Ruckomechi Camp - November 2009
07 Dec 2008
Weather and Landscape
The 2009 season came to an end with Ruckomechi boasting a full camp of guests. The staff were all-hands-on-deck so we could provide an excellent experience for our guests. The Mana Canoe Trails team was busy with their last trip of the season - during which, once again, the first rains of the season fell. This kept everyone on their toes, but despite the howling winds, heavy rain and challenging road conditions both guests and staff had a great time - the rains only added to the adventure.
As the heat of October passed into November the tell-tale signs of the impending rains swept across the Valley. The mopane trees, once grey and dusty as they stood hazily against the backdrop of the escarpment, turned almost overnight into a sea of green as they shed new leaves in anticipation of the first rains. The first thunderstorm arrived in mid-November, and almost instantly the Valley reacted as new shoots sprung up everywhere and the dry, dusty earth soaked up the much-needed moisture.
The rains have dramatically transformed the landscape from the dry, windswept floodplain of October to a verdant, green paradise. Orchards and lilies are flowering en-mass and the small pans and waterholes inland are now home to frogs that call continuously. The Zambezi has turned to muddy brown, a sure sign that its tributaries are once again busy as rain falls inland. The change hinders any successful bream fishing, although the cornish jack and bottlenose now become more common in the murky waters of the rainy season.
Wildlife
Large numbers of elephant in camp are not as common now, as the female herds disperse inland with the onset of the rains. However, the lone bull appears out of the misty jungle from time to time, reminding us that some are still around. The impala ewes are giving birth to their lambs - a flurry of rickety legs as they face the new challenges of life on the floodplain.
The lion were present at the beginning of the month: a lone female settled on the outskirts of Ruckomechi Camp for several days, and the resident pride patrolled through camp on several occasions. Leopard remain elusive, but the odd rasp in the early hours and the alarm bark of the baboon suggest they are still around. With the thickening of the vegetation and the loss of access to some areas of the concession, wildlife sightings will now presumably decrease. We look forward to next season and the possibility of new additions to the lion, leopard and elephant numbers. Kudu, zebra, warthog and bushbuck are still seen regularly and it's only a matter of time until their offspring arrive in the Valley.
Birding
As the seasons have changed, so too have the birds - the Carmine colony near camp is quiet as its occupants have left us for the time being, and the seasonal migrants have arrived en mass from the northern hemisphere. The refreshing calls of the different Cuckoos and Woodland Kingfishers echo through the camp. Egyptian Geese, Black-winged Stilts and a variety of other waterfowl have settled inland as the rains create vast pans. African Skimmers and Collared Pratincoles have been seen on the river in the evenings - a highlight for guests and guides alike. 157 species of bird were recorded this month and we look forward to some great birding during the rainy season.
Camp Staff
As we come to the end of a successful and exciting 2009 we wish you all the best for the festive season and a great 2010. The Ruckomechi guides head to Hwange for the off-season to gain some valuable experience in another of Zimbabwe's spectacular National Parks.
Graeme and the Ruckomechi Team
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