Black Rhino Release

Due to the recent dramatic increase in rhino poaching it is great to see that there are still rhino being released into more wildlife areas in South Africa. The private reserves, various park's staff and people like WWF are doing a fantastic job of looking after our natural heritage. We must keep giving them the support that has been shown in the last few months. It is often only in a crisis that we get to see country's true colours and it is fantastic to see how behind our conservationists the country is.

After an overnight drive being released into a new reserve.

This fellow took out all his anxiety on the vehicle and lost his horn in the process. It just shows how easily the horn can come off without a serious amount of damage to the rhino. The horn will re grow and in about four years he will be back to square one!

All the equipment is especially designed to make the job as fast and safe for both people and animals as possible.

The still sedated rhino about to be put out to have a transmitter fitted in his horn. This enables the park staff to keep a daily check on his position.

Stopping even a sedated rhino takes some man power!

The smaller more rounded and compact foot of the Black Rhino.

Notching the ears provides easy ID in the bush and can be referenced on a national data base.

Lesions caused by a Filaria parasite,one of which is unique to Black Rhino.Part of it's life cycle is as a biting fly, their lava are found in the rhino's dung. The parasite is spread thru the population by rhino visiting dung middens in their territory.

Transmitter fitted, eyes covered to help keep him calm, ears blocked for the same reason. Just a few more minutes and the reversal drug will be given and then its a whole new world!!

Nyalaland Trails 2010

Kruger Photo Workshop 8-12 July

Purple Pod Terminalia.

A splash of colour in the winter landscape.

Alan and I getting to grips with some aspect of photography! The workshops provide lots of opportunity for creativity and passing of different ideas between photographers. We all win and learn heaps!

The birds in the camps are great subjects and with cold overcast weather you have to take what you can get.

Reflections.

The Honoury Rangers Phalaborwa did a fantastic job in looking after all of us at Bataleur Camp. The facilities were great for our discussions and feedback sessions. The feedback was certainly were most people learnt a lot from each other. Thanks to the very constructive feedback and support of all involved. A big thank you to Gert and Tertius!

The sunset meant home time and the anticipation of a wonderful meal around the boma fire. Always welcome after the cold drive on an open vehicle.

Making the most of every opportunity.

What it is all about!

Olifants Wilderness Trail May 2010

Olifants River

The rapids just above the trails camp are a great spot for sundowners, especially with the river being so full this year. The whole character of the river feels different with so much water and the rapids add to that feeling of raw power. It is hard to get trailists back to camp before dark as they enjoy this situation so much.

The southern bank of the Olifants heading away from the confluence of the Letaba and Olifants. On this trail we learnt about 65 new trees in the two days walking, thanks to the group and their keen interest in everything botanical. This meant we also took our time and were rewarded with a close sighting of white rhino, we also saw buffalo, elephant and a great deal of general game.

The rapids just west of camp could provide some great rafting and paddling! Just have to think about what lies in wait below.




The island created by the two great rivers meeting.

Trails are about being in the moment, enjoying the solitude, the chance to let your mind rest and to realise in wilderness there is only you and your surrounds. It's this that modern man is getting further and further from and because of that, we are drawn to it all the more.

Trails Rangers A Frame.

The early mornings and the banter around the fire at night means rangers see little of their rooms and who really needs more.

Blade Smith Course June 2010

Knives

A weeks worth of work for two apprentices and a Master Blade Smith.
From the top: Damascus Kevin Harvey Master Blades Smith
Utility/Hunter by Kevin Harvey Heavin Forge
Biltong Knife by Heavin Forge team
Hunting knife by Anthony Miles Student
Damascus Dirk by Anthony Miles
Hunting knife by Sean Pattrick Student
Damascus Green River Skinner by Sean Pattrick

Sanding

There is a lot of finishing that is done by hand and eye. Taking out all the scratches left by the grinder using finer grit sandpapers.

Grinder!

The belt grinder takes a lot to master and can quickly ruin all the hours of work up to this stage, just one second too long or the wrong angle! Any excessive heat will result in a blue colour on the blades and the end of the heat treatment. Blue tips are hard to avoid! as there is less steel and it heats up fast. Short strokes and sensitive fingers are the answer.

Two Blades For Finishing.

The blades have been shaped and refined as much as possible on the anvil and are now ready for the grinder and handles.

Damascus!

The pre-formed Damascus blades, just out of the wood ash were it was cooled slowly but still retains some heat hours later! Hard to imagine the finished blades when all you have are grey blobs!

Heating a billet.

The steel is easy to move when heated and gives off a ringing sound when too cool to move under the hammer blows. A number of heats may be needed before the smith is happy with the shape. The more experienced smiths make this look easy and controlled, they also take far less heats to achieve the desired affect.

Pre-Forming the shape.

From the block or billet of steel the basic knife shape is formed. It is then normalised to take the stresses out of the steel created by the forging process, before being ground on the grinder to the final shape.

The steel in the forge!

This is Damascus steel being heated to be able to fold the three pieces of steel onto one another. The mix of the different steel types gives this steel the magical patterns once the blade has been etched. This Damascus has about 184 layers and is in a pattern known as heart beat.

The beginning and the end product!

A block of 1070 high carbon steel which gets welded onto a metal rod to hold it in the forge and be able to handle it at high temperatures. The block is about 10cm long and 3cm wide, the knife at the end depends on how thin you forge the block and if you are able to move the steel into the shape you would like. As a novice this can be a bit hit and miss! Excuse the pun.

Photo Workshop February 2010

The view that greets all guests after that first morning drive. After a hearty breakfast there is a short discussion and often some exercises to get all the guests familiar with their cameras.

The rhino have been good to us and we have had great sightings so far this year. The dominant bull might not be as pleased as we are to see these two youngsters in his territory.

Although it was late afternoon watching two male cheetah hunting is a thrill ! The low light capabilities of the new digital camera's is just outstanding! A few years ago and we would have nothing to show of this spectacle.

Synchronised lion cubs, having just fed on a giraffe. They are watching the vultures coming in to land but not too close as mom is still feeding.

The light was great and we had this elephant bull arrive to greet the guests. We have had fantastic weather this year. We no longer hear jokes about there must be a photo workshop on since it is raining. I do suspect some farmers will miss us though.

Getting the shot !