Items to Interest Wildlife Lovers | Kruger Park Times Extracts from Print Editions

Interesting stories, short items, facts and figures to entertain and educate. The image refers to the print edition in which the original item can be found.

Bachelor buffalo bulls face a big threat from lions It’s said that men will do anything to have sex and women will do anything to protect their children – and that’s not just in humans. New research carried out in the Kruger National Park (KNP) has revealed that buffalo bulls are ready, willing and able to take their chances with lions in order to get into tip-top condition so that they stand a better

Win! With Kruger Park Times and Wilderness Safaris It could be a newborn impala frolicking next to its mother, the time your loved one slipped and fell in the mud on a walking trail, the sun setting over Engelhard Dam, lions mating two metres from your car and not another tourist in sight, a bird courting its mate, or the near miss with a charging elephant

New rustic camp is “a dream come true” Five years ago I had a dream to build a rustic camp similar to Marula but closer to home. For section ranger Johann Oelofse, home at that stage and for the last 13 years is the Mooiplaas section near Mopani Rest camp. The dream was Tsende, the new rustic camp whose gates Kruger hopes to open in November this year.

New rustic camp is “a dream come true” Five years ago I had a dream to build a rustic camp similar to Marula but closer to home. For section ranger Johann Oelofse, home at that stage and for the last 13 years is the Mooiplaas section near Mopani Rest camp. The dream was Tsende, the new rustic camp whose gates Kruger hopes to open in November this year.

Win! With Kruger Park Times and Wilderness Safaris It could be a newborn impala frolicking next to its mother, the time your loved one slipped and fell in the mud on a walking trail, the sun setting over Engelhard Dam, lions mating two metres from your car and not another tourist in sight, a bird courting its mate, or the near miss with a charging elephant

Bees find their way home over long distances The study has yet to identify the physical reason for the bees’ innate sense of direction, but Dr O’Neill attributes it to the bees’ exceptionally good vision, and an ability to recognise landmarks. Bees also have an excellent sense of smell, and the team has now shifted their studies to include this aspect in their research.

Archaeological research of Steinaecker's Horse The project was started in 1997, and the first phase – concentrating on the most northern outpost of the unit near Letaba – has just ended. The second phase, focussing on Steinaecker’s headquarters near Skukuza, will continue from now until 2009. Steinaecker’s Horse was an informal military unit used by General Redvers

What is your favourite Kruger Memory? It could be a newborn impala frolicking next to its mother, the time your loved one slipped and fell in the mud on a walking trail, the sun setting over Engelhard Dam, lions mating two metres from your car and not another tourist in sight, a bird courting its mate, or the near miss with a charging elephant

Exciting International Writing Competition Entries must be received by 31 August 2006. The competition is divided into the following 5 categories: Poetry, prose, stories for children, children (ages 8-12) and teenagers (ages 13-17). Entries must not be longer than 5000 words in the adult categories and 2500 words in the children’s categories. Word counts must be adhered to.

Singita Private Game Reserve in the Sabi-Sand Wildtuin | Major Awards The lodge was voted as the world’s best hotel, the best small hotel and the best hotel in Africa and the Middle East. Luke Bailes, CEO of the Singita Group said, “It has been hugely rewarding for us as a South African owned property with a team of South African staff to receive international recognition for our efforts.” The lodge

Counting Wattled, Blue and Grey Crowned Cranes in South Africa Farmers and landowners who wish to take part in the crane count are asked to count the number of wattled, blue or grey crowned cranes on their land between 06h00 on the Friday and 18h00 on the Saturday. This project has been ongoing on since 1998. The count does not give the SACWG the total number of the three crane species,

Interesting Facts About the Kruger National Park There are 3 sections of the Kruger named after trees: Nkayeni meaning place of the knob-thorn, Nxanatseni meaning place of the mopane, and the Marula region. Spotted a vulture with a yellow tag? Contact Moholoholo Rehabilitation Centre on 015 795 5236 or write to moholorehab @wol.co.za or 015 795 5333 (fax). Alternatively contact Andre Botha on 082 962 5725

Game rangers to hold fly-fishing competition The Game Rangers Association of Africa (GRAA) is holding its first annual fly-fishing competition on September 9, 2006 to raise funds for enhancing the role of the game ranger in Africa. The competition will be held at the waters of the Waterval Boven Trout Association in Mpumalanga. Entrance is R350 to anglers