rural communities. I believe that our black South African people are not protecting nature because they think it is not useful for them. By educating these young ones it will become useful to them in future.

I experienced that Moholoholo is a place where you can enjoy nature. Daily visitors are more than thousand a day to show

Dear Michael Johnson and Karen Briggs

F

irst of all I would like to say thank you for giving me the opportunity to volunteer at Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre.

I am a girl who is 21 years old. I live at Cottondale Circuit, and I work at Children’s Eco Training as a project assistant. I started to work at Children’s Eco Training on 02 February 2011. Even now I’m still working at Children’s Eco Training.

I am very happy because at Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre I learnt a lot of things. I am a grade 7 teacher at school and I am teaching Environmental Education. I wanted to share everything that I learned at

their respect and to honour that place.

I enjoyed cleaning the cages, taking out the poo and scrubbing poo and the water bowl, and feeding animals with chicks.

But when I was supposed to cut the mice and chicks in pieces to feed the blind owl I was so scared, I asked help from others.

The special place in my heart is the aviary where I was feeding birds four times daily. I was spending most of my time in the aviary to listen to the birds.

I enjoyed the game drive learning about animal tracks in the bush.

I was angry for working while it was raining but at last I realized that my babies (animals) needed to eat like me.

Even the clinic was not my favourite place because I was sick with sinus when I got there. I was sneezing and failing to breathe properly at night.

Thank you very much for your help. I promise to teach the lessons to the kids for the better future of our nation, our environment, our nature Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you God bless you.

Yours sincerely Winky Mokgope

Moholoholo with my children. I was working with cleaning cages, feeding birds, cleaning the clinic and top up water for the the lions, honey badger and hyenas I was enjoying when I fed blind Owl (Woody). I was feeding Woody with two chicks every day. I was cutting the chicks into pieces and I was feeding Woody one mouse once in a week. I must cut mice into pieces. I learned about birds, animals and its part of environment. I will share with my grade 7 class at school that they must protect, save, and conserve nature.

Thank you for pocket money that I received, R780, 00. I appreciate it.

New white lion cub

- Ross Pride Johan Smallman

T

hese are the photos of the new white lion cub belonging to the Ross pride. The cub is about a month old and there is one tawny one as well. Photos were taken by H.J. Esterhuizen who is a ranger at Gomo Gomo Game Lodge.

The female is Scarlett and she is one of the older females in the pride.

Hopefully this one will survive longer than last year’s one because the female responsible for the death of the other one has died of natural causes.

The cubs are still very young so if the mother is not there then it is a negative lock and only one vehicle in the sighting at all times and no use of the spotlight on them.

At the moment we have made it a n e g a ti v e lock just because of the age of the cub.

Yours sincerely Rhulani Mathonsi photos: H J Esterhuizen at Gomo Gomo Game Lodge

CET says thank you for ongoing support to ...

• • • • • • •

Agri-Park Hoedspruit - Tyres for crèche Projector - Anonymous donor 2 x 10000 litre Jo Jo tanks – Anonymous donor Vanstone Precast - Compost makers Appelblaar Padstal - Discount prices on seedlings Michael Johnson & Karen Briggs - Moholoholo Volunteer Program for the educators Lizelle Louw – Paint donation for our schools

• • • • • •

PnP Hoedspruit Jackson Phale – Trees from Department Fishing and Forestry Jackie Preston – Storybooks and Toys (please add to donations sheet R1000) Pokkelpensies Speelgroep – Outdoor playdrum for crèche.

Hi-Q for incredible discount.

SSM – Steve Maycock – Roof structure

• • • • • •

PPC – 500 bags of cement Klasserie – Funding CET – Coordination Sharalumi – Louis and Lee-Anne Rautenbach – construction (and some building materials) Matikinya Primary School SGB – R10 000 donation toward cement JS Bouplanne - Jacolien Steyn – Plans

Klaserie memories @ Baobab Ridge

20 | Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21

photo: Matthews Family photo left and below: Zena Baxter

photo right: Nadia Vermaak

The CET budget meeting took place on May 25 in Hoedspruit. Directors, Deon Huysamer and John Braithwaite with CEO Zani Kunz and Financial Administrator, Laura Craig.

jy hoe help... kan Enige bydra, groot of klein, help ons om ,n verskil te maak Children’s Eco Training, Rek nr: 013 253 611, STANDARD BANK, Hatfield Tak, Tak nr: 01-15-45, Swift kode: SBZAZAJJ,Tjekrekening, verwysing: jou van en stuur asseblief bewys van inbetaling aan admin@ecochildren.

Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21 |21

How old is that Ground Hornbill?

Kate Meares

A

house mouse can live up to four years, and dungbeetles up to two years. The all too familiar dassie can live up to 14 years, and a spotted hyena up to 40. But what few people know is that Ground Hornbills can live up to 70 years of age. For something that weighs only 5 kgs that seems quite old. Interestingly, one pair in Kruger waited up to 20 years to breed according to Alan Kemp. No wonder they are such slow breeders, they are

not in a hurry at all!

Ground Hornbills reach sexual maturity at around eight years of age.

By this time their facial skin around the eyes and under the bill has turned completely red (with a blue patch if female), but it can be many more years before the individual breeds.

Males bide their time filling the role of ‘helpers’ in the group, all the while gaining experience in territorial defence, foraging, predator avoidance, looking after other sub-adults, and a host of other activities until such time

as it attains a territory and female of its own.

Little is known of female movements, but we do know that in almost all cases the helpers are males with a female drifting independently until such time as she finds a group without a female and assumes her role as alpha.

A group of Ground Hornbills can consist of individuals of diverse ages.

But how can you tell the age of a Ground Hornbill? Using photos I will indicate tips and pointers you can use the next time you come across a group:

3 months to 1 year (Left) Young birds have completely pale facial skin. Black areas are ectoparasites and fairly common.

They also have blue eyes and a shorter bill with no gap between upper and lower bill.

2 to 4 years (Above)

Here in the KPNR group sizes average five birds. We have 18 known groups, with a few more sharing boundaries with other reserves, so in total, close to 100 individuals within our reserve. Larger groups like Karan Khaya (Umbabat east) have nine individuals and Addger (Timbavati east) have seven individuals which are excellent examples of the complex age composition of groups.

With the winter months upon us means groups are foraging far and wide within their home ranges in search of worthwhile feeding areas.

With this as your rough guide I hope each group sighting will be more meaningful.

8+ years (Right) (Male right, female left) Sexually mature individuals have complete facial skin, blue patch visible in females, bill is dark almost completely black. Pale eyes.

At this age the bill is at full length but with quite a bit of white on both upper and lower bills. Facial skin is dark with blotches of pale skin on the edges.

4 to 6 years (Left) At this age their facial skins are almost complete with only a bit of the cream colour around the edges. There is still some white on the bill.

22 | Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21

Seganyane becoming model school Winky Mokgope

O

n Tuesday, 15 May 2012 CET collected the greening committee and group leaders at Matikinya to take them to Seganyane Primary school for a visit.

Julius Letsoalo, Winky Mokgope and Janus Roets proudly showed the visitors around.

The beautifully designed garden was where the group leaders from Matikinya joined the grade 7 learners who were working there. It was good to see the herbs planted everywhere in the garden to control pests. Even the kitchen assistants were helping to

keep the wood ash and vegetable peels in different drums to help the learners make compost.

The garden was also used as an outdoor classroom, for after break the grade 6 class was being taught there about the ecosystem. They were working in groups with their boards and markers.

While walking around the school yard they found mugs at the taps. To save water no child was allowed to drink water without a mug.

The visitors were very impressed with the “tappy tap” (mug) the children were using. They saw them even washing their hands from their tappy tap.

The school grounds were neat and the children well-behaved. It was so amazing to find learners in the classroom without teachers, but reading books by themselves. Break times and school times were set and strictly adhered to.

For Seganyane, school discipline is their key to success.

The visitors were motivated to go back and to clean and improve their school surroundings at Matikinya, and to report what they had seen that day. After a meeting of the greening committees, Janus announced a trip to Kruger National Park for the winning school.

Groens Sponsor Kitchen

D

uring the spring of 2011 the Groen family visited Seganyane Primary School and Teedi Crèche. As reported in the December 2011 issue of the Klaserie Chronicle, the family worked hard under the scorching Lowveld sun to help with the Keyhole Gardens and to play with the little ones at the crèche.

They were very impressed to see that the schools were preparing meals for the children each day.

Yet they were surprised to see that they did not have proper kitchen facilities for cleaning all the pots and plates used.

The kitchen ladies were using two huge basins under a running tap to wash the dishes.

It did not only pose a problem regarding hygiene, but also regarding the wasting of water.

The Groens immediately asked CET to investigate the possibility of erecting a proper washing area for the kitchen.

CET would like to thank the Groen family for the donation to the building of the wash basins at Seganyane.

They are not only more hygienic, but also save a lot of water. Once again the Groens went green.

Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21 |23

Van Stone Precast Donates Compost Makers Janus Roets

V

an Stone Precast are manufacturers of concrete compost makers, and when CET asked for a quotation for these compost makers, they did better than that, they donated eight of these compost makers to CET’s Eco-Villages.

We installed the compost makers at the schools and they are working very well. Fortunately the compost heaps are not an eyesore anymore. We can now just fill up from the top and scoop out from the bottom.

Because of the air-vents, there is no

need to turn the compost anymore, which saves labour.

For these children to be healthy, they need to eat vegetables planted in healthy soil.

To ensure that, compost is needed consisting of fruit and vegetable waste, pot scrapings, paper, lawn cuttings, dry leaves, manure, water and sunlight.

In fact, anything that will rot is perfect for the job.

We would like to thank Vanstone Precast for this wonderful donation.

We now have a constant supply of rich and nutritious compost, which helps us to grow nutritious vegetables.

Jojo Tanks donated O n 22 May, CET received a call from a benefactor who was doing renovations to their property and installed new JoJo tanks. They immediately thought of CET. Within an hour they were at Seganyane Primary School with two huge JoJo tanks in excellent condition.

Water is a problem at the schools. Although CET sank a borehole at Seganyane Primary School in 2011 and installed two water tanks, they are a bit small for the amount of water used on a daily basis.

Teedi Crèche (adopted at the end of 2011) does not have any water at all. They carry drums of water to school every day, which makes it difficult to maintain hygienic conditions, and impossible to start a vegetable garden.

The one tank will be used at Seganyane Primary School, and they will be able to save on electricity by filling them only twice a week. The other tank will be installed at Teedi Crèche. However, to be able to pump water from Seganyane Primary School, water pipes and taps are still needed.

alastword

24 | Klaserie Chronicle/Kroniek no. 21

Make a date p Klaserie Private

Matikinya School Hall Matikinya School Hall in progress

Nature Reserve AGM 14 July 2012

p Hlokomela Clinic dates 16 + 30 Aug; 13 + 27 Sept; 11 + 25 Oct; 15 + 29 Nov; 13 + 27 December.

p CET Holiday Workshop dates Children: 2-5 July Teacher Training: 24 & 25 September Children: 1-4 October Teacher Training: 3 & 4 December Children: 10 – 13 December

9p Santa Shoebox Project National drop off week 24 – 31 October

Netball kits donated to Southern Cross Schools

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wo of the MAD/CET Bursary pupils were selected for the first Netball team of Southern Cross Schools.

Children’s Eco Training was cosponsors for the netball kits and jackets. The team performed superbly during the netball season. We are very proud of them!

“helping to build lasting wealth” l Equity Portfolios

l Balanced Portfolio

l Absolute Return Portfolios

Contact Danie Berrange on (011) 958 0005 or (021) 882 9374

l Treasury Management