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Mabula guides
Mother and the babies right in front of the main lodge entrance
Newsletter December
2015
The year has ended and what an amazing year it has been. As guides we are so lucky in that we spend a lot of our
lives with people that are on their holidays; grateful to be away from the hustle and bustle of the city and grateful for
their retreat in the heart of the Bushveld. As we express our gratitude we must never forget that the highest
appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them I have so enjoyed all the incredible moments captured and
shared on our guides’ newsletter.
This is sadly my last month and last year at Mabula Game Lodge & Mabula Private Game Reserve, and my last
guides’ news, as I say farewell to the Bushveld south, but it is not the last roundup that we will have. Keep reading
mabula guides news.

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I love this time of year for the sheer variety of lighting conditions it presents you with. Whereas in winter one can
luxuriate in clear skies and golden light pretty much daily, the summer season brings with it clouds, some harsher
light, occasionally rain, and all manner of scenarios which, although often testing
The overcast and mild start to the month of December evaporated quickly as the heat waves took over. Herbivores
are looking more and more eager for the wet season as each day passes, while the lion pride are taking advantage
of large herds localising around the permanent water that remains. Time will tell. For now, weavers continue to
build their nests, Storks resort to stabbing into the mud for hidden amphibians and vultures ride thermals
immediately after daybreak. In patient anticipation, the wildlife persists.
Beautiful lighting on Modjadji plains

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Lightning over Mabula Private Game Reserve
For this month, the still morning air has been filled with the booming call of the ‘Thunder Bird’. Just as the sun
peaks over the horizon, the call of the Southern ground-hornbill carries across the Bushveld of Mabula Private
Game Reserve, echoing like the bush’s call to prayer. It is a prayer that begs for rain and one that has at last come
true. And indeed the prayer was heard and received about 70mm rain up to now.
Southern Ground Hornbillswill spend most of their dayon the ground looking for food such as tortoises, snakesand chameleons
Southern ground-hornbills are revered in most African cultures because they are associated with the life-giving
rain. Some cultures claim that if you kill a hornbill, your lands will be washed away in a great deluge; others c laim

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that unspeakable drought will famish your land and some believe that by killing a bird, attaching a stone to it and
tossing it in the river you can in fact bring drought to an end.
In all likelihood these various beliefs stemmed from the fact that rainy season coincides with the start of the birds’
breeding season and the time which they are at their most vocal, establishing territories and calling mates.
In all likelihood these various beliefs stemmed from the fact that the rainy season coincides with the start of the
birds’ breeding season and the time at which, they are at their most vocal, establishing territories and calling mates.
A familyof southern ground-hornbills together on diagonal road, groups can range from two to nine birds
Whatever the belief, it is clear that these birds carry with them a great sense of veneration

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Southern ground hornbillat Mannekamp plain southern side of the reserve
Southern ground-hornbills are listed as endangered in South Africa with only about 1500 individuals estimated.
One of the reasons the birds are so endangered is because of their poor breeding success rate. The hornbills
move in groups of up to nine birds but only one of the pair will breed and the rest act as helpers. Despite laying up
to two eggs, the family will only raise one fledgling.
On Mabula we are lucky enough to have a project focusing on breeding these birds, the project is situated on the
southern side of the reserve. As guides we are out in the bush frequently, which allows us the opportunity to report
ground-hornbill sightings to our hornbill project so that they can monitor them. With this data and continued
research they hope to ascertain why it is exactly that ground-hornbill numbers are dropping and what we can do to
save this special bird.
In the meantime however, we smile with the call of the ‘Thunder Bird’, grateful that one more of these endangered
species has found home on Mabula game reserve. And as the bush slowly greens up around us, we hope that its
morning prayer continues to bring us rain that will fill up our dams.
Animals can have fun. One only has to watch a herd of elephants splashing around in the dam to appreciate this.
Elephants have to be one of my most favourite animals to watch. Their great size, the numbers they move in, their
seeming intelligence and their interactions with one another means that there is never a dull moment with them.
And for me there is nothing better than watching these animals around water.
It is always fascinating to see how much fun these animals seem to have when they reach water. Not only do they
gulp down huge quantities of it (sometimes as much as 140 litres in a day) as well as bathe in it to cool them down;
it seems to me that it also gives them new-found energy, which can result in hours of play.

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Mabula elephants taking a swim at Mvubu dam
Every now and then we are fortunate enough to experience a feel-good sighting, one that leaves us buoyed up for
days. In a harsh place like the African bush, it is refreshing to witness moments of light-heartedness in the animals
we view here. Although we try and avoid ascribing human emotions and traits to animals, there is no doubt in my
mind that there are instances in which comparisons can be made.
Sometimes, however, even the most relaxed elephant can send your heart rate soaring and make your knees
tremble, by doing nothing more than feeding
The arrival of the Woodland Kingfisher at Mabula Game Lodge, from the Northern parts of Africa, signifies the
summer months and new life. This bird to me is the epitome of the most beautiful season in the South African bush.
The Woodland Kingfisher doesn’t fish for its food, although some species of Kingfishers do.

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Woodland kingfisher at Ngulubi dam, patching on common karee tree
Bright colours abound and a cacophony of bird calls can be heard wherever one goes and newborns feed on the
fresh green grass and sprouts, whilst trying to avoid the prowling predators. The summer season is indeed
amazing and it all goes hand-in-hand with the arrival of one of my favourite species of bird, the Woodland
Kingfisher.
It’s quite a sight. Any lion in the wild is a sight enough to immediately gets the adrenaline flowing and therefore a
pride of lions is a sight which can even be overwhelming.

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Madjuma pride
To see a tightly woven family structure consisting of confident lionesses and their offspring, as one unit, brings a
sudden realisation of their predatory ability and potential power in numbers. This is present even more so in the
Madjuma pride made up of an impressive six individuals.
Although ‘play’ in the animal kingdom may purely be a developmental part of growth, helping cubs and calves hone
various skills and instincts, it is almost arrogant to think that only humans are able to get enjoyment out of life.
Mother and cubs enjoying an afternoon nap
If there is anything I have learnt from the bush, it is patience. The wilderness is the greatest teacher and if one can
sit back relax and take in what the bush offers, then one can learn great lessons not only for current life but for the
future as well.
If there is anything I have learnt from the bush, it is patience. The wilderness is the greatest teacher and if one can
sit back relax and take in what the bush offers, then one can learn great lessons not only for current life but for the

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future as well.
Madjuma male was caught enjoying a morning sun busyscratching himself
Lions and their cubs will revel in each other’s company, and monkeys will indulge in endless games of catch-me-if-
you-can around the camp (although I’m sure the monkeys call it something different).
This time I have made it a point of sitting back and letting nature reveal its’ secrets and wonders to me; not forcing
anything but rather letting the true beauty of the bush unfold as wildlife spectacles on a scorching summer’s
afternoon. Being out in the bush, I find myself feeling as though I have become more in touch with my
surroundings.
My fellow guides and I often get asked by guests what our favourite time of the year is and without hesitation my
answer is always, winter. However, over the past few years I have grown to appreciate the seasonal changes and
the unbelievable transformations we get to witness out in the field.
This coming summer months brings with them an awakening, as new born impala lambs and wildebeest calves
adorn the now vibrant green open areas and inject new energy and life into the bush.
At this time of year the young impala lambs are abundant and every predator at Mabula is taking advantage of this
new-found opportunity to hunt.
Various species of animals roam the savannah grasslands and thick riverine bush, and in these summer months, a
wide range of bird species flock to us too

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Tawny eagle taken by guide Jacobus Botha on western Mokaikai area
At Mabula Private Game Reserve there is no better time of the year to view birds of prey than during the summer
months (October to March).
The Wahlberg’s eagles are in abundance, the less commonly seen Steppe eagles can be found feeding on
termites as the little insects reassemble their mounds after mesmerising thunder storms.
Tawny eagles soar high in the skies, using their incredible sense of sight to detect any sign of predation from the
night before.
And the Fish Eagles sound their iconic call as you sit on Mvubu dam picnic spot under the deck enjoying your
morning breakfast or lunch.
African fish eagle patching on a tree close to Mvubu dam, photo by guide JacobusBotha

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But just when you think you have seen them all, you might be graced by a sighting as spectacular as the one
pictured above. A rare and remarkable sighting of the biggest of them all
So when you visit Mabula Game Lodge again, grab your binoculars and look at these feathered individuals and let
your ranger explain how each one of them is perfectly adapted to their purpose.
You will be amazed what you can see when you spend just a little bit of time with them.
Dung beetles on an elephant dung
It is that time of the year where one has to drive carefully and consider those who cannot protect themselves.
When accessing our game reserve, please look out for our dung beetles not to drive over them, they have an
important role of reducing the amount of flies by working away dungs.
It’s the holiday season, and for most people in South Africa and around the world, we find ourselves with a little
spare time. Add to that the holiday spirit which naturally breeds creativity for decorating houses, Christmas trees,
re-decorating rooms or giving a fancy flare to wrapping gifts, you may find yourself with the creative motivation to
get stuck into some post processing that you have put off during the year.

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Around the world, at the heart of most Christmas celebrations is the meal, where we not only enjoy good food, but
we enjoy the company, the stories and the occasion of it all. At the heart of this year’s Christmas Day celebration,
was the incredible lunch meal that Executive chef George Clitch & Lindy Nyakane and their incredible team put
together.
Dinner desert lunch desert
To wrap up the evening’s dining, we could not go without a flaming Christmas date pudding, strawberry cheese
cake, sponge cake and assorted muffins cupcakes, our guests really enjoyed their day with us
The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your fellow
colleagues around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.”
As we enter a new year and a new chapter these sorts of issues become pertinent and in looking back on what we
have built as a Mabula family over the years and what we’re striving to create in the future, I found so many of the
above themes common to Mabula life. Not only have the people in our community taught us so much in 2015, so
too have the animals.
As 2016 approaches, we recommit ourselves to the values of our game reserve, openness, happiness and
devotion. Devotion not only to each other but also to the reserve and the wildlife that we so care for. Mabula, as the
home of all living things, would like to encourage you to join us in our 2016 journey where we continue to strive
towards making a beautiful game lodge that gives us purpose and meaning.
I would like to thank each and every one for the support that you have given us at Mabula Game Lodge and
Greater Mabula Private Game Reserve, thank you for choosing Mabula as your holiday destination, and it will be
our absolute pleasure to host you again in 2016. From the entire Mabula Family, we wish you all a wonderful
Christmas and a prosperous new year!
As we all face difficulties of hot temperatures and shortage or water, it is our perseverance which carries us
through. So while you wait for your good rain to come pouring down on us, enjoy this month in Pictures and reading
Mabula guides news
Until the next time, live your adventures, Live Safari.
From Isaiah Banda and Wildlife team
Bushveld greetings
Email: wls@lodge.mabula.co.za