Category Archives: Memorable sightings

Summertide Diary: Butterfly Bonanza (and a few other insects too)

When we first walked to the KuMfazana hide on our recent visit to the iSimangaliso Wetland Park, we didn’t quite find what we expected. Normally, if the pans in front of the hide holds water, there are hippos and crocodiles and a myriad of water-dependent birds to keep visitors entertained for hours. This time however it was the walkway through the swamp forest to the hide that held us enthralled for hours, and not because of some “hairy and scary” creatures either…

We dubbed this stretch of the walkway to the hide at kuMfazana “Butterfly Glen”

It was thanks to the sheer numbers and diversity of butterflies to be seen along this short walk that we visited kuMfazana almost daily for the week that we were at Cape Vidal in January 2021. Last time I saw anything like it was during a solitary autumn visit to the Kruger National Park in 2019. iSimangaliso’s rich plantlife and habitats supports an extraordinary list of butterfly species, each seemingly more beautiful than the one you’ve seen just before. Other spots in the Park, most notably at Cape Vidal and Mission Rocks, also contributed to the bounty but none so richly as kuMfazana. I really hope this gallery gives you an idea of what we experienced that week.

Green-banded Swallowtail butterflies

Novice butterflies

Novice butterfly

Natal Tree Nymph butterfly

Small Orange Tip

Small Orange Tip butterfly

African Monarch

African Common White

African Migrant

African Monarchs mating

African Monarch

Female Mocker Swallowtail mimicking the Layman butterfly

Variable Diadem

Female Mocker Swallowtail mimicking the Layman butterfly

False Dotted Border

Common Bush Browns in flight

Blue Pansy

Wanderer butterfly

Female Mocker Swallowtail mimicking the Novice butterfly

Natal Acraea

Female Mocker Swallowtail mimicking the Friar butterfly

Female Mocker Swallowtaill mimicking the Friar butterfly

Forest Leopard butterfly

False Dotted Border

African Migrant

Chief butterfly

Wanderer butterfly

Novice butterfly

Chief butterfly

Novice butterfly

Common Diadem (female) mimicking African Monarch

Green-banded Swallowtail

Natal Blue butterfly

Forest Leopard butterfly

Streaked Sailer butterfly

An unidentified member of the Tip-family of butterflies

Novice butterflies

Citrus Swallowtail

Streaked Sailer

A Flying Handkerchief – the male Mocker Swallowtail

Streaked Sailer

Spotted Hairtail

African Wood White

Novice butterflies (photo by Joubert)

African Monarch

Citrus Swallowtail

False Swift butterfly

A Flying Handkerchief – the male Mocker Swallowtail

Boisduval’s Tree Nymph (female)

Boisduval’s Tree Nymph (male)

Natal Tree Nymph

Golden Piper butterfly

Small-striped Swordtail

Small-striped Swordtail (photo by Joubert)

Common Bush Brown

Novice (Amauris ochlea)

While not nearly as conspicuous as their butterfly cousins there also was a few eye-catching moths to be found.

Sundowner Moth

Unidentified moth species

Unidentified caterpillar, probably of a moth species

The diversity of dragonflies on the eastern shores of Lake St. Lucia almost matches that of the butterflies, and I was frustrated at not being able to identify the species most of them belonged to. Realising how little I actually know about these often seen insects I’m determined to remedy that as soon as possible.

Violet Dropwing Dragonfly female (photo by Joubert)

Violet Dropwing Dragonfly (female)

Common Tigertail Dragonfly

Jaunty Dropwing Dragonfly

Jaunty Dropwing Dragonfly (female)

Violet Dropwing Dragonfly

African Piedspot Dragonfly

Violet Dropwing Dragonfly (female)

Julia Skimmer Dragonfly

Unidentified Dragonfly (photo by Joubert)

Broad Scarlet Dragonfly

Insects of all kinds thrive in iSimangaliso’s sub-tropical climate. Regrettably that includes mosquitoes…

Wasp of the genus Stizus

Carpenter Bee Robber Fly

Dung Beetle with his bounty

Dung Beetle

Adult Antlion

Unidentified Flightless Wasp

Elegant Grasshopper

When we saw a spider-hunting wasp dragging a paralysed sac spider to its nest I must admit to getting a large dose of pleasure from the hapless spider’s predicament. Sac spiders are among the most venomous spiders in South Africa and responsible for most of the serious spider bites suffered in our country. They deliver a nasty bite of cytotoxic venom and the bite-site is prone to secondary infection. The reason for my schadenfreude? A sac spider bit a then infant Joubert resulting in a visit to the emergency room late night on a New Years eve a few years ago…

Wasp with Sac Spider prey

Wasp and Sac Spider prey

Ghost Crabs

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Subfamily Ocypodinae

The beach at Cape Vidal is alive with Ghost Crabs, a good indication as to the health of the intertidal ecosystem thanks to minimal human impact on this stretch of coast.

Ghost Crabs on the beach at Cape Vidal

Ghost Crabs at Cape Vidal

Ghost Crabs

Ghost Crabs on the beach at Cape Vidal

Ghost Crabs are omnivorous scavengers, living on any carrion, debris, and even small living creatures up to the size of turtle hatchlings that gets washed onto the beach.

Ghost Crab with a piece of seaweed

Being semi-terrestrial and living in burrows they dig for themselves in moist sand, Ghost Crabs can breathe oxygen from the air through their gills, provided they can keep them wet which requires the crabs to scuttle into the waves every so often. However, they can’t stay in the water too long or they’ll drown.

Ghost Crab outside its hole

Ghost Crab going into its hole

Ghost Crab tunnel – note the crab’s tracks leading to and from the hole

Ghost Crab on the beach at Cape Vidal

Ghost Crabs

Ghost Crab scavenging at the water’s edge

This necessity for the Ghost Crabs to go into the water at regular intervals had us quite amused during our recent visit to Cape Vidal in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. The crabs would run towards the approaching wave, stand their ground, get pounded, and then re-appear when the wave retreats, still standing in the same spot. Not once did we see one of the crabs loose its footing and get tossed around by the wave action!

Daredevil Surfing Ghost Crab

Ghost Crab engulfed by the wave (spot the eyes?)

Ghost Crab emerging above the retreating wave

Ghost Crab in the surf

Ghost Crabs in the surf at Cape Vidal

Ghost Crab in the surf at Cape Vidal

Ghost Crabs in the surf at Cape Vidal

Summertide Diary: Departing Mountain Zebra

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3 January 2021

Today we had to leave Mountain Zebra National Park early, for we had a long way to get back home to Pretoria and had to beat the government-imposed curfew at that. It may have been only 12km from the camp to the gate, but still there was loads to see!

Yellow Mongoose

Buffalo bull

African buffalo

Very near the gate there’s a nice waterhole where even this early in the morning a procession of game was already congregating. The serenity of the scene was shattered when a mountain zebra love triangle got out of hand, but calm soon settled again.

Mountain Zebras congregating at a waterhole

Two Mountain Zebra stallions chasing a mare

The winner takes it all!

Cape Mountain Zebra and Eland congregating at a waterhole

During our time in Mountain Zebra National Park we were very lucky to come across a Black Rhinoceros cow and calf. For their protection I won’t be able to share where or when it was that we saw them, but being able to see more of these magnificent creatures was a privilege we were very grateful for.

Black Rhinos at Mountain Zebra National Park

And with that our summertide ramble came to a halt, if temporarily, as I had important start-of-the-year work to attend to back in Pretoria. As it would be some weeks still before the schools were due to reopen we did have another reservation in the offing, but with South Africa in the midst of a serious second wave of COVID-19 infections we weren’t at all certain that we would be able to take it up…

We posted a special feature about Mountain Zebra National Park following a previous visit, if you’d like to learn more about this special destination.

Map of Mountain Zebra National Park from the SANParks website (https://www.sanparks.org/images/parks/mountain_zebra/mznp-map.jpg)

Summertide Diary: Exploring Mountain Zebra (part two)

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2 January 2021

When dawn found the Mountain Zebra National Park under heavy skies this morning we were already underway along the Kranskop Loop.

Black-backed Jackal

The view westwards from the western leg of the Kranskop Loop

Grey Rhebok

The view eastwards (towards the camp) from the western leg of the Kranskop Loop

When we arrived at the start of Rooiplaat Loop we found a male lion lying there, flat on its right-side. We sat there as the minutes passed, studying it through cameras and binoculars and finally coming to the sad conclusion that this lion was dead – there wasn’t even a twitch of an ear or any movement of its stomach to indicate a breath being taken. Disheartened, I started the car to drive off.

King Roy, fast asleep

The sound of the Duster’s engine had a miraculous effect. The lion lifted his head, sleepily. He rested his head on his paws for a while, then gave a mighty yawn before getting up, stretching his legs and then lying down again to look at us in irritation. He is magnificent, known as Roy, and despite his advanced age one of the ruling coalition of lion males here at Mountain Zebra National Park, along with Nomad whom we saw at a distance the day before .

King Roy, awoken

King Roy, in repose

King Roy, yawning

Male lion at Mountain Zebra National Park

King Roy, contemplative

Male lion at Mountain Zebra National Park

When the next vehicle arrived at the lion sighting we moved of so that those visitors too could have a private audience with The King. The skies have cleared and it’s turning into a glorious day. On our way back to camp we passed Roy again, and he was fast asleep again.

Springbok dot the Rooiplaat Plateau

Young Springbok

Black Harrier

Black-winged Kite

Mountain Wheatear

Red Hartebeest trio

Eland cow

Red-billed Quelea

Blue Cranes in flight

Meerkat

River crossing in Mountain Zebra National Park

South African Shelduck

Southern Rock Agama

Steppe Buzzard

King Roy, asleep again…

With it being our last afternoon at Mountain Zebra we opted to visit all our favourite spots along the Ubejane and Rooiplaat Loops and the Link road between them again. There’s just something so indescribably peaceful about driving around wild Africa as dusk approaches.

Young Springbok rams testing their strength (photo by Joubert)

Blue Crane

Cape Mountain Zebra

Thirsty Secretarybird

Mountain Zebras

Cape Longclaw

Kopieva

Springbok on the wide open plains of the Mountain Zebra National Park

We posted a special feature about Mountain Zebra National Park following a previous visit, if you’d like to learn more about this special destination.

Map of Mountain Zebra National Park from the SANParks website (https://www.sanparks.org/images/parks/mountain_zebra/mznp-map.jpg)

Summertide Diary: Bat-eared Fox puppies

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Our new year got off to a great start when we encountered this lovely family of Bat-eared Foxes along the Link Road in the Mountain Zebra National Park on the 1st of January. At the den there were three very lively puppies and four adults who did everything they could to get the pups to hide away from the enamoured humans, without much success!

Bat-eared Fox pups (photo by Joubert)

Bat-eared Fox family (photo by Joubert)

Bat-eared Fox family

Bat-eared Fox pups

Bat-eared Fox pups (photo by Joubert)

Bat-eared Fox pups

Bat-eared Fox family

Bat-eared Fox family (photo by Joubert)

Bat-eared Fox family

Bat-eared Fox pups

Bat-eared Fox pups (photo by Joubert)

Bat-eared Fox pups

Bat-eared Fox pups (photo by Joubert)

Bat-eared Fox family

Bat-eared Fox pups

Summertide Diary: Exploring Mountain Zebra (part one)

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1 January 2021

As soon as the gates opened on New Year’s Day we headed for the Rooiplaat Loop, the sightings board at reception having indicated that Lions and Cheetahs were seen there the previous day. And we did not wait long – right where the road skirts the Park’s boundary fence we came across a big male lion, known as Nomad, patrolling his territory.

We supposed that it was the proximity of the big predator that made these Black Wildebeest so jittery!

Black Wildebeest (photo by Joubert)

Black Wildebeest

Black Wildebeest (photo by Joubert)

Black Wildebeest

Black Wildebeest (photo by Joubert)

It’s early morning in the Mountain Zebra National Park and there’s so much to be seen!

Kopieva bloom

Blesbok ewes and lambs

Blesbok lamb

Blesbok ewe and lamb

Grey-winged Francolin

Windpump along a stream in the Mountain Zebra National Park

Red-billed Teal

Wide open spaces in the Mountain Zebra National Park

Cape Sparrow (male)

Jackal Buzzard

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Scaly-feathered Finch

African Pipit

It was on the link road between Rooiplaat and Ubejane Loops that we happened upon these cute little Bat-eared Fox pups and their elders. More photos of them tomorrow!

Bat-eared Fox pups

Along the main road, between the two junctions with the Ubejane Loop, we saw this pair of unusually tolerant Secretarybirds – they’re normally quite nervous and move away from the road the moment a vehicle approaches, so this was a great opportunity to watch them in action.

Secretarybird (photo by Joubert)

Secretarybird

Wind-blown Secretarybird

Secretarybird

Secretarybirds

At the southern junction of Ubejane Loop with the main road there’s a small earth dam filled with rainwater. By the time we arrived there at mid-morning Cape Mountain Zebra families were arriving from all corners, along with some other wildlife, to slake their thirst and it was wonderful to watch their social interactions before heading back to camp.

Cape Mountain Zebras

Cape Mountain Zebra

Cape Mountain Zebras

Red Hartebeest

Cape Mountain Zebras

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Cape Mountain Zebras

Back at camp there was time to kill either side of lunchtime, and thankfully there’s very much of interest around the accommodation and camping area.

Vervet Monkey

Cross-berry

White-browed Sparrow Weaver

Red-eyed Bulbul

Four-striped Grass Mouse

Western Rock Skink

Cardinal Woodpecker

Laughing Dove

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Neddicky

Familiar Chat

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Red-headed Finches

Imposing Sweet Thorn thorns

Seeroogblom

Chestnut-vented Warbler

Black-throated Canary

Snake Aloe

Southern Rock Agama

Vygie

African Grass Blue butterfly

Gazania

Pied Starling

Bar-throated Apalis

Neddicky

Sweet Thorn tree

Southern Rock Agama

White-necked Ravens that caught a Red-winged Starling chick

White-necked Raven that caught a Red-winged Starling chick

Grey-headed Sparrow

Familiar Chat

Red-eyed Bulbul

Neddicky

Southern Masked Weaver

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Cape White-eye

Karoo Scrub Robin

Our route for the afternoon would first take us into the mountains along the Kranskop Loop before taking another jaunt around the Rooiplaat Loop.

Doornhoek Guest House overlooks the Doornhoek Dam and is a national monument

Highveld Cabbage Tree

Rocky outcrop

South African Shelduck

Hyrax

Southern Rock Agama

Amazing scenery along the Kranskop Loop

Black Harrier

Scale-feathered Finch

Namaqua Dove

Red-billed Quelea

Rock Monitor

Black-backed Jackal

Eland

Gemsbok

Wide open spaces at Mountain Zebra National Park

Steppe Buzzard

The Rest Camp at Mountain Zebra National Park blends in beautifully with the surroundings

A real highlight of our afternoon drive was an encounter with a group of three Cheetahs – one adult and two youngsters – on the Rooiplaat Plateau, just half-an-hour before we had to be back in camp.

Cheetah

Cheetah (photo by Joubert)

Cheetah

We posted a special feature about Mountain Zebra National Park following a previous visit, if you’d like to learn more about this special destination.

Map of Mountain Zebra National Park from the SANParks website (https://www.sanparks.org/images/parks/mountain_zebra/mznp-map.jpg)

Summertide Diary: Elephant Processions at Addo

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One of the most wonderful experiences one could hope to have in the Addo Elephant National Park is to sit at a waterhole while a herd of elephants arrive, often passing so close to your vehicle that it will take your breath away.

Herd of elephants making their way to the waterhole

Herd of elephants making their way to the waterhole (photo by Joubert)

Herd of elephants making their way to the waterhole

Herd of elephants making their way to the waterhole (photo by Joubert)

Herd of elephants making their way to the waterhole

Recognise the little stump-tailed ellie? (photo by Joubert)

Herd of elephants at the waterhole

Herd of elephants at the waterhole (photo by Joubert)

Herd of elephants at the waterhole

Summertide Diary: Hyenas versus Elephant

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Yesterday we promised you more photos of the fascinating interaction between the Spotted Hyenas and Elephant at Hapoor Dam in Addo Elephant National Park, and here they are.

When we arrived on the scene, the hyenas were quite far from the road and only barely visible without binoculars (or a 300mm camera lens). We could see they were eating, but couldn’t figure out what. Then one adult hyena picked up a sizable chunk of meat and started walking towards us, followed closely by a sub-adult with a piece of leg in its mouth. As they came closer we could identify the prey item as a buffalo calf, or what was left of it anyway. Whether it was caught by the hyenas themselves or killed by lions and then stolen we’ll never know. In any event, the hyenas promptly deposited their meat in a drinking trough on the opposite side of the road to where the actual Hapoor Dam is. Caching food in this fashion is quite well-known hyena behaviour.

The hyenas were still tussling in the water, apparently not knowing whether they want to save their meal for later or gobble it all up now, when a big elephant bull appeared out of the spekboom-thicket some distance away. And he was obviously on a mission. In no time the elephant closed the distance to the hyenas, and while the courage of the younger of the two predators gave in much quicker than that of his older pack mate both had to vacate their bath-cum-larder before the agitated bull got too close. For his part the elephant then gave the fouled water one indignant sniff before moving across the road to drink from Hapoor Dam proper.

With the elephant gone, the hyenas quickly moved back to their pantry, retrieved their meat and continued their meal. The day was heating up though and the Pied Crows were starting to get really annoying, and so they put their meat away a final time to be enjoyed later.

Spotted Hyenas feeding far into the veld

Bringing his meat closer

Spotted Hyena and Buffalo prey

The water is a perfect hiding place

Youngster lending a hoof

Youngster lending a hoof (photo by Joubert)

Time to fight about who gets the lion’s share (photo by Joubert)

Time to fight about who gets the lion’s share

Time to fight about who gets the lion’s share (photo by Joubert)

Time to fight about who gets the lion’s share

Time to fight about who gets the lion’s share (photo by Joubert)

Enter elephant stage left

Elephant locked onto target!

Elephant locked onto target! (photo by Joubert)

Elephant locked onto target!

Elephant locked onto target!(photo by Joubert)

Elephant locked onto target!

Darn, just missed! (photo by Joubert)

Time to resume the feast

Time to resume the feast (photo by Joubert)

Time to resume the feast

But now the crows want to join in (photo by Joubert)

But now the crows want to join in

And so its time to put everything away till later

Summertide Diary: Elephant Antics

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It probably goes without saying that the African Elephants are the star attractions at Addo Elephant National Park, and the grey behemoths certainly are not shy to show themselves. These charismatic creatures are a joy to behold as they go about their daily routines, and their social interactions are always fascinating to watch.

Young elephants especially are full of energy and just love roughhousing with a playmate whenever the opportunity presents itself.

Rowdy elephant youngsters

Rowdy elephant youngsters (photo by Joubert)

Rowdy elephant youngsters

And if there’s no other elephant youngsters around to play with, warthogs and zebras will do just as well – if only they’d stand still!

Elephant mock-charging a nervous warthog at Marion Baree waterhole

Elephant mock-charging a nervous warthog at Marion Baree waterhole (photo by Joubert)

Warthog fleeing!

Warthog fleeing while a bemused zebra looks on

Who wants to play!?

Hey. where are you going!?

When watching elephants in the water there’s just no denying that they are having loads of fun at the pool!

Baby elephants playing in the mud

Baby elephants playing in the mud (photo by Joubert)

Whole group of elephants enjoying the muddy water!

Rough and tumble in the water

Rough and tumble in the water (photo by Joubert)

Mid-morning at Addo’s Hapoor Dam we were watching a herd around the waterhole, and noticed two baby elephants playing together. One little tyke sauntered off to its mother for a drink of milk, while one remained standing in the original spot. And when he realised he was all alone, and feeling hungry, there’s only one thing a baby elephant knows to do to get mom’s attention: THROW A TANTRUM! He squealed and trumpeted, stomped his feet and even stood on his hind legs for a split second, until mom came running looking more than a little embarrassed at her boy’s behaviour! What parent doesn’t know that feeling?

Playful Baby Elephants

First baby walks off with mom

But where’s my mom!?

Baby Elephant tantrum!

At last Mom arrives

Pushing at Mom’s leg for attention

Ah! Finally!!!

Mom saunters off to join her sister and the two friends are re-united

At the hide in the camp we peaked through a hole in the fence to get this picture of a touching moment between mother and calf. Elephant heaven.

Summertide Diary: Spending time with hungry elephants

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I can’t think of another reserve in South Africa where the elephants are quite so relaxed around humans and their vehicles as they are in the Addo Elephant National Park. Of course this allows visitors to observe up close just how dexterously elephants use their trunks – and feet! – to uproot even tiny morsels of tasty plants.