Author Archives: DeWetsWild

About DeWetsWild

Nature and wildlife enthusiast and tour guide, based in Pretoria, South Africa.

Threshold

9 Replies

At the threshold into a prehistoric world; the entrance to the Sudwala Dinosaur Park which we visited in March 2013.

Threshold

“Threshold” is the theme for this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge

Tembe’s Isilo is no more…

38 Replies

From the Tembe Elephant Park comes the sad news of the death of Isilo, the magnificent and undeniable King of Tembe.

It is believed that the gentle giant succumbed to natural causes, a dignified end befitting his royal stature, in January 2014.

Isilo’s carcass was discovered about two weeks ago. Sadly it was also made known that his enormous tusks have been stolen, presumably by rhino poachers who happened upon the carcass, and investigations into the theft delayed the news being made public. As reported on Tembe’s facebook page, a R100,000 reward has been offered by the Tembe people, who have looked after Isilo and his realm, for the return of these invaluable pieces of ivory to them.

We were fortunate to spend some time in Isilo’s majestic presence during our visit to Tembe in May 2013. You’re welcome to have a look at our special blogpost recounting our audience with Isilo for some more photographs of the special animal.

Hamba kahle Isilo. Go well.

Isilo of Tembe, died in January 2014

Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve, February 2014

15 Replies

The Blyde River Canyon in the Lowveld of South Africa s the world’s third biggest canyon, and one of our country’s most diverse and scenically spectacular conservation areas.

We had the pleasure of spending four nights at Forever’s Swadini Resort during our recent visit to this beautiful area. The resort has all the amenities you’d associate with a family destination of Swadini’s calibre, yet there’s no feeling of being removed from the natural splendour that completely surrounds it.

Swadini

Swadini Accommodation

Kudus roam freely through the resort

Swadini

Swadini nightlife – Lunar Moth

Several easy-to-follow trails meander through the enchanting riverine forests around Swadini and it’s not difficult to forget all about time and the daily rat race while exploring these unique surroundings. Be sure to visit to the nearby Blyderivierspoort Dam, where you may join a cruise on the Dam’s deep waters and encounter hippos and crocodiles, or have a picnic at the viewpoint that overlooks the watery expanse.

Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve

Firefinch in Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve

Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve

Kudu in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve

Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve

Blyderivierspoort Dam

We’ve dedicated several other posts to the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve – have a look here if you’d like to learn more about this fantastic destination. It’s one of our favourite South African wild places, and when you visit you’re sure to fall under its spell as well.

Street Life

53 Replies

Not your everyday street life scene…

These photographs were taken near Crocodile Bridge Rest Camp, during our October 2012 visit to the Kruger National Park.

(You can click on the images for a bigger view)

Lion pride near Crocodile Bridge in the Kruger National Park

“Street Life” is the theme for this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge

Golden Gate through the lens of a 4-year old

17 Replies

We often show photographs like these of Joubert, taking photos of anything and everything we come across.

Joubert_GoldenGate_March2014 (1)

Our weekend in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park came to an end today and we thought we’d share a couple of our little boy’s photos from the trip 😉

View from Glen Reenen

Golden Gate scenery

Little Caledon River

View from Glen Reenen

Golden Gate scenery

Black wildebeest

World Water Day 2014

3 Replies

The 22nd of March is World Water Day, and what better way to appreciate this precious resource than enjoying the crystal clear mountain streams right here in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park!

World Water Day 2014

Long Weekend at Golden Gate (21/03/2014)

4 Replies

It’s a long weekend here in South Africa, and that’s just the excuse we need to spend a couple of days in beautiful Golden Gate Highlands National Park!

Golden Gate Long Weekend

Reflection

18 Replies

During our latest visit to the Kruger National Park, we saw this crocodile lying in a pool near the Olifants Rest Camp, likely pondering just how and where its next meal would come from…

Reflection

“Reflections” is the theme for this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge.

Just another day in the Kruger…

23 Replies

… as if there’s such a thing!

While touring the Lowveld in February, we concluded our trip with a stay at Swadini in the Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve – more on the time we spent there in an upcoming edition of de Wets Wild. Having first explored the Pafuri area in the far north of the Kruger National Park and then spending time at Letaba in the Park’s central region, we wanted to make one more day visit to the Park, and Swadini being only 70km from the Orpen Gate made that an easy undertaking.

Our route took us from Orpen Gate down to Muzandzeni Picnic Site for breakfast, past Nhlanguleni Picnic Site to Tshokwane Picnic Site where we had lunch, and back to Orpen via Satara Rest Camp. Despite it being an overcast day with regular downpours, we still managed great sightings, as evidenced by this little gallery of images we took on the day (you can click on any of the pictures for a better view).