On the other hand our guests have reported fantastic sightings on our Big5 drives, and most times got to see all of the big 5, spoiling it a little for our field guides who are very keen to part with their knowledge, but they themselves have offered the most amazing sightings on our reserve, all in all our guests are coming back time and again, and this proves that we must be doing something right.

They have spotted Caracal, Porcupine, Genet and Honey Badgers to add to the other wonderful sightings of Cheetah, Rhino (who often come visiting at the lodge) Eland who have produced another cute Eland baby, Buffalo with their offspring & Jackal as well as the Giraffe, Zebra and Wildebeest, with Bushbuck, Nyala, Kudu and the elusive Waterbuck thrown in for good measure.

Well done Shanea & Thomas!

Micki the banded mongoose and his friends were adopted by three very good looking bush rangers and have the run of their camp deep in the African bush. There is no need to worry about the ‘scent marking’ of expensive cameras and binoculars (which is what they were doing to ours) and I believe, absolutely love the guys and their new environment.

They have made contact with a group of wild Banded Mongoose and hopefully will soon integrate with them. Although as I said in my previous newsletter they are too used to the people comforts and are spoiled rotten……

Micki had begun ‘humping’ every thing in sight: shoes, towels, cushions etc. and will no doubt soon be following the colony of wild mongoose looking for a Mrs.

Wonder the Warthog still potters around the garden, and continues to lift her back leg while walking, we simply cannot find the reason for her doing that. She now follows us around, but we are all a little wary of her advances ….

The Monkeys – oh dear, I hope I’m not talking too soon – are behaving themselves, but then again it’s still quite early in the season and there are still berries and seeds to be found in the bush, later as they wait for Spring they may just start raiding our breakfast buffet again.

It’s a matter of teaching our wonderful guests that its not a bright idea to feed the monkeys, who then become scavengers and will eventually fathom out how to enter the rooms and steal any fruit, food or sweets lying around. Ask us, we have all learnt the hard way.

As always the sun shines brightly here in the Lowveld and although winter has arrived our days are still very hot. Our winters are the best in the world, though not many people are aware of this, with cold nights and mornings ( +- 8-10º C) getting warmer by 8:30 am and the days good enough to lay by the pool and suntan, sometimes reaching temperatures of 28º C.

We have again achieved finalist status for 2009 with the AA Accommodation American Express Awards. I think it’s well done to our wonderful staff for this achievement and to our ‘super duper’ guests who have to fill in those pesky guest critiques.

The staff at Hongonyi would like to wish everyone a good summer / winter season depending on which part of the world you’re in, and wish you well to visit us again as soon as possible.

Love from us all