Despite its name, the Forest Num-num occurs in a wide variety of habitats, ranging from savannas and woodlands to forests. It grows mostly as an evergreen shrub, usually multi-stemmed and often scrambling in growth form, or rarely a small tree of up to 5m tall, covered by sharp, forked spines. The Forest Num-num flowers in Spring and Summer and the berries ripen on the tree from March to October.
The fruit of the Forest Num-num is eaten by humans (even as a jam), primates and birds, and the root is used in traditional medicine as a treatment for toothache. It is a beautiful addition to a garden in frost-free areas, attracting lots of insects and birds, and can be used as a hedge.
In South Africa, the Forest Num-num grows from Cape Town all along the southern coast of the Western and Eastern Cape Provinces, throughout Kwazulu-Natal and the eastern Free State, over most of Gauteng, Mpumalanga and Limpopo. Beyond our borders the Forest Num-num grows as far north as Kenya.
The Karoo Num-num is an evergreen, multi-stemmed and densely branched shrub or small tree growing up to 2m high, covered by multitudes of pronged spines that may be up to 4-5cm long, growing in the Little and Great Karoo and along the lower reaches of the Orange River and its tributaries. The tiny flowers, borne in Spring and Summer, are carried in clusters at the end of the branches. The fruit are similarly tiny – about 5mm in diameter – and are purple to black when ripe (while edible, they will stain your teeth the same colour!).
The Karoo Num-num is used as a fodder plant by game and livestock, especially during periods of drought. Though a slow grower, the plant is a good addition to a water-wise garden due to its drought resistance, and it attracts birds and beneficial insects like bees and butterflies.
Some authorities consider the Karoo Num-num to be the same species as the Forest Num-num, which we’ll be showcasing in the next post onDeWetsWild.
Karoo Num-num flowers
Karoo Num-num blooms
Karoo Num-num fruit
Karoo Num-num thorns
African Small White butterfly on Karoo Num-num flowers
African Small White butterfly on Karoo Num-num flowers
African Small White butterfly on Karoo Num-num flowers
The Eyed Pansy is a widespread butterfly occurring from South Africa (Eastern Cape, Kwazulu-Natal, northern Free State, Gauteng, North West, Mpumalanga and Limpopo), through most of Africa, southern and south-east Asia all the way to Australia. They inhabit grassland and thorny savanna habitats. Adults may be seen at anytime of year, usually in open areas where they fly low and fast, often settling on the same bare patches – its Afrikaans name of “Padwagtertjie” stems from its habit of sitting on road surfaces. The males are territorial and defend their patch vigorously. The sexes are similar in appearance and adults have a wingspan of 4-5cm. The larvae is sustained on a diverse selection of plants.
The Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark occurs from Angola and Zambia to South Africa. In our country they’re mostly found in the drier western reaches (Eastern, Western and Northern Cape, Free State and North West Province) but being highly nomadic, following the rains and resultant grass growth, often appears in other parts of the country as well. They prefer arid open, even bare, plains with scattered vegetation and are frequently seen in recently burnt places and fallow fields. Grey-backed Sparrow-Larks feed mainly on seeds and occasionally small invertebrates, like termites and locust nymphs.
Grey-backed Sparrow-Larks are social birds – they may be encountered in flocks numbering several thousand, though usually much smaller – but form monogamous pairs when breeding. There appears to be no set breeding season in this species and it seems they’re rather opportunistic breeders during periods of good grass growth following good rains. Using dry plant material the female builds a cup-shaped nest on the ground, usually at the base of a shady shrub. Both parents incubate the clutch of 1-5 eggs – which hatch within 11 days – and bring food to the chicks at the nest. The chicks leave the nest at around 10 days of age, although it takes about double that before they can fly. Fully grown they weigh around 17g and measure about 13cm in length.
The Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark is a nomadic bird that inhabits open savannas with short grass and bare patches (especially recently burnt). They feed mainly on seeds, though insects and other invertebrates also feature in their diet and especially so in the breeding season. Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Larks are social and is usually seen in flocks numbering from 5 to 50 and sometimes several hundred individuals. They drink regularly when water is available but also occur far from water.
Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Larks form monogamous pairs in the breeding season, which may be at anytime of year following good rainfall. They build the nest together, using a shallow depression next to a tuft of grass or rock in which to place the cup-shaped nest built with soft plant material. The clutch of 1-3 eggs are incubated by both parents and hatch in less than 2 weeks. The chicks leave the nest when they’re only 2 weeks old and before they’re fully capable of flying. Fully grown they weigh around 22g and measure 13cm in length.
Joubert and I have just returned from a “Dads & Lads” weekend with good friends at the Kudu Private Nature Reserve outside Lydenburg in the Mpumalanga Province. While looking for crickets to use as fishing bait I came across this tiny Incognito Thread Snake underneath a rock.
The Incognito Thread Snake is a harmless and tiny reptile that lives almost exclusively underground, sometimes emerging on the surface during wet weather and then easily confused with an earthworm. They feed on invertebrates, especially termites.
Incognito Thread Snakes grow to about 15cm in length and are thinner than a matchstick. Females lay 3-4 rice-sized eggs that hatch in late summer.
In South Africa the Incognito Thread Snake occurs in Kwazulu-Natal, Mpumalanga and Limpopo Province, and beyond our borders as far as Zambia, Malawi and southern Mozambique. The IUCN considers it to be of least concern.
Earlier this week Joubert and I quickly popped into the hide at the Austin Roberts Memorial Bird Sanctuary while we were whiling away a few minutes before attending to some other (more boring) chores. Despite the cold and overcast weather the little reserve was alive with birds of all description (as it always is!) and again we were amazed that such a precious place still exists inside one of the capital city’s oldest neighbourhoods.
Southern Masked Weaver (photo by Joubert)
Grey Crowned Crane (photo by Joubert)
Yellow-billed Duck (photo by Joubert)
Village Weaver (photo by Joubert)
Yellow-billed Duck (photo by Joubert)
Common Arum Lily (photo by Joubert)
Little Egret (photo by Joubert)
Yellow-billed Duck (photo by Joubert)
Egyptian Goose (photo by Joubert)
Egyptian Goose (photo by Joubert)
Egyptian Goose (photo by Joubert)
The photographs are all courtesy of Joubert, while I was responsible for the videos.
The Marico (or Mariqua) Sunbird is a very active little bird that prefers open savannas dominated by thorn trees, though they’re ever more frequently being seen in parks and suburban gardens. Like other sunbirds their diet consists mainly of nectar and invertebrates.
Marico Sunbirds form monogamous pairs and breed from mid-winter through to late summer. It takes the female about a fortnight to build the pear-shaped nest using spider webs and plant material and then camouflaging it using anything from bark to droppings. She’s also the sole incubator of the clutch, with 1-3 eggs laid and hatched about 2 weeks later. The male only starts helping with the care of the chicks when they fledge, assisting with their feeding for several weeks after the youngsters take to the wing for the first time. Fully grown, Marico Sunbirds weigh around 11g and measure approximately 13cm in length.
One of our very first sightings in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve – shortly after settling in at Ndzhaka Camp – was of two young Leopards. Their mother had caught an antelope for each of them and hoisted these into different trees so that the two cubs could eat in peace. One had a bushbuck, the other an impala. It was amazing being so close to the feeding leopards. They truly are beautiful animals.
Young leopard in Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Young leopard in Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Young leopard in Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Young leopard in Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Young leopard in Manyeleti Nature Reserve
The next afternoon while enjoying our drive from Buffelshoek Camp we eventually found ourselves back at the Leopard sighting just after sunset. Both the cubs were still there – in separate trees – and their mother joined them, snacking on the leftovers of the bushbuck. Below two Spotted Hyenas were waiting for scraps falling from the tree above.
Leopard Cub in Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Leopard Cub in Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Female Leopard feeding on a bushbuck carcass in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Spotted Hyena, Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Getting up close to feeding leopards in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Female Leopard feeding on a bushbuck carcass in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Female Leopard feeding on a bushbuck carcass in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
In the fading light I eventually had to switch to video. The female would stop feeding every now and then, growling ferociously at something unseen in the dense undergrowth. Minutes later the source of her irritation revealed itself as a male Leopard, in all likelihood the father of the cubs. He climbed into the other tree to feed on the remains of the Impala carcass. In 45 years of frequent visits to our wild places I have never seen four leopards in the same spot. An incredible experience, and I hope this video gives you a sense of that!
Heading back to Buffelshoek Camp in the dark we encountered more Spotted Hyenas in the road.
Shortly after leaving Ndzhaka Camp on our first guided morning drive in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve earlier this month, we found a pack of Painted Wolves, better known as African Wild Dogs, in the road. There was great excitement among the younger Dogs in the pack as the adults had just returned to them with meat from a fresh kill, and all of them were in a very playful mood. We got some wonderful photographs and video of the Dogs playing around the vehicles at the sighting.
Wild Dog in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Wild Dog in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Wild Dog in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Wild Dog in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Playful Wild Dog pups in Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Playful Wild Dog pups in Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Playful Wild Dog pups in Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Playful Wild Dog pups in Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Playful Wild Dog pups in Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Playful Wild Dog pups in Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Wild Dog in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
After a while we noticed two Cheetahs walking along the road in our direction, very aware of the Wild Dogs but apparently not fazed enough by them to immediately head for cover.
Two cheetahs walking along the road in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
It didn’t take long for the Wild Dogs to also notice the Cheetahs though, and they immediately set off in their direction.
Wild Dogs running along the road in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Now this is the point where I can kick myself! I thought I was videoing the whole sequence, but in the excitement I never pressed the recording button… Next time I will do better, I promise… As the Wild Dogs trotted ever closer one of the Cheetahs broke cover and charged at them, seemingly thinking that offense is the best defense. The Cheetah was however immediately surrounded by the adult Wild Dogs, hit with its front paws on the ground, hissing and spitting, and then ran through a gap in the Dogs and up a dead tree, where we pick up the action with a photograph or two.
Cheetah after being chased up a tree by Wild Dogs in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Cheetah jumping out of the tree
With the Dogs satisfied that they’ve given the Cheetahs a run for their money and setting of on another hunt, we followed the now reunited Cheetahs for a while until they moved into dense cover where we lost sight of them. By then, the Wild Dogs had also ventured further into the bush and out of sight.
Cheetahs in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Cheetahs in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
Cheetah in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve
African Wild Dogs can cover enormous distances, and we found the pack again that afternoon, this time on a drive from Buffelshoek Camp. In the heat of the afternoon they were a lot less energetic and more content lazing in the shade at the side of the road than hunting.
DeWetsWild 