Sand Rivers Selous Diary - July 2010

by: Claus & Jill on 05/07/2010 (sand rivers selous)

Well, we cannot believe that the first month of the season has already gone by. We had a lot of wonderful Guests and all of us had some incredible Game sightings. Starting with lots of Elephant, Zebra, Wildebeest and the usual herds of Impala and many Giraffe. It got really exciting when we found the Wild Dogs 3 days in a row the last time just about 5 minutes out of camp.

All our guest have seen Lions and some already from the drive from the airstrip to Camp. Then one evening two of our lucky Guest came back to camp with the report that they had seen Leopard Cubs. We almost died of envy!

We also have a herd of Eland who seem to have found their
home just outside camp and we have seen them on a regular basis. They are still very shy but we were able to get some good pictures of them.

I was able to finally after many years get some photographs
of two parrots who decided to take a break in the Baobab tree right at the swimming pool. Usually you can see Parrots flying by and one recognizes them by the racket they produce but taking pictures has since know been unsuccessful for myself.

The Rufiji River is still dropping and is slowly grinding its channels for this years boating safaris. It has slightly changed its course and there are two prominent sand banks developing right in front of the camp, which also brought back the Hippos. The evening and morning concerts are fantastic.

There have been Elephants coming through camp for almost 5
days now and it has added to the excitement of camp life quite a bit. Everyone, Staff and Guest are on the lookout for them and we had some really amazing sightings with them right here - Claus

The pool at camp has become the choice sunbathing spot,
joining you in this relaxing activity are the hippos basking on the sand bank just in front of the pool. They are also sharing a dip in the refreshing cool waters, of the pool and river respectively.

During lunch we witnessed the mating display of a male Scarlet Chested Sunbird, unfortunately for him, the female sunbird was not as captivated as we were.

The highlight of the month was a pack of eleven wild dogs
camped out just a mile from the lodge, complete with one very pregnant alpha female. With new pups on the horizon, we are eagerly looking forward to the coming months - Jill

Sand Rivers Selous diary - June 2010

by: Claus & Jill on 09/06/2010 (sand rivers selous)

We returned to camp to find the tiny bush flowers are in full bloom, the Selous is a palette of shades of green dotted with red, orange, and purple, due the fortifying rains of the wet season.We were greeted by trumpeting elephants, laughing hyenas, and a myriad of twittering birds. Every day we are delighted by the playfulness of the hippos just in front of the lodge. Our first guests of the season were rewarded with a lengthy leopard sighting just outside of their suite in camp, a young female on the prowl.

As it turns out we had a very successful day, not only Lion and Leopard on drive, but also our first wild dog of the season. Lucky for the guests in Camp as they came specifically for the dogs. One just never knows what will greet you once finally here.

The camp is in great shape as well all the off season renovations are done and we are prepared for another busy season.

Cheers, Claus & Jill

December in the Selous

by: Steve & Lynn on 18/01/2010 (sand rivers selous)

Dear all

The contrast between the first half and second half of December 2009 could not be any different. After the short rains failing in November for the second year in a row December started hot and dry scorching everything and
bringing us all to the brink with the heat. Trees and animals and sadly camp staff as well found the temperature and lack of rain draining and we all struggled to get through the day. However, our guest at Sand Rivers got what they came to see game game game.

Lake Segesi all but dried up and lake Tagalala has receded to a level not a lot of our staff can remember ever seeing that low before, this has provided us with lots of action around the water holes with Hippos having to fight for position constantly.

As has been the case this year our lions have not strayed far from Lake Segesi and we have been able to find them constantly as a pride of 16 leaves a lot of signals to its whereabouts. All cubs where successfully raised this year and we have 9 young and sub adults running on the hunts now which is a fantastic sight.

With Christmas about to be upon us a grey cloud appeared on the horizon and it grew and grew and grew and rain beautiful rain all day and all night and immediately the Selous took a breath and relaxed. The break in the weather brought relief and new life and just in time for many of our young impala
who where not doing so well. Then we had 4 days of nice soft rain to consolidate and the Selous has sprung up again with every plant taking advantage of the rain, so our once dusty landscape is awash in green.

The game situation remained fantastic for the entire month and crocodile hatchings on the river in their hundreds, have provided us with exciting moments. One significant safari occasion did occur just before the new year with a large group staying and on there last day and having not seen a
leopard during there safari only four of the group could get up on the last day and it could not be scripted better, they got to see a female leopard run, climb a tree and then commence a hunt, you have to get out there to see
it.

We have a wonderful new member of the Sand Rivers crew he is a very experienced bushman and used to the isolation, yes we have our very own Colobus monkey working with the groundsmen taking care everything is done just right.

From all the staff here at Sandrivers we wish you a very happy new year and we look forward to welcoming you in 2010

Sand Rivers Diary October 2009

by: Steve & Lynn on 21/10/2009 (sand rivers selous)

Mother nature has been ever so subtle in giving us signs that she is about to give us some relief from heat and the dry by sending us messages through the animals and the trees.

Our first exciting moment has been the early flowering of our famous Baobab by the mess which has been blooming every night the most beautiful of white flowers giving us hope of rains to come. Our resident bush babies have been taking advantage of this early treat and have been seen nightly running from flower to flower for a delicious sample
of the sweet nectar. Coinciding with the signs the Impala have been begun to give birth and the sight of hundreds of baby Impala staying close to their mothers whilst they try to figure out what legs are for and how important it
is to run.

To our great relief we have had one very soft but continuous rain fall last week triggering the birdlife into action, with nest building being the priority followed by magnificent displays of strength and colour to capture the heart of a mate. The coloured sunbirds are busy nesting in our thatched roof and we can not wait to see if they are successful. The weavers are also attending all things to ensure love and a happy home and they are providing the songs around the camp that enchant us all.

The Dry season has been hard on all the animals this season with supplies of edible plants being depleted forcing them to try alternate ways to get nourishment. Most notably our Elephants have taken to eating dry branches of Terminalia to sustain them, however it seems our thatching on our rooms has also been worth a try and with a delicate swipe of their trunks we have seen some holes appear in out rooms roofs, lucky we don't have the heavy rains yet.

With all this new life and promise of rain the predators are also on the move. Our Lions have had a most successful breading year with 14 cubs raised between 3 local prides which is an amazing result. Hunting has been good this year with the concentration around the water of the prey, it has been the perfect conditions for a lion to raise the cubs.

Wild dogs have also been successful and after a 2 month denning period and then disappearing for another month they are back to show us the young pups, who can now run with the pack and take their position at the dinner table.
Much to the delight of our lucky guests the Dogs have been seen hunting and the sight of them running through the bush is a experience shared again and again at night time over a drink in the mess for all of us here.

Lake Segesse has really turned it on for us this month with the receding water levels all our expert fishing birds have arrived, led by the Pelicans who for three weeks a year arrive in large numbers to take advantage of the lower levels and the easy pickings. This sight of thousands of birds at one time in one place is a marvel of nature and everybody eats. Crocs can been seen herding large schools of fish in a coordinated attacks which fascinates but also send a little shiver down your spine as you watch the methodical methods employed to get a meal.

Fishing has been a frustrating experience for some but the Rufij River never sends you home without a glimpse of something amazing to fill the lens of a of a guest who captures a moment in time to remember. Elephants have been
seen swimming the narrows to pass from south to north. Kudu and Eland have also been seen drinking and ignoring the dangers of coming out to be exposed during the day, to quench the thirst of our long hot days.

In this time of renewal and change we look forward to sharing this transformation of landscape and the delight of all the inhabitants of the Selous with our guests. We hope you can be inspired in your arrival to appreciate the delicate change before your eyes pointed out by our marvelous guiding team. All of our team at Sand Rivers look forward to sharing this experience with you and the common bond that is Safari. New life comes to Selous with the first drops of rain for the Selous this season.

Cheers Steve & Lynn

Sand Rivers August Diary

by: Steve, Lynn and all at SRS on 06/08/2009 (sand rivers selous)

WOW not only did the weather provide dry cool days with lots of cloud cover to reduce the heat but the game has turned it on. There has been the most prolific sightings of Panthera Leo, Lion to the rest of us in great numbers with up to 29 lion stalking areas most loved by our guest. Inevitably a guest would have seen lions on a kill and then back to the lodge for ribs for lunch.

Wild dogs are still at their den and we have managed to see the pups on a few occasions,otherwise more wild dogs have been sighted in Beho Beho river waiting for the elephants to dig a hole and leave so they can get a drink. It is going to be tough for many plains herds this year with the Selous drying up and all the water being concentrated in the lakes and has reduced areas for feeding.

However the game viewing is fantastic and you can see right through the bush that 2 months ago was thick and impenetrable. Weavers of all types are busy at this time building nest and getting ready to start little families, our resident water monitors are also breeding under the lodge and mum can been seen daily walking in the bar to get to the hole in the stump. Our cheeky Black faced Vervet monkeys, known to all our guest continue to delight with their acrobatic attempts to steal lunch, but our ever watchful waiters know all there tricks frustrating them in their attempts to steal a muffin.

The tiger fish continue to frustrate the most patient fisherman, tackle flys in all directions when they strike and it’s a fine line in landing the big one or lamenting the fight. Of course there are always enough landed to impress everyone with the fearsome appearance and strength, those who did land tiger fish this month well done.

We have had some wonderful families stay recently and it has been wonderful to watch and listen as stories of safari are retold at night through the eyes of the young and young at heart, the common bond of safari allows everyone the chance to contribute and share the day.

As we move into August please remember the sunscreen and hats we look forward to your safari.

Cheers all and hope to see you soon,
Steve and Lynn

Sand Rivers Diary - July 2009

by: Steve & Lynn on 09/07/2009 (sand rivers selous)

Dear all

Sandrivers has enjoyed a sterling start to the season with game in abundance in all areas. Wild dog have been seen denning and many guests have taken advantage of this special event to take an all day drive and visit the new pups. They should be on the move again very soon so we will again have to look very hard to find these amazing mammals.

Fishing has also been fantastic with 4kg and 5 kg tiger fish giving our guests a great run on our light gear, some catfish of note have also been caught and we have enjoyed them for bitings in the evening.

Its always special when a new birth happens out here and we have seen 4 baby hippos appear in front of the lodge in recent days. 3 hour old giraffe have been spotted in the garden area and many more 1 and 2 week olds popping up to fill the lens of many cameras. Our old friend Kinky the 25 yr old bull elephant has been welcomed back to camp and his antics around the lodge give us all plenty to think about, he is currently working as part of the grounds man team working on fertilizing our gardens and remodeling all the surrounding bushes. He has been visiting at night as he also like to keep an eye on what's happening, I think he wants a job change to be an askari.

The weather just now has been cool nights and very nice days with a bit of cloud cover giving us all relief from the heat. One small shower of rain in the middle of the month gave us hope of more but we wont hold our breath. The river has fallen 1.5 mtrs since we came back into camp and is steadily dropping making our river cruising interesting with the shifting channel. However the game on the river makes it all so very worth while. For all those interested in birding here the arrival of the Skimmers launches the season and with two fantastic sighting of pearls fishing owl the challenge is out there so bring your binoculars.

Exciting news from back of house is we are building our first game cars here at the lodge. Our mechanics are very excited to be doing such a project and we are looking forward to present our new game viewers by the end of July.
As usual we are staying with the best cars for the Selous the Landrover.

We look forward to all our coming guest in July and ensuring you to have a wonderful safari in this stunning beautiful natural wonder .

Steve and Lynn