Flavour of the Month April 2012 & 2014 S36/Vutome Road (S33) & Dam/H1-3/S125

[Richprins]

They make it up as they go along, Lis!

[Lisbeth]

[Dzombo]

There must be a list somewhere, I'll find it

I seem to recall seeing the list on the SANP website. But that was a while ago.

[Richprins]

The whole saga is here, Dzombs:


https://www.africawild-forum.com/viewto ... 316&t=3645

[Flutterby]

I found this:

Date: 23rd October 2012

The Kruger National Park (KNP) will demolish its artificial boreholes and dams near Mopani Restcamp in the northern part of the park today (Tuesday, 23 October 2012). Explosives will be used to demolish these structures. The area around the target structure will be cleared to ensure that animals and human beings are safe.

Kruger artificial watering holes to close
May 22 2013 at 04:44pm
By SAPA
Johannesburg - Four artificial water holes in the Kruger National Park will be demolished to prevent ecological problems, the park said on Wednesday.
The water holes to be destroyed are N’watimhiri and Nhlotini, both on the S21 tourist road, and Manyavula and Bejwane, along the southern side of the N’waswitshaka River and west of the S65 gravel road.
The holes would be demolished next week, Mabasa said.

KNP to close more Artificial Water Holes
Dec. 2014

The Kruger National Park (KNP) will demolish three artificial water holes in the southern part of the Park in the week of 8-12 December 2014.
Three of the six water-holes to be closed will be either: N’wanetsana concrete weir – found at Mutlumvi concession, Rhino Walking Safaris. Bejwane – located along the southern side of N’wasitshaka River, in the Skukuza Section, far from tourist roads. Matlhari and Olienhoutfontein - both along N’wasitshaka River, far from tourist roads in the Pretoriuskop Section. Also N’watindlopfu South (Olifant Drinkgat) and Manzimahle North – both in the vicinity of Mantimahle Dam.

Posted on 15/10/2015:

Media Release: KNP to remove Sirheni Concrete Dam for ecological reasons

The Kruger National Park (KNP) in conjunction with South African National Defence Force (SANDF) will demolish the dam wall at Sirheni, one of the bush camps in the northern part of the Park in the week of 19 – 23 October 2015.

List of waterholes to be upgraded:
Nov. 2015

Gomondwane
Bangu
Talamati
Malopenyana
Tsale
Renoster Pan
Bowker’s Kop
Eendrag
Frazer’s Rus
Grysbok
Nshawu No. 2
Kumana
Nkovakulu
Ngwenyeni (Phalaborwa No. 1)
N’wanetsi
Klopper Fontein
[Magamba
Punda Maria
Girivana
Mhisana Mond
Satara
Shibotwana
Welverdiend
Dili
Shingwedzi
De Laporte
Kwaggas Pan
Komapiti
Manzimhlope
Babalala
N’warihlangari South
Bateleur
N’wambu

2018-04-04 09:30 - Gabi Zietsman

South African National Parks (SANParks) announced that they will be demolishing the Kanniedood dam in Kruger National Park in conjunction with the South African National Defence Force (SANDF) from 8 to 20 April. This is part of a long-term rehabilitation project in which the park has been closing artificial water points for animals.

[Lisbeth]

As RP said: "....as they go..."

There was a list, but of the ones to be upgraded. Thank you, Flutty

[Richprins]

Air Force Dam in 2010.

[Richprins]

From a 2009 Bushcraft report:


The S145 and S36 had the usual suspects, impala, zebra, etc, but generally quiet. At the intersection of the S36 and S125 we decided to take the S125 as we had never done this road before and wanted to take the tar to Tshokwane. The road was very quiet until the last 1km where an awesome sight waited around the last bend.







The mom seemed to be enjoying her peace









A second car arrived later and their expressions showed that they were as surprised as everyone else. We spent about 20 minutes with the leopards which then moved off in the direction of the southernmost Baobab.


https://www.africawild-forum.com/viewto ... f=46&t=114

[Richprins]

Bushcraft 2009 at the Baobab Tree:

We decided to stop at the Baobab tree for one last look. The tree still looked the same, so we went around the exit turning circle and suddenly my hawk-eye eldest shouted “leopard cub”. I don’t know how the adults never saw it, because it was 2 meters from the side of the road resting next to a tree.








We were the only cars there for about 20 minutes and the cub became more relaxed and decided, much to my shock, to have a sleep 2 meters from us.




Two cars drove straight pass us and gave us dirty looks for partly blocking the road. Eventually an elderly couple stopped next to us and asked “what are you guys doing”, Chantal indicated to the tree and said “look 2 meters in front of you”. Well I have never seen such shocked expressions in my life.

We sat with the cub and elderly couple for about another 20 minutes; when something caught the elderly couple’s attention just off to the right. It was the mother leopard and the 2nd cub. “Ours” then got up and slowly moved off in their direction and the family disappeared into the bush.




The S125 was good to us on the way down from Talamati on the 2nd day, so we decided to take it again. 5km into the road we turned a corner and it was perfect timing, a whole pride of lions was busy crossing the road.




There were 4 cubs and 8 females, the pride seemed to cross forever. It’s the biggest pride that we have ever seen all together.




It looked like they had been feeding as some of them had old blood dried on their faces. It just occurred to me that we had the small 5 also.




We sat in the road and threw ideas around about where the pride male would be and suddenly hawk-eyed Meegan screamed “Daddy lion”. Once again he was right there and we hadn’t seen him. He was just relaxing 10 meters into the bush and watching us. The car windows went up rather quickly and came slowly back down, but just enough to fit a camera through.






The pride settled on the bank in the distance just above the dry river bed, but unfortunately for them a troop of baboons had also chosen the trees above the spot to relax and suddenly a mini war broke out. To my surprise the lions just lay there and ignored the baboon troop, which by now were shaking branches, charging along the ground and shouting as loud as possible. After 10 minutes the baboons realized that they were having no effect on the lions, so they moved off. Joining in on the fun was a herd of elephant in the river bed. Much trumpeting was heard in and out of our car.

5 minutes later the biggest male lion that I personally have ever seen came walking down the river bed in the distance. He was too far to photograph and unfortunately just as he came into camera range he ducked off into the bush and we only managed photos of his bum and looking at them now, none are worth posting. The strange thing is that he never joined the rest of the pride and the other male.


The next stop was for breakfast at Nhlanguleni and to top it off a herd of sable were right in front of the picnic site.




The men were just finishing off the bacon in our hired skottel when a couple approached us and asked “Are you not afraid of the 4 lions in the grass”. Well, the bacon nearly landed on the floor, Chantal went into child protect mode and summoned the kids to the car, and all I could say was “We didn’t know they were there”.

They were very difficult to spot and one could only catch a glimpse of a head or a tail every now and then, but they seemed very relaxed and were only trying to have a nap in peace.

[Richprins]

Air Force in 2011: