July 2010 : Malilangwe Wildlife Reserve, Zimbabwe

SEVEN (yes, 7) LEOPARDS WERE SEEN AT ONE SIGHTING! And as if there is some ‘anything you can do I can do better’ rivalry among supposedly solitary cats SEVEN (yes, 7) CHEETAH CONGREGATED AT ANOTHER SIGHTING TOO!

There are so many stories to tell this month – both non-fiction and folklore. Our Head Guide, Brad Fouché begins…

“The sightings highlight for me was when we found a leopard (Panthera pardus) that had killed and hoisted an impala in a tree. On the particular evening the guides and the guests witnessed seven leopards all feeding off that same kill! There was a female with a sub-adult cub, then another female arrived with two tiny cubs, then a large male and then the female with the collar that we monitor for habituation and research purposes.

It was unbelievable! I have never seen seven leopards together!Lots of growling and interaction went on but they seemed content with sharing the kill, and it all got finished amicably.”

Field Guide, Jephat Diza, and Lodge Manager, Shelley Mitchley share their rival story next…

“We set off on to the wide open area of the Banyini where we’ve been fortunate enough over the past year to see a female cheetah (Acinonyx Jubatus) raise her five cubs. It’s rare to see a cheetah – they’re solitary shy cats and are highly endangered. I was astonished to find her, plus all five cubs AND a friend! Low and behold, a male cheetah had somehow snuck in and joined their family - seven cheetahs in one sighting! Whilst admiring the cheetahs against the backdrop of the crisp morning, curiosity got the better of one brazen cheetah cub. It slunk over to the passenger side of the game viewer, where the side mirror caught its attention.  It found this new discovery intriguing and wrapped its paws around the glass before facing it to admire its own captivating reflection.

Mesmerised by what he was seeing, our guest in the passenger seat smiled, at the cub and shifted in his seat. Offended by the smile - as bared teeth are a threat display in cheetah communication - the cub hissed over the passenger door at our guest! After that he did a quick patrol around the game viewer to satisfy his curiosity and then walked over and flopped in the red soil with the rest of his family. That’s a sighting we’ll all remember forever!”

PRRRRRRRRRAH PRRRRRRRRRAH PRRRRRRRRRAH

It caught me unaware. We’d been watching a cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) caring for her cubs and out of nowhere the sound invaded the scene – a loud rasping motor-like rumble. The vehicle’s engine was off and we were in the middle of tranquillity. Then the realization hit and I gasped, “She’s purring!”

Lions and leopards don’t purr in the recognisable way that cheetahs do, so why do cheetahsand domestic cats purr? I’m sure we’d all agree that purring is a very contented sound both for the feline and human listener, but cats don’t only purr when they seem content – I’ve heard them purring when they’re stressed or injured too. Cheetahs purr at frequencies of 20-50 hertz and recent research has revealed that sound frequencies in this range can improve bone density and promote healing in felines - as well as humans! Because cats such as cheetahs have evolved to conserve energy via long periods of rest and sleep, it is possible that purring is a low energy mechanism that stimulates muscles and bones without a lot of energy.

Old wives’ tales usually have a grain of truth behind them, and most people have heard of a cat’s “nine lives.” There is also an old veterinary adage still repeated in veterinary schools that states, “If you put a cat and a bunch of broken bones in the same room, the bones will heal.” There is excellent documentation of cats’ quick recovery from severe injuries. Purring may provide a basis for these feline mythologies. So, it’s more plausible that cats such as cheetahs purr as a means of communication and a potential source of self-healing. Fascinating isn’t it?

THE ROAN ANTELOPE (Hippotragus equinus)

Here at Singita Pamushana we have a special breeding programme for these at risk, listed as Endangered in the Red Data Book, antelope. They are extremely striking with their war-paint facial markings, long narrow tassel-tipped ears, sweeping arc of ridged horns and bristled manes. Unfortunately they
are extremely susceptible to habitat degradation, predation and calf mortality and it is for these reasons that we are making every effort to conserve, study
and research them in our breeding programme. The husbandry is very interesting – mature breeding males defend an area around ‘their’ herd. They challenge other males trying to penetrate the zone by standing tall with their necks arched and their chins tucked in. Challengers who do not submit may be tackled with horn clashing and hooking, head pushing and wrestling with both males dropping to their knees.

The herd bull courts a female on heat by following closely behind and tapping between her hind legs with his foreleg…The gestation period for roan is about the same as it is for humans, and the single born calves, which are born at any time during the year, are weaned at six months.

TRADITIONAL WEDDING

I was walking in bush when flashes of blue caught my eye. It was a single feather from a lilac-breasted rollerracias caudatus)e Afrikaans common name for this bird is the Gewone Troupant, which roughly translates to ‘a normal marriage piece’. This reminded me of anancient Zulu folk tale. There seem to be many versions, as is the way with stories that are told from generation to generation, but they all have to do with marriage, and the version I enjoy the most goes like this… “In the land of Zulu warriors, a couple of young lovers needed the blessing from their tribal elders to marry. The elders needed a wise plan that would prove – or disprove - the couple’s compatibility and love for one another. To devise this plan the elders gathered around the flames of the campfire and pondered the problem for many an hour. The embers turned to ash, their calabashes ran dry, and it was only then that all agreed upon a plan.

The chief summoned the young lovers before him the following morning and set them a task: They were to go and walk the bush together and search for a feather from the lilac-breasted roller. They must search for however long it took them, and only when they had found the feather were they to return to the chief. (This may seem like a simple enough task but I can assure you it isn’t. There are many dangers to be aware of when walking in the wild, and many lessons on survival and resourcefulness to be learnt. Although lilac-breasted rollers are quite often seen it is rare to find a feather.)

After many hours and days of searching the couple returned with a feather. The chief ordered them to hold hands while clasping the feather between their hands. Then the elders bound the couple’s hands together and the chief gave them the following challenge, “You must live bound together like this for seven days and seven nights. You must go where they other goes, you must eat what the other eats, If one falls ill the other must make them strong again – you are to live as one. If you return after a week still wanting to marry one another, then you have our blessing.”

ARMED TO THE TEETH

This old boy’s snarl bared the evidence of living a wild raw life. His upper right canine was broken in half and worn smooth over time. From root to tip a canine measures about 10 centimetres (4 inches) – that’s the length of my thumb from wrist to tip! They are spaced such that they can slip between the cervical vertebrae of an animal, and sever the spinal cord. Looking deeper into the jaw(with utmost caution) some of the other 30 teeth are specialised molars called carnassialsthat work just like a guillotine, for cutting pieces of meat. The jaw is not capable of moving side-to-side, like ours. This helps keep the carnassialsin precise alignment. Lions, like all cats, do not chew their food, but swallow it in chunks. They also use only one side of their mouth at a time. The tongue is covered with rough spines, called papillae that help to scrape meat off bones, and act like a comb for grooming.

PRICELESS ROCK ART

It’s difficult to describe the feeling you get when you see rock art for the first time. Your eyes notice something incongruous about the rock face. The colours don’t seem to blend in their natural formation. You’re curious. Your feet don’t seem to move fast enough for a closer look. Each step confirms your suspicion and there in front of you is a sandstone canvas of history. It’s all you can do to stare. After a couple of minutes you have to know more. Who painted it? How old is it? What does it mean? Why did they paint it? What did they use for paint?

At Singita Pamushana we’ve discovered 76 rock art sites – and counting… Exploring secluded caves and rock faces and finding priceless art that hasn’t been seen for thousands of years is the most humbling honour and privilege. Each painting reveals insights into the lives and times of the San tribe of Africa. There are also examples of Herder’s Rock Art which you can see are less precise and delicate than those of the San people.Experts in rock art have visited here and written scientific papers that have enhanced our understanding of the distant past of Africa and its people.

The paintings contain many unusual features and the interpretation of their meaning provide many surprises. You’ll see figures with animal heads – associated with the beliefs and religion of the San people, the depiction of trees, including palm trees, giraffes were thought not to have lived here in the past but the art proves they did – even an ostrich makes its appearance on the painted panels.

There are many accurate representations of antelope. This beautiful version of a Lichtenstein’s hartebeest (Sigmoceros lichtensteinii)shows the heart-shaped horns and distinct hump on the shoulders. Not far away a hartebeest drank from a small pool of water. How heart-warming to be reminded that at least some things haven’t changed in today’s world.

The Hare, the Hippo and the Elephant By Singita Paumushana Amukeri: Reuben Masuke

A long time ago, when the streams ran uphill and donkeys had horns, there existed a small animal kingdom. Elephant and Hippo were respected members of the King’s Court, but Hare was usually assigned minor duties and looked down upon, despite his intelligence.

One day Hare met Elephant and said, “Oh great one, small am I but more powerful in the battle of strength!” Elephant laughed, lit a cigarette and looked askance. Hare continued, “Tomorrow I will be the most respected member of this kingdom after the King - I will surely beat you!” Elephant was riled and replied with disdain, “You are not even the size of my ear.” “Action speaks louder than words! Come, let me tie this rope to your leg and we will both pull, you towards the forest and I towards the river,” challenged the cunning Hare. Elephant couldn’t hold his anger any longer so he let Hare tie his leg.

Hare raced to the river where he found Hippo grazing on the banks. “Malume,” (grandfather)Hare shouted, “when it comes to grazing you beat me but when it comes to the battle of strength I can beat you! Let me tie this rope around you and I’ll run to the other end and tie myself, after that I will signal by pulling the rope once to mark the beginning of the battle. You’ll pull towards the river and I’ll pull towards the forest!” Hippo was amused. He giggled, and smiled to hide his contempt. He accepted Hare’s game hoping to send Hare floating far away on the flooding river. Hare quickly tied the rope around Hippo’s leg and took off for the other end…

When he got to the middle of the rope Hare stopped and checked his small calabash of beer he had brewed and found that it was ready to drink. He took a sip. Jumping up and down in delight, he tugged on the rope to signal the beginning of the battle. Then he poured himself a generous jug of beer and watched in amazement at the tension of the rope. Elephant pulled toward the forest and Hippo pulled towards the river. Elephant was stunned to feel the strength of Hare and started rumbling and trumpeting. He summoned all his energy and started pulling harder. Hippo was shocked and found himself being dragged backwards! Hippo pulled as hard as he could, wagging his tail from side to side, but his opponent’s strength was too great and he finally shouted for defeat.

Elephant, hearing the defeat signal, sauntered towards the river, trumpeting and felling trees in celebration, only to find, to his utter dismay, that he was battling against Hippo! The two realized that they’d been deceived by Hare and took off in pursuit of him, but all they found were his tracks and an empty calabash of beer! Clever Hare was nowhere to be found. He had long gone to a faraway country where he was happily sitting around a campfire telling this story to all his new friends!

Our collection is complete. We have now been to every Singita property. We are officially ruined. Each one is unrivalled in game, service, design, setting and chic.  Pamushana is no exception. All others aspire to reach the level of prestige you so well deserve. It’s the Singita mystique!”

Singita Pamushana guests Brian Pendleton & Chad Goldman, Los Angeles, USA.