Author Archives: DeWetsWild

About DeWetsWild

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

Fresh back from Manyeleti Magic!

I’ve just returned from our 2025 Manyeleti Magic photographic safari and workshop, proudly presented in conjunction with Hannes Rossouw Photography. Here’s a quick gallery, of some pictures I took while we were out exploring with our guests, to tide you over until I can post the complete feedback of a most amazing long weekend in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve.

Lion male

Cheetah male at Manyeleti

Lilac-breasted Roller

Lion cub practicing his intimidating starei

Lion cub

Black-backed Jackal

Lion cub and mom

Lion cub

White Rhino

Side-striped Jackal

Flap-necked Chameleon

Spotted Hyenas

Baby elephant

Cheetah Cubs

Scops Owl

Cheetah cubs

Lion male at Manyeleti

Plains Zebras

Bushveld Rain Frog

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Breviceps adspersus

The adorably rotund Bushveld Rain Frog is found in parts of all South African provinces, with the exception of the Western Cape. They inhabit areas with sandy soil in savanna and grassland habitats, feeding mainly on invertebrates and being especially fond of termites. They walk or run and can’t hop like other frogs do. When feeling threatened they inflate their bodies to become even rounder!

During the dry winter Bushveld Rain Frogs remain underground, but emerge after the first rains when the males start calling from above ground. Adult females, at 6cm in length, are quite a bit larger than the males, and so when it is time to mate the male secretes a glue-like substance that attaches him to the back of the female. She then burrows backwards, male still stuck to her back, to end in a chamber about 30cm deep in the soil. They mate as she lays about 45 large eggs and cover them with a jelly which is thought to turn to a liquid when the eggs hatch. With the female staying nearby the young complete their metamorphosis inside the underground chamber and emerge as fully formed little frogs.

Bushveld Rain Frog

Retz’s Helmetshrike

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Prionops retzii

In South Africa, Retz’s Helmetshrike occurs only in the north-eastern corner of the country, from the escarpment and Lowveld of Limpopo to the extreme north of Kwazulu-Natal, which is a clue to its habitat preference, being for tall woodlands and riverine forests in areas with higher rainfall. North of our borders they’re found widely over Africa south of the Equator and the IUCN considers it to be of least concern.

Retz’s Helmetshrike follows a mainly insectivorous diet, though they’ll also take spiders and other invertebrates as well as the occasional gecko. It lives in territorial family groups numbering up to 10, who all work together to raise the dominant pair’s latest brood – the whole group works at building the cup-shaped nest, incubating the clutch of 3-5 eggs that is usually laid in late spring or early summer, and feeding the nestlings which hatch after about 3 weeks and leave the nest roughly the same length of time after hatching.

Retz’s Helmetshrike

Lesser Crested Tern

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Thalasseus bengalensis

Lesser Crested Terns occur near sandy beaches at estuaries and lagoons, often foraging inland or up to 6km from shore over the ocean, but usually roosting at the beach, often in mixed flocks with other terns and gulls. They feed mainly on fish, with crustaceans, squid and octopus featuring only occasionally in their diet.

A non-breeding summer visitor to South African shores, while common during this time along the coast of Kwazulu-Natal, the Lesser Crested Tern is found much less frequently in the Eastern and Western Cape. Beyond our borders they occur widely through the Indian Ocean and nearby parts of the Pacific, as well as along the coastline of North Africa. According to the IUCN they’re in no danger of extinction at present.

Common and Lesser Crested Terns on the beach at Umlalazi

Lesser Crested Tern in low-level flight

Lesser Crested Tern

Lesser Crested Terns

Lesser Crested Tern

Lesser Crested Terns

Lesser Crested Tern

Lesser Crested Terns

May ’25 update from Rietvlei Nature Reserve

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With May drawing to a close I can reflect on the blessing of more chances to explore our local Rietvlei Nature Reserve with guests interested in learning more about this little piece of paradise right on our capital city’s doorstep. Winter’s definitely starting to bite, and sightings of of reptiles and butterflies are dwindling.

Eland, with Rietvlei Dam in the background

Painted Lady Butterfly

Puff Adder

Speckled Rock Skink

Juvenile Mole Snake

The migrant birds that spend the summer in our part of the world have disappeared, and the resident birds have exchanged their best summer breeding plumage for drabber colouration. Nevertheless, Rietvlei is still an amazing place for bird watchers and I ticked off 96 species in the past month.

African Darter

African Pipit

Arrow-marked Babbler

Bearded Woodpecker

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Blue-billed Teal

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Cape Glossy Starling

Crimson-breasted Shrike

Fiscal Flycatcher

Fork-tailed Drongo

Green-backed Heron

Green Woodhoopoe

Grey Go-away Bird

Northern Black Korhaan

Orange River Francolins

Reed Cormorant – feeding time!

Reed Cormorant

Streaky-headed Seed-eater

Swainson’s Spurfowl

White-breasted Cormorant

Zitting Cisticola

With the veld opening up as the grass starts drying the mammal viewing at Rietvlei is definitely getting easier, with the larger herbivorous animals starting to congregate near water and in areas with greener pastures.

Eland

Waterbuck cow

Red Hartebeest

Black-backed Jackal

Plains Zebra drinking

Waterbuck bull

Hippopotamus

Black Wildebeest

Buffalo

Serval

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.

List of birds seen at Rietvlei Nature Reserve during May 2025:

Scientific	Afrikaans	English
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
Amblyospiza albifrons	Dikbekwewer	Thick-billed Weaver
Anas erythrorhyncha	Rooibekeend	Red-billed Teal
Anas sparsa	Swarteend	African Black Duck
Anas undulata	Geelbekeend	Yellow-billed Duck
Anhinga rufa	Slanghalsvoel	African Darter
Anthus cinnamomeus	Gewone Koester	African Pipit
Ardea melanocephala	Swartkopreier	Black-headed Heron
Ardea purpurea	Rooireier	Purple Heron
Bostrychia hagedash	Hadeda	Hadeda Ibis
Bubulcus ibis	Veereier	Western Cattle Egret
Burhinus capensis	Gewone Dikkop	Spotted Thick-knee
Butorides striata	Groenrugreier	Green-backed Heron
Campethera bennettii	Bennettse speg	Bennett’s Woodpecker
Cecropis cucullata	Grootstreepswael	Greater Striped Swallow
Centropus burchellii	Gewone Vleiloerie	Burchell’s Coucal
Ceryle rudis	Bontvisvanger	Pied Kingfisher
Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus	Gryskopmeeu	Grey-headed Gull
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
Corythornis cristatus	Kuifkopvisvanger	Malachite Kingfisher
Crinifer concolor	Kwevoel	Grey Go-Away Bird
Crithagra gularis	Streepkopkanarie	Streaky-headed Seedeater
Curruca subcoerulea	Bosveldtjeriktik	Chestnut-vented Warbler
Dessonornis caffer	Gewone Janfrederik	Cape Robin-Chat
Dicrurus adsimilis	Mikstertbyvanger	Fork-tailed Drongo
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 biarmicus	Edelvalk	Lanner Falcon
Fulica cristata	Bleshoender	Red-knobbed Coot
Gallinago nigripennis	Afrikaanse Snip	African Snipe
Gallinula chloropus	Grootwaterhoender	Common Moorhen
Hirundo rustica	Europese Swael	Barn Swallow
Icthyophaga vocifer	Visarend	Fish Eagle
Indicator minor	Kleinheuningwyser	Lesser Honeyguide
Jynx ruficollis	Draaihals	Red-throated Wryneck
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
Lophoceros nasutus	Grysneushoringvoel	African Grey Hornbill
Macronyx capensis	Oranjekeel Kalkoentjie	Cape Longclaw
Microcarbo africanus	Rietduiker	Reed Cormorant
Micronisus gabar	Kleinsingvalk	Gabar Goshawk
Motacilla capensis	Gewone Kwikkie	Cape Wagtail
Netta erythrophthalma	Bruineend	Southern Pochard
Numida meleagris	Gewone Tarentaal	Helmeted Guineafowl
Passer diffusus	Gryskopmossie	Southern Grey-headed Sparrow
Passer melanurus	Gewone Mossie	Cape Sparrow
Phalacrocorax lucidus	Witborsduiker	White-breasted Cormorant
Phoeniculus purpureus	Rooibekkakelaar	Green Wood-hoopoe
Platalea alba	Lepelaar	African Spoonbill
Plectropterus gambensis	Wildemakou	Spur-winged Goose
Ploceus capensis	Kaapse Wewer	Cape Weaver
Ploceus velatus	Swartkeelgeelvink	Southern Masked Weaver
Porphyrio madagascariensis	Grootkoningriethaan	African Swamphen
Prinia flavicans	Swartbandlangstertjie	Black-chested Prinia
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
Saxicola torquatus	Gewone Bontrokkie	African Stonechat
Scleroptila gutturalis	Kalaharipatrys	Orange River Francolin
Scleroptila levaillantii	Rooivlerkpatrys	Red-winged Francolin
Sigelus silens	Fiskaalvlieevanger	Fiscal Flycatcher
Spatula hottentota	Gevlekte Eend	Blue-billed Teal
Sphenoeacus afer	Grasvoel	Cape Grassbird
Spilopelia senegalensis	Rooiborsduifie	Laughing Dove
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
Tchagra australis	Rooivlerktjagra	Brown-crowned Tchagra
Telophorus zeylonus	Bokmakierie	Bokmakierie
Threskiornis aethiopicus	Skoorsteenveer	African Sacred Ibis
Trachyphonus vaillantii	Kuifkophoutkapper	Crested Barbet
Turdoides jardineii	Pylvlekkatlagter	Arrow-marked Babbler
Turdus smithi	Geelbeklyster	Karoo Thrush
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

List of mammals seen at Rietvlei Nature Reserve during May 2025:

Scientific	Afrikaans	English
Alcelaphus buselaphus	Rooihartbees	Red Hartebeest
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
Hippopotamus amphibius	Seekoei	Hippopotamus
Kobus ellipsyprymnus	Waterbok	Waterbuck
Leptailurus serval	Tierboskat	Serval
Suricata suricatta	Meerkat	Suricate
Syncerus caffer	Buffel	Cape Buffalo
Taurotragus oryx	Eland	Eland

Long-winged Orange Acraea

Acraea (Hyalites) alalonga

The Long-winged Orange Acraea has a limited distribution, being found only on the Drakensberg escarpment and its foothills from Limpopo to northern Kwazulu-Natal. They inhabit montane grasslands. Adults are seen specifically only in two periods of the year; November to January, and again March to May, and have a wingspan of around 6-7cm. The larvae feed on the leaves of plants from the legume family.

Long-winged Orange Acraea

Giant Waterbug

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Family Belostomatidae

The Giant Waterbugs – the South African species, of which there are 7, grow up to 9cm long! – are fierce insect predators that inhabit well vegetated ponds, marshes and slow-flowing streams. These insects store air in a chamber underneath their wings allowing them to stay submerged while hunting for prey. They’ll catch and devour anything that they can overpower, including insects, tadpoles, frogs and fish. The adults are strong fliers and often attracted to outside lights. In five of the local species the male carries the eggs on his back until the larvae hatch, which is why they’re also called Brooding Waterbugs, while the remaining two species simply attach their eggs to vegetation.

Giant / Wrestling Waterbug (Lethocerus niloticus)

Great Waterbug (Hydrocyrius columbiae)

Orange River Francolin

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Scleroptila gutturalis

The Orange River Francolin is a ground-living bird that inhabits open, flat and often arid grasslands, where it feeds on a wide range of plant material and invertebrates. In South Africa their distribution centres on Gauteng, the Free State and North West, extending marginally into adjacent provinces. On the African continent there’s two widely separated populations, one in Southern Africa and the other in North-East Africa, which are considered by some authorities to be separate species entirely. According to the IUCN the species is of least concern, though agricultural practices may have a severely negative impact on populations in farming areas.

Orange River Francolins are shy birds and difficult to observe, although their loud crowing often gives away their presence. They’re usually seen in pairs – they’re monogamous and territorial – or in small family groups. These francolins may nest at any time of year in response to rainfall, with the female incubating a clutch of up to 8 eggs in a little hollow she scrapes in the ground surrounded by dense grass. The hatchlings emerge after a 3 week incubation and leave the nest soon after. They grow quickly and start making practice flights even before they’re 2 weeks old! Fully grown they measure about 34cm in length and weigh approximately 400g.

Orange River Francolin

Orange River Francolins

Join us on our 2025 Sweni Wilderness Photographic Safari!

Puku

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Today, on Endangered Species Day, we feature another African mammal that isn’t indigenous to South Africa.

Kobus vardonii

The Puku is a medium-sized antelope, with rams standing about 90cm tall at the shoulder and weighing around 75kg. The ewes are considerably smaller. They’re particularly picky about their habitat, always having to be within easy reach of water and preferring the limited areas of grassland wedged between rivers or marshes and the surrounding woodland on higher ground. Pukus are almost exclusively grazing animals and they’re most active at dawn and dusk.

Puku ewes and their lambs live in rather unstable herds numbering up to 50, though usually much smaller, passing through the territories of mature rams which try to keep the herd in his area so he may mate with any receptive females. Rams that aren’t able to compete for territory come together in bachelor herds. Ewes give birth to a single lamb at any time of year, with a peak during the drier months, after an 8 month gestation.

Given a clearly declining and fragmented population the IUCN considers the Puku to be near threatened. The population on the Chobe river floodplain, confined to Botswana’s Chobe National Park, likely numbers less than 200. It was therefore a real thrill for me to see wild Puku on a visit there in 2024, during which these pictures were taken. They’re also found in pockets of Angola, Zambia, the DRC, Malawi and Tanzania.