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Grantmissy
 Post subject: Re: Did you know?
Unread postPosted: Mon May 21, 2012 9:33 am 
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From an interesting book “The lighthouses of South Africa” written by Gerald Hoberman of which one of the light houses discussed in the book is in the Cape Agulhas National Park:

“Examine the map of the world from North to South, from East to West, and you will find that there is not a spot upon the face of God’s earth, where it is for the interest of so many different nations, that a light house should be built, as upon the very spot in question, Cape L’Agulhas: – Extract from the South African Commercial Advertiser dated 18 July 1840.

Some other interesting info regarding this particular light house in the Agulhas National Park as contained in the book:

1 flash every 5 seconds

The light house was declared a national monument in 1973.

Each year in late summer the indigenous March flowers burst into bloom. The plants are also called April fools or “Skeerkwassies” (shaving brushes).

Early Portugese navigators named it Cabo das Agulhas (Cape of the needle) because as vessels rounded the Cape the needles of their compasses swung randomly. It does not say why :D :thumbs_up: .

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Grantmissy
 Post subject: Re: Did you know?
Unread postPosted: Thu May 24, 2012 1:24 pm 
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Some of the translations of the place names in the former Transvaal that were done in 1991 by Tom Andrews:

Manzimhahle a spruit north –east from Skukuza means “beautiful water” in Swazi.

The Maqili Hill north-west of Malelane means “wise acres” in Shangaan.

Mativuhlungu south-west of Lower-Sabie means bitter or “brackish water” in Shangaan.

The Kujmana dam is named after a Shangaan person living in the Kruger in the past. (Does anyone know where this dam is, I don’t?)

The Lubyelubye Bridge means

a) Stagnant or sluggish.
b) To walk a great distance for no purpose, i.e. a poacher.

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Cape Otter
 Post subject: Re: Did you know?
Unread postPosted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 3:31 am 
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Good day everyone! According to "Neem uit die verlede" the Kumana dam was one of the first earth dams that was build in the year 1933 which flooded and was rebuilt several times. Leeupan was also known as Ngwandlopfu or Lily Pond.


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Meandering Mouse
 Post subject: Re: Did you know?
Unread postPosted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 6:07 am 
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There is a picture of "Lily Pond" in Stevenson Hamilton's "South African Eden". Thanks Cape Otter, now I know where it is.

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Grantmissy
 Post subject: Re: Did you know?
Unread postPosted: Sat Aug 04, 2012 7:09 am 
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Welcome to the forum Cape Otter! There must have been plenty of lilies on Lily Pond at Leeupan in the past I guess

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hilda
 Post subject: Re: Did you know?
Unread postPosted: Mon Aug 06, 2012 7:16 am 
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I didn't know that Cape Otter! Thanks for sharing! :clap: :clap:

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9 - 13/10/2013 - Satara
13 - 17/10/2013 - Lower Sabie
17 - 19/10/2013 - Crocodile Bridge

7 - 10/01/14 - Olifants Camp
11 - 12/01/14 - Skukuza
13 - 14/01/14 - Biyamiti (return home on 15/01/14).


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Grantmissy
 Post subject: Re: Did you know?
Unread postPosted: Fri Oct 05, 2012 7:49 am 
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The biggest animal species in Kruger is the African Elephant. The Dwarf Blue Butterfly may not be the smallest species found in Kruger but its small wingspan makes it the smallest butterfly in Africa. The wingspan of a butterfly is measured from where the wing is attached to the body, to the tip or apex of the wing.

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Grantmissy
 Post subject: Re: Sharing something interesting
Unread postPosted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 8:23 am 
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Two Tuskers in Kruger were named after the Letaba River, Letaba One and Letaba Two, - the Letaba River showed its strength during January 2013. It is said that Letaba One was very fond of the Letaba Restcamp and visited the camp often but I am not sure whether he caused a commotion or not during such visits.

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Bush Baptist
 Post subject: Re: Sharing something interesting
Unread postPosted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 4:49 pm 
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A big tusker that is often seen around Letaba is Tsotsi.

I am told that he is gentle, and leans into staff gardens to help himself to the flowers.

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Grantmissy
 Post subject: Re: Share something interesting
Unread postPosted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 8:47 am 
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In November 1997 six elephants were killed by lightning about 9 km from Lower Sabie. A similar incident recorded in Kruger was near Punda Maria years before this 1997 incident where a group of zebras were apparently killed by lightning while they huddled together in a storm.

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lion queen
 Post subject: Re: Sharing something interesting
Unread postPosted: Wed Feb 06, 2013 9:43 am 
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Grantmissy wrote:
Two Tuskers in Kruger were named after the Letaba River, Letaba One and Letaba Two, - the Letaba River showed its strength during January 2013. It is said that Letaba One was very fond of the Letaba Restcamp and visited the camp often but I am not sure whether he caused a commotion or not during such visits.


Letaba one & two

Quote:
Letaba One (1980's)

Origin of Name: This bull was named after the Letaba River in the Northern Section of the Kruger National Park, where he was regularly seen.

Range: Letaba Restcamp and surrounding areas.

Special Features: His left tusk was long and curved, however his right tusk was broken off fairly close to the lip line. He also had a large rounded patch of smooth skin on his trunk.

General: This bull was first recorded in 1979 and was already an old elephant at that stage. He was a docile bull, who was known for repeatedly invading the Letaba Restcamp. Sadly this bull was poached in the 1980’s when poaching from Mozambique was at its worst. This docile creature was shot and killed alongside the Engelhard Dam close to the Restcamp and had, had his tusks removed.


Letaba Two (date unknown)

Origin of Name: This bull was also named after the Letaba River in the Northern Section of the Kruger National Park, where he was regularly seen.

Range: Letaba Restcamp and surrounding areas.

Special Features: Perfectly matched tusks, of approximately 52kg each.

General: This bull was also first recorded in 1979 however he was a much younger bull then his counterpart at the time Letaba One. He was immobilized in 1982 and fitted with a radio collar to track his movements. Unfortunately the collar became defective for no reason and it was decided not to replace it. The bull was not seen again.


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Carol g
 Post subject: Re: Share something interesting
Unread postPosted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 10:21 pm 
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We have been going to Kruger since 1978 every sighting we have had we have noted and also counted the animals seen, we have condensed this into decades.

It makes interesting reading to see the difference in the amount of animals seen in the decades.

When I have a chance I will print these stats and post them if anyone is interested.

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lion queen
 Post subject: Re: Share something interesting
Unread postPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 6:46 am 
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Carol g wrote:
We have been going to Kruger since 1978 every sighting we have had we have noted and also counted the animals seen, we have condensed this into decades.

It makes interesting reading to see the difference in the amount of animals seen in the decades.

When I have a chance I will print these stats and post them if anyone is interested.


Now that will be very interesting reading!!!......... :thumbs_up:

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RosemaryH
 Post subject: Re: Share something interesting
Unread postPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 11:14 am 
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I agree with lion queen - Carol that will be an awesome read :popcorn:

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hilda
 Post subject: Re: Share something interesting
Unread postPosted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 3:01 pm 
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I'm looking forward to that Carol g! :dance: :dance:

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9 - 13/10/2013 - Satara
13 - 17/10/2013 - Lower Sabie
17 - 19/10/2013 - Crocodile Bridge

7 - 10/01/14 - Olifants Camp
11 - 12/01/14 - Skukuza
13 - 14/01/14 - Biyamiti (return home on 15/01/14).


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