Charity, Assistant manager/relief

Assistant Manager/Relief, Charity Mpotokwane, 25, grew up in Francistown, which means she was a city girl when she moved to Maun after high school to earn her hospitality operations certificate from Maun Technical College. Her practical training for her degree led her to the bush, to an educational attachment with Desert & Delta Safaris. She joined the company as an assistant manager trainee in February 2008, and today she works as an assistant manager/relief, alternating camps as needed when assigned managers are away.

The city girl is sold on bush life. “The first time I saw elephants swim, I said, ‘Wow. This is what brings the tourists to the country.’”

Her dream is to run her own camp in the delta. “It’s lovely to be close to nature…quiet and peaceful,” she says, adding that she’s proud to be a Motswana living in a stable country. “I don’t want to travel, because the world comes to me.”

Chobe Game Lodge Environmental News

Environmental News from Chobe Game Lodge

The arrival of the first rain showers northern Botswana

November was as always a month of change since it normally heralds the arrival of the first rains, and the saying “water is life” was quite graphically portrayed here in Chobe. We’ve had a very good raining month with more than a 150mm of rain already recorded. This brought about a drastic change in the bush as the dry vegetation sprung back to life again and to the great delight of all the herbivores new green shoots of grass and leaves can now be seen everywhere. Not only has there been a drastic rejuvenation in the vegetation, but we have also witnessed the arrival of many new babies in the bush. Most notable of these is the impala with every herd having a little crèche of babies. We’ve also seen many baby warthogs, baboons and even the banded mongoose pack around the Lodge have increased their number by about 7 or 8.

Warthog mother with her new babies.

The rains always mean that the sightings tend to slow down a bit and it is especially the elephants that are conspicuous in their absence. At the beginning of the month we still had large herds of zebra and sable which have all disappeared inland trying to find new grazing grounds.

Large herds of zebra were a common sight around Kabulabula before it started to rain

A very unique picture of a leopard feeding off baby elephant. Picture courtesy of Mr Peter Hodes.

The above picture was sent to us by one of our guests, Mr Peter Hodes who was a guest at the Lodge on the evening of the 22nd of October. Mr Hodes and fellow guests went out on a boat excursion with guide Onkabetse Abel and managed to capture this very unique picture of a leopard feeding off the carcass of a dead baby elephant. The little one possibly died due to the dry harsh conditions we experience here in Chobe during late October and leopards are not averse to scavenging.

On the way into Sedudu valley en route from the Sedudu Gate we now have a clan of spotted hyenas that has made the culverts under the road their central den over the last
month, as they have done in previous years. We have so far counted four pups – two sets of two of different ages. The pups are however rather skittish and we haven’t been able to get any good pictures of them so far.

Young spotted hyena outside the den

The change of season have improved birding conditions however as most of our migratory birds have by now returned to the area. Among these count the woodlands kingfisher, Klaas’s cuckoo, Diederick cuckoo and Steppe buzzards.

On the 29th of November Chobe Game Lodge will be entering at least one team in the Birding Big Day event organised by Birdlife Botswana. For this event teams with a minimum of 4 members enter into a competition where they try to count as many as possible bird species over a 24 hour period in an area with a radius of no more than 50km. The South African record is 313 species, but Chobe has a record of only 115 – a number we are sure we can easily beat! We will report back on this event as soon as possible.

That was a glimpse of all the environmental happening of Chobe over the last month – we will keep you posted on all new bush news in the coming month.

Regards
The Chobe Game Lodge Guides.

Compiled by
Wouter Theron, Environmentalist, Chobe Game Lodge

Solomon, Guide at Leroo La Tau

Guide: Solomon Gakenathata

Goes by: Solomon

Date of Birth: April 14, 1983

Home village: Etsha 13


Desert & Delta guide since: September 2007

Favorite animal or bird: Leopard because “normally when it kills its prey, it takes it up the tree and doesn’t want to be disturbed by any animal. I like the Woodland Kingfisher, a summer visitor. Once you hear the Woodland Kingfisher calling, it indicates that in 2-3 days it will be raining. That’s why I go for it.”

Favorite reference book or tool: “Sasol Birds of Southern Africa” by Ian Sinclair, Phil Hockey and Warwick Tarboton

Favorite food: papa and beef seswaa

Special talent: singing and traditional dancing

A hope for his lifetime: ”I prefer to get married, then I can settle down with my wife.”

Most memorable experience at Leroo La Tau: “I saw two females and the male rhinos. I stopped in the car. They were maybe 10 metres away, and they started coming to the vehicle. They were just sniffing. I was having two guests, and I told them, ‘Don’t speak.’ They (the three rhinos) came four metres to the vehicle.”

Best thing about Leroo La Tau: The migration of animals, like blue wildebeest and zebras, through LLT.

What makes Botswana special: “The delta. The wild animals that we’ve got. Same applies to the people in Botswana: We’re very peaceful. Even if you meet somebody on the way, they will stop and tell you which way you want to go.”


Interviewed by Maria Henson, volunteer, Desert & Delta Safaris

Changing Seasons Savute Safari Lodge

Savute has definitely seen some changes during the last couple of weeks. The long, dry spell has at last been broken with good rainfalls being recorded throughout the region. One particular storm has provided 130mm of rain in three hours! This has turned the previously dry region into an emerald paradise.

Then

Now

Suddenly the skies are filled with migratory bird species, making Savute a Bird Watchers heaven. During one short drive I was able to spot six different species of Stork alone (Marabou, Yellow-billed, White, Abdim’s, Woolly Necked and Saddle Billed Stork) The Carmine and European Bee-eaters are adding bright splashes of colour to the green grass lands, and Swallows and Swifts are seen in thousands hawking insects from the skies.

Birds are not the only ones that has arrived in force. The Impalas has started dropping lambs, and every herd is accompanied by some small lambs, most less than a month old. This provides a great training opportunity to the Wilddog pups. On three occasions we were lucky enough to observe the adults training the pups in hunting Impala. The smaller lambs are an easy target for the pups, giving them the ideal opportunity to train for the day when they will have to start joining the hunt for larger prey.

The Buffalo has also returned to the area. With the sprouting of new grass, the boys are coming back to Savute, looking for the succulent new growth. Currently the Buffaloes are restricted to groups of old bulls, but soon this will change as the cows also come through to share in the abundance of food. All the other grazers are also making a return to the area, with regular sightings of Zebra and Wildebeest dotting the area around the marsh.

With the abundance of game in the area, the predators are also making use of every opportunity. Two “new” adult male Lions has came into the area during the last couple of days. They both appear relatively young and in a very good condition. They were also able to link up with a local female that is seen with them on a regular basis. This leads to some major conflict between them and our regular males – the Mababe Boys. Every evening the sound of males roaring reverberates through the camp. At this stage the competition seems to be restricted to a roaring contest, a means of advertising their presence in the area. This will however soon escalate to full on warfare, where battle lines will be drawn as to whom will be the top dog (or is it cat?) in the Savute region. The Mababe Boys are substantially older than the two youngsters and are past their prime, whereas the two new guys are just reaching their peak. In the advantage of the Mababe boys is that they are three (one older and two younger brothers) compared to the two new males. The question is therefore a lot easier than the answer: Would numbers and experience prevail over age, or would strong, vibrant muscles overcome old weary ones? Only time will tell, and we will keep a beady eye on all the happenings.

Kobus Lubbe, Manager at Savute safari Lodge

World Aids Day Commemorated at Chobe Game Lodge

World Aids Day on the 1 December 2008 was commemorated by management and staff alike.

The morning commenced with a gathering at the lake with a prayer delivered by our Senior Guide Moses and an Inspirational message centring on the Botswana World Aids Day theme, Leadership: Behaviour Change Is My Key Responsibility to STOP HIV and Aids, given by one of our Staff Wellness Committee members Shozi. Obviously this is an issue not to be taken lightly and the severity of the plight in Africa as well as World Wide was in everybody’s minds.

A vital concern in any organisation is the Staff and their Well Being. A staff wellness committee was formed in October to focus on these issues. In view of our remote location, we had to think of a physical activity that would suit all. After consultation with management and a substantial financial commitment, the decision to build and equip a volley ball court was made.
During the past two months management and staff have actively been practising and participating in games and learning all the rules associated with this highly entertaining and energetic sport.

One may ask what on earth does this have to do with World Aids Day and the answer is simple. Health and fitness is imperative in this environment and a Volley Ball Tournament would be a fitting event to hold.
The event included a fund raiser whereby various goods were sold to supplement our steadily growing staff wellness fund ,which is utilised for purchasing items for those that are either unwell or have been hospitalised.
The format of the competition was round Robin with 4 teams of 6 competing with innovative , fun and inspirational names such as the Overlanders, the Babatona, the Dikakapa and last but not least the Red Devils. Shouts of encouragement and whoops of excitement emanated from the staff and an impromptu Cheerleading squad was even created. The event lasted long into the early evening with war injuries being sustained during the quest to outplay and outwit their opponents.

The final was hotly contested between Team Overland and Team Dikakapa and our lady umpire was put under extreme pressure to award points to various spectators favourite teams. The event after three arduous and demanding rounds was won by Team Dikakapa and a floating trophy sponsored by the lodge was presented by the Human Resources Manager.

The day was hailed as a great success but the seriousness of the occasion remained in everybody’s minds. We all know how important it is to emphasise and reiterate to staff how deadly this disease is and the importance of education regarding the illness is. It is wonderful that we could do this in a more pleasant way and yet still make people aware of how big a role health and fitness plays in combating the virus.

Management, Chobe Game Lodge

Boteti Lions and Brown Hyena movements

Leroo La Tau is not only about lion, zebra and wildebeest. Leroo La Tau also boasts Chobe bushbuck, leopard, brown and spotted hyena, impala, kudu, jackal, porcupine, genet and caracal, to name but a few. In addition, there is also the possibility of seeing the rare white rhinoceros. Most unique however, are the crocodiles and an amazing pod of hippo which have survived in extremely adverse conditions for over 12 years. The hugely contrasting seasons and terrain make this area of the Makgadikgadi a unique haven for large herds and predators alike.

Researcher Glyn Maud based themselves at Leroo La Tau, tracking collars on brown hyaena and lion. The immediate information from these transmitters would show us their movements, especially now the migration has moved away to the saltpans. They achieved the aim with a couple of collars onto brown hyaena (one a cell phone collar and the second a normal GPS remote download collars. They also put a cell phone GPS collar onto a lioness.

While we were doing the darting we saw males on the other side of the fence. The next aim will be to get funds together to get a cell collar onto a male lion to observe fence crossing, as it is mainly the male lions that cross the fence, but the data captured will give clearer picture over a longer period.

Glyn Maude, Researcher at Leroo La Tau

Lions on Palm Island - Xugana Island Lodge

Lets Ngoma & Joel Body took their guests walking on Palm Island this morning. A few of them already saw lions on yesterday’s walk, but from a distance. The guests joining on the walk were Mr & Mrs Grehl travelling with Mr & Mrs Mess from Germany, Claude & Susanne Chatelain from Switzerland and John & Kate English from the UK.

They saw 2 lions from a distance and started circling them to get closer. Nearing them, only 1 was visible, so they decided to wait a little. While Lets was standing with the guests, Body walked to a nearby termite mound to get some height and saw another 2 lionesses. This young male (as in the photograph) was watching him and stood up. Lets said it took about 2 seconds before the male turned around and started approaching them, walking slowly, grunting. Lets started shouting at him after which he turned around and went back.

Lets was concentrating to keep his guests calm, but as he says – “Everyone stood their ground!”

Photographs taken by Lets Ngoma.

Sekoma Profile on Kelvin Pising Sikanda

Guests always want to know more about our staff, who they are, where they come from and the role they perform in the operation and as such we decided to do a monthly profile. This month the Sekoma focus is on our Camp Manager Kelvin.
Kelvin is of Zambian descent and was born in Livingston in the Southern Province. His home language is Lozi but he is completely fluent in English and is even learning a little bit of Afrikaans. In 1992 he became a Wild Life Conservation Member and this is where his interests began.

Kelvin was employed on Sekoma Island during 1998 as a Game Guard prior to the lodge being built, so it was a natural progression for him to become a Guide and his experience grew from there. He is an avid fisherman and his exploits of the Tiger Fish he has caught will be of interest to all. He adores Bird Watching and is extremely knowledgeable regarding local folklore and places of interest.

Kelvin was promoted to Camp Manager in 2001 and has excelled in this position, learning new things every day. He is well liked and respected by guests and staff alike. His current passion is creating new and diverse Fly fishing activities throughout the lower Zambezi , some of the best spots being found amongst the white water rapids below Sekoma Island , getting there is quite an experience, utilizing the lodges new rubber ducks which have been purchased for these and other activities.

Look out for the “Big Man” on your next visit to Sekoma!

Chobe Game Lodge Star of the Month

Excitement and Anticipation are the only two words that I can think of that aptly describe this award. On a monthly basis each Department Head nominates a member of staff in his or her operation that they feel have excelled in their normal duties and have exceeded expectations and shown initiative. The Star of the month is then selected by the General Manager .A monetary award is presented to the winning staff member at the monthly meeting. The Winners names are then put forward for the Employee of the Year Award which has a great amount of prestige and accolade attached to it. Four of the twelve candidates selected during the year are then chosen and receive a further incentive.

The Star of the Month for October is Mr. Masheleng Gombalume. This very wise, articulate and very soft spoken gentleman is a Sous Chef in the Chobe Game Lodge Kitchen as well as one of the shift Supervisors. He was born in the small village of Senyawe in North Eastern Botswana and speaks a variety of dialects from Kalanga and Setwswana to Ndebele. His absolutely amazing culinary passion stemmed from a chance encounter with a French Restaurateur at the age of 21 and his love of food grew from there.

He has worked in a variety of Lodges and Hotels, widening his knowledge and experience. He joined the Chobe Game Lodge Family on the 18 March 2004. His ability to excel in whatever task he has been assigned and his eagerness to train and pass his encyclopedia of culinary knowledge onto the trainees is the reason why he received this award. His comments on receiving his cheque were as gracious as ever: “My wife and family would like to thank you for giving them a good Christmas.” His aspirations for the future ,of course Food, Food and more Food!

Chobe Game Lodge through the years

Chobe Game Lodge Through The Years

On the event of our 25 Anniversary since reopening, we decided it might be quite an enlightening and fun exercise to take a look back through the years. How the lodge looked in the good old Eighties and how it has changed and grown, keeping up with new trends and guest expectations into the first decade of the millennium. Every month we will be doing a feature on an aspect of the lodge ranging from the lodge façade and entrance through to the rooms, public areas and swimming pool as well as all the extra touches that have been added since 1983

This month’s focus is on one of the Jewels of the lodge, our sparkling new Rock Pool and stunning surrounding Landscaping that came into being in April this year. This replaced the really old fashioned and weather worn pool that had served our guests so well in the past. We managed to obtain a few historical photographs depicting what the pool looked like originally and then more as we progressed through the ages. The original lodge was in a very sad state and the pool took a lot of tender loving care and hard work to once again make it usable. However as anybody who knows Chobe Game Lodge and our Managing Director Mr. Jonathan Gibson this would be a task that would not defeat him.

The pictures above depict what the pool and environment looked like after the Bush War prior to refurbishment.

The above state of affairs did not last long and soon there was a bright, sparkling refurbished pool which served both local and international guests well for many years. Of course the furnishings and landscape were updated on a regular basis, however glancing through pictures from previous years it is still outstanding to see plastic chairs and loungers which at that stage were really considered quite modern.

The decision was eventually made that as much as everybody was attached to this grand old lady the time for a new an updated model had arrived. Much planning and attention to detail went into this and the process from start to finish took approximately two years. Initially sourcing the correct contractor, the land surveying that had to be done as well as the logistics of importing the relevant building material and last but not least obtaining work permits for the contractor and staff-No easy task at the best of times. Eventually everything was in place and the building began, the process lasted approximately 6 weeks and cost P675000. Despite all the obstacles such as the long hours and extreme conditions, all the efforts eventually bore fruit and the phenomenal project had come to an end. The new rock pool is a spectacle to behold, not only is it a stunning and gorgeous sight but the landscaping that has been done is aesthetically pleasing and pleasantly charming. The furnishings that have been purchased definitely complement this new feature and the environment.

Make sure that you indulge in a cool and refreshing splash on your next visit to our beautiful lodge.

Birders Paradise at Xugana Island Lodge

Being a ‘Birder’s Paradise’, here are just a few of the birds currently flying around at Xugana Island Lodge:

Brown Firefinch – Tiny bird, usually seen in small flocks.

Paradise Flycatcher – The breeding male has an extravagant ribbon-like tail as seen on the photograph. He takes turns with the female to hatch the eggs.



Blackeyed Bulbul – A lively bulbul seen in pairs or small groups. The call is a series of liquid whistles although the alarm call is better known.

Chinspot Batis – The female has a chestnut breast bar and the male has a broad black bar on the breast.

Kurrichane Thrush – This bird is mostly seen on the ground, searching through leaves for worms & insects.

Greenbacked Heron – Meet Harry, he comes every night to feed in the area in front of the bar at Xugana. Waiting patiently for his dinner, he is a very successful ‘fisherman’.

African Darter – A silhouette of the African Darter, usually seen with the wings outstretched to dry.

Greater Blue-eared Starling – Seen in abundance around the lodge, especially around brunch time!

Malachite Kingfisher – This photograph was taken on the way to the hippo pools, driving past. They are usually seen perched low among the reeds.

Redbilled Francolin – Feeding primarily on insects and seeds, they are seen running around the gardens in the lodge.

Mourning Dove – The similar Redeyed Dove is larger, with a pale-pink head and red eyes. The soft call, gives this bird its name.

Whitefronted Bee-eater – The throat is red, the forehead white, the vent a bright blue and a white band runs below the black mask.

Giant Kingfisher – A massive, charcoal-grey kingfisher with white-spotted back. This photograph was taken near Palm Island in the Main Channel.

Pied Kingfisher – Our resident kingfisher, Spike, is seen every night fishing in front at the bar area. He now has a family, joining in the daily activities. The white underpants are divided by a double chest bar in the male, and a single broken bar in the female.


Photographs taken by Mark & Lizl Carlsen, Managers at Xugana Island Lodge