Klaserie Chronicle 14 05-2010

MAY 2010 NO 14

KLASERIE

KRONIEK/CHRONICLE

Bush Kids Become Street Wise Eerste Indrukke Is Blywend

Helping Hands Win Hearts

Biodiversity Celebration

inside|

Longest Day .... 3 * Aids Day ....4 * Dappled Splendour ... 7 A Good Year For The Ground Hornbill Project ... 8 photo: Karen Randall

BUSHBYTES

2 | Klaserie Chronicle Kroniek no 14

Welcome Anton!

Zani’s KEYBOARD You may be forgiven for not recognising the Klaserie Chronicle at first glance. Yes we have a new leaf, but it’s still the same tree. CET has grown beyond expectation since its inception in 2004 and it is almost inevitable that the new season will ask for a revamped Chronicle.

It is also a time where we greet old friends and welcome new ones.

Pat Seeton has been the editor cum writer cum mentor cum tower of strength since the inception of the Klaserie Chronicle. He led by example, he motivated and was always willing to take over and start writing when the pressure was on. I cannot imagine the paper without him being at the helm.

He has the gift of writing and can make words come alive.

His creativity could be seen in the layout of the paper and the very appropriate quotes we enjoyed. Pat was also responsible for editing the photos and writing the captions. I can never thank him enough for his patience and for what I have learned from him. If there is anything that I could wish for, then it would be Pat’s com-

Anton Nel has been appointed as the administration manager at KPNR. His main task is to draw administrative duties away from Colin Rowles, so that Colin can perform his main mandate, namely managing the bush and game.

Anton will look after the financial matters as well as all the varied “office jobs” to be found in running a Reserve.

Anton is married to Zenta and they have moved into Gustav’s old house, also known as the old guest cottage. They come from Pretoria.

A BIG Thank You To the two Danish ladies who donated laptops, Iben Dupont and Pia Tesdorf.

Donovan and Lee-Anne Detert and Klaserie Camps in the KPNR for Easter eggs for all the children at the recent training and meals for the trainers.

They also donated second hand clothing, shoes and kitchen utensils.

SPAR Hoedspruit donated Easter The Klaserie Chronicle is published quarterly and distributed to KPNR owners, as well as CET donors, partners and Chronicle advertisers. mand of the English language. All your readers and CET friends wish you the best, and now that the pressure is off, we are looking forward to some contributions, please.

Lynette Strauss will continue on Pat’s foundation. Lynette was co-founder of the Kruger2Canyon News and the Hoedspruit Week, two local newspapers. She also co-founded the Kruger Park Times, a regional paper for the Kruger National Park and surrounding areas. We welcome her zest for people, the world we live in and a public voice for both.

eggs for the recent training and KPNR Guest house provided accommodation for facilitators. The Anderson family of Hull donated dancing trophies, toys, kitchen utensils and cassettes.

Rainer and Ursula Jahn gave a digital camera and four veggie boxes.

KLASERIE CHRONICLE KRONIEK TEAM Editor: Zani Kunz Consulting Editor: Lynette Strauss Advertising: Elmarie van Heerden Proofing: Littcor Layout and design: Lynette Strauss Contributors: Colin Rowles, Janice Rowles, Gustav Roux, Pieter Dreyer, Sieglinde Roode, Elmarie van Heerden, Zani Kunz, Thatum du Plessies, Nolly Moema, Lee-Anne Detert, Courteney Blunden.

General: +27 (0) 12 644 2288 Limpopo: +27 (0) 82 386 4076 Johann Meintjies: +27 (0) 72 676 3047 Marna Meintjies: +27 (0) 72 343 2546

Francois du Toit: +27 (0) 83 656 9230

LONGESTDAY COLIN ROWLES reports

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ontrolled burning of the veldt is an activity that is necessary in the management of the lowveldt ecosystems. Periodic burning rids the herbaceous layer of all dead moribund grass, promoting new and vigorous growth. If the fire intensity is sufficient many seedlings of small trees and shrubs are eliminated maintaining the balance between grassland and the woody component. Many plant species, especially the bulbous plants are reliant on fire for their existence. Large dead and decaying trees that have been uprooted by elephants are reduced to ash, enriching the soil and clearing the landscape of accumulated litter.

Fire is therefore a very important management tool.

During the consecutive good rainfall seasons which spanned the 1999-2001 period, we took advantage of the high grass biomass that had accumulated and implemented a controlled burning programme which resulted in the burning of almost 30 000 hectares. The following account relates to an incident which occurred while burning a section of the reserve during that time.

It was Good Friday, a public holiday, and I had arranged for the staff to work believing that we would be finished early as all that we needed to do was to ignite one fire line of about eight kilometres and allow the predicted south easterly wind to drive the fire through the 856 hectare block and extinguish itself against the already burnt surrounding area.

At around mid morning we had made good progress, and the fire line was about five kilometres long. I made periodic checks back down the line to ensure that all was safe, and to encourage and motivate the staff who was extinguishing smouldering stumps close

to the firebreak.

I returned to the men at the ignition point, and felt a sudden breeze on my face and not on my back as it had been all morning. The wind was progressively shifting one eighty degrees and was then almost north-westerly. Looking back, the thick smoke had obscured my staff from view, and I noticed a vehicle approaching with its lights on. The vehicle stopped and the driver advised me that the fire had jumped the break. I looked over my shoulder, and was overwhelmed by a sickening, nauseating feeling when I saw a large, thick, black plume of smoke rising some two hundred meters into the adjacent unburnt block.

Thermal convection had carried some smouldering embers high into the atmosphere, across the firebreak, and dropped them well within the unburnt and unprotected area.

I had to stop this runaway fire before it got out of hand and spread to adjacent areas. I summoned a few staff members onto my vehicle, left instructions with those that remained, and sped off to circle around and get in front of the running fire which was then being driven by the hot northerly wind.

My only hope was to fight this fire with fire, and to do that I had to establish a backburn against which it would extinguish itself.

I picked up an east west cutline against which we could start a fire line and create a backburn. A staff member stood on the rear bumper of the vehicle, and as I drove, he held the drip torch over the side and set the veldt alight as we bounced along the track as quickly as possible.

As the backburn was widening behind us, I looked up at the thick black smoke of the approaching fire and hoped and prayed that I would get past the head in time, and that the firebreak would have burnt wide enough by the time the two fires met. When the two fires approached each other, they created a hot roaring thermal draft as they depleted the oxygen between them.

Their flames intensified as they rushed up trees and shrubs, shrivelling their leaves and leaping through the thick dry grass devouring everything in their path, leaving nothing but a smouldering black carpet behind. As the fires met the flames turned from orange to dark red, and in a gust of white smoke it was all over.

We had done it! The runaway fire had been stopped. I congratulated the staff on their hard work, and we commenced with mopping-up operations, while the ignition team continued to circle the block to continue burning it out. continue on page 15

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4 | Klaserie Chronicle Kroniek no 14

HIV/AIDSAWARENESS

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n Friday 12 March an HIV/ AIDS Awareness day was held at the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve headquarters. Over one hundred Klaserie and Camp Guard staff attended the day.

Eric Manyike opened the morning with a prayer and welcomed all the staff. Gladys Ngwena, Klaserie’s Nomphilo representative, introduced the guests from Hlokomela to the staff. Constance Ngobeni from Hlokomela discussed the purpose of the day with the attendants.

Teenage Rapatsa, who is a Hlokomela representative, led a session on Tuberculosis, especially Extreme Drug Resistance TB.

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ladys Ngwena, the Klaserie Nature Reserve’s Nompilo representative, was invited to attend the Hoedspruit Training Trust Hlokomela awards ceremony on 10 December 2009.

The award ceremony was held at the Van Rensburg Hall on the morning of the tenth where all the various farm Nompilo representatives were treated to a party before the awards were handed to the deserving recipients.

It was explained to the staff that Extreme Drug Resistance (XDR) TB is caused when there is a lack of compliance in treatment and incorrect use of medication.

This results in the TB germ becoming resistant to the medication making it impossible to kill with the usual medication. XDR TB can also be spread to other people in the same manner as drug-sensitive TB by coughing or sneezing.

The symptoms of XDR TB are the same as drug-sensitive TB, which are a cough lasting for more than two weeks, fever, chills, night sweats, fatigue, muscle weakness and weight loss. Following the TB session there

were two drama sessions: one a story of a farm worker suffering from TB and his subsequent treatment; the other, a story of migrants vulnerable to moral extortion and the spreading of HIV/AIDS. Afterwards a group discussion was held on how HIV/AIDS could be prevented.

They were divided into smaller groups for discussions, clarification and questions.

Everyone was then given an HIV/ AIDS awareness cap and lunch, before they departed for their various camps.

BY JANICE ROWLES

There was a Nompilo of the year 2009 award, while six Nompilos were awarded trophies for outstanding achievements during the year. During the ceremony Gladys was awarded a certificate for a Home Base Care course that she attended in November 2009. The Nompilos were given a first-aid bag and small carry bag.

Right: Christine Du Preez, director of the Hoedspruit Training Trust, and Gladys Ngwena.

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Klaserie Chronicle Kroniek no 14 | 5

Masithokoze Foundation Donates R100 000

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The Masithokoze Foundation to ask a donation for books and binoculars for all the kids, and was one of the three charities in the country that received the R100 000.00 grant!

Photo taken at the Business 2010 Networking and Branding Event an initiative by Masithokozo Moyo. Zani and Elmarie with guest speakers Karl Smith and Lynn Hill de Wet.

On Wednesday, 21 October 2009, a morning workshop was organised

by SAIF in Johannesburg. The workshop was about Writing Proposals and Business Plans.

Masithokozo Moyo was the guest speaker and gave guidelines for writing proposals. As a former professional Programme Manager for the Development Bank Of Southern Africa (DBSA) she knows what catches the eye in a proposal.

She is also the CEO of the Masithokoze Avhatakale Foundation of SA and has a lot of experience in fundraising for this organization. She shared many of her fundraising tips during the workshop.

It was an exciting workshop and everyone was so much the wiser after the workshop, After the workshop, Ms Moyo an-

nounced the pièce de résistance!

The DBSA committed R100 000.00 to the Masithokoze Avhatakale Foundation for each of the three best proposals sent to her before 29 November 2009. The only catch was that it had to be a proposal of only one page.

On this one page, she wanted all the necessary information, quotes, and motivation.

CET has never backed down from a challenge, and the proposal was sent.

“We can only express our gratitude publicly for Ms Moyo and the Developement Bank of SA for this wonderful donation.

“They are really investing in the future. We as CET will make them proud.”

BY ELMARIE VAN HEERDEN

Rotary Little Falls Donates Wheelchair And Books

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t is wonderful how one thing can lead to another! The result of which was a donation of 800 books by Rotary Little Falls for a needy school and CET for environmental training.

A conversation with Koos Malan and Cristiena Kruger about a specific school where there was a desperate need for a library, led to Wade Murray’s mother, Anne, working at a Rotary Club that distributed books.

The school had all the shelves, even painted the classroom – but no books. Contact was made and a visit arranged at the storage premises.

There were stacks of books, mostly from America. Friendly volunteers were unpacking and labelling the books. It was like entering a treasure trove!

Anne selected reading books, ref-

erence books, subject textbooks and educational toys for the school. CET received a donation of reference books with the most beautiful pictures and fantastic information as well as microscopes with slides about the bee, the frog, etc. Even the delivery to our doorstep was sponsored and organised

by Postnet.

Two teachers and Winky, the CET schools’ coordinator, were sent on a course to Sharifa Razak, the librarian at Southern Cross Schools.

Sharifa offered her services for free and taught them all they needed to know about managing a library ef-

fectively. We will be forever grateful.

During this visit with Anne, a wheelchair was bought for a boy in Acornhoek who desperately needed one.

The R120 was paid and a brand new wheelchair was taken to the nineyear-old boy.

His single mother, Nelvy Chiloane, barely makes a living with her income, and cannot afford to buy Simon a proper wheelchair.

Thank you to Anne Murray, an angel in disguise, Tom Borrill and Ernie Hendriks of Rotary International.

6 | Klaserie Chronicle Kroniek no 14

Om Te Verloor “Regte” buffels kies om alleen te lewe. Hulle het ook nie altyd ‘mooi’ horings nie, want hulle gebruik hulle horings. So vertel Gustav Roux.

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s die son jou vandag alleen kry, brand dit jou dood! Ek het gestop, opgekyk na die son en gedink dat jy hier maar in groepe ook kon wees, dit sal jou nog steeds brand.

Ons jag soms in Februarie maar glo my, nie uit eie vrye wil nie. Ek is oudergewoonte deur die jagter by die HK ontmoet vroeg die oggend, reeds 07:00, maar alreeds warm. Ek en hy was alleen en na afloop van die gewone kantoor simfonie, is ons met my bakkie buffels toe.

Ross was my keuse vir die dag – die bos was redelik groen. My gedagtes het ernstig buffels gesoek, maar ons kon net nie iets kry nie. Vars spore op pad het ook niks gehelp nie. Later die oggend stop ons by die kamp, ek groet die kampwag en begin gesels.

“Ja nee, dit is baie warm,” het hy saamgestem. ”Reën sal goed wees,” het ek gesê.

Ek het die eerste deel afgerammel en toe gevra dit wat ek eintlik wou weet.

“Wanneer laas het julle buffels gesien?”

“O, daar is buffel by die dam.” Ek het gereken hy verstaan verkeerd, of ek het verkeerd gehoor, maar dan sien ek die bul by die water, langs die kamp.

Mens kry twee soorte buffels, en om regtig tegnies te wees, dalk’n derde. Die eerste is buffels wat uit Disney in Amerika kom; jong bulle met lang krul horings. Die volgende soort is volwasse bulle wat die jagters uit Amerika 20 000$ voor wil betaal en dan laaste, kry jy regte buffels.

Dit is buffels wat alleen loop, wat in die laaste tydvak van hul lewens is.

Hul is nie uitgestoot nie, hul kies om alleen te lewe.

As jy mooi kyk, kan jy sy lewenservaringe op sy vel lees, vol merke en wonde. Nee, hul het nie altyd “mooi horings” nie, want hulle gebruik hul horings. Hul nekke is dik, hul lywe groot en hulle loop stadig. Hierdie is regte buffels.

Ons het van die agter kant af in die kamp ingeloop en vir die bul gaan kyk. Stadig om die hoek van die lapa het ons geloer, en ja, hierdie was ‘n regte buffel. Hy het water gedrink, in die modder gerol en toe begin wegloop, terug na sy sitkamer toe. Ek was slim en het beplan. Toe die buffel sy rug na dié kant keer, het ek die jagter geneem en te voet by die kamp uitgeglip en agter die buffel aangedraf.

Ek het geweet, vir die eerste ruk sou hy rustig wees. Die geluide en reuke van die kamp sou in sy ore en neus wees. Die buffel het ‘n ent verder, weg van die kamp af weer begin wei.

Ons was naby genoeg vir ‘n skoot.

Diere word nie oud omdat hul “stupid” is nie. Hy het onraad gemerk, vinnig omgedraai en vir ons gekyk.

Die jagter was emosioneel nie gereed vir die oomblik nie en kon nie op die bepaalde tyd skiet nie. Met dawerende hoewe het hy die bos in verdwyn. Ek het die jagter laat water drink, met hom gepraat en toe die spoor gaan volg.

My gedagtes was besig met die spoor, terwyl my lyf gevolg het. Die

son was warm. Ek het gemerk die Mopane bome word baie ruig. Ek het gehoop hy sou naby wees.

Die jagter het so 15 meter agter my aangekom; spoorsny is maar’n tydsame proses. My oë was vasgenaal op die grond, elke merk, elke klip, elke pol gras moes ondersoek word en stadig maar seker het ons vorentoe beweeg.

Die spore het gedraai, reguit na’n groot bos en ons het tree vir tree saam die buffel gestap.

Die spoor het weer na die bos geswenk. Die bos het sy hand op my skouer gesit en my gedagtes het die spoor gelos. Ek het opgekyk. Die bul het skaars 20 treë voor my gestaan en vir my gekyk. Ek het geweet ek het verloor, want al sou ons die bul toe skiet, het hy steeds gewen.

Ek het terug, wegbeweeg, want as hy op daardie oomblik sou storm, het ek probleme gehad. Ek en die jagter het terugbeweeg.

Toe ons op 30 meter stop, het die bul uit die bos beweeg waar hy gestaan het en na die volgende vertrek van sy huis beweeg. Ek en die jagter is bakkie toe ... foto: Argief: Gavin Olivier

Klaserie Chronicle Kroniek no 13 | 7

DAPPLED SPLENDOUR - a moment etched in memory

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arly in the morning of 6 March, Janice and the kids had left for school and I had just finished unlocking the offices at HQ when my cell phone rang. I cursed as I answered it, thinking that the first problem of the day was about to be reported.

It was Janice who was bubbling with excitement as she told me of three wild dogs that had crossed the road in front of her, just outside the complex gate. “Hurry,” she said, they’ve gone towards the soccer field!”

I picked up Jack, the Jack Russell, and ran to my parked Land Cruiser, bailed in and while closing the door, sped out of the gate. I slowly drove towards the soccer field searching the gaps between the raisin bushes for painted shapes with large round ears and brilliant white tails.

I caught a glimpse of one, around the bush, two, three, and four. I concentrated hard as I counted, as these sleek, agile animals are constantly on the move, weaving in and out of the undergrowth in their efforts to flush some unsuspecting prey.

The scrub gave way and opened out into the soccer field as seven COLIN ROWLES tells us about the joys of a rare early morning sighting.

immaculate wild dogs trotted into view, stopped and stood motionless.

I turned the vehicle off and marvelled at the scene. Jack stood on the seat next to me with his feet on the dashboard, intrigued by his strange-looking relatives.

Their patchwork coats glistened in the sharp early morning light as I appreciated how healthy they all looked and how the pups had grown. The last time I had seen them they were tiny black liquorice-looking blobs, tucked away in a secluded earthen den on Dundee during September last year.

They stood, testing the breeze with wet noses, and eventually one by one they lay down. Of course my camera shutter was working overtime as I tried to get as many profile shots of the individuals as possible.

Suddenly the large male jumped up, extended his thick neck and gave an extended howling whoop, soon to be joined by one or two others. This most unusual, undog-like call carried on the cool morning air and echoed down the valley ... then silence. Eventually an answering call came, there were more! A few minutes later another seven dogs burst onto the open field. With waving white tails they pronked around, greeting one another with affectionate twitter. The seven arrivals had red blood-stained faces; some were carrying pieces of fresh meat which they presented to the younger generation who gorged the offerings without chewing.

Then, as quickly as they came they were gone, and all I have is memories, a few photos and a story to tell.

8 | Klaserie Chronicle Kroniek no 14

TREEWISDOM

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ave you ever looked at a tree as more than a source of shade? Most people’s general knowledge on trees will include that they provide oxygen and shade, need water and sunlight, are home to some animals and are a source of food to others. Yet, trees are almost as complex as humans.

From a distance it will be taxing to code the same green on a marula, mopane and leadwood tree, even more so up close and personal when comparing leaf size, colour and even texture.

Some trees proudly show off their magnificent bark gently suspending feather-fine leaves like a giant umbrella in mid-air. Others create eerie, dark hide-aways as branches, heavy with masses of broad, dark green leaves, stretch and strain to touch

the earth. At the Children’s Eco Training (CET), based in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve (KPNR), the first rule is to have fun. The second rule says CET co-coordinator, Zani Kunz, is “let’s learn something at the same time.” For the recent holiday programme, Zani Kunz chose trees as the overall theme.

First she invited renowned tree expert, Meg Coates Palgrave, to sharpen the CET trainers’ tree identification and appreciation skills. The CET trainers were joined by two camp guards of Braithwaite and Kieswetter camps, who soon had the key that Meg designed for trees found in and around the KPNR Head Quarters under control.

“Meg’s practical step-by-step approach was a great foundation for the trainers to impart their knowledge to eager young minds from the ages of five to 16 who attend the trainings regularly”, says Zani.

“It was great seeing the children’s delight as the key unlocked their understanding of the tree variety on

site. But it was their gleeful squeals and beaming smiles as they dipped their hands in mulch that was soon to become paper that underlined their happiness.

That and the liters and liters of icecream donated by Gert and Sunette Rautenbach, who also donated the paper making frames.”

It was a learning experience of a different kind for two Make a Difference (MAD) students, Nolly Moema from Pretoria and Thatum du Plessis from Johannesburg, who attended the training course as volunteers.

“CET and MAD have formed firm partnerships throughout the years and it was a pleasure to host the two promising and successful students in the KPNR during the training.”

BY THATUM DU PLESSIS AND NOLLY MOEMA

A Good Year For The Ground Hornbill Project

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n the Associated Private Nature Reserve (APNR) we are fortunate enough to have a thriving ground hornbill population.

Close monitoring over the past seven years has shown the population within the APNR to be on the increase, unlike the rest of South Africa where ground hornbills are on the critically endangered list.

During the 2009/10, breeding season 12 chicks hatched in the APNR of which four were in the Klaserie, seven in the Timbavati and one in

the Umbabat. The Senelala group lost the first clutch, and then only a few weeks later laid a second clutch.

10 chicks have already fledged and one is still due to fledge within the next few days, at Keer Keer in the Timbavati. In the Umbabat the one chick disappeared before it could be ringed, possibly due to predation. All in all the 2009/10 season has been a success for the breeding groups.

The most exciting news, however, is that after extensive testing periods, the researchers finally managed

to get the capture operation off the ground. Since February 2010, four groups were caught and one male per group was fitted with a satellite transmitter These transmitters are unique as they are charged through a small solar panel fitted on top of the transmitters; this gives the transmitter a much longer lifespan. Now we can determine how large the territory of ground hornbills is and how they utilize their habitat.

BY SIEGLINDE ROODE

Klaserie Chronicle Kroniek no 14 | 9

BIODIVERSITYCELEBRATION - Fun In The Sun

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o increase the understanding of the vital role that biodiversity plays in sustaining life on Earth, Maureen Lahoud was invited to assist in teaching the concept through dances and body movements at Children’s Eco Training workshop from 29 – 31 March.

Maureen, a professional actress and dancer of international fame, established an African Dance group in the Hoedspruit area, and is very much in demand at lodges and functions.

Her aim is to eventually go to the rural areas and offer after-school educational programmes for children with limited occupational options.

At the training session of CET in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, the focus was on mimicking animals, trees, insects, grass and reinacting daily tasks in the villages, for example chopping wood, digging, etc. Four

dances were taught to four different groups of children and represented: a typical village scene; “pollution police” fighting with the village people; protected areas (animals and birds) and city life.

The difficult concept of biodiversity was taught in a fun way, and in the process, an additional skill was mastered.

Visitors who attended the training were Megan, Claire and Sarah of Buffelshoek Trust, and 11 children from the Thulamahashe orphanage who had the time of their lives.

What better way to learn about nature’s treasures than through dance and song.

Local dancer, MAUREEN LAHOUD took the lead.

The donation of Easter eggs from Donovan and Lee-Anne Detert and SPAR Hoedspruit, added the final touch to a special training session. Everyone is looking forward to the next training session in June – S��������������������������������������� oc������������������������������������� cer! Biodiversity �������������������������������� is Life - Biodiversity is our Life!

10 | Klaserie Chronicle Kroniek no 14

CET Welcomes The Holiday Show Film Crew From Ireland

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ur guests from Ireland were director and presenter, Jon Slattery; presenter, Ciara Denise Whelam and director and editor, Tom Philip Richardson. The team has travelled all over the world and has never been to SA. SA Tourism contacted Mygr8 Safaris regarding their adopted charity, CET, and The Holiday Show decided to pay a visit to the Klaserie private Nature Reserve.

Over the past ten years, Jon has presented programmes for RTE1, RTE2, TV3, BBC, ITV, SKY TRAVEL, DISCOVERY REAL TIME and GRANADA MEN and MOTORS. Ciara as a freelance producer has gained credit in a multitude of genres including film, television, television commercial, corporate video, live music event and music video, webcast and Internet virals. She decided to make the move to the other side of the camera and with series for Channel 6, City Channel, Setanta and Men&Motors under her belt. Nowadays Ciara and Jon run Trilogy Media Productions.

MYgr8 Safaris transferred the visitors to the Children’s Eco Training Day Centre in the Klaserie. They ar-

rived for breakfast, were introduced, given nametags and briefed about the day. It was a normal training session and the theoretical work had to be done first.

The theme was WATER and everyone was sharing facts and information about water – the importance of clean water, health, water safety, water cycle, uses, how to save water.

Then it was time fo a game drive to a river in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, in Big Five country (lions, elephants, rhinos, leopards and buffalos), where water monitoring was demonstrated. While on the game drive, facts and information were given about the animals, birds and trees they encountered. Every now and again, a few stops had to be made for practical learning to take place.

They stopped at a little dam and looked for spoor, which they had to identify. Interesting chats and anecdotes were shared about life around the waterhole.

After lunch with the students, it was time for the art activities, linked to the facts and informa-

tion processed during the morning’s activities. The activity was to make elephant dung paper. They colelcted dung on the road back from the river.

This was quite an experience for the presenter!

The children completed a quiz and recapped the day’s activities, before final interviews about the day and with Zani Kunz about CET. Short clips of the interviews and day in the Klaserie can be viewed on http://www.theholidayshow.tv/ south_africa /volunteering/index. html and http://www.theholidayshow.tv/bts.html.

Klaserie Chronicle Kroniek no 14 |11

WINNERS’REWARD Bush Kids Become Streetwise

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n the last weekend in November, shiny, wide smiles declared a life changing experience for 26 young winners who were on a sponsored weekend away from home.

Every year the Children’s Eco Training (CET), based in the Klaserie Private Nature Reserve, rewards learners for the year’s work.

This time, with generous support from sponsor MyGr8, it was decided to explore the capital of Mpumalanga and it’s scenic escarpment. For many it would be the first time they leave home or venture outside the borders of the Greater Hoedspruit area.

Easing into the experience, they left from the KPNR head quarters early on Saturday for a guided tour of the Bourke’s Luck potholes on the Panorama route. This set the tone for the day as they continued their journey towards Nelspruit.

As the journey shortened, the children’s excitement mulitiplied and when the two MyGr8 vehicles entered Mpumalanga’s foremost concrete jungle, not even the city traffic noise could overpower the racket inside the bus.

“I will always remember their pure enjoyment when we set them loose on Nelspruit’s Riverside Mall, where we had lunch at the Spur and a movie afterwards. Off course we also had to test drive the treasures at the games emporium,” says Elmarie van Heerden of CET. The day ended on another high with a prize-giving ceremony and braai at the Sabaan Holiday Resort in the misty mountains near Hazyview where they stayed overnight.

“On Sunday, it took some effort to drag them from the swimming pool when it was time to leave,” says Elmarie.

“We took the scenic Panorama route home and finished off a great adventure with pizza.”

WATER WEEK 2010: Together We Can Save More Water

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elebrated under the theme: Together We Can Save More Water, National Water Week is an awareness campaign that aims to highlight the need to conserve and protect this precious resource.

Matikinya, Mawuvana and Seganyane primary schools participated in the week’s activities from 22-26 March. Each day the children focused on the importance of water.

They devised and tested clever water ‘gadgets’ for the schools’ vegetable gardens and beautiful flower beds, CET helped to drill a borehole and install a water pump at Matikinya Primary School, which enabled them to produce very successful vegetable gardens and “greening” their school

with a courtyard. On the day, a huge celebration saw senior children perform and a learner deliver a powerful speech about the importance of water in between the crowd chanting, “Viva water week! Viva! Viva CET for bringing water to our school, Viva!” .

There was a display of all their fresh produce and the ceremony concluded with lunch from the garden.

Mawuvana focused on clever water-saving techniques and applied it to their vegetable garden. At Seganyane there was song and dance reminiscent of days gone by with a highlight the Grade 6 learners’ show.

Afterwards everyone visited the vegetable garden, which was ready for the new planting season.

CET staff members Zani, Winky and Trico visited all three schools and awarded each school a globe donated by Anneke Vorster of Edumat in Johannesburg.

STRATEGIESTRATEGY

12 | Klaserie Chronicle Kroniek no 14

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE KPNR STRATEGIC PLAN: 2010 – 2014 As reported in the last Klaserie Chronicle, Exco has been developing a Strategic Plan for KPNR to cover the next five years. This article presents the highlights.

The purpose of developing a Strategic Plan is to provide a road map of actions for KPNR to achieve its overriding objectives: Conservation of habitat and species, sustainable use of resources and developing local communities.

Initially members were involved in the planning process by responding to a questionnaire and attending a workshop at HQ on 16 October. Further work has since been done to identify specific projects, set priorities, estimate resources required and finalise the plan itself.

HIGHLIGHTS The planning document contains an analysis of KPNR’s current status, trends and expectations of members and stakeholders, its mission and vision, specific objectives, goals and prioritised actions, estimated financial and people resources required and proposed organizational structure. Here are some of the highlights: KPNR’S VISION INCLUDES THE FOLLOWING: • Undertaking a much-increased level of conservation work to achieve the best possible quality habitat.

• Meeting members’ expectations in the long term.

• Ensuring a continued “sense of place” in KPNR.

• Enabling eco-tourism within constraints.

• Enabling hunting within constraints.

• Ensuring a safe and secure environment.

• Maintaining a co-operative attitude among/between members and stakeholders.

• Being a responsible citizen.

• A framework within which constitutional matters (e.g. governance, membership), policies (e.g. ecotourism, hunting, access roads, SA laws) and guidelines (e.g. waterhole location, traversing) can be presented and easily accessed.

ORGANIZATIONAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE PLAN INCLUDE: A significant number of projects prioritized by Exco into High, Medium and Low. The current Summarised below are the high priority projects by subject area: KPNR needs to evolve in order to SUBJECT AREA OBJECTIVE PROJECT cope with: • The extent of Habitat & Species To return KPNR habitat to best possible Water redistribution; remove man-made infrastructure projects to be unManagement state (absolute and relative to other APNR reserves) by 2014. dertaken, particularly conservation.

Eco-tourism Set policy parameters within which Complete the redevelopment and implementation of policies owners would be able to commercialise. for commercialization; implement monitoring mechanism • More heterogeneous member Hunting Maximise hunting revenues with the Use current sustainability policies, including sensitivity to minimum effort and effect to all parties. eco-tourism and sensitive members. group with increased demands.

Non-hunting Revenue Identify and develop new revenue streams Assess economics and conclude on viability of the following Streams recognizing the possible vulnerability of with objective of growing revenues by 25% p.a. followed by • A greater need hunting revenue. implementation: abbatoir, hunting lodge, eco-tourism bedfor policy formulalevies, game sales and increased property sales levies tion, implementaTransformation Establish KPNR as a progressive Increase PDI ownership of land by identifying future tion and enforceorganization in respect of transformation potential owners (e.g. land claims). ment.

Community upliftment Increase KPNR involvement in Establish KPNR as a leader in sustainable conservation, • An increasing community upliftment. environmental and socio-economic education and training, need for entrepreusing CET to drive the programme. neurship to drive Safety & Security Maintain a progressive policy against Define the KPNR policy/position as per 2010 AGM. the backdrop of a deteriorating security Install communications with all camps. the development environment.

Provide physical access to camps. of the non-hunting Information Technology Increase communications with members Design and implement KPNR website including links to revenue streams. and Communications and outside communities using KPNR member websites, CET, and to contain Constitution, Policies • An increase in website. and Guidelines database. work of an adminMember Affairs Provide service to members via camp Regular visits to be paid to all camps and feedback to istrative nature. feedback report. members.

The addition of Become acknowledged as a responsible Develop/implement labour practice and growth guidelines group of employers for employees within KPNR. the Administration Enable induction of new members into Develop information pack; implement for new members.

Manager for all asKPNR policies and practices pects of KPNR reporting to Exco.

Constitution & Policies KPNR Constitution to be responsive to Review and redevelop KPNR Constitution.

CET will contincontinuously evolving environment.

Document existing and new policies in consistent and ue to operate as a accessible form for capture and maintenance on website separate organizadatabase. tional entity, and Finance & Admin Establish consistent and agreed financial Define policies required (e.g. reserves) and agree Exco. will report formally policies.

Appoint Admin Mgr. plan and execute transition of Bring accounting in-house.

accounting.

continue on page 13

Klaserie Chronicle Kroniek no 13 | 14

Operation Desk Perfection

O

n Thursday morning 25 February 2010, 16 volunteers from African Conservation Experience visited Matikinya Primary School. They were there in partnership with Children’s Eco Training (CET) to complete the longawaited desktop project, sponsored by Klaserie Private Nature Reserve.

Mr Martin Bornman, the coordinator, and his group of volunteers were given an enthusiastic welcome, and entertained with a traditional dance by Matikinya Primary School learners.

Ms Winky Mokgope from CET, with Mr Trico Chiloane assisting her, was the project coordinator of the day.

Lowveld Building Supplies delivered 152 desktops.

After a demonstration of how to assemble a desk,

work began in earnest as soon as the children had run off to attend their classes.

To the rhythm of the drilling and knocking of the desks work continued throughout the day. Everyone put in an effort into perfecting the desks.

After a short break, the volunteers continued with the help of community members. Eighty-one desks were completed – a very productive day.

This first visit to a rural school was a very gratifying experience for the volunteers.

Everyone was pleased with the results, and the desks made such a difference to the lives of these children. The remainder of the desks was completed on 1 March 2010.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE KPNR STRATEGIC PLAN: 2010 – 2014 continued from page 12

to KPNR on those Community Upliftment projects which are outsourced to them.

NEXT STEPS Approved projects will become part of the annual plans of KPNR line managers and Exco members/subcommittees to which responsibility has been assigned.

Progress will be monitored by Exco

throughout the year.

The Strategic Plan will be updated annually to reflect progress achieved, changed priorities and new projects approved.

CONCLUSION This is the first time that KPNR has not only set medium-term objectives, but prepared a pragmatic, resourced plan to achieve agreed objectives.

Members’ input was used to drive

the process, and Exco has the fullest confidence that KPNR will achieve the targeted levels of performance over the next five years.

Copies of the full Strategic Plan document are available for members from Mr Colin Rowles. Exco welcomes all comments which can be sent via Mr Rowles.

BY ALASTAIR WOOD

BROKKIESSNIPPETS

A Good Easter

T

he easter weekend arrived with lots of guests in tow! Along with the guests came some

really good gameviewing and ofcourse the rain! It is amazing that at Kitara (Elephant Camp) and Nyeleti we had 18mm rain and our sister camp Nzumba (Buffalo Lodge) 5km away had 32mm.

The rain is most welcome as I am sure everyone in the Klaserie agrees, it is desperately needed. Our part of the Klaserie remains well under our annual rainfall figure and this is deceiving with the Klaserie River running rapidly past Kitara and Nyeleti. On the gameviewing side, we were fortunate to see the pride of 6 lion that frequent the area again (looking nice & healthy). They were seen on 2 different drives, as well as 2 different leopards sightings on 2 drives. That is quite amazing for this

area! The weekend viewing included large herds of elephant in abundance, as well as rhino. The buffalo were strangely absent.

It was the first time that our “new & improved” Nyeleti has been used at full capacity since its facelift recently completed. The location and atmosphere of Nyeleti is magical and it has a special, cozy atmosphere about it, and with it now upgraded, our guests loved it! There is a huge demand for self-catering camps and we are excited that Nyeleti will fill that niche and complete the Klaserie Camps portfolio. We are still working on updating the website with some new pics. Anyone interested in more information etc can please contact Lee-Anne on donandlee@ tekomsa.net or 015 793 2991.

So all in all, it was a good Easter weekend!

Lee-Anne Detert

Walking Trails In The KPNR

T

he challenge to do walking trails and safaris in a new game reserve was upon us. I was not sure whether I was scared or excited to be in this situation!

Every aspect of what I had been used to, was different; new farm, new neighbours, new rules and of course our brand new company. The only thing that I could rely on was that Mother Nature would remain constant and true and provide us with enthralling and great experiences like we had over the past three years; experiences you could only wish for! The Klaserie Private Nature Reserve is a magical and fantastic environment to conduct all safari activities, and with hard work and all

the commercial products that currently exist, it is being put on the map as one of the premier game, bird and plant-viewing reserves in the country.

Eco-tourism in South Africa is an extremely important part of our country’s progress.

When people visit a Game Reserve they don’t just learn about nature they learn about OUR PEOPLE, OUR CULTURES and how we, as South Africans, can and are adding value to the rest of the world. Eco-tourism makes sense in all aspects both naturally and politically. When I first studied to be a field guide I thought I was only going to be a custodian of nature, and interpret what I was seeing to guests.

My job, however, has grown over the years with more responsibility.

All guides, game rangers, land owners and anyone who has to do with nature, especially within the Greater Kruger National Park, have a new task; custodians of South Africa, to enhance or pollute a visitor’s experience and view of our great country.

I would just like to thank all of the Klaserie family who are linked to our safaris and help provide tourists and visitors with the best experience that nature can provide.

If anyone would like any further information please e-mail me at courtney@africaonfoot.com.

Courteney Blunden

BROKKIESSNIPPETS

Klaserie Chronicle Kroniek no 14 | 15

Eerste Indrukke Is Blywende Indrukke! moet maak met elke besoek van nasionale en internasionale gaste aan ons wonderlike reservate en wildtuine, beide in die publieke en privaat sektor.

Suid Afrikaanse familie en hul vriende het ons hier by Klaserie Camps die paasnaweek besoek.

Tydens hul verblyf het ek weereens besef hoe belangrik ons rol as veldgidse is. Die meederheid gaste is stedelinge en hul kennis van die natuurlewe en wild is minimaal.

Daarom was dit my missie en doelwit om ‘n onvergeetlike ervaring aan te bied wat ‘n blywende indruk sou nalaat. ee, ek bedoel nie die indruk Tydens hul verblyf het ons uitstekwat jy op jou ou of nooi se ende wild en voëllewe gesien en soms ouers wil maak nie, maar die uitsonderlike gedrag van diere waarblywende indruk wat ons as veldg- geneem, soos tydens die oggendritte idse, natuurbewaarders, kampperso- waar ons vier renosters en ‘n teeltrop neel, bestuurders en grondeienaars van oor die dertig olifante raakgeloop het. Te voet het ons op ‘n As ambassadeurs vir die Laeveld ontknoop ons die babakolhasie baie wonders van ons omgewing tot genot van ons afgekom wat gaste. So vertel Pieter Dreyer. Foto: SANHU

N

op sy rug gelê en aan sy ma gedrink het, skaars ‘n paar meter voor ons in die pad. Vir meeste van die gaste wat saamgery het tydens die ritte, was bogenoemde gevalle ‘n eerste ooit. Tot die oggend van hulle vertrek het hulle my nog steeds bedank vir die wonderlike tyd wat hulle gehad het en gesê dat hulle dit vir altyd sou onthou.

Tydens die ritte en om die kampvuur het ons besprekings gevoer rondom die wêreldbeker sokker toernooi en die voor-en-nadele daarvan vir toerisme, kwessies rondom renoster stropery, die rol van jag in natuurbewaringsinstansies, verskillende kulture, die ryk geskiedenis van die laeveld, ens.

Dit is daarom van groot belang dat die mooi en prag van die area adverteer en bemark word deur woord en daad om steun te verleen aan natuurbewaring wat hoofsaaklik onafhanklik van die staat funksioneer.

Ons is ‘ambassadeurs’ van die laeveld vir besoekers vannuit alle uithoeke van die wêreld, ook in wat ons kwytraak. Ons is ook in die bevooregte posisie om toeriste se denke te kan verander deur die blywende indrukke wat ons laat.

Don’t go where the path may lead, rather go where there is no path and leave a trail. Quoted from a 2005 calendar

The LONGEST Day continued from page 3 At four o’clock that afternoon, I found myself with my head under a garden tap in a member’s camp, washing the soot and ash from my face when the radio crackled. It was one of my rangers, “Da fia she’s jumped into da udda block!” My heart sank. It was not what I needed to hear.

Once again I gathered staff who was totally fatigued, and sped off to repeat the performance of the fire jump that had occurred earlier in the day.

A few hours later it was dark and every ember glowed brightly, am-

plifying the magnitude of the fire.

The flames were raging through the understorey in the knobthorn veldt, every now and then leaping up and igniting the flower canopy of these large trees. At times the fire was at least ten metres high as it travelled along like a raised black mamba ready to strike.

By eight o’clock we had a fire so large that the glow was visible from Hoedspruit, and neighbours were calling in and offering assistance.

The air force base was also busy with night flying, and called to check if all was in order.

By midnight we had completed

the task of securing the boundaries of the burnt area, which measured two and a half thousand hectares. I gathered all the staff together who were by then dragging their beaters as well as their feet, their ashen faces streaked with sweat as they clambered onto the laden vehicles. We left the fire to burn through the night.

I returned at dawn, and with bloodshot eyes surveyed the scene. The only reminder of the previous day’s ordeal was a black landscape with the odd leadwood stump that would still smoulder for the next few days or possibly weeks. It had truly been the longest day.

LASTWORD

16 | Klaserie Chronicle Kroniek no 14

You Can Help Kit-A-Kid

I

n May 2009. Children’s Eco Training (CET) under the guidance of Zani Kunz initiated the Kit-a-Kid project to rig out 200 children with a school uniform each, and managed to raise an astonishing R74 286.62 in total. The majority had never had a uniform or shoes before.

CET was able to purchase each child a complete uniform (shirt, trouser/skirt/tunic, jersey, shoes and socks) for R250 at Acornhoek PEP Stores. Having sourced 211 uniforms, there was enough money left to buy 280 Klaserie Kidz T-shirts and a long-sleeved school shirt for the winter.

Winter 2010 is almost here and if you would like to kit-a-kid this year contact Zani for more information. Donations can also be deposited into the CET bank account: Children’s Eco Training, Acc nr: 013 253 611, STANDARD BANK , Hatfield Branch, Branch nr: 01-1545, Swift code: SBZAZAJJ, Cheque account, ref: SU and your Surname e.g. SU Kunz. Any other donations, ref: your surname and send proof of payment to zani@ecochildren.co.za or fax 086 628 8733

• • • • •

“

Most of the important things in the world have been accomplished by people who have kept on trying when there seemed to be no hope at all.” Dale Carnegie

Any monetary donations, however big or small, assist us in making a difference to people’s lives. Please donate now.

Children’s Eco Training, Acc nr: 013 253 611, STANDARD BANK, Hatfield Branch, Branch nr: 01-15-45, Swift code: SBZAZAJJ, Cheque account, ref: your surname and send proof of payment to zani@ecochildren. co.za or fax 086 628 8733

Chauffer guided transfers to and from Nelspruit Airport (private lounge facility available) Chauffer guided transfers to and from Hoedspruit Airport Chauffer guided tours Activities and adventures tailor made hospitality services

For bookings and enquiries, please contact reservations on: (+27) 015 793 3000 (Hoedspruit) (+27) 013 750 0521 (KMI Airport) E-mail: reservations@mygr8.net Website: www.mygr8.net