We jump from one side of the size scale to the other, as in today’s post we’re taking a closer look at some of the more diminutive inhabitants of the Marakele National Park that crossed our path when we visited last week.
Where there’s big herbivores, like those we featured yesterday, roaming free you’re sure to find Dung Beetles going about their important work.
Just because they’re a lot smaller doesn’t mean that the predators featured in the next few paragraphs are any less fierce! Watching this Solifuge inspect every nook and cranny of a zebra dung pile for an unwary prey was every bit as exciting as watching a lioness stalk her prey.
This Yellow-and-Black Kite Spider is a lot more laid back with her hunting technique!
And this Puff Adder might be slow to cross the road, but that’s just because it is so confident of its own notoriety.
Lizards and chameleons put in regular appearances as we traveled through the Park
At night, Red Toads hunt around the ablution blocks and other artificial lights spread around the camping area.
With so many dangerous creatures around it’s no wonder this millipede decided to go underground!
A particularly interesting sighting in Bontle Camp was a multitude of butterflies, flies, moths and beetles congregating at and around a fallen-over Marula tree stump oozing sap.
Remember that DeWetsWild will gladly assist you with a reservation and planning if you’re interested in visiting Marakele National Park and making the most of your visit.
DeWetsWild 
It is so nice to see this post, as a South African. Very refreshing! Thanks.
Thank you so much, Caroline! Nice to meet you, and welcome here.
Thank you! I look forward to your posts.
Pingback: Continuing our Marakele Game Drive | DeWetsWild
O aarde, is daardie solifuge wat ek as ‘n jagspinnekop ken? Ek gril vir my besimpeld!
Jy is in die kol, Tannie Frannie! En hulle is nog grillerig, veral wanneer hulle so agter mens aanhardloop!
My dogter het naby Hoedspruit by die jagluiperdbewaringsentrum gewerk, toe daar een aand twee van daai grillerige goeters binne-in haar muskietnet was!
Skuus dat ek giggel, Tannie Frannie, maar dit moes iets gewees het om te aanskou!
Ek dink jy’s reg 😄
😀
Fascinating to see such a variety of small creatures! I confess that I like the butterflies best ☺️.
I have a particular love of butterflies as well, and I think me chasing after them brought quite a bit of amusement to the other campers at Bontle!
What a fascinating gallery of specimens but your capture of that spider! Wow
Very kind of you, Ruth. Thank you!
Daar’s soveel verskillende skoenlappers (en mooies ook daarby). Ek kan my soms verkyk aan ‘n miskruier – hulle gee nie maklik op om daai ou bolletjie te rol tot waar hulle hom wil he nie!
Ons ryke verskeidenheid insekte is eintlik n skat wat mense nie genoeg na waarde ag nie!
I enjoy your focus on the small creatures. Your butterfly photographs are a joy to see.
Thank you very much, Anne. Paying attention to the smaller things often reveals other treasures as well!
Just watched the Kenya game. That’s what we like!!
A good game to watch but sad that Kenya also didn’t have a good tournament
True
Love the butterflies and moths and that black and yellow spider is quite attractive.
There’s a whole new world of beauty to be savoured if we focus a little smaller!
I agree!
I am in Florida for the winter and here they have a lot of gekos.They look similar to the skink but with a much shorter tail.
Here in South Africa most of our geckos are nocturnal, Anne. Is that also the case in Florida (and the rest of North America)?
No they appear during the day too and our little dog tries to catch them. But she’s not fast enough.