South Africa is home to approximately 850 bird species of which 50 are found nowhere else on earth. Bird watching is extremely rewarding and is a great additional activity to any bush or 4×4 outing. For anyone interested in photography, birds are excellent – if somewhat flighty – subjects (pun intended!).
Being so spoilt for choice makes deciding which Read more
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It’s funny how easily we overlook the value of water as it is always there for our everyday use in our industrial way of living. For animals being out in a natural environment though, mmmm the value of water is worth fighting over and protecting it as a source to survive the harsh African bush.
Especially in the current Read more
David Attenborough: A Life on Our Planet, has just been released in cinemas around the globe and is reported as “a first-hand account of humanity’s impact on nature and a message of hope for future generations.” It’s not surprising that humanity has had a significant impact on the environment, with the world’s population approaching 8 billion. In 200 years Read more
This past week has heralded two significant landmarks – firstly, that interprovincial travel (and alcohol sales!) may re-open, and secondly the return of the yellow-billed kites. Coincidentally, the yellow-billed kites all started to leave South Africa right at the start of lock-down, and this past week I saw my first “YBK” of the season, just as South Africa moves Read more
One of the questions that gets asked by guests is whether the lockdown affected the behaviour of animals. With only a limited number of vehicles on the reserve during the lockdown, this naturally resulted in animals coming into contact with vehicles a lot more seldom. Based on discussions with the wildlife team, guides and the anti-poaching units, there does Read more
With ministers changing their minds and documents being published and then retracted, these are indeed times of confusion. In the bush, a group of wildebeest is known as confusion, and it is easy to see why when gazing at a wildebeest, which always to me to have a vague look of puzzlement etched on their faces. Wildebeest belong to Read more
Thanda Safari – IsiZulu for ‘Love’ – is a private Big Five reserve that protects a vast tract of undulating savannah and its wild inhabitants in the heart of the subtropical Zululand region. It lies a stone’s throw north of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, which is not only the oldest game reserve in South Africa but also the most important in terms Read more
How do you tell the difference between a male zebra and a female zebra? Well, the one is black with white stripes and the other is white with black stripes! In fact, embryological evidence has shown that the zebra’s background colour is dark and the white is an addition. All zebra have a unique stripe pattern, similar to fingerprints, Read more
One of my favourite songs – Africa – is by the American rock band Toto and appeared on their fourth studio album. The song was an instant success and reached number one on the United States’ Billboard chart, although ended up being their only Billboard number one.
I hear the drums echoing tonight But she hears only whispers of Read more
If lions are the ‘king of the jungle’, then leopards have got to be its’ ‘prince regent’! Powerful, athletic, graceful and stealthy, they are the epitome of an apex predator. Leopards are one of the most adaptable of all cats, having a wider distribution than any other large carnivore. The fact that it is the most common large predator Read more
