Monthly Archives: August 2024

August ’24 update from Rietvlei Nature Reserve

I can’t believe how quickly August has flown past but I am very grateful that tomorrow represents the start of the Spring season in South Africa!

It’s time for another update from our local Rietvlei Nature Reserve where I’ve guided several drives this past month. Early in the month the reserve suffered a terrible fire that started along a public road on its eastern border and was then pushed into the reserve by a strong wind. Thankfully no infrastructure was damaged and no animals killed, and the grasslands of the highveld are very resilient to fire – already the green growth is sprouting!

Shortly after the fire we found this African Hoopoe searching for charred insects, with some success!

African Hoopoe searching for burned insects on charred grassland

The warmer weather has encouraged mating behaviour in the reserve’s Ostriches and we’ll have a boom in their population pretty soon!

Ostrich male “dancing” for the female

The female relents…

Mating ostriches

Rietvlei’s bird population as always provided wonderful viewing and photography opportunities. I ticked 83 species in August.

African Snipe

Bokmakierie

Cape Longclaw

Capped Wheatear

Common Moorhen

Common Dikkop (aka Thick-knee)

Crimson-breasted Shrike

Crowned Lapwing

Crowned Lapwings and Pied Starlings at an ants nest

Karoo Thrush

Levaillant’s Cisticola

Long-tailed Widowbird

Ostrich face

Reed Cormorant

Rufous-naped Lark

Southern Red Bishop

Southern Red Bishop female

Southern Boubou

Speckled Mousebirds

Swainson’s Spurfowl

Wattled Lapwing

The fact that Rietvlei sustains healthy populations of large African mammals within sight of the capital city’s southern suburbs is a wonderful boon to residents of Pretoria and surrounding towns and cities.

Blesbok

Buffalo family

Buffalo cow

Eland

Red Hartebeest

Black-backed Jackal

Slender Mongoose

Spotted-necked Otter

White Rhinos walking in the road

White Rhinoceros ear

White Rhinoceros tail

Waterbuck

Black Wildebeest

Plains Zebra and Blesbok

Plains Zebra foal

Along with Hannes Rossouw Photography we’re presenting an introductory wildlife photography session for new photographers early in September at Rietvlei and interest has been so healthy that we’ll soon organise another session or two – get in touch if you’d like to be added to the mailing list!

List of mammals I’ve seen on Rietvlei in August 2024:

Scientific	Afrikaans	English
Alcelaphus buselaphus	Rooihartbees	Red Hartebeest
Antidorcas marsupialis	Springbok	Springbuck
Canis mesomelas	Rooijakkals	Black-backed Jackal
Ceratotherium simum	Witrenoster	White Rhinoceros
Connochaetes gnou	Swartwildebees	Black Wildebeest
Cynictis penicillata	Witkwasmuishond	Yellow Mongoose
Damaliscus pygargus	Blesbok	Blesbuck
Equus quagga	Bontsebra	Plains Zebra
Herpestes sanguineus	Swartkwasmuishond	Slender Mongoose
Hydrictis maculicollis	Kleinotter	Spotted-necked Otter
Kobus ellipsyprymnus	Waterbok	Waterbuck
Syncerus caffer	Buffel	Cape Buffalo
Taurotragus oryx	Eland	Eland

List of birds I’ve seen on Rietvlei in August 2024:

Scientific	Afrikaans	English
Accipiter ovampensis	Ovambosperwer	Ovambo Sparrowhawk
Acridotheres tristis	Indiese Spreeu	Common Myna
Acrocephalus gracilirostris	Kaapse Rietsanger	Lesser Swamp Warbler
Afrotis afraoides	Witvlerkkorhaan	Northern Black Korhaan
Alopochen aegyptiaca	Kolgans	Egyptian Goose
Amandava subflava	Rooiassie	Orange-breasted Waxbill
Anas sparsa	Swarteend	African Black Duck
Anas undulata	Geelbekeend	Yellow-billed Duck
Anthus cinnamomeus	Gewone Koester	African Pipit
Ardea melanocephala	Swartkopreier	Black-headed Heron
Asio capensis	Vlei-uil	Marsh Owl
Bostrychia hagedash	Hadeda	Hadeda Ibis
Burhinus capensis	Gewone Dikkop	Spotted Thick-knee
Centropus burchellii	Gewone Vleiloerie	Burchell’s Coucal
Certhilauda semitorquata	Grasveldlangbeklewerik	Eastern Long-billed Lark
Ceryle rudis	Bontvisvanger	Pied Kingfisher
Circaetus pectoralis	Swartborsslangarend	Black-chested Snake Eagle
Cisticola juncidis	Landeryklopkloppie	Zitting Cisticola
Cisticola tinniens	Vleitinktinkie	Levaillant’s Cisticola
Colius striatus	Gevlekte Muisvoel	Speckled Mousebird
Corvus albus	Witborskraai	Pied Cow
Crinifer concolor	Kwevoel	Grey Go-Away Bird
Curruca subcoerulea	Bosveldtjeriktik	Chestnut-vented Warbler
Dendropicos fuscescens	Kardinaalspeg	Cardinal Woodpecker
Dessonornis caffer	Gewone Janfrederik	Cape Robin-Chat
Elanus caeruleus	Blouvalk	Black-winged Kite
Estrilda astrild	Rooibeksysie	Common Waxbill
Euplectes ardens	Rooikeelflap	Red-collared Widowbird
Euplectes orix	Rooivink	Southern Red Bishop
Euplectes progne	Langstertflap	Longtailed Widowbird
Falco peregrinus	Swerfvalk	Peregrine Falcon
Fulica cristata	Bleshoender	Red-knobbed Coot
Gallinago nigripennis	Afrikaanse Snip	African Snipe
Gallinula chloropus	Grootwaterhoender	Common Moorhen
Halcyon albiventris	Bruinkopvisvanger	Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Icthyophaga vocifer	Visarend	Fish Eagle
Lamprotornis bicolor	Witgatspreeu	Pied Starling
Lamprotornis nitens	Kleinglansspreeu	Cape Glossy Starling
Laniarius atrococcineus	Rooiborslaksman	Crimson-breasted Shrike
Laniarius ferrugineus	Suidelike Waterfiskaal	Southern Boubou
Lanius collaris	Fiskaallaksman	Common Fiscal
Lybius torquatus	Rooikophoutkapper	Black-collared Barbet
Macronyx capensis	Oranjekeel Kalkoentjie	Cape Longclaw
Megaceryle maxima	Reusevisvanger	Giant Kingfisher
Microcarbo africanus	Rietduiker	Reed Cormorant
Mirafra africana	Rooineklewerik	Rufous-naped Lark
Motacilla capensis	Gewone Kwikkie	Cape Wagtail
Netta erythrophthalma	Bruineend	Southern Pochard
Numida meleagris	Gewone Tarentaal	Helmeted Guineafowl
Oenanthe pileata	Hoeveldskaapwagter	Capped Wheatear
Passer diffusus	Gryskopmossie	Southern Grey-headed Sparrow
Passer domesticus	Huismossie	House Sparrow
Passer melanurus	Gewone Mossie	Cape Sparrow
Phalacrocorax lucidus	Witborsduiker	White-breasted Cormorant
Phoeniculus purpureus	Rooibekkakelaar	Green Wood-hoopoe
Platalea alba	Lepelaar	African Spoonbill
Ploceus velatus	Swartkeelgeelvink	Southern Masked Weaver
Prinia subflava	Bruinsylangstertjie	Tawny-flanked Prinia
Psittacula krameri	Ringnekparkiet	Rose-ringed Parakeet
Pternistis swainsonii	Bosveldfisant	Swainson’s Spurfowl
Pycnonotus tricolor	Swartoogtiptol	Dark-capped Bulbul
Riparia paludicola	Afrikaanse Oewerswael	Brown-throated Martin
Sagittarius serpentarius	Sekretarisvoel	Secretarybird
Saxicola torquatus	Gewone Bontrokkie	African Stonechat
Scopus umbretta	Hamerkop	Hamerkop
Sigelus silens	Fiskaalvlieevanger	Fiscal Flycatcher
Spilopelia senegalensis	Rooiborsduifie	Laughing Dove
Stenostira scita	Feevlieevanger	Fairy Flycatcher
Streptopelia capicola	Gewone Tortelduif	Cape Turtle Dove
Streptopelia semitorquata	Grootringduif	Red-eyed Dove
Struthio camelus	Volstruis	Common Ostrich
Tachybaptus ruficollis	Kleindobbertjie	Little Grebe
Tadorna cana	Kopereend	South African Shelduck
Telophorus zeylonus	Bokmakierie	Bokmakierie
Trachyphonus vaillantii	Kuifkophoutkapper	Crested Barbet
Turdoides jardineii	Pylvlekkatlagter	Arrow-marked Babbler
Turdus smithi	Geelbeklyster	Karoo Thrush
Upupa africana	Hoephoep	African Hoopoe
Urocolius indicus	Rooiwangmuisvoel	Red-faced Mousebird
Vanellus armatus	Bontkiewiet	Blacksmith Lapwing
Vanellus coronatus	Kroonkiewiet	Crowned Lapwing
Vanellus senegallus	Lelkiewiet	Wattled Lapwing
Zosterops virens	Kaapse Glasogie	Cape White-eye

If you’d like to join me on a guided tour of Rietvlei – on a hike or on an open vehicle drive – you can book through melanie@rietvleicoffee.co.za / +27(0)74-820-9926.

Black-striped Hairtail Butterfly

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Anthene amarah

The Black-striped Hairtail is a tiny (wingspan less than 3cm) butterfly with a wide distribution across southern, eastern and northern South Africa and a special fondness for thorn trees – adults relish the flowers while caterpillars subsist on the leaves. Adults can be seen year-round though they’re much more numerous in summer when they can sometimes be seen together in groups numbering several dozen.

Black-striped Hairtail

Red-capped Lark

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Calandrella cinerea

The Red-capped Lark is a common bird species that occurs throughout South Africa, with greatest population densities on the Highveld, in the Karoo and in the Fynbos-biome, indicating their preference for open grasslands and shrublands. They’ll also utilise recently burned or ploughed fields to search for food, which consists mainly of seeds and insects. Beyond our borders they occur over most of the continent south of the equator.

Red-capped Larks breed on the ground, usually just before the first spring or summer rains, using natural hollows – often hoofprints – lined with soft plant material gathered mostly by the female as a nest. The female incubates a clutch of 2-4 eggs for around 2 weeks, with the male providing her with food. Once hatched the chicks are reared by both parents and leave the nest before they’re 3 weeks old. Outside of the breeding season they may form flocks of up to 30 individuals.

Citing a widespread and increasing population, the IUCN considers the Red-capped Lark as being of least concern.

Red-capped Lark

Red-capped Lark (photo by Joubert)

Manyeleti Magic 2024: Magnificent Lion Encounters

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Whenever we tour our country’s premier conservation areas the magnificent Lion is usually at or near the top of our guests’ wish lists, and in this respect our Manyeleti Magic photographic safari at the end of June certainly did not disappoint. We can reflect on some terrific encounters with the King of Beasts!

Lions after dark, surveying a nearby herd of wildebeest using a termite mound as a lookout point.

Being out of camp at first light gave us and our guests the best chance of finding lions on the move; still active before the warmer parts of the day lulls them into a sleepy mood which doesn’t provide the best photographic opportunities. As an added bonus the golden light of early morning, just as the sun rises above the tree tops of the savanna, really shows the lions off in a most regal glow!

Sunrise catches the royal family of lions

Magnificent Male Lion

Young male Lion

Lioness on the move

Magnificent Male Lion

On our final excursion from Buffelshoek, on the day that our 2024 Manyeleti Magic photographic safari concluded, we were treated to one of the most memorable lion sightings you could ever hope for. In a large clearing we came across a notorious group of lions consisting of three brothers with a very close bond, their half-brother and a half-sister which had broken away from a pride in neighbouring Sabi Sands and were now roaming across Manyeleti and adjacent reserves resulting in some nervous tension with the prides currently staking claim to those territories. The beautiful males and their very imposing female sibling gave us a show that we will all be thinking about for a long time to come!

One of the males from the Kambula Breakaway pride

Two of the males from the Kambula Breakaway pride

The female from the Kambula Breakaway pride

One of the males and the female from the Kambula Breakaway pride

One of the males from the Kambula Breakaway pride

The female from the Kambula Breakaway pride

One of the males from the Kambula Breakaway pride

Three of the males from the Kambula Breakaway pride

One of the males from the Kambula Breakaway pride

Two of the Kambula Lions at Manyeleti

One of the males from the Kambula Breakaway pride

Three of the males from the Kambula Breakaway pride with a very affectionate bond

One of the males from the Kambula Breakaway pride

It is experiences like this that will continue to call us back to Manyeleti and we’re already taking bookings for our 2025 Manyeleti Magic Photographic Safari and Workshop, to be conducted out of Buffelshoek Camp again in June of next year in conjunction with Hannes Rossouw Photography. Contact us if you’d like to join this one, or if you and a group of family and friends are keen to do something similar on other dates we’d be very glad to accommodate you!

Manyeleti Magic 2024: Hunting with Painted Wolves

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One of the absolute highlights (yes, another one!) of our 2024 Manyeleti Magic photographic safari and workshop was the time we got to spend with three hunting African Wild Dogs – or, to translate their Latin scientific name, Painted Wolves – and a bunch of opportunistic Spotted Hyenas who had much trouble keeping up. We followed along for many, many kilometers and were astounded not only by the dogs’ fascinating behaviour but also by how well our guide Beckson knew the Manyeleti’s roads and tracks and how expertly he anticipated the dogs’ movements, time and again putting us (Hannes Rossouw and myself) and our guests in perfect position to photograph the frenetic action!

African Wild Dogs in playful mood before starting their hunt

African Wild Dog, or Painted Wolf

Painted Wolves on the hunt

Spotted Hyena looking a little winded from trying to keep up with the dogs

Spotted Hyena

We’re already taking bookings for our 2025 Manyeleti Magic Photographic Safari and Workshop, to be conducted out of Buffelshoek Camp again in June of next year in conjunction with Hannes Rossouw Photography. Contact us if you’d like to join this one, or if you and a group of family and friends are keen to do something similar on other dates we’d be very glad to accommodate you!

Manyeleti Magic 2024: A Leopard Surprise!

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Midday on the last full day of our 2024 Manyeleti Magic Photo-Safari this past June we were whiling away the hours in Buffelshoek Camp, our base for the trip, photographing a variety of birds including a pair of very obliging Pearl-spotted Owlets, a pair of Red-billed Hornbills feeding their chicks in their mud-cell nest, and a family of Cardinal Woodpeckers. Our group of eager photographers were certainly kept very entertained and busy!

Red-billed Hornbill at the nest

Red-billed Hornbill nest, opening almost entirely enclosed by mud

Yellow-billed Hornbill

Cardinal Woodpecker

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Pearl-spotted Owlet (showing eye-spots on the back of the head)

It was the commotion of a group of Vervet Monkeys that moved through the camp just minutes before that first alerted us to the fact that something dangerous was about. We soon picked out the shape of a Leopard moving through the long grass, headed for the waterhole just outside of camp. Pretty quickly we were all – cameras at the ready – in the open safari vehicle and on our way towards the beautiful but very shy animal. It didn’t drink long and crept down into the drainage line, disappearing from sight.

Leopard

We searched high and low for it for several minutes, but the leopard vanished just as quickly as it appeared. If this little Three-banded Plover, who was at the water’s edge the whole time, knew where the big cat went it wasn’t giving up the secret.

If this little Three-banded Plover, who was at the water’s edge the whole time, knew where the big cat went it wasn’t giving up the secret.

Manyeleti Magic 2024: Rhinos and Oxpeckers

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With poaching still an enormous concern in South Africa it was wonderful to enjoy a couple of great sightings of white rhinos during our 2024 Manyeleti Magic photographic safari in June.

White Rhino

White rhinos

White Rhino cow and calf

White Rhino

Invariably the rhinos we saw were accompanied by both red- and yellow-billed oxpeckers that were not at all shy about the intimate spaces they were inspecting for ticks!

Red-billed Oxpecker inspecting a White Rhino’s ear

Red-billed Oxpecker diving into a White Rhino’s ear

Red-billed Oxpecker

Yellow-billed Oxpecker

Red- and Yellow-billed Oxpeckers sharing a rhino

Manyeleti Magic 2024: Cheetahs

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We had two terrific late afternoon Cheetah sightings during our 2024 Manyeleti Magic photographic safari at the end of June. Our guests were most appreciative of these two beautiful models!

Our first cheetah sighting of the trip was courtesy of this male patrolling and marking his territory. We could follow along for quite some distance and our guide positioned the vehicle expertly for great shots, even in the fast-fading light.

Cheetah

Our second cheetah sighting of the trip was of another male using a fallen Marula tree as a vantage point from which to check for prey or danger – we never figured out which it was as he disappeared from view in a thorny thicket shortly after jumping off.

Cheetah

Manyeleti Magic 2024: Abundant Buffaloes

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The Manyeleti Game Reserve has a large population of buffaloes and we encountered several enormous herds of these bulky bovines while exploring the reserve on our recent Manyeleti Magic photographic safari. Being able to venture so close to animals this intimidating is always a thrilling affair.

One buffalo from a herd several hundred strong

A Buffalo standing on a dam wall gives an unusual perspective

Buffalo taking a little longer to chew this prickly grasshead

Old Buffalo bull

Buffalo cow with interesting headdress

Buffalo calf

Alert Buffalo bull

Buffalo cow

Young Buffalo bull

Manyeleti Magic 2024: A massive serpent in an idyllic location

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Late afternoon on the third day of our 2024 Manyeleti Magic photo-safari we were driving through a most beautiful spot of towering trees lining a stream and waterhole, with the most glorious golden light illuminating the scene. It was a little slice of paradise filled with various animals and birds and it is hard to describe just how blessed we felt to be there in the moment.

Giraffes congregating at the water to drink

Giraffe checking out the water before drinking

Nile Crocodile basking on a sandbank

Hippo eyeing us from the waterhole

Hippopotamus cow and calf

Hippopotamus calf

Our guide Beckson was the first to notice an enormous Southern African Rock Python slithering across the two-track road we were on. It was a magnificent specimen and must’ve only very recently shed its old skin as it was now resplendent with shiny new scales amplified by the golden light of the afternoon sun. With pythons, especially this size, being a rare sighting we all got off the vehicle and our guests had a chance to photograph the enormous snake from all angles before it moved underneath an old leadwood stump and disappeared from view. A most memorable encounter; the kind of which we’ve learned is pretty much par for the course in the magical place that is Manyeleti!