Autumn Adventure – A day at Kumasinga

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The first place we went to after arriving at the uMkhuze Game Reserve on the 19th of March (well, after we checked into our chalet in Mantuma Camp) was the Kumasinga Hide; in our opinion one of the best photographic hides available in any of South Africa’s public reserves. Before our trip we had planned to spend a day in the hide if conditions seemed right, so when Joubert got these photographs of European Bee-eaters splashing in the waterhole our minds were made up.

European Bee-eaters bathing at Kumasinga (photo by Joubert)
European Bee-eaters bathing at Kumasinga (photo by Joubert)
European Bee-eaters bathing at Kumasinga (photo by Joubert)
European Bee-eaters bathing at Kumasinga (photo by Joubert)
European Bee-eaters bathing at Kumasinga (photo by Joubert)

On the 21st of March, a public holiday in South Africa, we set out from Mantuma Camp at 5am when the gates opened and headed straight for Kumasinga Hide, only about 4km out of camp. We arrived in the pitch dark and settled in for the day ahead. Not long after, Marilize made sure we each had a bowl of porridge and a hot cup of coffee to set the day off to a great start.

Kumasinga Hide in the dark
Kumasinga Hide in the dark
Joubert in a dark Kumasinga Hide

Slowly the sunrise started to light the scene in front of us while birdsong started to fill the air.

Early morning at Kumasinga
Early morning at Kumasinga

With it still quiet at the waterhole but with a beautiful glow to the morning I used the opportunity to take a few pictures of the hide.

Our Duster parked beneath a Black Monkey Thorn at Kumasinga Hide
Entrance to the walkway at the parking area for Kumasinga Hide
First stretch of the walkway to the hide
The ablutions are primitive but clean and functional
Walking towards the hide
The outside of the hide building
Inside Kumasinga Hide
Looking out from Kumasinga Hide
I took this photo of the outside of the hide a bit later in the day

Shortly after I took my seat again, the birds started arriving for their morning drink.

Cape Glossy Starlings and a Cape Turtle Dove
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Brown-hooded Kingfisher (photo by Joubert)
Red-faced Mousebirds
Three-banded Plover
Red-billed Oxpeckers and Cape Glossy Starlings
Early morning at Kumasinga Hide
Cape Turtle Dove
Red-faced Mousebird and Dark-capped Bulbul
Red-faced Mousebird taking off while a Cape Glossy Starling drinks
Red-faced Mousebirds, Cape Glossy Starling and Black-collared Barbet
Pink-throated Twinspot
White-browed Scrub Robin
Rudd’s Apalis

Just before 8am the first mammals (apart from us) arrived on the scene, but didn’t venture down for a drink.

Impala herd
Slender Mongoose (photo by Joubert)
Slender Mongoose (photo by Joubert)

For more than the next hour-and-a-half it was mostly birds providing the entertainment, with the star of the show undoubtedly being a glamorous Purple-crested Turaco.

Green Wood-hoopoe
Green Wood-hoopoe (photo by Joubert)
Striped Skink
Yellow-fronted Canaries
Little Swift (photo by Joubert)
Little Swift (photo by Joubert)
Red-billed Oxpeckers
Thick-billed Weaver female
Purple-crested Turaco
Purple-crested Turaco
Purple-crested Turaco (photo by Joubert)
Purple-crested Turaco
Purple-crested Turaco
Purple-crested Turaco
Purple-crested Turaco (photo by Joubert)
Purple-crested Turaco (photo by Joubert)
Marsh Terrapins
Brown-veined White

By now it was 09:30 and the day started to heat up. Two Nyala bulls put in an appearance at opposite sides of the waterhole, making it difficult for Joubert and me, and a few other photographers who were in the hide at the time, to decide where to focus.

Nyala bull
Nyala bull
Nyala bull
Nyala bull
Nyala bull

A lone Blue Wildebeest bull arrived as well, but didn’t stay long.

Blue Wildebeest (photo by Joubert)
Blue Wildebeest
Blue Wildebeest

A troop of Vervet Monkeys entered the stage from the left and passed all along the edge of the waterhole to the other side.

Vervet Monkey at Kumasinga
Vervet Monkey at Kumasinga
Vervet Monkeys admiring their reflections
Vervet Monkey at Kumasinga (photo by Joubert)
Vervet Monkey at Kumasinga (photo by Joubert)
Vervet Monkey at Kumasinga (photo by Joubert)

One of the Nyala bulls had a special act in store for us. He proceeded to a particular spot on the edge of the waterhole and thoroughly covered his horns with mud. Perhaps the show was more for the benefit of other nyalas than for us.

Nyala bull horning the mud
Nyala bull horning the mud
Nyala bull horning the mud (photo by Joubert)
Nyala bull horning the mud (photo by Joubert)
Nyala bull horning the mud (photo by Joubert)

His performance completed, the Nyala vacated the stage for the herd of Impalas that had finally mustered the courage for a drink of water.

Impala herd
Impalas and Red-billed Oxpeckers drinking
Impala
Impalas playing (photo by Joubert)

The next actor on the Kumasinga platform really got the attention of every person in attendance with his surprise appearance. We’re going to keep a few photos of this very confiding Eastern Natal Green Snake on the backburner until the next post on de Wets Wild.

Eastern Natal Green Snake at Kumasinga Hide, 21 March 2022
Eastern Natal Green Snake at Kumasinga Hide, 21 March 2022
Eastern Natal Green Snake at Kumasinga Hide, 21 March 2022

An animal that usually sticks around only for a second or two before slipping away, especially when they see a camera it seems, is the Slender Mongoose. What a wonderful opportunity to see this one so calmly going about its business all around the waterhole.

Slender Mongoose
Slender Mongoose
Slender Mongoose
Slender Mongoose
Slender Mongoose
Slender Mongoose
Slender Mongoose
Slender Mongoose
Slender Mongoose (photo by Joubert)
Slender Mongoose
Slender Mongoose (photo by Joubert)

Despite the clouds building up the mid-day heat was oppressive and a seemingly constant stream of Nyalas and Impalas were now making their way to the water.

Mid-day at Kumasinga Hide
Nyala ewe and lamb
Nyala ewe and lamb
Nyala ewe and lamb
Nyala ewes (photo by Joubert)
Impala ewe with a heavy load of red-billed oxpeckers
Impalas drinking (photo by Joubert)
Impala ewe that’s had enough of free-loading Red-billed Oxpeckers (photo by Joubert)
Acrobatic Impala (photo by Joubert)
Dancing Impala (photo by Joubert)
Acrobatic Impala (photo by Joubert)
Peering out of Kumasinga Hide

Another magnificent Nyala bull strode confidently down to the water and, after quenching his thirst, went to the same spot the other bull did earlier and proceeded to attack the mud in the same fashion.

Nyala bull
Nyala bull
Nyala bull (photo by Joubert)
Nyala bull
Nyala bull horning the mud
Nyala bull horning the mud
Nyala bull horning the mud
Nyala bull horning the mud (photo by Joubert)
Nyala bull horning the mud
Nyala bull horning the mud
Nyala bull horning the mud
Nyala bull with horns covered in mud

This younger bull tried to imitate the master’s strange behaviour on a different patch of land.

Young nyala bull also horning the ground (photo by Joubert)
Young nyala bull also horning the ground (photo by Joubert)
Young nyala bull also horning the ground (photo by Joubert)
Young nyala bull also horning the ground (photo by Joubert)

Several birds also came down to the water for a drink in the heat of the day, and Joubert got some excellent practice taking photographs of birds in flight thanks to a pair of Fork-tailed Drongos regularly splashing into the waterhole to cool off.

Cape Turtle Dove (Photo by Joubert)
Fork-tailed Drongos (photo by Joubert)
Fork-tailed Drongo (photo by Joubert)
Fork-tailed Drongo (photo by Joubert)
Fork-tailed Drongo (photo by Joubert)
Fork-tailed Drongo
Fork-tailed Drongo (photo by Joubert)
Fork-tailed Drongo (photo by Joubert)
Fork-tailed Drongos (photo by Joubert)
Fork-tailed Drongo (photo by Joubert)
Fork-tailed Drongo (photo by Joubert)
Purple-crested Turaco
Purple-crested Turaco
Purple-crested Turaco
Purple-crested Turaco
Purple-crested Turaco
Thick-billed Weaver female
Grey Waxbill
Little Bee-eater
Sombre Greenbul

Next, a family of Warthogs arrived noisily and, after drinking, also cooled down in the waterhole as if they didn’t have a care in the world.

Warthog siblings
Warthog family
Warthog sow
Warthogs wallowing
Warthogs wallowing
Warthogs wallowing

Around 1pm another big Nyala bull, strutting his stuff for all his rivals, had his drink and then proceeded to, as the others before him, cover his horns with mud at the designated spot.

Nyala bull in dominance display
Nyala bull in dominance display
Nyala bull in dominance display
Nyala bull
Nyala bull horning the mud
Nyala bull horning the mud
Nyala bull horning the mud
Nyala bull horning the mud
Nyala bull
Nyala bull horning the mud
Nyala bull horning the mud
Nyala Bull in stiff-legged dominance display

Shortly after the flock of European Bee-eaters came around the waterhole again, allowing Joubert another chance to get shots of them as they cooled down in the dark water.

European Bee-eater (photo by Joubert)
European Bee-eater (photo by Joubert)
European Bee-eater (photo by Joubert)
European Bee-eater (photo by Joubert)
European Bee-eater (photo by Joubert)
European Bee-eater (photo by Joubert)
European Bee-eater (photo by Joubert)
European Bee-eater (photo by Joubert)
European Bee-eater (photo by Joubert)

Traffic at the waterhole gradually decreased as the afternoon wore on…

Purple-crested Turaco
Purple-crested Turaco
Purple-crested Turaco
Male Eastern Blacktail Dragonfly
Common Waxbill
Common Waxbill
Sombre Greenbul
Sombre Greenbul
Sombre Greenbul
Sombre Greenbul
Sombre Greenbul

but our slithery friend paid us another visit!

Eastern Natal Green Snake at Kumasinga Hide, 21 March 2022
Eastern Natal Green Snake at Kumasinga Hide, 21 March 2022
Eastern Natal Green Snake at Kumasinga Hide, 21 March 2022
Eastern Natal Green Snake at Kumasinga Hide, 21 March 2022

By dusk only the Marsh Terrapins were still around to keep us company.

And by the time darkness fell, and a leopard started rasping behind us (in the same general direction as the car!) it was time for us to head back to camp.

 

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32 thoughts on “Autumn Adventure – A day at Kumasinga”

    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Thanks a lot, Tracy!

      No, this snake wasn’t hiding at all. On our continent there are so many predators that eat snakes that they’re very cautious by nature, even the most venomous types – unlike some other parts of the world where the snakes hardly seem to hide. So to see this one moving with such confidence and that among people just shows that it was feeling quite at home and very safe.

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
  2. naturebackin

    Wonderful! I felt as though I was there with you. It is interesting to see that many of the trees beyond the waterhole are no more and it is pretty much open ground. Back in the day we used to watch the animals approach through the trees of the sand forest. Joubert got some brilliant photos of birds in flight – he must be thrilled especially with the bee-eaters. Beautiful shots of the other animals and birds too and I particularly enjoyed the nyalas.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Thanks Carol for giving an interesting glimpse into what Kumasinga’s surrounds looked like. I wonder whether the elephants are to “blame” for the fact that the forest around the waterhole has been cleared?

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
      1. naturebackin

        Yes I was wondering too. It makes me think about the hides and artificial waterholes in some parks that have been closed partly because the heavy traffic of animals to and fro leads to the destruction of the surrounding vegetation.

        Liked by 1 person

      2. de Wets Wild Post author

        Balancing the needs of tourists, which is sorely needed to fund the protection of the area in the first place, with those of conserving the environment that attracts the tourists in the first place, cannot be easy.

        Liked by 1 person

  3. wetanddustyroads

    Dit was nou ‘n dag vol heerlike afwagting! Ek het van daardie Nyala foto’s gehou waar hulle met die horings in die modder “speel” … en dis interessant dat dit nie net een was nie, maar ‘n paar van hulle. Ek sien jy het vir Tannie Frannie gese die slang is nie giftig nie … ek sal egter maar ver weg staan (en waarskynlik nie eens ‘n foto kan neem nie 😬).
    Dankie dat julle soveel mooi foto’s gedeel het – ek het dit nou baie geniet!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Nee Tannie Frannie, die Natalse Groenslang is heeltemal onskadelik vir mense. Maar as mens nie met hom bekend is nie moet jy maar eerder jou afstand hou, jy wil hom nie met n Groen Mamba verwar nie!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
  7. H.J. for avian101

    Wow! That’s a lot of pictures, quite an album. I see that you and your partner have been shooting everything that moved. Great shots all. They have many birds in that place. Thank you, D. and Joubert. I enjoyed your post. 🙂

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  8. lois

    What a day, indeed. The Turaco is a pretty bird, but then he spreads his wings and what a surprise with all that color. You guys must have been both exhilarated and exhausted by the days end.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
  9. sustainabilitea

    What an amazing day! Joubert, you get some excellent actions shots and I also enjoyed seeing the inside of the hide, although I can imagine it got quite hot!! The Turaco is really interesting and has great color. But my favorite is the Nyala’s designated mud spot. Made me chuckle and for some reason my head is itching now. 🙂

    Just ordered our tickets for the LA 7″s tournament at the end of August. My husband’s thinking about costumes and we’re both very excited!!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply ↓
    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      😀
      It’s like my head starts to itch just at the mention of the word “lice”…
      Thankfully the way the hide is built over the water, with those vents in the floor, means it is much cooler inside even on a hot day!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
    2. de Wets Wild Post author

      You’re going to start counting the sleeps to the tournament pretty soon! Did you get tickets for every day? Are you going in springbok jerseys or wearing a silver fern?

      Like

      Reply ↓
      1. sustainabilitea

        Unfortunately I don’t have a Boks jersey or I’d be wearing it. Maybe I can pick up a flag there or wear green. We’ll see. The tournament is just the men, the last of the season before the worlds in South Africa. We have tickets for both days so it’s going to be quite a weekend.

        Liked by 1 person

      4. sustainabilitea

        My husband said to tell you that back when he was playing rugby, they played a team from Lusaka in Windsor, Ontario in a tournament. I know it’s not in South Africa but it’s as close as he got to playing a team from SA. 🙂

        Liked by 1 person

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