The Colours of my Life - Jan Wilkens by Charmane Kirkland

colours of my life Jan Wilkens

the

colours of my life Jan Wilkens

the

Published by Storyline Studio Registration Number: 2010/ 141205/ 23 Ghost Writing/ Design/ Layout/ Production: Charmane Kirkland Copy Editing: Sharon Jones E-mail: charmane@storylinestudio.co.za www.storylinestudio.co.za

Storyline Studio

Printing and Binding: SA Media Services, Cape Town First 500 copies printed March 2012 ISBN - 978-0-620-52855-9 Text and Photos ÂŠ Jan Wilkens 2011 All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the author. Though the author and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the author and publisher do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. (P O Box 1557, North Riding, Johannesburg, 2162) Printed and Bound in China Special Edition The Colours of my Life Jan Wilkens

FOREWORD This book captures the images of my life in front of the lens and behind it. It focuses on the here and the now, whilst glimpsing back at all the life changing and colourful events that have taken place in my life. Lastly it looks at my vision for the future and my continued passion for the amazing call of nature. There were many opportunities to travel the world while enjoying a myriad of sporting opportunities at top level, from modern pentathlon, rugby and salt water fly fishing, to name but a few. In my lifetime I not only collected and cultivated orchids, but travelled the world in search of the best flowers, and went on to collect stamps on Orchids for 25 years as well. From operating an egg farm, running a game farm in Lydenburg and becoming active in commercial property development at a later stage, my career as a businessman went from challenge to challenge and from strength to strength. I married AnnelĂ¨ Wiid on 18 June 1988 and our life together has been exciting, adventurous, challenging and filled with love and laughter. Together we have 4 children, Victor, Jeannette, Lourien, and JanĂ¨, and after all this time not a day passes when I don't look back in amazement at our lives. Of all the things that have transpired in my life, I am most proud of my wife and my children. They have been a constant source of motivation and inspiration to me, for which I am truly grateful and immensely blessed. My parents, Victor and Rina, have also been hugely supportive of all the amazing opportunities that life has afforded me. This book is dedicated to my wonderful family.

timbavati Leadwood Private Camp

Timbavati Leadwood Private Camp 7

The Timbavati is inspiring, breathtaking and spectacular, whether viewed on foot, by game drive vehicle or by air the magic of the Timbavati remains close to the heart

until the next visit... ZIMBABWE

Kruger National Park Polokwane LIMPOPO

BOTSWANA

NAMIBIA

MOZAMBIQUE

Rustenburg Pretoria Nelspruit MPUMALANGA Johannesburg NORTH WEST SWAZILAND Upington

NORTHERN CAPE

Kimberly

KWAZULU NATAL

FREE STATE Bloemfontein LESOTHO

Durban TIMBAVATI - KRUGER NATIONAL PARK Klaserie Balule Hoedspruit Kapama Timbavati Thornybush Manyeleti

EASTERN CAPE Cape Town

WESTERN CAPE

East London Port Elizabeth

To Johannesburg via Long Tom Pass

Sabi Sand Hazyview

To Johannesburg via N4 Nelspruit

LEADWOOD PRIVATE CAMP

W S

Timbavati Border

SIMBAVATI RIVER LODGE

PERU

Roads

JAVA

SUMATRA

JAYDEE

S 24 11.915 E 31 21.696

Rivers OUD NEDERLAND

Lodges

TANDA TULU

Farm Boundaries CENTRAL CONTROL GATE YLE

ADDGER

D ROA

UMLANI LODGE

ARG

TAWANE

ROTHSAY

JOUBERTSHOOP

SCHOONGEZICHT

www.leadwoodcamp.co.za

CEYLON

KINGS CAMP

GIRAFFE

NGALA LODGE VLAKGEZICHT

THORNY BUSH

Location

HERMANSBURG

JOHNNIESDALE

KEMPIANA

Journey with the heart into the spectacular home of Leadwood Private Camp. A place of magic, mystery and awe. A place where time stands still. A place where hearts and souls connect and minds are stilled. Nocturnal animals call from afar and are answered from near. Chameleons and geckos bathe in the sunshine and birds claim the skies. A place where lions are kings, and leopards, mighty silent warriors and where hyena laugh and fool around and elephants trumpet and stroll. A place called home to Jan and AnnelĂŠ, where in 1988 they had found a young and beautiful Leadwood tree that seemed to beckon them and welcome them, and that immediate connection resulted in what is known today as Leadwood Private Camp. It is from this base in the Timbavati that Jan has entrenched himself into the silent world of photography.

AVOCA LILYDALE

TIMBAVATI RIVER KRUGER NATIONAL PARK

COMBRETUM

AVOCO GATE

SPRINGVALLEY BIRMINGHAM

ORPEN ROAD

MORGENZON

ORPEN GATE

The Timbavati is a vast and expansive game reserve bordering on the fenceless boundaries of the Kruger National Park, where animals roam freely over the 2 million hectares of prime African bush. The Timbavati Association was formed in 1956 by a group of conservation minded landowners who were concerned about the gradual destruction and decay of the area due to overgrazing, soil erosion and the destruction of indigenous plant species. Over and above this, natural water sources had been negatively impacted and as a result, a large number of wildlife was lost to the area.

ENKHULU Gate

the leadwood experience game drives rare & special sightings â&#x20AC;&#x153;What a wonderful time we had at Leadwood Camp. The g a m e v i e w i n g wa s excellent: from white lion, to hyena, porcupine and mating lions. Female leopard Ruhanya was the star performer with two kills and their sightings in trees. Well done to all the wonderful staff at the oasis on the river. Andries is an exceptional host, ranger and tracker all in one. Your knowledge and love of the bush is inspirational. Thank you to Rosie, Jeanette and Kizan for your excellent service and friendly smiles. We look forward to spending time with you all again soonâ&#x20AC;?. Steaphan and Belinda Macdonald Phezulu Game Estate, Bothas Hill

Above: Brian Dickenson and Family

magical experiences

up close and personal 19

Left to right: Gerhard, Celia, Susan, Markus, Addy, Flip, Hantie, Jan, Andries and Tracker

weddings Leadwood Private Camp - a romantic and private venue for small intimate weddings.

Tyron & Maria Brindley 15 May 2010

i m a g i n e a p l a c e t h at overflows with beauty. A place where beginnings are merged and futures are sealed. That place is leadwood private camp...

the corporate experience

The Branfin Group consisting of two Liberty Life Franchises run by Directors Derek Liebenberg and Peter Marneweck, decided to reward their top achievers by taking them to Leadwood Private Camp in 2010. “To see the looks on the guys faces when they saw the camp was priceless. The location, comfort and luxury of the main deck and rooms was awesome. Our first game drive was quite an experience as we encountered four elephants as we drove out of the gate and they moved in really close to the game vehicle” said Peter. After being split into groups, the teams were tasked with cooking breakfast and dinner. Highlights included a walk through the bush where they experienced nature on a completely different level and encountered buffalo, elephant, kudu, hippo, crocodile and giraffe. Not one person missed a game drive and a special bond of friendship was formed with Andries. Comments included “Best 3 nights ever we had. Better do this again”, “ I am going to bring my family here”, “ I have a new respect for the bush”, “ I was humbled by the experience”. “Thank you Jan for allowing us to share your world with us in such comfort” Peter and Derek.

No. 2 Life Behind the Lens LUNAR ECLIPSE This was a relatively rare central lunar eclipse, in which the center point of Earth's shadow passes across the Moon. The last time a lunar eclipse was closer to the center of the earth's shadow was on July 16, 2000.

Unique

african

sunsets

THE BIG FIVE lion Simba/ Panthera leo Weight: Males â&#x20AC;&#x201C; up to 260kg, Females â&#x20AC;&#x201C; up to 130kg. Prey: Mammals from mice to buffalo and at times even elephants. Birds up to the size of ostriches, reptiles, insects, fish and carrion. Common prey species; giraffe, wildebeest, zebra, impala, waterbuck, warthog and kudu. Predators: Hyenas and man.

LIONS ARE KNOWN AS the king of the beasts AND ARE HIGHLY Social animals, who hunt, feast and play together. Known for their ferocity, they form part of the big five and their signature roars can be both felt and heard THROUGHOUT THE BUSH. clear roles between males and females determine the success of the pride.

Males form a coalition, marking and scenting territory, keeping hyenas at bay and protecting their females.

a force to be reckoned with

spectacularly beautiful

timbavati white lions

Every now and again nature has an incredible surprise in store and the Timbavati white lions are no exception. A genetic mutation, white lions are not albinos as was originally thought, but rather they have a complete lack of pigmentation cells, also known as Leucism. Born from tawny parents with the recessive gene, the white lions have spectacularly beautiful blue eyes. When the white lions of the Timbavati were discovered in the mid 1970's they became the subject of much interest and debate. The story of the “White Lions of the Timbavati” has been told by several people, most notable of whom was Mr. Chris McBride, who was the son of Timbavati member Cyril McBride, who at the time, together with his brother Robert owned the farm Vlakgezicht.

There have been various “spiritual” powers attributed to the white lions and many people were and still are of the opinion that the lions are a different species. White lions have been spotted in the Timbavati again recently, and a number of white lions are regularly seen in the Kruger National Park in different areas. It is interesting to note, however, that not all white lions world-wide are ancestrally linked to the white lions of the Timbavati. Jan's photographs of the hauntingly beautiful and rare white lions have been published and seen by many.

LEOPARD Chui/ Panthera Pardus Weight: Males 60-90kg, Females 30-60kg. Prey: Wide variety from mice, reptiles and fish to large antelope and small carnivores. Common prey mainly medium sized antelope like impala. Predators: Cubs are killed by lions and hyenas.

silent warriors of the bush

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Eleven leopards in seven d ay s , a b s o l u t e ly b e s t leopard sightings ever. Even four different leopards in one afternoon drive. Thank you to the Leadwood team, we had a great timeâ&#x20AC;?. Pieter, Marcia and Chantelle 8 July 2011

knob thorn tree This cheeky opportunistic leopard laid claim to this fish eagles nest, not only devouring the mother but the chicks as well. She then spent the rest of the day lazing in the nest and gazing out into the distance.

squirrels With their quirky habits, scurrying nature and playful attitudes squirrels are indeed a joy to observe in the bush. Ever alert and busy they spend a great deal of time on the ground foraging for food. Trees provide protection and shelter and they favour mopane trees which have holes for nesting. Mostly vegetarian they are known to feed on insects on occasions. Pups weigh an ounce at birth and leave the nest after 19 days to forage for food on their own. They chirp and chatter away all day and mutual grooming promotes group cohesion, which is a vital part of the social aspect of this animal.

110

111

mopane worms These are the larval form of the imbrasia bellina moth, of the emperor moth family. Brightly coloured caterpillars, adorned in red, yellow and white, can be heard crunching away on the leaves of the mopane trees. Humans in rural areas collect and eat the worms to supplement their protein requirements. 112

industrious

dung beetles 113

Whether he is lying on his belly on a dirt pathway to get the perfect view of a chameleon crossing a road, climbing a tree to reposition a leopard kill for a sunset shot or, parked in the middle of 15 Wild Dogs feasting on the spoils of their hunt, you can be sure that janâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s phenomenal dedication to all things wild, wonderful and colourful, will be portrayed though his lens.

the colours of my life - jan wilkens