Raise Rhino poaching awareness

On the 4th April 2012 we posted a Blog which referred to the extensive poaching of Rhino's in Southern Africa.

Since then the numbers and statistics have become even worse...and 394 Rhino's have been poached already in 2013!!

The announcement that Rhino's are now considered extinct in Mozambique is something that has shocked us all.

To read more about this serious problem have a look at this Link:

www.uniteagainstpoaching.co.za

You can help spread the word as well....Share the image on this Link on Facebook, open the Link and click Like to register your Vote. This evocative image was taken by our resident photographer.

RAISE RHINO POACHING AWARENESS (Just Click on this...it will take you to the Image)

Some more of what we love at River Bend Lodge

We have said it before, and no doubt we will say it again, but one of the things which makes our Guides job such a pleasure is when the younger generation come and stay at River Bend with their parents....and bring with them their unbridled and boundless enthusiasm.

We experienced this again last week when the Hamiltons, from Franschhoek in the Western Cape came to stay. Nick and Anna Hamilton brought along their 3 boys, Jamie, Sam and Luc. Mikey Mouton, their Guide was amazed at their enthusiastic participation and interest in all he had to show them. Perhaps I am a little biased but I was also blown away by the passion of 11 year old Jamie's for Photography.

The boys returned excitedly from each drive with a list of animals that they saw, and Jamie has very kindly allowed me to share some of the Photographs he took whilst out on Drive...and one in the Lodge garden!

Luc, Jamie and Sam

Jamie....budding Photographer!

Here is a list of the animals seen by the boys...and Jamie's photographs of some of them.

Warthog, Lions, Elephants, Kudu, Ostrich, Waterbuck, Red Hartebeest, Zebra, Duiker, Baboons, Vervet Monkeys, Scrub Hare, Giraffe, Buffalo, Caracal, Porcupine, Spotted Genet et al

Enjoy the photographs...and well done Jamie. Thank you to all of the Hamiltons for coming to stay at River Bend Lodge and bringing your enthusiasm with you. Great to meet you, and, indeed, everyone who we had the pleasure of entertaining this past summer. We look forward to more of the same through the winter and next summer.

In my opinion any 11 year old beginner Photographer would have reason to be very proud of these Photographs.

We can tailor a Photography Course for whatever level of proficiency at River bend Lodge...and we take great pleasure in seeing improvement during Guests stay. We will soon feature some work from Ella Jackson (13) on our Blog.

Click on a photograph to view full size.

What the fuss was all about!!! The newborn Elephant calf.

On our Blog yesterday I wrote about the behaviour of part of the Elephant herd on Monday evening, and what we thought the reason for this behaviour was. I am pleased to say we guessed correctly. This is a short account of some time spent with some of the herd this afternoon.

At around 2 pm I noticed a herd of Buffalo wandering across an open area near the Lodge and, sensing a photo opportunity, I rushed out. Whilst watching the Buffalo I also noticed a small family group of about 15 Elephants on the plain to the west of the Lodge. There had to be a reason that this group was not with the main herd! Could it be that Monday's newborn calf still needed to be on less strenuous terrain......? I hoped ....maybe fortune would smile on me and I would get a clear shot of the calf where the grass was short enough and there weren't too many of the family group around. I've tried this before....many times, never with much success. The newborns are always sandwiched between the mother and one of her older calves.

Driving very slowly, I rounded a bend....and this was my first sighting!

Having a nap....!

For the next 20 minutes I stayed with the group as they grazed and wondered past the Lodge, while the current Guests came to the perimeter fence to take photographs themselves and get a closer look. All the while the Elephants grazed contentedly while I concentrated on getting a clear shot of the calf....my patience was rewarded, and here are some of the results.

Below is the Link to another Blog about an Elephant calf born in early March 2012.

http://riverbendaddo.blogspot.com/2012/03/elephant-calf-born-3rd-march-2012.html

(Click on an image to view a larger version. All photographs are the property of River Bend Lodge and may only be used with permission)

Elephant behaviour observed...at River Bend Lodge

On Monday the Elephants were around River Bend Lodge for most of the day. Normally they graze peacefully around the open plains in the daytime and move off peacefully into the bush in the evening. Monday was different.....there was a sense of agitation and restlessness among a part of the herd. As the sun was setting they made a lot of noise....trumpeting and moving around, creating lots of dust.

At around midday on Tuesday we were able to have a guess as to what the commotion was all about....we spotted a VERY small newborn calf!!! We were unable to get a photograph as it was being shielded tightly within the family group. The Elephants once again spent the day around the Lodge....this time in a manner to which we are more accustomed, quietly and peacefully!

Observing directions!

Siya Cakwebe (Barman / Waiter) and Queeny Hobongwana (Housekeeping) get a close up encounter!

Young male

Steve...one of the bulls relocated from the Kruger National Park

Steve.....close up!

(To view a larger version 'click' on an Image. All photographs the property of River Bend Lodge and may not be used without permission)

Renowned Portrait Photographer at River Bend Lodge

We recently hosted Karl Klaey, internationally renowned Portrait Photographer at River Bend (he actually stayed at our exclusive use Villa...Long Hope).

We organized for Karl to take some photographs in our local township...Nomathansanqa, near Addo.

All of these Images were taken in natural light...at around 11 o'clock in the morning when the light was certainly not advantageous.

Karl has given us permission to Share some of the Images on our Blog.

For more portraits by Karl Klaey you can follow this Link: Karl Klaey

Birds seen in and around the Gardens at River Bend Lodge and Long Hope Villa

We have started doing a Species Identification of Birds which we have identified in and around the garden's of River Bend and Long Hope Villa. Birds seen outside the fence only count if they have been seen from inside the perimeter fences.

As we record sightings and have photographs we will add to the Blog. Like our Facebook Page, to keep abreast with updates:

https://www.facebook.com/RiverBendLodgeAddo

The first two are photographs of two of the three Sunbird species.

Malachite Sunbird (Necterina famosa)

Greater Double Collared Sunbird (Cinnyris afer)

The third of these (the Amethyst Sunbird) we hope to get in the winter when they seem to be more prolific...but they are extremely difficult to photograph.

Cape Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis nitens)

African Hoopoe (Upupa africana)

Grey Heron (Ardea cinerea)

Black Shouldered Kite (Elamus caeruleus)

Martial Eagle (Polemaetus bellicosis)

Bokmakierie (Telophotus zeylonus)

Brown - Hooded Kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris)

River Bend Lodge ...a view from our Golfing visitors.

We recently hosted some members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club at River Bend Lodge whilst they were in South Africa on a Golf Tour. This is their comment about River Bend Lodge.

"Day 13 A drive to River Bend Lodge http://www.riverbendlodge.co.za/ about 5 hours west of Fancourt on an excellent highway), a wonderful retreat on its own private game reserve of about 35,000 acres with unlimited access to the Addo Elephant National Park http://www.sanparks.org/parks/addo/ , a 440,000 acre South African National Park inhabited by every conceivable manner of South African wildlife. On arrival we immediately joined the afternoon game drive (4-7PM) with our very able guide Darlington and set out on a very comfortable off road bush vehicle to look for game, big and little. We saw zebras, all manner of local deer and antelope and most notable the Blue Crane, the national bird of South Africa. We arrived back at the lodge at 7Pm for a wonderful dinner at the Lodge.

Day 14 A wake up at 5:00AM (yes 5:00AM!) to set out at 5:30AM to find the elephants, which had not been located for about 2 weeks. Our fearless guide Darlington decided to try the far end of the Park, about a 2 hour drive on little used trails through bush and mountains. After searching for about an hour we located a herd of about 24 elephants; such excitement! They live in the wild on their own and did not appear to be at all concerned at our presence. We did have an encounter with their leader Constalin who was known to Darlington as quite aggressive. For him, we turned the bush vehicle around quickly and gave him all the space he needed! Given the distance to the herd we did not arrive back at the Lodge until around noon. Needless to say there was great excitement at our finding the Elephants!
After a wonderful lunch we had a relaxing afternoon by the pool until the evening game drive from 4-7PM. We sighted a black Rhinoceros from a distance, many other varieties of wildlife, and enjoyed an evening cocktail high watching the sunset from high in the mountains. We returned to the Lodge by 8 PM for another wonderful dinner.

Day 15 Again a wake-up call at 5:00AM for a 5:30AM start! We went to another Private Game Camp accessible to Guests staying at River Bend Lodge in search of Giraffes and sure enough after searching for about an hour located a “stack” (yes that is the correct term!) of about 24. They are a magnificent creature standing about 25-30 feet tall. We walked with them; they seemed very relaxed and curious about us but maintained about a 50 foot separation. Following morning coffee with them (a little different than the neighborhood Starbucks!) we set out to find a male Lion that had been sighted on the opposite end of the Reserve. Sure enough after about a 1 hour drive through mountains and bush again we sighted a male Lion! He certainly is King of Jungle; a beautiful animal about 4 years old. We also sighted his female companion relaxing nearby. There are about 20 lions in total in this reserve of some 35000 acres, so that will give you an idea of their elusiveness. A very successful morning! We returned to the Lodge about 10 AM for a wonderful late breakfast.
After an afternoon spent by the pool emailing and relaxing, and we set out for the afternoon game drive. After about an hour we came across 2 male Lions about 4 years old and a female of about the same age. The 2 males were relaxing in the sun and shortly began playing with each other, rolling around in the grass. The female Lioness largely ignored them. They are truly the most interesting animals. We then proceed along narrow mountain pathways searching for the majestic Cape Buffalo. After a few hours of fruitless searching we returned to the Lodge to a wine tasting featuring the finest South African wines and another most enjoyable dinner.

Day 16 Again a wake-up call at 5:00AM for a 5:30AM start! We went to another area of the Park in search of Hyenas and after about an hour’s drive on a most beautiful morning discovered a pack of about 6 in a clearing near a pond. They appeared to have a Warthog cornered and we thought we might see an actual kill but the Hyenas had just enjoyed the remains of another kill and were in more of a playful mood. They are the ugliest mangy looking creature! Just as we were leaving this area of the Park we got a call on the radio that Black Rhinoceros had been spotted near the Lodge. We hurried back and sure enough we managed to get within several hundred feet of this most remarkable animal. He was about 12 years old and weighed we thought about 3000 lbs. They can be aggressive so we kept our distance and very much enjoyed taking lots of video and photos. We returned to the Lodge about 8:15AM to enjoy another sumptuous breakfast.
After a very relaxing few hours by the pool at our room we returned to the assembly area for afternoon tea and departed on our final game search of the trip. Darlington had heard there were elephants spotted in the Addo Elephant National Park adjacent to River Bend Lodge so we set out to see if we could locate them about 4 PM after afternoon tea! While we saw one male at a distance the remainder remained quite elusive. There were however warthogs, jackals, and many other animal species that we saw. We returned to River Bend to enjoy another sumptuous dinner around 7 PM.
The Wine Country

Day 17 Unfortunately we are leaving River Bend this morning. However we did get to sleep in until 7 AM rather than the usual 5 AM! River Bend was the furthest point east we would travel on this visit and we are now heading back towards Cape Town. As it is an 8-9 hour drive to Cape Town we had arranged to visit Plettenberg Bay and stay overnight there at the Plettenberg Bay Hotel www.plettenberg.com which is about a 5 hour drive. The Plettenberg Hotel is right on the water overlooking the Bay and is wonderful! If you plan on visiting request room 18! We did not get a chance to play there but Plettenberg Bay Golf Club is highly regarded."

To read the full article you can go to: http://www.golftraditions.com/cape-town-and-south-africa-february-2013/