Mum relaxing as we cruise the river.
Two of the four strong pack of dogs helping with the driving!
Tuesday, 29 May 2007
Mother and son!
It's been just wonderful having Mum out visiting. We had a lovely time walking and driving around the game farm. My Mum is now fully versed in the husbandry of fish and pigs.
Mum relaxing as we cruise the river.
Mum relaxing as we cruise the river.
Friday, 18 May 2007
Crocs up close!
It was early afternoon when Erick and I were walking along the pond banks next to the flood plane. When there sunbathing on the pond bank was an old friend but not a welcome one. A seven foot crocodile has been living in the ponds for over a year now. Douglas and Erick had trapped him some time ago. As he was small at the time they did not wanting to kill him so they took him in the boat upstream. They span the boat around in circles whilst his head was covered to disorientate him. They released him and triumphantly returned thinking that they had restored peace of mind to the farms staff and allowed croc to enjoy a new life.
It was only a matter of days before the crocodile had indignantly returned to the same pond. Now he is too smart for the trap. We tried one night to catch him with the professionals but he outsmarted us when equipped with a boat and harpoons.
Living on a ready supply of fresh fish he has grown quickly to his current seven feet. I slowly approached the crocodile as he bathed in the afternoon sun. After about ten minutes I was standing quietly less than his body length from him. It was an amazing privilege to standing and watching a wild animal so closely. I stood watching for over half an hour as he became more used to me he lowered his head and dozed even closing his eyes at times. We then got a rope and a pole tying a loop on the end of the pole Erick lowered the rope towards his head. The aim was to get the rope around his neck as we had done in the cage captures let him into the water to tire and then pull him back onto the bank. I did not thinks he we would get the rope anywhere near his head expecting that the crocodile would head into the water as soon as we moved this strange thing towards him.
Slowly the loop of rope was drawn along the ground towards the crocodiles head. He did not move or react in any way. With his head on the ground it was impossible to get the rope onto his head. We used the stick to gently tap the hack of the crocs head. It was at this moment when it all seemed so logical and sensible that I had a moment of clarity. Here I was standing in Africa seven feet from an amazingly effective and potentially lethal predator banging it on the head with a stick. My mother will be pleased to read of my sudden bout of clear thinking and wisdom. Fear not the moment passed and I continued hitting the croc with a stick. In the blink of an eye he was raised up on his front legs head turned towards us and with his very impressive dentures on display.
This was all very exciting and played into our hands well. Erick moved along the bank right beside the croc on his hands and knees just by the water line as not to intimidate the croc. When Erick was behind the croc he was able to pull the rope securely over the head. Erick crawled back along the bank and we had the croc roped. The Croc remained dead still throughout with his head held high. Only occasionally would he let out a slight hiss to indicate his annoyance.
We had done it. I never thought it would have worked but we stood with a crocodile on a lead. Now we wanted him to cool off and burn off some energy before we were going to sit on him and tie him up. We threw several stones at his tail before he explosively flew from the bank into the water with terrifying speed. In the water he thrashed wildly about doing death rolls and spinning in circles. Then our hearts sank as the rope went slack. With his razor sharp teeth the rope has been cut. All the hard work had been done and then we were let down by a rope AHHHHH! The great worry was that the croc would drown or be strangled by the rope but one of the fish feeders saw him today as he slipped into a pond.
So we have tried traps, ropes, boats and harpoons with no success. All that remains is the pounce and wrestle technique – watching for the next installment!
It was only a matter of days before the crocodile had indignantly returned to the same pond. Now he is too smart for the trap. We tried one night to catch him with the professionals but he outsmarted us when equipped with a boat and harpoons.
Living on a ready supply of fresh fish he has grown quickly to his current seven feet. I slowly approached the crocodile as he bathed in the afternoon sun. After about ten minutes I was standing quietly less than his body length from him. It was an amazing privilege to standing and watching a wild animal so closely. I stood watching for over half an hour as he became more used to me he lowered his head and dozed even closing his eyes at times. We then got a rope and a pole tying a loop on the end of the pole Erick lowered the rope towards his head. The aim was to get the rope around his neck as we had done in the cage captures let him into the water to tire and then pull him back onto the bank. I did not thinks he we would get the rope anywhere near his head expecting that the crocodile would head into the water as soon as we moved this strange thing towards him.
Slowly the loop of rope was drawn along the ground towards the crocodiles head. He did not move or react in any way. With his head on the ground it was impossible to get the rope onto his head. We used the stick to gently tap the hack of the crocs head. It was at this moment when it all seemed so logical and sensible that I had a moment of clarity. Here I was standing in Africa seven feet from an amazingly effective and potentially lethal predator banging it on the head with a stick. My mother will be pleased to read of my sudden bout of clear thinking and wisdom. Fear not the moment passed and I continued hitting the croc with a stick. In the blink of an eye he was raised up on his front legs head turned towards us and with his very impressive dentures on display.
This was all very exciting and played into our hands well. Erick moved along the bank right beside the croc on his hands and knees just by the water line as not to intimidate the croc. When Erick was behind the croc he was able to pull the rope securely over the head. Erick crawled back along the bank and we had the croc roped. The Croc remained dead still throughout with his head held high. Only occasionally would he let out a slight hiss to indicate his annoyance.
We had done it. I never thought it would have worked but we stood with a crocodile on a lead. Now we wanted him to cool off and burn off some energy before we were going to sit on him and tie him up. We threw several stones at his tail before he explosively flew from the bank into the water with terrifying speed. In the water he thrashed wildly about doing death rolls and spinning in circles. Then our hearts sank as the rope went slack. With his razor sharp teeth the rope has been cut. All the hard work had been done and then we were let down by a rope AHHHHH! The great worry was that the croc would drown or be strangled by the rope but one of the fish feeders saw him today as he slipped into a pond.
So we have tried traps, ropes, boats and harpoons with no success. All that remains is the pounce and wrestle technique – watching for the next installment!
Sunday, 13 May 2007
Pretty in pink!
Pigs- we have plenty of pigs! We produce about four thousand a year, that's a lot of bacon sandwiches in anyones book! The pigs don't smell as the pens are washed and swept twice a day very happy about that.
The pigs eat, sleep, eat, eat, sleep, doze, eat, sleep, and then eat. It's a life every couch potato can aspire to. I think the pigs are just comical when they are sleeping. This is for two reasons firstly they love to snuggle up together in a big heap and secondly they snore. Now when I say snore I am talking about a really good belly rumbling snoring. Walking past the pig pens at night is just comic.
The pigs eat, sleep, eat, eat, sleep, doze, eat, sleep, and then eat. It's a life every couch potato can aspire to. I think the pigs are just comical when they are sleeping. This is for two reasons firstly they love to snuggle up together in a big heap and secondly they snore. Now when I say snore I am talking about a really good belly rumbling snoring. Walking past the pig pens at night is just comic.
Wednesday, 2 May 2007
Casting off into the blue!
Just a few pics to show you the size of the Kafue river that passes the farm. The farm is build on the flood plane. Yes I know that sounds like a bad idea but fear not the river level is controlled by hydroelectric dams. I have been out testing the boats with Erick to see which ones would be best for the tourists visiting the lodge to use. The river is just breath taking with a huge grove of palm trees along the opposing bank of the river. If you take the boat threw a small gap in the reeds of only a few meters you end up in a mammoth lagoon behind the palm trees. The picture below is just to give you an idea of the size of the river.
The Local fishermen live right on the banks of the river in lovely traditional round houses. The photo below shows one of the houses blending beautifully with the local environment. The fishermen move up and down the river in dug out canoes which are very unstable. Not something I would like to try considering the friendly Croc and Hippo residents.
The Local fishermen live right on the banks of the river in lovely traditional round houses. The photo below shows one of the houses blending beautifully with the local environment. The fishermen move up and down the river in dug out canoes which are very unstable. Not something I would like to try considering the friendly Croc and Hippo residents.
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