The Cape Snow, or White Everlasting, when flowering is one of the most conspicuous plants from South Africa’s fynbos biome, growing in well-drained sandy or rocky soils from the Cape Peninsula to the area of George in the Garden Route. The plants have a very dense growth form up to 1m tall and grow rapidly from seeds after a fire, forming thick stands of plants that flower profusely from October to January and make for beautiful scenery. The tiny purplish flowers, located on a disk surrounded by the eye-catchingly bright white bracts, are pollinated by several kinds of beetles and the inflorescences last for a very long time, even after being cut. Within about 7 years the plants start dying; by then the surrounding vegetation has grown taller than it already and they’re no longer as obviously seen. The seeds then remain dormant in the ground until a fire restarts the process. Cape Snow flowers are used commercially, being popular in flower arrangements (and often dyed different colours).
Bontebok lying in a sea of Cape Snow
Rich floral diversity at the Cape of Good Hope – these white flowers are known as Cape Snow (Syncarpha vestita)
Rich floral diversity at the Cape of Good Hope – these white flowers are known as Cape Snow (Syncarpha vestita)
Rich floral diversity at the Cape of Good Hope – these white flowers are known as Cape Snow (Syncarpha vestita)
A butterfly of coastal and riverine forests, the Soldier Pansy is restricted to suitable parts of Kwazulu-Natal and the Lowveld and escarpment of Mpumalanga and Limpopo (as far as its local distribution is concerned). Adults have a wingspan of up to 6cm and can be seen throughout the year, though their numbers peak in spring and autumn. They fly slowly through shady clearings and along pathways and settle often, usually on a leaf just above ground level.
Surprisingly common for a bird occurring in arid scrubland and grasslands, often in rocky or gravelly places, the Karoo Chat subsists on a diet of insects foraged on the ground. They’re usually encountered singly, in pairs or small family groups and normally stay well clear of areas of human habitation, in contrast with its better known cousin, the Familiar Chat.
The female takes sole responsibility for building the deep cup-shaped nest, using twigs and sticks, at the base of a shrub, the task taking her about a week to complete. Clutches of 2-4 eggs may be laid at any time of year, especially in response to unseasonal rainfall, but nesting usually takes place in spring and summer. Pairs are monogamous and territorial throughout the year, and both parents take care of the chicks. Fully grown Karoo Chats measure around 17cm in length and weigh about 32g.
The Four-colour Nudibranch is a shell-less mollusc found naturally along the South African coast, but has also been recorded as an exotic alien in Australia and the Mediterranean, where it is thought they were transported to by commercial shipping. They live from the intertidal zone to a depth of up to 20m. Their cerata – the “horns” covering the 4cm long body in bold warning colours – are tipped with stinging nematocysts, which the slug uses to protect itself. These slugs are predators, feeding on other nudibranchs, hydrozoa and other small organisms, while also probably feeding on the remains of dead vertebrates. Like other slugs and snails they are hermaphrodites and produce masses of eggs that hatch within 4 days of being fertilized (internally) and laid.
While visiting with Marilize’s parents in Jeffreys Bay over the New Year we came across this beautiful slug in a rock pool at the main beach. I think its natural beauty is further enhanced by the multitude of colourful shell shards surrounding it in these pictures.
The Lark-like Bunting is a rather inconspicuous seed-eating bird that inhabits arid shrub- and grasslands and savannas. This species is highly nomadic, travelling over extensive areas in response to localised rainfall and increased food abundance. Being social birds they often congregate in enormous flocks numbering in the thousands, and regularly mix with other seed-eating birds (such as finch-larks, canaries, sparrows and buntings). They appear to need regular access to water and are seldom found far from waterholes.
Lark-like Buntings breed in response to rainfall with a peak in spring and summer, when monogamous pairs produce clutches of 2-4 eggs incubated for a two-week period in untidy cup-shaped nests built on the ground at the base of a rock or shrub. The chicks leave the nest when they’re about two weeks old. Fully grown they measure 15cm in length and weigh around 15g.
African Dawn Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary, in the Thornhill area west of Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), developed from one man’s love of birds, taking in injured and orphaned wild birds and unwanted pet birds to look after them. Soon other animals were also ending up at Percy Hickman’s door, and in 1997 the numbers grew to such an extent that his sanctuary was opened to the public in order to help subsidize the cost of food and medical care for the animals. There’s a small restaurant on site as well as ample space for family picnics.
Hundreds of animals have passed through the sanctuary and been released back into the wild, but of course there are some that are either too badly impacted to be returned to the wild, or are exotic to our country, and these are housed in the sanctuary’s excellent facilities. Casual visitors are not allowed to pet or otherwise interact with the animals in their enclosures, but for people with time, effort and expertise to offer African Dawn has a well established volunteer programme in support of their conservation efforts.
African Dawn Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary
African Dawn Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary
Southern African Ground Squirrel
Namaqua Sandgrouse
Male Yellow-throated Sandgrouse
Hen and chicks pecking up crumbs at our picnic table
Indian Peacock
Indian Peafowl hen (photo by Joubert)
Indian Peafowl chick
Blue Duiker
Blue Duiker
Grey Crowned Crane
Blue Crane
Blue crane chick
Ostrich nest
Suni (photo by Joubert)
Common, or Grey, Duiker
Leprous Grasshopper
Serval (captive, photo by Joubert)
Cheetah
A one time cattle farm, most of African Dawn’s property is today a beautiful nature reserve where several kinds of animals indigenous to South Africa roam freely. Visitors traverse this section of the sanctuary in the comfort of their own vehicle, or along a hiking trail (advance booking is required for the latter). A wonderful feature at regular intervals along the drive is the signboards providing interesting information about the animals visitors pass on their way. Obviously the reserve staff know which areas the various animals prefer, as we encountered several species within view of the sign dedicated to them.
African Dawn Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary
African Dawn Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary
African Dawn Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary
Along the game drive route in African Dawn Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary there’s interesting signboards like these giving visitors more information about the animals they’re seeing
Looking for an interesting day out while visiting PE and surrounds? You can’t go wrong with a visit to African Dawn Bird & Wildlife Sanctuary, and you will be supporting them in their important work.
The Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area is a collaboration among 25 different landowners and the community of Elim to protect their irreplaceable 460km² slice of the Agulhas Plain in the Overberg region of the Western Cape Province. By successfully marrying conservation and sustainable farming practices since 2002 this driven group of people is simultaneously protecting the complex ecosystem that sustains their livelihoods and doing their part to keep food on South African tables. The indigenous vegetation of the SMA is characterised as Lowland Fynbos, with around 1,850 species occurring here. Remaining pockets of this threatened plant community have been connected through corridors between the agricultural fields and invasive alien plants are continuously eradicated. Animals that were hunted to local extinction 150-200 years ago, among them buffalo, hippo, bontebok and eland, have been re-introduced, and the reserve already has a list of over 230 bird species that’ve been recorded.
Nuwejaars Wetland Special Management Area
Nuwejaars Wetland Special Management Area
Driving through the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area
Waskraalvlei in the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area
Waskraalvlei in the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area
Unidentified little bloom emerging on the bank of the Waskraalvlei
Nuwejaars Wetland Special Management Area
A view over the Waskraalvlei in the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area
Pincushion
Lowland Fynbos on the Agulhas Plain
Protea
Brunia
Brunia
Canola field
Nuwejaars Wetland
An excellent way to experience the Nuwejaars Wetland is by joining one of the guided wildlife tours the organisation offers in the summer months. We did just that in December and were taken on a drive along the banks of the Waskraalvlei and onto the hill that looks out over it by Eugene Hahndiek, the SMA’s Conservation Manager for Game & Veld Management. So rich was the experience of sights, smells and sounds, not forgetting the fascinating information about the reserve, farms and ecology that Eugene shared with us, that we’ll definitely never travel through this area again without booking another tour. And as soon as DeWetsWild starts guided itineraries we’ll definitely include it in the package too. Anyone with a love for nature will come away from the 3-hour experience with a deep appreciation for the scale and importance of what the Nuwejaars Wetlands Special Management Area is trying to achieve.
Black-headed Heron
Spurwinged Geese flying over the Nuwejaars Wetland (photo by Joubert)
Kittlitz’s Plover
Red Hartebeest
African Fish Eagle in flight over the Nuwejaars Wetland
Cape Sugarbird (photo by Joubert)
Orange-breasted Sunbird on a Pincushion flower
Fallow Deer are exotics that roam widely over the Overberg landscape
Black-winged Kite using a fence to look for rodents in a canola field
African Marsh Harrier coursing over a canola field
African Marsh Harrier coursing over a canola field (photo by Joubert)
Cape Spurfowl
Herd of Black Wildebeest
Herd of Springbok
Blue cranes with their chick
Agulhas Long-billed Lark
Bontebok
Black Wildebeest race
Bontebok on the run
Yellow-billed Kite
One of the most inspiring projects that the NWSMA is involved in involves the breeding of zebras that resemble the extinct quagga (Equus quagga quagga), the southernmost subspecies of the plains zebra that was hunted to extinction in the late 1870’s, with the last specimen of this uniquely South African species of horse, a mare, dying in distant Amsterdam Zoo in 1883. Over a century later however it was realised, through DNA analysis, that the quagga was a localised race of the still extant plains zebra, and the Quagga Project came into being to try and bring them back through selective breeding. With each subsequent generation showing more and more quagga-like characteristics, one day we may again see true-to-form quaggas roaming their native country in vast numbers. At this point, the Nuwejaars Wetland boasts three viable breeding herds of remarkably quagga-like zebras, and seeing them was a highlight of our visit.
Bachelor “quaggas” at the Nuwejaars Wetlands
Bachelor “quagga” at the Nuwejaars Wetlands
Three bachelor “quaggas” at the Nuwejaars Wetlands
A herd of “quaggas” mixing with buffaloes – a sight not seen in this part of the world for hundreds of years!
A herd of “quaggas” mixing with buffaloes – a sight not seen in this part of the world for hundreds of years!
A herd of “quaggas” mixing with buffaloes – a sight not seen in this part of the world for hundreds of years!
A herd of “quaggas” mixing with buffaloes – a sight not seen in this part of the world for hundreds of years!
Three of the Nuwejaar’s Wetland’s prized “quaggas”
Three of the Nuwejaar’s Wetland’s prized “quaggas”
At 360km² in extent, De Hoop Nature Reserve is one of the largest conservation areas in our Western Cape Province. The reserve came into existence in 1957 following the purchase of the first two farms for the breeding of rare wildlife species. With the value of the reserve in protecting the ever more threatened biodiversity of the region realised, more land was continually added to its territory until 1991. In addition, a marine reserve extending 5km into the Indian Ocean along De Hoop’s 57km long protected coastline was declared in 1986. De Hoop is included in the Cape Floral Region World Heritage Site, inscribed in 2004.
The reserve protects extensive tracts of Fynbos heathland vegetation growing on plains and low lying limestone ridges, much transformed by agricultural activities outside the reserve, an immense 14km long wetland known as De Hoop Vlei, substantial dune fields and long white beaches interspersed by rocky shores. Of the roughly 1,500 plant species that occur in the area at least 40 species, and probably more, occur only in De Hoop. Including marine species, De Hoop and the adjacent marine reserve is home to 86 mammal species (including the largest single population of Bontebok anywhere in the world), 49 kinds of reptiles, 14 kinds of frogs and toads, at least 250 kinds of saltwater fish and more than 260 bird species – including the southernmost breeding colony of vultures (Cape Vultures) on the continent.
De Hoop Nature Reserve
Male Ostrich
Grey Rhebok (Bontebok in background)
Ostrich female with chicks
Eland
Cape Hare
Bontebok
Bokmakierie
Common Fiscal
Bontebok (photo by Joubert)
Cape Sugarbird
Cape Mountain Zebra
Cattle Egrets
White-throated Canary
Capped Wheatear
Cape Mountain Zebras
Namaqua Sandgrouse pair
Cape Mountain Zebras
Chacma Baboon
Conebush
Grey-backed Cisticola
Cape Mountain Zebra
Cape Spurfowl
African Spoonbill (photo by Joubert)
African Pipit (photo by Joubert)
Secretary Bird
Large-billed Lark
Cape Spurfowl (photo by Joubert)
Small herd of Grey Rhebok being accompanied by a female ostrich
Eland
Southern Rock Agama
Young Baboon
The De Hoop Vlei is an immense wetland fed by the Sout (Salt) River, cut off from the sea by a 2km wide field of white sand dunes. The vlei hosts an enormous number and variety of water birds.
View over De Hoop Vlei at Tierhoek
Black-crowned Night Heron
Tropical Bluetail damselfly
Dwarf Blue (photo by Joubert)
Male Ostriches
De Hoop Nature Reserve
De Hoop Vlei
De Hoop Vlei
Cape Shovelers
Great Crested Grebes
Red-knobbed Coots
Cape Shovelers
Southern Pochard (photo by Joubert)
Eland
Koppie Alleen is the most easily accessible beach in De Hoop Nature Reserve, and one of the most reliable spots in the country to watch Southern Right Whales which come here to calf and mate between June and November every year. Intertidal life thrives in the rock pools with their clear water – perfect for snorkeling – and the walk down to the beach from the parking area allows visitors to revel in the sight and smell of the fynbos vegetation.
The road to Koppie Alleen follows a line of partially vegetated, pure white sand dunes
Koppie Alleen
Diverse Fynbos vegetation on the slope at Koppie Alleen
One of around 1,500 Fynbos plant species finding protection at De Hoop
One of around 1,500 Fynbos plant species finding protection at De Hoop
Koppie Alleen
Koppie Alleen
African Oystercatcher (photo by Joubert)
Koppie Alleen Beach in De Hoop Nature Reserve
Rock pool – complete with whale rib – at Koppie Alleen
Koppie Alleen
White-breasted Cormorants
Grey-backed Cisticola
Koppie Alleen Beach in De Hoop Nature Reserve
The De Hoop Nature Reserve is managed by CapeNature and DeWetsWild can assist you with bookings in the accommodation and camping at Die Opstal (main camp) and Die Melkkamer across the vlei. It is wonderful to see wild animals and birds so tamely moving among the human visitors as here at De Hoop. There’s a restaurant and gift shop at the main accommodation complex, and fuel and supplies can be obtained in one of the nearby towns. Visitors to the western portion of the reserve have access to a limited gravel road network linking the entrance gate to the main visitor complex, the picnic area at Tierhoek, a couple of viewpoints over the wetland at De Mond, and Koppie Alleen. For the more energetic there’s numerous hiking and mountain bike trails leading from the main complex. Guided drives, walks and boat trips are also on offer.
View coming from Tierhoek towards Die Opstal
De Hoop Vlei seen from Die Opstal camp
Cape Mountain Zebra in the Opstal Camp
Bontebok lamb
Accommodation at Die Opstal in De Hoop Nature Reserve
Accommodation at Die Opstal in De Hoop Nature Reserve
Restaurant at Die Opstal in De Hoop Nature Reserve
Accommodation at Die Opstal in De Hoop Nature Reserve
Boat trips are available on the De Hoop Vlei
Cape Mountain Zebra in the Opstal Camp
The Potberg section of the reserve, about 20km away from the main complex, was incorporated into the reserve in 1978 and is a popular day hiking destination. Potberg is also the starting point for the very popular Whale Trail, taking hikers through beautiful mountain, fynbos and seaside scenery for 55km over five nights (spent in well equipped and recently upgraded accommodation) before ending at Koppie Alleen. An environmental education centre at Potberg caters to the needs of visiting school groups and youth clubs. The breeding colony of Cape Vultures on the Potberg Mountain is the last of its kind in the Western Cape and the enormous birds can usually be seen flying overhead.
Bontebok
Start of the hiking trails at Potberg
Baboons on the roof of the reception office at Potberg
Cape Vulture in flight
Cape Vultures and White-necked Ravens near Potberg
Bontebok herd (photo by Joubert)
Seeing that it was simply too hot to go hiking while we were at Postberg but it was still too early to head back to our farm cottage at Aloe Canyons, we decided to go and check out one of the other nearby attractions in the Overberg – one of the very few pontoon ferries still operating in South Africa, the one across the Breede River at Malgas.
The Pontoon Ferry over the Breede River at Malgas
The Pontoon Ferry over the Breede River at Malgas
Location of De Hoop Nature Reserve, roughly 260km (3 hours) east of Cape Town
Betty’s Bay is a quaint seaside village on South Africa’s south-western coastline, about 90km from Cape Town (part of the route follows the scenically spectacular R44 Clarence Drive along the False Bay coastline, offering superb whale-watching at the right time of year). The town’s most endearing residents – African Penguins – have lived at this address since 1982 in one of just three mainland breeding colonies of these charismatic birds. What used to be the Waaygat Whaling Station until the mid-1900’s is now the Stony Point Nature Reserve, a haven for not only the penguins but many other species of wildlife as well. Of archeological interest at Stony Point is a midden of abalone shells indicative of the lifestyle of Khoisan people dating back to before colonial times.
Stony Point Nature Reserve
Stony Point Nature Reserve
Looking out towards and beyond the watch tower that served the Waaygat Whaling Station
Looking out towards the watch tower that served the Waaygat Whaling Station
Stony Point Nature Reserve
Stony Point Nature Reserve
The stars of this show is undoubtedly the African Penguins, with about 2,000 breeding pairs of these endangered birds now at home here. The management authority have provided artificial nests made of fibreglass to the penguins as the site does not yet have the deep deposit of guano that penguins require to dig their nest burrows as is their natural habit.
African Penguins at Stony Point Nature Reserve
African Penguins at Stony Point Nature Reserve (photo by Joubert)
Young African Penguin at Stony Point Nature Reserve (photo by Joubert)
African Penguin at Stony Point Nature Reserve
African Penguins at Stony Point Nature Reserve
Moulting African Penguin at Stony Point Nature Reserve
African Penguins at Stony Point Nature Reserve
African Penguins at Stony Point Nature Reserve
African Penguin at Stony Point Nature Reserve
African Penguins at Stony Point Nature Reserve
African Penguins at Stony Point Nature Reserve
African Penguins at Stony Point Nature Reserve
African Penguin at Stony Point Nature Reserve (photo by Joubert)
African Penguin at Stony Point Nature Reserve
African Penguin at Stony Point Nature Reserve
African Penguin at Stony Point Nature Reserve
Besides the penguins four species of cormorant breed on the rocks of Stony Point, while many other kinds of sea, shore and land birds also find a home here and dassies, lizards and agamas vie for position to bathe in the sun on the rocks.
Egyptian Goose (photo by Joubert)
Cape Cormorants at Stony Point
Cape Cormorants at Stony Point
Cape Cormorants at Stony Point
Cape Cormorants at Stony Point
Cape Cormorants at Stony Point
Cape Girdled Lizard
Cape Girdled Lizard
Southern Rock Agama female
Cattle Egret
Cape Girdled Lizard
Southern Rock Agama male
Karoo Prinia
Rock Dassie (or Hyrax)
Rock Dassie (or Hyrax)
The Stony Point Nature Reserve is managed by CapeNature. An enclosed walkway leading through the colony, with informative displays along the way, allows visitors to view the penguins and other wildlife at close quarters without disturbing them. At the entrance to the walkway is a very popular restaurant operated by a local community organisation.
The Eastern Grey Squirrel is not indigenous to South Africa. It was imported from North America to the city of Cape Town, by way of Great Britain, in the late 1890’s. Thankfully it has not spread much further than Cape Town’s suburbs and surrounding towns in the years since, as it relies on the nuts of plants like oaks and pines that also are not found naturally in this country. In addition they’ve been recorded feeding on cultivated fruits from orchards and gardens, fungi, insects and eggs.
Eastern Grey Squirrels are usually encountered alone or as small family groups. They nest in holes in trees or construct their own nests – called dreys – in the forks of branches. While they’re very agile in trees they often forage on the ground. They’re also well known for hoarding food stores by burying it for later consumption. Litters of 1-4 kits are born at anytime of year and leave the nest when they’re about 2 months old. In the wild they may live to about 8 years old, though most die within two years of birth. Adults weigh around 550g and measure between 40 and 50cm in length, of which the tail accounts for roughly half.
Eastern Grey Squirrel at the Tokai Picnic Site (photo by Joubert)
Eastern Grey Squirrel at the Tokai Picnic Site (photo by Joubert)
Eastern Grey Squirrel at the Tokai Picnic Site
Eastern Grey Squirrel at the Tokai Picnic Site
Eastern Grey Squirrel at the Tokai Picnic Site
Eastern Grey Squirrel at the Tokai Picnic Site
Eastern Grey Squirrel at the Tokai Picnic Site
Eastern Grey Squirrel at the Tokai Picnic Site
Eastern Grey Squirrel at the Tokai Picnic Site
Eastern Grey Squirrel at the Tokai Picnic Site
One of the very best places to see these critters locally are in the Tokai Plantation, a spacious picnic area managed as part of the Table Mountain National Park.
Cecil John Rhodes, the man responsible for establishing the Eastern Grey Squirrel (and Chaffinch and Common Starling) in South Africa, is a controversial figure. A staunch proponent of British imperialism, he amassed an enormous fortune here at the southern end of Africa. As this isn’t a political blog we won’t delve into his legacy any further, but whether you despise or admire the man you cannot help but be impressed by the magnificent memorial erected for him on the slopes of Devil’s Peak (inside the Table Mountain National Park) in Cape Town after his death at the rather young age of 48 in 1902.
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