Wolhuter Trail

[Imberbe]

Now for the difficult part of the report. How do you describe magic? Put smell and silence in to words? How do you convey wonder? :huh:

Our guides:

Gordon was our trails guide and he was backed up by John as assistant guide. hey have been working as a team for some one and a half years now, and are both very experienced guides, with tremendous knowledge and insight in to nature.

Gordon tells a story of once being charged by a black *** and being cornered in a gap between boulders. icking the *** in the face had little effect, but luckily the huge animal could not reach them between the boulders.

Now one thing we saw plenty of was ***, but sadly only white ***.

Here we approached a group of three ***, getting quite close to them before they became aware of our presence and moved away.

Here a cow can be seen in the background.
She had her calf with her. We watched her grazing on the other side of a clearing, and eventually moved away without her being aware of us.
In the distance we could see another three ***.

We also had a great elephant sighting, following a group of bulls for a while and eventually watching the one from above as he rested under a tree while we were higher up against an incline.

Sadly we did not meet the other members of the big five ... oh yes, except those lions ...

Walking in the Wolhuter area offers great diversity in habitat.
The koppies are magnets, and offers great views.
Some take some climbing, but then we met some elephant right at the top of one of these, so it can't be a too challenging climb.

Stolsnek dam and the rivers are havens of life and great for birding.
Just be careful of the crocks!

A real special experience was watching two giraffe bulls fighting for dominance.
They head but each other, but with and incredible punch.
It almost looks like a slow motion dance as the two position themselves against each other and then takes a swipe at the body and upper legs of the opponent.
A loud thud can be heard for each blow which is landed.
It is almost as if the two opponents goes in to a trance as the deliberately circle each other.

Who won? Only they will know.

[MATTHYS]

Now for the difficult part of the report. How do you describe magic?

You have captured the magic well, Imberbe

[Imberbe]

[color=#0000BF]But in the end walking is not about meeting the big animals only.
The magic of walking is about being part of the bush, instead of just a spectator.

It is also about seeing the small things and having hands on experiences, such as finding this empty shell of a leopard tortoise that had been killed by ground horn bills.
It is about getting in touch with nature, and re connecting with your own roots as part of creation.
It is also about walking in ancient footsteps and pondering about the mystery of humanity, who we are and what we are becoming.
And enjoying the quiet.

All this adds up making Wolhuter an incredible experience no one should miss.

Wolhuter: Wildernis trail of the year 2010.

You still want to hear about the lion?

[Imberbe]

Eich, I am so glad you are not interested in the lion story.

So let me tell you about the nice marula tree we saw...

I don't have to tell you that it is often nature that finds you, rather than you finding it. You know, such as when you are just sitting down to a well deserved brunch after a mornings walk, and everyone is real laid back and contented. The group is chatting away and mulling about the mornings experience.

And just say that you happen to glance up and your eye just catching some movement on the other side of the three feet fence, behind some bushes, say 70 meters away. Now typically your eyes and your conscious brain would just ignore that. But is it the many hours spent in the bush, or is it just your imagination, but is something in the back of your head shouting ... marula tree!?

You look up and yes, behind that lioness sulking away behind the grasses you can see the most magnificent looking marula tree. Not the biggest you saw that day, but it just draws you to it. So you promptly order the group to put down their food and approach the fence to have a good look at it. They are for some reason somewhat hesitant to get too close, but knowing the character of marula trees you lead them to the fence to have a proper look.

And yes, there it is! Some 40 meters away, there just behind that patch of bush the group of three lionesses are using to try and stalk the Impala which came down to drink at the waterhole next to the fence. You take a good look at the marula tree, and somehow get the feeling that it is staring back at you. Almost as if it is trying to avoid detection, not quite knowing what to make of you.

After having a good look the group again moves back to the brunch table. Somehow more lively now. When you later return to the fence, the impala and the marula tree is gone.

[Scadoxus]

What Imberbe forgot to tell you, it that after we got back from the marula tree and fence..... there was something busy eating our food....

[kalulu]

What a great report! Thanks, Imberbe. It was good to be informed so clearly, as I was never sure before what a trail was like. Your lovely pics and descriptions help capture that spirit of place.

[Awake]

Have just got back from the Wolhuter Trail.
Thanks to Gordon and John for a fantastic trip.
Gordon, your knowledge of the bush is fantastic and John, you have the most incredible spotting abilities.
Johan also did a great job with the cooking.

The highlight of the trip was a Lichtenstein's Hartebeest.
According to Gordon, the first time he has seen one in the Wolhuter area.
Certainly a first for me too.

Keep up the good work!

[Icebear]

During the world cup last year, I fortunately got 3 places on the Wolhuter Trail, the last 3 on any trail.

Our guide was Andre Slabbert, an honorary ranger who temps quite a lot, and his 2de geweer, who's name I unfortunately can't remember.
What an experience! I learnt such a lot about the veld and animal behaviour from him

The highlight of the trip was when we were traversing a slope, and saw a white *** with her baby on the other side of a dry river bed, about 50 m away.
Andre stopped us and explained that trouble normally came from the baby.
It's inquisitive and comes closer to have a better look.
Mother then thinks that the humans are to close and storms.
He asked us to step off the path.
If the Rhinos chose the path to run away, they are not interested in attacking you, but will run over you if you are in their way.
So he chose to turn left and walk up the river bed on our side.
This petered out after a while, and as we came to that spot, Andre looked around, and of course all of us also.
The rhinos had elected to run away up the other side of the river bed and coming at us at full speed.
We were on a collision course were our 2 paths merged!
Andre shouted and waved his arms.
The rhinos skimmed past us, about 2m away at full tilt.

What a sighting!

[anne-marie]

Hello Friends
Receive the pictures of AARDVARK I SAW WHILE I WAS LEADING WOLHUTER TRAIL ON THE 14 JUNE 2013

REGARDS
RAYMOND

Juin 2013 – Aardvark

[MarkusF]

Whoop-Whoop! Great sighting and great photos too!! Thank you, Raymond and anne-marie.
A memorable sighting that's going to last a lifetime.

[flying cheetah]

...and also a Caracal

[anne-marie]

Hello Forumites
France Koppie and Stolznek dam is what make wolhuter so special to our visitors, Rangani, Jacob, Moses and Raymond are there to make your wilderness experience a memorable one, not forgetting Johan our chef, on the last 2 trails, Black Rhinos, Honey Badger and clans of Hyenas chasing a leopard from a carcass of impala was witness by Trails Rangers, African Harrier hawk and African hawk eagle were spotted as well.

Enjoy reading and hopping to see you on our trails.

Regards
Raymond Khosa

WILDERNESS TRAILS RANGER
WOLHUTER TRAIL
SOUTH AFRICAN NATIONAL PARKS(SANPARKS)

[ligt55]

Hi AnneMarie & forumites

We just returned home from another amazing SA trip, part of which was a wonderful Wolhuter 27-30nov together with hemant &so, fed and cared for by Johan, accompanied/instructed/taught and not in the least protected by Raymond and Moses whose dedication and passion for KNP and conservation are admirable.

Both days Wolhuter gave us amazing *** encounters! Will post photos and a video shortly!

brgds Mona

[flying cheetah]

I met Raymond ont he S25 two weeks ago at a wild dogs sighting. While we were talking some of the dogs made a kill behind his vehicle But Raymond seems to be very well and he enjoys being on the trail

[anne-marie]

Dear Friends

There is something so special about the African sunset, what I have noticed over the past 12 years of my Guiding, people like our sunset and sun rise, as conservationist it has lots of meanings of which it needs lots of time to explain what is all about, it sets your soul free from stress of all the traffic jams, noise from the city, all the lights and pollution etc. having dedicated my life as Trails ranger it makes my mind health daily when I'm being out door with guests sharing with them signs of the wild.

See you at Napi trail, home of Giant Eagle owl, Barred owl and Sable antelopes

Regards
Raymond