In the middle of Satara’s E-circle of bungalows lies a heap of tree stumps; the remains of a long dead Marula tree that has finally collapsed and been cut into sizable chunks by the camp gardeners. But a fierce dragon (actually a male Southern Tree Agama) has taken possession of the ruins, claiming it as his castle.
Male Tree Agama in breeding colours in Satara Rest Camp
Male Tree Agama in breeding colours in Satara Rest Camp
Male Tree Agama in breeding colours in Satara Rest Camp
Male Tree Agama in breeding colours in Satara Rest Camp
Male Tree Agama in breeding colours in Satara Rest Camp (photo by Joubert)
Male Tree Agama in breeding colours in Satara Rest Camp (photo by Joubert)
Male Tree Agama in breeding colours in Satara Rest Camp (photo by Joubert)
Male Tree Agama in breeding colours in Satara Rest Camp (photo by Joubert)
Here’s a photo of the pretty lady he was hoping to attract to his castle…

Female Southern Tree Agama (photo by Joubert)
(Incidentally, this is the 1,500th post published on de Wets Wild!)
Pretty shade of blue on those lizards! Congrats on publishing that many posts!
Thanks a lot, Siobhan!
Wonderful colours, Dries. He’s a real handsome chap. 😍
Quite the show-off!
I was just thinking of you, as we started watching the Malaga 7’s (on replay) and the next game is the first Boks game. Hurrah! But I digress. I love this handsome fellow! And congratulations on 1500 posts!
Thank you very much, Janet!
I hope you had a great weekend of rugby watching. We didn’t watch any games this tournament, just kept tabs of the scores in the SA-games. Sounds like another thriller.
The first half was scary. The second was the Boks writ
Writing the textbook on how to play 7’s. It was awesome. S. Davids was amazing.
My facebook feed is also full of praise for Selvyn this morning!
Fun post! And a handsome dragon too!
Baie geluk met 1500ste pos Dries! Doen so voort! Ek het laas in Kagga Kamma ‘n Bloukopkoggelmander gesien. Jou foto’s is uitsterend !
Baie dankie, Aletta!
Die mannetjie bloukopkoggelmanders staan nogal uit so in die broeityd, en wie kan dan nou so iets ignoreer as jy met n kamera in die hand staan?
Ek stem heelhartig saam 😊
Sjoe, met al daai mooi kleure kan hy maar die koning op die houthoop wees! Baie geluk met jou 1500ste plasing – dit is BAIE – ek hoop daar is nog vele en vele!!
Baie dankie, Corna. De Wets Wild vier binnekort al n 10de verjaarsdag ook en dit was nog altyd net n groot genot om Suid-Afrika se wilde plekke met mense soos julle wat dieselfde passie daarvoor het te deel.
So much wildlife to see inside our camps – great coverage!
That is so true, Joep. Walking around Kruger’s camps – day or night – always provides something of interest.
You have chosen an excellent photograph for your header – it must have been fun watching this fellow strutting about his territory. Congratulations on the 1 500th time you have provided your readers with interesting information and wonderful pictures!
You are very kind, Anne. Thank you.
Indeed, great fun being able to watch this Agama male flaunt his colours and it actually did seem as if he was trying to scare Joubert and me away.
So awesome, it can change colours own self , Malaysia got so many 🌷🙏♥️🌷
You are right, Thattamma – the males get really colourful during breeding season, like this one has.
So amazing 🤩 thank you so much and so welcome 🙏 🌷👍🏻♥️
Congrats on 1,500 posts! We are in Florida for the winter and my husband saw a Bearded Dragon when he was out walking the dog. But I have not seen one. He said it did not have the bright colors of the “dragon” you have shared here.
Your husband has a keen eye, Anne. The Bearded Dragons that people keep as pets are distant relatives of our Agamas.
Fist time I see this specie of lizard! Thanks D. & Joubert. 🙂
Glad we could introduce you to our agama, H.J!
Oh, colorful!
Indeed, Robert
Nou verlang ek weer na my laaste jaar in SA. ‘n Bloukopkoggelmander het gereeld op my agter muurtjie gesit en die wêreld bekyk. Hy moes met ‘n ander een baklei het want hy is later dood. Het lank bo my agterdeur gehang. Was baksteen muur en hy kon goed vashou daar.
Hulle kan nogal maklik aan mense gewoond raak!
Dis baie waar. Hul sal spesiaal by jou kom sit en sonbad omdat hul weet jy jaag hul nie.