Several sightings of our first gemsbok baby. A group of 17 gemsbok are being regularly seen on the plateau - a spectacular sight. They are all in excellent condition, with full bellies, and we are hopeful of more babies in October/November. Excellent viewing of aardvark and caracal. Based on the recent frequency of sightings of caracal, this locally persecuted species is recovering well.

We appear to have no less than four martial eagles on Komsberg at present: an adult pair and two juvenile/immature eagles. The martial eagle is classified as being vulnerable to extinction in South Africa and endangered in neighbouring Namibia. There are only 100 to 150 martial eagles in the whole of the Western Cape, Northern Cape, and Eastern Cape. They are being seen almost daily. Komsberg is a great place to see eagles and other birds of prey.

Komsberg is having great summer rainfall after three previously dry summers. The endangered rye grass is flowering and everywhere is green. Christmas was wet!

Both groups of eco-tourists see meerkats daily. Flamingos are passing through for the whole of November. One widely travelled guest who has seen wildlife everywhere comments this has been her best holiday ever! We do our best to involve guests in the running of our wilderness nature reserve, providing them with a special insight and experience.

More gemsbok arrive to boost the population. Released on Komsberg West's plateau, these spectacular 240kg antelope roam everywhere. Our first-born red hartebeest herself gives birth.

The best few weeks of wildlife viewing yet! Including a caracal family and black-backed jackal, two locally persecuted predators. We now have a resident pair of martial eagles; one was seen hunting springbok.

Gemsbok are re-introduced for the first time in approximately 200 years. Fantastic flower displays everywhere…..the best we have seen. Work begins on the new land, removing internal camp fencing and erecting a 2.4 metre perimeter fence.

Heavy winter rainfall breaks the severe drought and kick starts the recovery process. However, massive downpours damage two large dam walls.

We purchase an adjoining sheep farm, almost doubling Komsberg in size to over 30,000 acres or 17 miles in length. It is all plateau, offering excellent future grazing potential and wildlife viewing opportunities. A lot of hard work lies ahead!

The new year sees us in the grip of a severe drought. Springbok begin to die on Komsberg East. We implement emergency measures. Springbokfontein has never dried out since it was constructed in the 1950s; it is now completely dry. [The drought continued until April and was the worst since 1933. The recently released red hartebeest, kudu, and Komsberg West springbok thankfully survived.]

Red hartebeest are historically re-introduced to Komsberg East for the first time in approximately 200 years. Kudu are released to Komsberg West's main valley area. Springbok are released to three sections of Komsberg West.

Grasses have recovered on Komsberg Wilderness Nature Reserve sufficiently to now go ahead with the re-introduction of large grazers. The sheep were taken off three years ago. All the perimeter fencing has now been completed and all the internal camp fencing has been removed.