Category Archives: Guided Tours

July ’25 update from Rietvlei Nature Reserve

June and July was busy months for me and there wasn’t much opportunity to guide walks and drives at Rietvlei Nature Reserve the past two months. Still, on the few occasions I could, we had marvelous sightings even if the winter weather was bitterly cold!

Spotted-necked Otter

Malachite Kingfisher

African Darter

White-breasted Cormorants

Island View at Rietvlei in the early morning

Sacred Ibis

Dabchick

Sacred Ibis

White-breasted Cormorant

Grey-headed Gull

Reed Cormorant

Greater Flamingo

Egyptian Goose

Reed Cormorant

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Red-knobbed Coot

Reed Cormorant

Crimson-breasted Shrike

Malachite Kingfisher

Wattled Lapwing

Spotted Dikkop

African Stone-chat

Common Duiker

Cape Glossy Starling

Yellow-eyed Canary

Ring-necked Parakeet

Black Sparrowhawk with a dove it killed being mobbed by a Pied Crow

Black Sparrowhawk with a dove it killed

Young Buffalo

Red Hartebeest

Island View Hide

African Stone-chat

Reed Cormorant

Buffalo bull

Crimson-breasted Shrike

Frost covering a wooden railing

Blesbok

African Pipit

Ostriches

Buffalo bull

Young buffalo

Waterbuck bull

Black-chested Prinia

Arrow-marked Babbler

Blesbok

Buffalo bull

White Rhino’s ear

Yellow-billed Duck

Green-backed Heron

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 June & July 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 undulata	Geelbekeend	Yellow-billed Duck
Anhinga rufa	Slanghalsvoel	African Darter
Anthus cinnamomeus	Gewone Koester	African Pipit
Ardea melanocephala	Swartkopreier	Black-headed Heron
Ardeola ralloides	Ralreier	Squacco Heron
Astur melanoleucus	Swartsperwer	Black Sparrowhawk
Bostrychia hagedash	Hadeda	Hadeda Ibis
Burhinus capensis	Gewone Dikkop	Spotted Thick-knee
Butorides striata	Groenrugreier	Green-backed Heron
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 fulvicapilla	Neddikkie	Neddicky
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 mozambica	Geeloogkanarie	Yellow-fronted Canary
Curruca subcoerulea	Bosveldtjeriktik	Chestnut-vented Warbler
Dendrocygna viduata	Nonnetjie-eend	White-faced Whistling Duck
Dendropicos fuscescens	Kardinaalspeg	Cardinal Woodpecker
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 orix	Rooivink	Southern Red Bishop
Euplectes progne	Langstertflap	Longtailed Widowbird
Fulica cristata	Bleshoender	Red-knobbed Coot
Gallinago nigripennis	Afrikaanse Snip	African Snipe
Gallinula chloropus	Grootwaterhoender	Common Moorhen
Icthyophaga vocifer	Visarend	Fish Eagle
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
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
Passer diffusus	Gryskopmossie	Southern Grey-headed Sparrow
Passer melanurus	Gewone Mossie	Cape Sparrow
Phalacrocorax lucidus	Witborsduiker	White-breasted Cormorant
Phoenicopterus roseus	Grootflamink	Greater Flamingo
Phoeniculus purpureus	Rooibekkakelaar	Green Wood-hoopoe
Platalea alba	Lepelaar	African Spoonbill
Ploceus capensis	Kaapse Wewer	Cape Weaver
Ploceus velatus	Swartkeelgeelvink	Southern Masked Weaver
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
Saxicola torquatus	Gewone Bontrokkie	African Stonechat
Sigelus silens	Fiskaalvlieevanger	Fiscal Flycatcher
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
Telophorus zeylonus	Bokmakierie	Bokmakierie
Threskiornis aethiopicus	Skoorsteenveer	African Sacred Ibis
Turdoides jardineii	Pylvlekkatlagter	Arrow-marked Babbler
Turdus smithi	Geelbeklyster	Karoo Thrush
Vanellus armatus	Bontkiewiet	Blacksmith Lapwing
Vanellus coronatus	Kroonkiewiet	Crowned Lapwing
Vanellus senegallus	Lelkiewiet	Wattled Lapwing
Zapornia flavirostra	Swartriethaan	Black Crake
Zosterops virens	Kaapse Glasogie	Cape White-eye

List of mammals seen at Rietvlei Nature Reserve during June & July 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
Hydrictis maculicollis	Kleinotter	Spotted-necked Otter
Kobus ellipsyprymnus	Waterbok	Waterbuck
Sylvicapra grimmia	Grysduiker	Common Duiker
Syncerus caffer	Buffel	Cape Buffalo
Taurotragus oryx	Eland	Eland

A hard day’s work in Dinokeng

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Last week we had opportunity for a quick day visit to the Dinokeng Game Reserve and thankfully the chilly winter weather let up for a little while, allowing us to spend the day in the great outdoors, exploring the only game reserve where the “Big 5” roam freely within our home province of Gauteng, while also getting a bit of work done.

Southern Pied Babblers

Blue Wildebeest

Coqui Francolin

Kudu bull

Magpie Shrike

Kudu cow

Kudu bull

Kudu cow

Black Springbok

“Standard” Springbok

White Springbok

Grey Go-away Bird

Blue Wildebeest

Warthog

Larry’s Dam

Burnt-necked Eremomela

Giraffe

Purple Heron

Stream crossing in Dinokeng

Nyala

Kalahari Scrub Robin

White Rhinos

Stream crossing in Dinokeng

Elephant bull

Pienaars River

Pienaars River in Dinokeng

The reason for our trip to Dinokeng Game Reserve was an introductory visit to Ngata Safari Lodge, the newest addition to DeWetsWild’s portfolio of wild destinations that we offer a reservation service for and that we can use as base for our guided tours. Ngata is a small venue inside the reserve and less than an hour’s drive from our home in Pretoria, offering safari-style tents with en-suite bathrooms – the epitome of “glamping” – and breakfast included in the rate. There is also camping sites where you can pitch your own tent or caravan and use either private or communal ablution blocks. On site there is a restaurant, function venue, boma and swimming pool. We were very impressed with Ngata’s facilities and personnel and if you’d like to book a visit don’t hesitate to reach out – you will probably run into us there one day soon!

Safari-style tent at Ngata Safari Lodge

The tents are equipped with double beds

and en-suite bathroom with wc, bath and shower!

Camping site at Ngata

Communal ablution block

The finest views are from campsite 1, which has its own private bathroom

Ngata’s boma is ideal for fireside get-togethers

Ngata’s function venue

Manyeleti Magic 2025: Day 5 (16 June)

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It always astounds me just how quickly time goes by when we’re out in South Africa’s wild places, and our June 2025 Manyeleti Magic photo-safari and workshop, hosted in conjunction with Hannes Rossouw Photography at Buffelshoek in the Manyeleti Nature Reserve, was no exception. All too soon our final morning arrived and we had just one more drive from camp to enjoy with our guests before everyone headed home again.

Early morning light reveals a herd of elephants

Still excited about the amazing photo-session with the cheetah-family the previous afternoon we opted to go looking for them again, and found them up another termite mound from where they were surveying their Lowveld home for prey and danger. Two spotted hyenas were also hanging around, hoping to get an easy meal if the devoted cheetah mother made a kill. The cubs were in a playful mood and practiced their hunting strides on each other and even occasionally on the hyenas, giving us a lot of entertainment.

Cheetah cubs

Cheetah cubs – there’s always that one in a family photo that has their eyes closed!

Cheetah cubs

Cheetah cub

Cheetah cubs

Cheetah female

Spotted Hyena

Cheetah family

Cheetah family watching the hyena closely

Cheetah family

Cheetah cub

Cheetah cubs

Cheetah female

Cheetah cub

Cheetah female

Cheetah cubs

Cheetah cub

Cheetah cubs

Soon after leaving the cheetahs we found a herd of elephant at a nearby waterhole – drinking elephants always make for interesting photographs!

Elephants at the waterhole

By now it was time to start making our way back to Buffelshoek for breakfast, but a tree full of vultures distracted us. Nearing the spot the vultures took flight – great for attempting some pictures of them in the air – and then we noticed two magnificent male lions walking around in circles around the area, smelling and marking as they went. It was obvious that the two shared a close bond and woe to the interlopers that try to muscle in on their territory!

White-backed vulture in flight

Lion male

Lion males

Lion male at Manyeleti

Lion male marking territory

Lion male

Lion males

Lion male

Lion males

Lion male

Lion males

A small herd of plains zebra and blue wildebeest were our final sighting before arriving back at camp after yet another exhilarating drive.

Plains Zebras

Blue Wildebeest

Plains Zebra

After a final scrumptious breakfast it was time to say goodbye to the management and staff of Buffelshoek who took care of us so wonderfully the past couple of days. On the way to the gate, and home beyond that, Manyeleti had a final gift for us – another encounter with the cheetah family pacing through the veld!

Cheetah female

Cheetah cubs

Manyeleti certainly delivered the magic again! Hannes and I will be hosting two photo-safari workshops at Buffelshoek again in 2026, in June and September – do get in touch with us to keep a spot for you!

Manyeleti Magic 2025: Day 4 (15 June)

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Our first early morning sighting, of a little Crowned Lapwing chick, shortly after setting out from Buffelshoek was quite suprising, considering how dark and cold it was for the little one to be venturing out from underneath his mother’s wing!

Crowned Lapwing chick

Soon afterwards the sun was rising beautifully over the Lowveld horizon and we couldn’t resist parking and watching in awe as the rich colours tinted the sky, nor could we resist attempting to capture it with our cameras.

Manyeleti sunrise

A pack of spotted hyenas lounging at a waterhole was our first predator sighting of the morning. In the waterhole a hamerkop was trying to catch frogs, not in the least worried about the hyenas all around.

Spotted Hyena

Spotted Hyenas

Spotted Hyena

Hamerkop

Our next sighting of note was of a breeding herd of elephants accompanied by a very impressive tusker.

Impressive Tusker

Elephant family

Baby elephant

Of course we also saw many other kinds of birds and animals on our morning excursion before getting back to Buffelshoek, where three elephant bulls visited the local waterhole just after we finished breakfast.

Lilac-breasted Roller

Magpie Shrike

Grey Go-away Bird

Rattling Cisticola

Kudu cow

Kudu bull

Giraffe

Elephant bulls

Elephant bull

Our afternoon drive delivered spectacularly again when an off-duty guide sent word of a female cheetah with four cubs, about 7 months old, just a short drive from Buffelshoek. When we arrived at the spot the family lay claim to a termite mound from which they could keep an eye out for both prey and danger. Apparently just the day before we arrived in Manyeleti the mother was hurt in a fight with a leopard and the wounds were still evident on her right front leg, though it didn’t appear to have caused her too much discomfort and she is expected to make a full recovery.

Cheetah Cub

Cheetah Cubs

Cheetah Family

Cheetah Cub

Cheetah Family

Cheetah Cub

Cheetah female

Cheetah Cub

Cheetah female

Cheetah Cub

Cheetah female

With Buffelshoek being so far from all the other lodges in Manyeleti we had the beautiful cheetah family all to ourselves for a considerable time, and by the time vehicles from other lodges joined the sighting we had taken more than our fair share of photographs. We could therefore move on to another of Manyeleti’s special corners, a tranquil spot next to a stretch of water where we could enjoy our sundowners being watched – and serenaded – by hippos!

Grey Heron

Being watched by a hippo

Manyeleti sunset

Back at Buffelshoek my new Scops Owl friend was calling from early on. What a way to end another day in wild Africa…

Scops Owl

In the next post we’ll show you everything we encountered on the final morning of our 2025 Manyeleti Magic photo-safari and workshop. The 2026 dates are yet to be confirmed, but do get in touch with us to keep a spot for you!

Manyeleti Magic 2025: Day 3 (14 June)

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Out again in the morning dark on day 3 of our 2025 Manyeleti Magic photographic safari and workshop our first notable encounter was with a black-backed jackal just a few minutes after starting our drive. Ever the opportunist this one was trotting along a patch of burnt grass looking for a quick morsel.

Black-backed Jackal

Sunrise in the Lowveld is usually very inspiring and that certainly was the case this morning. A herd of elephant crossing the road in front of us at the right time simply added to the magic!

Sunrise over Manyeleti

Elephants at sunrise

A beautiful stretch of water in Manyeleti Nature Reserve

We soon arrived at the spot where we found the hidden lion cubs the previous afternoon, and now the whole family was together – the six cubs, their three mothers and the pride male. The focus on our photographic workshops are to spend as much time at quality sightings as we can; good light and interesting subjects being much more to the liking of our group of photographers than was covering lots of ground to take in as many sightings and as much of the scenery as is possible in a limited time. Our participants were able to play around with all kinds of camera setting-combinations, aided by Hannes’ expert advice, and with the cubs being much more boisterous now under the safe supervision of their parents than the previous day there certainly was lots to keep the cameras clicking!

Lion family

Lion cub

Lioness

Lion cub

Squabbling lion cubs

Lion cub

Lion cub and mom

Lion family

The proud Lion father

Lion family

Suckling lion cubs

Eventually we had to head back to Buffelshoek for breakfast, and another session of bird photography from the camp’s elevated deck before lunch.

Red-billed Hornbills

Pearl-spotted Owlet trying to hide

Pearl-spotted Owlet in flight

Red-billed Hornbill

Our afternoon drive, extending after dark, was filled to the brim with exciting sightings! White rhinos, a side-striped jackal, a male lion on a mission and a hasty hippopotamus all put in appearances.

White Rhino

Side-striped Jackal

Lion on a mission

Hippopotamus

Our expert tracker Elvis is extremely skilled at picking up chameleons in the spotlight, and this gave us a chance to marvel at this fascinating creature from up close.

Flap-necked Chameleon

Back at camp we were serenaded by an African Scops Owl, who even followed me back to my tent when it was time to turn in!

African scops owl

In the next post we’ll show you everything we encountered on day 4 of our 2025 Manyeleti Magic photo-safari and workshop. The 2026 dates are yet to be confirmed, but do get in touch with us to keep a spot for you!

Manyeleti Magic 2025: Day 2 (13 June)

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Your day starts early on a wildlife photo-safari through the Manyeleti Nature Reserve with DeWetsWild and Hannes Rossouw Photography. Coffee and rusks await our early-rising guests in the dining room at Buffelshoek around 15 minutes before we head out in the morning, which is usually about 30 minutes before first light.

Out in South Africa’s wild places an early start is handsomely rewarded more often than not. On our first morning drive our second animal sighting after leaving camp, the Lowveld still shrouded in darkness, was a male cheetah. Eventually we spent about 90 minutes following him through the veld while he was patrolling and marking his territory and making several (unsuccessful) hunting attempts on duiker and impala. Thrilling stuff!

Cheetah male at Manyeleti

The rest of our morning excursion gave us many opportunities to point our cameras at various kinds of birds and animals before we arrived back at camp.

Lilac-breasted Roller

Elephant bull in musth

Elephant Bull in Manyeleti

Some elephants came so close to us that we noticed the hair around their ear openings!

Elephant bull

Brown Snake Eagle

The break between breakfast and lunch was the prefect excuse to practice our bird photography skills – especially shooting them in flight – from the elevated deck at Buffelshoek.

Yellow-billed Hornbill

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Chinspot Batis

Cardinal Woodpecker

We got up from the lunch table and got straight onto the game drive vehicle for our afternoon drive. The highlight of our encounters that afternoon was a huddle of six lion cubs hiding in the long grass where their mothers left them when they went off hunting. Considering how boisterous baby animals can be these little lions were very well behaved – perhaps their mothers have this discipline thing all worked out!

Well-behaved lion cubs waiting for their mothers

The runt of the litter hiding deep in the long grass

Lion cub practicing his intimidating starei

Lion cub

Lion cubs

Lion cub

Lion cub licking his lips

Lion cub

Lion cubs

After a day packed so full of the most amazing sightings and experiences we cherished the beautiful serenity of the sunset even more!

Manyeleti sunset

In the next post we’ll show you everything we encountered on day 3 of our 2025 Manyeleti Magic photo-safari and workshop. The 2026 dates are yet to be confirmed, but do get in touch with us to keep a spot for you!

Manyeleti Magic 2025: Day 1 (12 June)

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At long last our 2025 Manyeleti Magic photographic safari and workshop, hosted in conjunction with Hannes Rossouw Photography, was about to start. A year of planning finally culminating in us and our guests meeting at the entrance gate to Manyeleti Nature Reserve at the agreed time of 11:30 on the 12th of June.

Entry formalities completed we set off for Buffelshoek Camp. Given that Buffelshoek is located in a remote corner of Manyeleti it would take us at least an hour to get there, soaking in the wonderful Lowveld atmosphere again while keeping a lookout for game and birds along the way.

African Elephant

Blue Wildebeest

Hippos and a crocodile sharing a corner of Manyeleti’s biggest dam

White Rhino

Guests can arrive at Buffelshoek from 13h00, which allows ample time to settle into your tent before lunch is served an hour later. Buffelshoek is entirely off-the-grid and very comfortable despite its rustic nature, with the 5 guests tents – with en-suite bathrooms! – spaced well apart from each other for privacy and to allow animals to move through the unfenced camp unhindered (over the next few days we’d have elephants, hyenas, impalas, giraffes, jackals and hares in our midst, and those are just the ones we saw!).

The central building at Buffelshoek has a lapa, viewing deck, lounge and dining room where guests can relax

One of Buffelshoek’s five very comfortable furnished safari-style tents in which guests are accommodated

After lunch we excitedly set off on our first drive, with expert tracker Elvis showing the way while Hannes gave photography tips to our guests and I explained the finer details of the environment and wildlife we encountered. We had regular encounters with various kinds of animals and birds, including some elephant bulls that came very close to our vehicle.

Plains Zebra

Giraffe

Elephant Bull

Damaged ivory

Elephant tusk close-up

Eager photographers

Fork-tailed Drongo waiting for insects flushed by the feeding elephants

Water lilies

The highlight of our first afternoon drive was an encounter with two beautiful male lions just as the “golden hour” descended on Manyeleti. At first they were very lazy but thankfully one of the males – the one with the darker mane – decided to give us some nice poses and scary stares. What a highlight on our first day!

Lion male

Heading back to camp in the dark showed us many fiery-necked nightjars in the road. We also stopped so that the photographers could try their hand at shooting the moon in the dark of night (though my own attempt was a mess it was still great fun to hear everyone’s excitement when Hannes’ suggestions gave them results they could proudly show off).

Fiery-necked Nightjar

Moon over Manyeleti

In the next post we’ll show you everything we encountered on day 2 of our 2025 Manyeleti Magic photo-safari and workshop. The 2026 dates are yet to be confirmed, but do get in touch with us if you’d like us to keep a spot for you!

Fresh back from Manyeleti Magic!

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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

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