As good as it get`s

Enjoy the summer in the Lowveld! Hazyviews current temperature: 32 degrees celsius with blue sky. The large pool of Dreamfields Guesthouse alredy reached a temperature of 30 but it is still refreshing!

Season`s Greetings

2010 was a very important and exciting year for South Africa and Dreamfields Guesthouse. Unfortunately we will not experience a similar sporting event like the Soccer World Cup, but certainly it has left a very good impression about our country. And perhaps there will be the 2020 Olympic Games 2020 in Durban?

A big thank you goes to all our guests and friends, who made this year so special and beautiful for us!

We wish all our friends, guests and their families a happy and blessed Christmas, good luck, health and success in the New Year.

Tina & Neil
Dreamfields Guesthouse

Up and running

One week after the lightning strike at Dreamfields Guesthouse most of the damaged things are now repaired or replaced. Only the TV in the TV lounge still does not work, but this will also be fixed in the coming days.
Of course communication is most important thing for us - fortunately the telephone and Internet are fully functional since last Friday.

Hit by lightning

We had a few storms already but last night Dreamfieldsguesthouse was seriously hit by lightning. Unfortunately it will effect our daily business for a few days, not only were the Telkom-lines (Internet and telephone) hit but also computer, the TV dishes, stereo, DVD players etc. At the moment be can only be contacted on our cell phones (Neil 0767492991 or Tina 0713256900). We try to respond to emails on a regular basis but we will not be able to respond as quick as we usually do.

Thank you for your understanding. Neil & Tina Dreamfieldsguesthouse

You can also always log on to our website or follow this link to check availability and rates and to book online.

2010 Alfred Dunhill Championship

From tomorrow, the 09.Dec 2010, until Sunday, this year`s Alfred Dunhill Championship will take place at Leopard Creek Golf Course again. Leopard Creak is situated near Malelane in the heart of Mpumalanga, on the southern border of the Kruger National Park, Leopard Creek presents a rare opportunity to own an outstanding bushveld retreat. The 360 hectare development is bordered to the north and the west by the picturesque Crocodile River and the Kruger National Park. You can reach Leopard Creek from Dreamfields Guesthouse going through the Kruger National Park in app. 3-4 hours or outside the Park in app. 1.5 hours.
We wish all the players and the public a wonderful tournament.

Birding Big Day

This years Birding Big Day was another success: 265 species where seen this year (2009 = 271 species) - combined species for the past two years is 316.

51 species identified last year were not on this year's lists but this year there were 45 species which were not picked up last year.

The Brown Throated Weaver and Olive Thrush were both identified at Sabi River Sun - neither should occur there normally but there is no reason to question their identification. Should both species be identified again the findings will be submitted to the Southern African Bird Atlassing Project to record their presence in the area.

A few interesting general observations:

1. Crowned Lapwing (usually a common species in the Kruger) has not been counted in the past two years.
2. There were a lot more waders, storks, etc., last year, probably water levels in dams and rivers were lower last year.
3. A lot more eagle species picked up last year.
4. Nearly every team picked up the Olive Woodpecker this year, yet no one identified it last year.

Let`s see if a Conservancy team can top the 200 species next year!

For more information and the list of birds, contact us or the Hazyview-Kiepersol Conservancy.

Kruger Statistics & Animal Numbers

Here are some very interesting facts about the Kruger National Park – only 10 km from Dreamfields Guesthouse:







Animal Numbers
• 1982 species of plants
• 53 species of fish
• 517 species of bird
• 35 species of reptiles
• 148 species of mammals
• Black Rhinoceros: 590-660
• Blue Wildebeest: 11 500
• Buffalo: 37 500
• Bushbuck: 500
• Cheetah: 120
• Crocodile: 4420
• Eland: 460
• Elephant: 13 700
• Giraffe: 9000
• Hippo: 3100
• Impala: 120 000
• Kudu: 9500
• Leopard: 1000
• Lichtenstein’s Hartebeest: 50
• Lion: 1600
• Mountain Reedbuck: 150
• Nyala: 300
• Zebra: 26 500
• Roan Antelope: 90
• Sable Antelope: 290
• Spotted Hyena 3500
• Reedbuck: 300
• Tsessebe: 220
• Waterbuck: 5500
• Warthog: 3500
• Wild dog: 120
• White Rhino: 10 500

S Joubert's book - The Kruger National Park a History -
• 7373 km Roads (1994)
• 881 km Tar Roads
• 1618 km Gravel Roads
• 4216 km Firebreak Roads
• 658 km Other Road

Source: KNPearth.co.za

Not poachers – this time

A man from Pretoria, a keen photographer, spend a few days in the Kruger National Park and spotted a Rhino horn on the road close to Lower Sabie. Surely, in these times, he thought that there must be poachers around even though he saw marks and scratches on the road which could have been caused by a fight. He called the SAN Parks officials and they surveyed the surroundings and confirmed that the rhino had been in a fight. Eight of them stood about 500 metres from the road and the ranger noticed that one had a missing horn. That is a very unusual sighting, but the horn can become loose from the skull if the animal bumps its head continually.
Experience sightings like that yourself - the Kruger National Park is only 10 km from Dreamfields Guesthouse.
Source: Lowvelder

Golf destination South Africa

South Africa has been named “Africa, Indian Ocean and Gulf States Golf Destination of the Year 2011" by the International Association of Golf Tour Operators (IAGTO). The announcement was made in Valencia, Spain, at the annual international awards ceremony for the golf tourism industry.
South Africa offers over 600 golf courses providing every type and level of golf experience and is fast becoming an irresistible golfing destination for golfers of all abilities across the world, as well as one of the most diversely appealing destinations on the planet.

Enjoy playing golf in Hazyview! Next to the two golf courses in Hazyview, there are three more within one hours drive from Dreamfields Guesthouse!

To find out more, contact us.

Summer is here

It is really surprising because the last few days we had a lot of rain and we hardly saw the sun, but the Woodland Kingfisher is back. This morning we and our guests could hear the Woodland Kingfisher in the garden of Dreamfields Guesthouse for the first time after many months. Now the constant shrill is with us throughout the day. Summer must be here!