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Wildlife Sightings For January 2002
January was hot and wet with water levels in the Crocodile River at a peak. During January the bush is lush and green and, because of the availability of freestanding water, the game becomes much more dispersed throughout the Park. January is always a rewarding month for birders and froggers. Purplecrested louries were seen and heard throughout month on a daily basis. Fish eagles and saddlebilled storks were seen daily. Ground hornbills were reported on the 31st. Strong flow and a wide river prevented game moving in close to the Lodge. Hippo were seen and heard daily while crocodiles were reported on 8 occasions. Impala and waterbuck were also seen daily and kudu almost as frequently. Other visitors to the riverfront during January were vervet monkeys, baboons, warthog, giraffe and leopard. The entire colony of the fruit bats that roosts in the palm tree outside the Environmental Centre had relocated elsewhere during January.
Viewing highlights For January
The viewing highlight for January was the sighting of the leopard. No kills were reported.
Wildlife Sightings For February 2002
Viewing highlights for February
A herd of approx. 150 buffalo came down to the river on the 2nd. Three rhinos and a calf were reported on the 3rd . Hyena were spotted on 9th, 15th and 23rd . The frequency of elephant sightings has increased over that of January.
Wildlife Sightings For March 2002
Each month at Ngwenya brings something new and exciting. Depending on rainfall in the catchment area, the level of the Crocodile River can fluctuate quite dramatically. Hippo and crocodile were seen frequently. Impala, waterbuck and kudu were seen almost every day. Other visitors to the river front during March have included warthog, zebra, wildebeest, giraffe, baboons, hyena, wild dogs, elephant and buffalo. Fish eagles and saddlebilled storks have been reported almost every day.
Viewing highlights for March
On the 10th and 14th a breeding herd of about 30 elephant visited the river in front of the lodge. On the 13th a very large crocodile killed a large male waterbuck which had come down to drink. The female waterbuck was only a few metres away when this happened. She was seen the next day at the same spot. Hyena were seen on 9th, 12th and 16th . On the 16th a pack of 9 Wild dogs spent about 3 hours on the floodplain in front of the Lodge moving from the side of reception to the vicinity of chalet 81. They were chased off by 2 hyena which emerged from the woodland margin.
Wildlife Sightings For April 2002
April provided exciting wildlife sightings at Ngwenya Lodge. Frequent sightings of hippo and crocodile were reported. Impala, waterbuck and kudu were seen almost every day. Sightings of warthog were also reported regularly. Other visitors to the river front included wildebeest, baboons, hyena, lion, elephant and buffalo (seen once every 5 days on average). Fish eagles, saddlebilled storks and goliath herons were reported almost every day.
Viewing Highlights For April
Regular visits by elephant (11 occasions) and buffalo (13 occasions). Big herds of buffalo with numbers in excess of 100 visited the river front on the 3rd, 20th and 22nd. Hyena were seen on no less than six occasions. On 18th of April, Hyena chased impala into the river and at ± 7:30am on 21st they chased an adult waterbuck and calf into river.
Wildlife Sightings For May 2002
May was a rewarding month with a number of exciting wildlife sightings. Even though the level of the river began to drop, frequent sightings of hippo and crocodile were reported. Impala, waterbuck and kudu were seen along the riverfront almost daily. Warthog were also seen regularly (every second or third day). Other visitors to the riverfront were baboons, hyena, rhino, lion, elephant and buffalo (approx once every 5 days). The resident fruit bat colony outside the Environmental Centre appears to be increasing in numbers, peaking at around 26. Fish eagles, saddlebilled storks and goliath herons are daily sightings.
Viewing highlights for May
A big herd of buffalo arrived on the riverfront on 1st May Hyena were seen on the 5th, 9th, 20th and 22nd. Rhino were reported on the 19th and 30th. On the evening of the 19th, five lions were seen at the lodge on the road in front of reception. Restaurant staff returning home at night have reported seeing 2 Buffalo grazing in front of reception on a number of occasions.
Wildlife Sightings For June 2002
During June the water of the Crocodile River dropped to a relatively low level. Hippos have moved to deeper pools. Consequently, sightings in front of the lodge were less frequent as were those of crocodiles. As usual impala and waterbuck were seen daily. Warthog and kudu were reported almost as frequently (every second or third day). Other regular visitors to the riverfront included vervet monkeys, baboons, giraffe, hyena, lion, elephant and buffalo. An apparently sickly/old Buffalo that walks with a limp has been seen in the reed beds everyday. The fruit bat colony that roosts outside the Environmental Centre has increased in numbers to 46. They are heard all over the resort every evening. Fish eagles, saddlebilled storks and goliath herons have been spotted almost every day along the river front.
Viewing highlights for June
Lions were seen across the river from chalet 98 every evening from the 24th to the 27th. On at least two occasions (7th and 16th) herds of buffalo numbering between 200 and 300 visited the river to drink. On the 7th a small buffalo was killed. Plenty of vultures were seen on the carcass on the morning of the 8th. Hyena were reported on the 5th and the 8th .
Wildlife Sightings For July 2002
The level of water in the Crocodile River was very low. Hippos spent most of the daylight hours in the deeper pools along the river. One such pool in front of chalet 102 was shared between 14 hippos and four enormous crocodiles. Impala and kudu were seen daily. Warthog and waterbuck were reported almost as frequently (every second or third day). Other regular visitors to the riverfront during July included giraffe. Elephant, buffalo, zebra, baboons and hyena were recorded less frequently than the previous month. No sightings of lion or leopard at Ngwenya were logged during July. The numbers of the fruit bat colony roosting outside the Environmental Centre has stabilised at around 46. Fish eagles, saddlebilled storks and goliath herons continue to be seen on a daily basis along the river front.
Viewing highlights for July
Fourteen hippos and four large crocs sharing a relatively small pool in front of chalet 102. Large herds of buffalo (approx 250) visited the riverfront on the 4th, 5th and 23rd . Elephant were reported on no less than 7 occasions during July. Hyena were reported on the 2nd and 5th.
Wildlife Sightings For August 2002
The low level of water in the Crocodile River restricted hippos to the deeper pools along the river. The hippos and crocodiles continued to share the pool in front of chalet 102 which was also visited by elephant. Impala, waterbuck and kudu were seen every day. Warthog were reported almost as frequently (every second or third day). Other visitors to the riverfront during August included leopard, giraffe, elephant, rhino, buffalo, zebra, bushbuck, honey badger, baboons and hyena. The population of the fruit bat colony roosting outside the Environmental Centre has remained at around 46. Fish eagles, saddlebilled storks, African darters and goliath herons continue to be seen along the river front on a daily basis.
Viewing highlights for August
The leopard kills of the 10th and 17th. The leopard sighting from the walking trail on the 26th. The group of 6 white rhino on the 18th, 19th and 20th. The honey badger on the 11th. Hyena on the 10th and 17th. Buffalo on the 6th, 13th, 14th, 16th and 30th. Elephant on the 5th, 6th, 8th, 13th, 20th, 23rd and 26th.
Wildlife Sightings For September 2002
Impala, waterbuck, crocodiles and hippos were sighted every day. Elephant were only reported twice during September. Buffalo were seen on 8 occasions. Warthog, giraffe and kudu sightings were reported frequently. Rhino visited the river in front of the lodge twice during September. Baboons and Zebra were also seen on the riverfront. Birding has been superb. On the evening of the 19th a Gabar Goshawk took a bat when they were emerging from the big bat hotel.
Wildlife Sightings For October 2002
Impala, waterbuck, crocodiles and hippos were sighted every day. Elephant were reported much more frequently than in September (on no less than 14 separate occasions). Sometimes they even ventured onto the resort itself. Buffalo were seen just as frequently. Warthog, giraffe and kudu sightings were reported frequently. Rhino visited the river in front of the lodge on five occasions during October. Birding has been superb.
To view a selection of wildlife photographs taken at Ngwenya Lodge click here
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