Category Archives: South African Wildlife

The inhabitants of South Africa’s wild places

Mozambique Tilapia

To the east of Satara, the S41 gravel road crosses several streams as it winds its way over the plains. Three of these – the Mavumbye, Gudzani and Nwanetsi – usually have water, but owing to good summer rains were flowing especially strongly when we visited during December 2021. While flowing water is always a pleasing sight (and sound), crossing these streams during this latest visit was particularly enjoyable for us as it allowed a glimpse into a facet of the Lowveld ecosystem that is pretty difficult to experience while driving around in a vehicle. With the water flowing over the causeways we were able to watch large schools of juvenile Mozambique Tilapia, as well as the occasional adult, swimming around in the pools on either side of the drifts.

Adult Male Mozambique Tilapia

Adult Female Mozambique Tilapia

Juvenile Mozambique Tilapia

Juvenile Mozambique Tilapia attacking a spider at the water’s surface

Juvenile Mozambique Tilapia

School of Juvenile Mozambique Tilapia in the Nwanetsi Spruit

Juvenile Mozambique Tilapia

Juvenile Mozambique Tilapia (photo by Joubert)

Juvenile Mozambique Tilapia

Mozambique Tilapia

Oreochromis mossambicus

Naturally the Mozambique Tilapia occurs in rivers flowing into the Indian Ocean from the Zambezi River southwards to the Boesmans River and its tributaries in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. They have however been introduced to waters outside this range, both in South Africa and elsewhere in the world, as they are a highly regarded aquaculture species. Regrettably their adaptive nature means that they often outcompete indigenous fish species for food and prime breeding locations in places where they were introduced. Ironically the IUCN considers the Mozambique Tilapia to be vulnerable in its native range due to the introduced Nile Tilapia, with which it hybridizes.

Male Mozambique Tilapia are considerably larger than the females. They grow to about 40cm in length and can weigh over 3kg, though around 1kg is more usual.

Mozambique Tilapia are very adapatable and hardy, being able to live in fresh, brackish and sea water, allowing them to exploit estuaries under the influence of the ocean tides, with water temperatures in the range from below 15ºC to 42ºC. They prefer standing or slow-flowing water. These fish have a varied diet ranging from algae and other water plants to invertebrates and even small fish.

Mozambique Tilapia breed in summer, when adult males sport a deep black body colour with a white throat. The male prepares a saucer-shaped nest on a sandy bottom in which he courts the female. After spawning, the female broods the eggs and fry in her mouth until they are more capable of looking after themselves. In this way she can produce a brood every 3-4 weeks. Young Mozambique Tilapia mature rapidly and can breed within a year of hatching. They may live for up to 11 years.

The following photographs of Mozambique Tilapia were not take during the above-mentioned trip to the Kruger National Park:

Juvenile Mozambique Tilapia in a small stream

Mozambique Tilapia in the Biyamiti

Male Mozambique Tilapia in breeding colours in a pool among the mangroves at Umlalazi

Juvenile Mozambique Tilapia in the Tsendze River

Male Mozambique Tilapia (non-breeding colours)

Female Mozambique Tilapia

Beautiful male Mozambique Tilapia (non-breeding) in the Sabie River

Adult Male Mozambique Tilapia in a pool at Biyamiti Weir (photo by Joubert)

Mozambique Tilapia in the dam at Tlopi (photo by Joubert)

Male Mozambique Tilapia in breeding colours

Female Mozambique Tilapia

Satara Summer 2021 – Ratel on the Rampage

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We had just retired into our bungalow at Satara Rest Camp on the night of 19 December 2021 when there was an almighty noise of rubbish crashing to the floor outside our unit. Now, it is well known that there are Honey Badgers, aka Ratels, in Satara and so I immediately knew who the culprit was. However, because we know they are there I thought that putting the rubbish bin, with a few kitchen scraps and glass and plastic bottles inside, up high on the narrow kitchenette counter would be an effective measure to prevent any nocturnal raids. This Badger was much more clever than I thought!!! He easily pulled out the three kitchen drawers containing the cooking and eating utensils and used these as a stepladder to get on top of the counter. As I opened the Bungalow door Mr. Ratel scampered away with his chosen prize clenched in his jaws, to enjoy at leisure underneath our vehicle. Now, only those with a death wish would dare tangle with a Honey Badger, so I’d gladly retrieve the empty tub of cream cheese after he’s licked it clean…

While the Badger was enjoying his morsel, we quickly deposited the remaining scraps and bottles in one of the receptacles dotted through the camp, and then set up the camera traps to capture the inevitable return of the marauder. We pushed a chair against his “ladder” as we feared the drawers wouldn’t hold for long under the Ratel’s weight. We then returned the, now empty, rubbish bin atop the counter and went back to bed. The muddy paw prints all over the counter could wait till morning… He probably smelled that the rubbish bin was empty and didn’t try to get to the top again. Our lesson learned, we didn’t leave the rubbish bin outside overnight again.

Honey Badger approaching Bungalow 50 at Satara

Honey Badger on the stoep of Bungalow 50 at Satara

Satara Summer 2021 – Wild Parasol Flowers

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This summer the gardens in Satara were alive with the beautiful blooms of the Wild Parasol Flower bushes and the insects they attract.

Wild Parasol Flower bush in Satara

Wild Parasol Flower bloom

Wild Parasol Flower blooms

Wild Parasol Flower bloom

Wild Parasol Flower blooms

Carpenter Bee on Wild Parasol Flower bush

Wild Parasol Flower bloom

Karomia speciosa

The Wild Parasol Flower is a shrub or small tree growing up to 6m tall, and usually found on rocky mountain slopes and along rivers in the bushveld regions of extreme northern Kwazulu-Natal, eastern Mpumalanga, and Eswatini. They are deciduous and carry the characteristic bi-coloured flowers from November to April. This plant is a great addition to the summer garden, but no other or traditional uses are known.

Dwarf Bittern

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We’ve been bird-watching for quite a while now, and finding a new species for our list does not happen all that often anymore. The 15th of December therefore was a red letter day for us when we encountered this Dwarf Bittern between Lower Sabie and Skukuza in the Kruger National Park, taking our number of South African bird species seen to 588 (of roughly 973 ever recorded in this country).

Dwarf Bittern

Dwarf Bittern (photo by Joubert)

Dwarf Bittern

Dwarf Bittern (photo by Joubert)

Ixobrychus sturmii

The Dwarf Bittern is a small species of heron that is mostly nocturnal and found singly or in pairs. It generally occurs around seasonal and permanent water bodies surrounded by dense and emergent vegetation. They feed mainly on insects, crabs, frogs and small fish.

Dwarf Bitterns breed in periods of highest rainfall, often nesting in association with other kinds of heron. Their nests are flimsy platforms of twigs, built in a hurry by both partners. Clutches of 2-5 eggs are incubated for around 3 weeks by both parents. The chicks leave the nest before they’re 2 weeks old, although they can’t fly yet.

The Dwarf Bittern is an uncommon summer visitor to South Africa, with most records from Mpumalanga and Limpopo. It occurs in low densities over much of sub-Saharan Africa and the IUCN considers the Dwarf Bittern to be of least concern.

As luck would have it, just a few months later we found another Dwarf Bittern, this time on the Eastern Shores of Lake St. Lucia.

Dwarf Bittern

Koppie Foam Grasshopper

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Dictyophorus spumans

The Koppie Foam Grasshopper is a large (up to 8cm long) insect whose brilliant red-and-black colouration advertises to any would-be predator that it is poisonous enough to kill a dog. This poison is accumulated in the body tissues of the Koppie Foam Grasshopper when it feeds on poisonous plants from the milkweed family and is exuded in the form of a bloody foam when the insect is attacked. Their wings are far too short to permit flying. Koppie Foam Grasshoppers occur over most of South Africa, being absent only from Kwazulu-Natal and the eastern Free State. They live in open, sparsely vegetated and often rocky areas and are regularly encountered on hills (koppies in Afrikaans) and mountain tops.

Koppie Foam Grasshopper

Poisonous Koppie Foam Grasshopper

Koppie Foam Grasshopper

Aiming at Diederikkies

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The housing complex where we live here in Pretoria has seen a proliferation of Garden Acraea butterflies and their caterpillars over the past few weeks.

Garden Acraea in our garden (photo by Joubert)

These in turn have been a boon for the Diederik Cuckoos that visit our part of the world in summer. Caterpillars are a staple for them.

Diederik Cuckoo (photo by Joubert)

Diederik with caterpillar (photo by Joubert)

Diederik male gifting a caterpillar to the female (photo by Joubert)

Diederik family squabble (photo by Joubert)

Diederik Cuckoo (photo by Joubert)

Diederik Cuckoo that caught a Garden Acraea(photo by Joubert)

Diederik Cuckoo (photo by Joubert)

An added bonus for the Diederikkies are the number of nests of Southern Masked Weavers to be found in our complex gardens. The Diederik Cuckoo is a brood parasite that is especially fond of using weavers as foster parents for their chicks. Of course this isn’t going down too well with the weavers, who frequently dive bomb any Diederikkie found exposed.

Southern Masked Weaver male trying to chase away a Diederik Cuckoo (photo by Joubert)

These photographs were all taken by Joubert in the past couple of days. His examinations are over and for all intents and purposes his Grade 6 year is concluded – all that he still needs to do is collect his report card and certificates. The dramas of the Diederikkies and their neighbours has been great entertainment and Joubert quickly got very adept at using both stories of our townhouse as photographic hides from which to capture their antics. Of course I am very grateful that he loves photography so much rather than vegetating on the couch with tv games.

European Bee-eater

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Merops apiaster

The European Bee-eater is mainly a summer visitor to southern Africa from its breeding grounds in Asia, Europe and Africa’s Mediterranean coast. While visiting in our summer, the European Bee-eater can be found over most of South Africa, being strangely absent from most of Kwazulu Natal and the Eastern Cape though. Their melodious calls are certainly part of the summer soundtrack here in Pretoria. Interestingly there is a breeding population of a few thousand of these birds in our Western Cape Province that appears to migrate only as far as equatorial Africa during our winter months. The IUCN considers it to be of least concern, estimating a population of at least 14-million for the species, of which the vast majority is found in Africa south of the Zambezi during the austral summer.

European Bee-eaters inhabit a variety of habitats, ranging from shrubland to woodland, though it appears they avoid both the driests and wettest extremes. As both its common and Latin names suggest, it feeds primarily on bees and wasps and other flying insects. They’re social birds and almost always encountered in sizable flocks.

Most European Bee-eaters arrive here from about October and depart again by April. These slender, colourful birds nest in tunnels they excavate into sandbanks, usually as small colonies. Pairs are monogamous and incubate clutches of 2-8 eggs. The eggs hatch after 3-4 weeks and the chicks fledge when they’re about a month old.

European Bee-Eater

European Bee-eater

European Bee-eaters

European Bee-eater

European Bee-eaters

European Bee-eater

European Bee-eaters bathing at Kumasinga (photo by Joubert)

European Bee-eater (photo by Joubert)

European Bee-eaters bathing at Kumasinga (photo by Joubert)

European bee-eater

European Bee-eaters

European Bee-eater (photo by Joubert)

European Bee-eater

Twin Dotted Border

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Mylothris rueppellii

The Twin Dotted Border is a butterfly occurring over much of Sub-Saharan Africa. In South Africa they’re found in the savanna and forest regions stretching from the Eastern Cape through Kwazulu-Natal and into Mpumalanga, Limpopo, Gauteng and North West. Adults are seen throughout the year and have a wingspan of 5-6cm. They usually fly slow and high and are fond of settling on flowers. Females lay eggs in clusters numbering up to 100, usually on the leaves of different kinds of mistletoe which are their major foodplants. The larvae are gregarious and remain together until it is time to pupate.

Twin Dotted Border

Mountain Wheatear

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Myrmecocichla monticola

Mountain Wheatears are shy birds, inhabiting rocky and mountainous terrain where they feed mainly on insects and other invertebrates, only occasionally ingesting berries and seeds. They’re also quite at home around abandoned open mines, quarries and old stone-built farmyards.

Mountain Wheatears form monogamous pairs that may last several breeding seasons (spanning spring and summer). While the male defends their territory it is the female that is responsible for building the nest – an untidy cup made of almost any material available – placed in a sheltered spot beneath a boulder, in a cave or in a hole in a cliff face or wall. Clutches of 2-4 eggs are incubated for 2 weeks, also by the female only, and once hatched both parents provide food for the chicks at the nest until they fledge at between 2 and 3 weeks of age. The youngsters will remain with their parents until they’re about 2 months old.

The Mountain Wheatear is a bird restricted to the southern part of Africa, occurring only in Angola, Namibia, Eswatini (Swaziland), Lesotho and South Africa (parts of all provinces). According to the IUCN, the Mountain Wheatear is of least concern.

Mountain Wheatear

Mountain Wheatear (male)

Mountain Wheatear (female)

Mountain Wheatear

African Civet

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Civettictis civetta

The African Civet is an animal that we are always thrilled to encounter whenever we get the rare chance. They are quite large, standing up to 40cm high at the shoulder, measuring up to 1.4m in length and weighing up to 20kg. They’re not aggressive but can put up a good defence when cornered. Secretions from their anal glands, a defensive adaptation, is used to a small extent in the perfume industry – a practice that is to be frowned upon in an enlightened world.

Inhabiting a wide range of wooded habitats, provided there is shelter in the form of burrows, thickets or reedbeds, African Civets feed on fruits and seeds, carrion, insects, reptiles, frogs, smaller birds and mammals (even domestic cats and poultry), and they’re among the very few creatures that will eat substantial quantities of foul-tasting millipedes.

African Civets are usually seen alone or in pairs, and frequently travel along well-trodden paths through their home ranges. They’re most active during the night and only rarely venture out in daylight. They’re not adept at climbing and usually stay on the ground, but they are good swimmers. Females give birth to 1-4 pups after a 10 week gestation, The youngsters are weaned at 5 months of age. African Civets live to about 12 years of age in the wild.

In South Africa, the African Civet is found mainly in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, with scattered pockets of occurrence in the North West, Gauteng and Kwazulu-Natal. North of our borders, Civets are distributed almost all over sub-Saharan Africa with only a few areas where they have not been recorded. The IUCN considers the African Civet to be of least concern.