Category Archives: South African Wildlife

The inhabitants of South Africa’s wild places

Black Wildebeest

Connochaetes gnou

With their long white tails, stiff mane, whiskery muzzles, and curved, forward facing horns the Black Wildebeest looks quite menacing and is easily recognisable. Bulls have a shoulder height of only 1.2m and weigh in at around 160kg, considerably smaller than their closely related cousins, the Blue Wildebeest.

An inhabitant of open grasslands and semi-desert plains, Black Wildebeest subsists on a diet of grass, low shrubs and succulents, and need to drink daily. They have a preference for highlands and mountain plateaus, and are quite resistant to the extreme cold experienced in such habitats, especially during winter.

Black Wildebeest prefer open grasslands

Black Wildebeest herd in the highlands

Midday posture, facing away from the hot sun

Grazing black Wildebeest

Black Wildebeest

Black wildebeest and umbrella thorn

Black wildebeest

Black wildebeest on the trot along Golden Gate’s game viewing circuit

Walking to the battle ground

Black wildebeest

Black Wildebeest

Bewildered Black Wildebeest (photo by Joubert)

Black Wildebeest in humorous pose

Black Wildebeest

Black Wildebeest are gregarious animals, coming together in herds of 6 to 60 made up mostly of cows and calves traversing the territories of bulls in their prime. Bulls unable to hold territories of their own join together in bachelor groups. During the hot summer they are mostly active from early evening to early morning, while they are active for most of the daylight hours in winter. As their open habitat usually offers very little in the form of shade, they spend the hottest hours of the day standing still and facing away from the sun. Black Wildebeest are extremely nervous, taking flight at high speed at the scantest sign of danger, and can be aggressive and unpredictable, especially when cornered, which is why you’ll seldom see them in captivity – as recently as 2013 a farmer and his son were killed when the family was attacked by two black wildebeest.

Black Wildebeest

Black Wildebeest herd

Black Wildebeest are incredibly athletic

Just look at that tail!

Menacing, territorial Black Wildebeest Bull

Round 1! Black Wildebeest Duel

Black wildebeest herd on a plateau

Black wildebeest calves

Round 1! Black Wildebeest Duel

The victor and the vanquished

Black Wildebeest

Black wildebeest

Black Wildebeest

Black Wildebeest trio

Black Wildebeest race

Herd of Black Wildebeest

Black Wildebeest

Cows give birth in the herd to single calves between November and January. The calves can keep up with the herd within minutes of being born. Most of the larger predators have been wiped out in the black wildebeest’s range and as such black-backed jackals preying on calves were the biggest predatory threat to them, though recently lion and cheetah have been reintroduced to some reserves where they occur and should re-establish a natural predator-prey balance. Their natural life expectancy is about 16 years.

Black Wildebeest (photo by Joubert)

Black Wildebeest

Black Wildebeest (photo by Joubert)

Black Wildebeest

The Black Wildebeest occurs naturally only in South Africa, Lesotho and Swaziland. In times past the Black Wildebeest was a migrating species, moving seasonally between the moist highveld grasslands and dry Karoo in incredible numbers, but modern farming practices have made such large scale movements impossible and the species is now confined to fenced farms and reserves. Some of the best places to see them include Chelmsford Nature Reserve, Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Mountain Zebra National Park and Willem Pretorius Game Reserve. By the end of the 19th century indiscriminate hunting had almost driven the species to extinction, but since then concerted conservation efforts have ensured that numbers have been built up to an estimated 18,000 on private land and in state conservation areas, and the IUCN now considers their populations to be safe and increasing. That being said, hybridisation with the closely related Blue Wildebeest is an increasing threat to the genetic purity of the Black Wildebeest.

Black Wildebeest

Black Wildebeest (photo by Joubert)

Black Wildebeest

Black Wildebeest herd

Black Wildebeest

Blue Wildebeest

63 Replies

Connochaetes taurinus taurinus

The Blue (or Common) Wildebeest must be one of Africa’s most familiar antelope, although it will probably never be included in a list of the continent’s most elegant creatures. Bulls stand around 1.5m high at the shoulder, and weigh about 240kg, while cows are more lightly built at around 180kg.

Blue Wildebeest bull close-up

Blue Wildebeest calf close-up

Blue Wildebeest cow close-up

Blue Wildebeest

Blue wildebeest

Large concentration of blue wildebeest at Langklaas waterhole

Blue Wildebeest having a rest in the shade

Blue Wildebeest with an unusual chevron mark on its muzzle

Blue Wildebeest herd

Blue wildebeest inhabit open grasslands, savannas and semi-deserts, where they subsists almost exclusively on short grasses and require a reliable supply of water, even in arid regions.

Blue wildebeest are curious creatures

Blue wildebeest graze on short grass

Vigilant blue wildebeest bull

Blue wildebeest require regular access to drinking water

Always on the move

Blue wildebeest like open terrain

Blue wildebeest too nervous to drink

Blue wildebeest on the move

Wildebeest herd kicking up dust at Makhadzi

Big herd of blue wildebeest at the water

Blue wildebeest

Even Blue Wildebeest appreciate a beautiful spot, like Bhekapanzi Pan

Blue Wildebeest

Blue Wildebeest in the rain

Blue wildebeest

Blue Wildebeest

Blue Wildebeest (photo by Joubert)

Blue Wildebeest

Blue Wildebeest calf

Blue Wildebeest

Blue Wildebeest in Mapungubwe National Park

Blue Wildebeest at Mooiplaas

Blue Wildebeest

These diurnal herbivores congregate in herds of up to 10,000 (but mostly much smaller – a few dozen or so), consisting mostly of cows and calves traversing the territories of mature bulls. Smaller bachelor herds made up of bulls unable to maintain a territory of their own also occur. They will cover enormous distances trekking after fresh grazing and water. Blue wildebeest are commonly found associating with other game species, especially impala, giraffes and plains zebras, and have a curious love for rolling in mud and dung!

Blue wildebeest at rest after a stormy night

Blue wildebeest cow

Blue wildebeest often associate with other animals

Blue wildebeest “teenagers”

Blue wildebeest love rolling in mud or dung

Blue wildebeest “teenager”

Blue wildebeest

Curious Wildebeest Calf

Blue Wildebeest

Blue Wildebeest (photo by Joubert)

Blue Wildebeest

Blue Wildebeest herd drinking from the Transport Dam

Calves are born in the herd at the onset of the rainy season and can walk within 10 minutes of birth. Blue wildebeest have an expected life span of around 15 years, fall prey to all Africa’s large predators and also suffer from several parasites and sicknesses.

Whispering sweet nothings?

Blue wildebeest calf

Blue wildebeest youngsters

Blue wildebeest twins

Blue wildebeest calf staying close to mom

Blue Wildebeest

Blue wildebeest cows

Juvenile Blue Wildebeest

Blue wildebeest

Blue wildebeest cousins

Blue wildebeest herd

Blue wildebeest

Blue Wildebeest

In South Africa, Blue Wildebeest can be found in all of the northern provinces, though mostly confined to national parks, nature reserves and game ranches. Large populations can be found in Kruger National Park, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, Pilanesberg National Park, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Ithala Game Reserve and uMkhuze Game Reserve. The IUCN considers the Common Wildebeest (C. taurinus) to be of least concern in conservation terms, estimating the total population at around 1,5-million, of which 130,000 belong to the southern subspecies, the Blue Wildebeest (C. t. taurinus).

Wildebeest silhouette

Blue Wildebeest

Fleeing Blue Wildebeest

Blue Wildebeest creche

Baby Blue Wildebeest with mom

Blue Wildebeest drinking

Newborn Blue Wildebeest

Blue Wildebeest

Blue Wildebeests

Newly-born Blue Wildebeest stretching his legs

Blue Wildebeest

Blue wildebeest

Wildebeest pest (photo by Joubert)

Blue Wildebeest

Blue Wildebeest cow and calf

A unique colour-variation of the Blue Wildebeest, known as the Golden Wildebeest, is sometimes seen on game ranches.

Golden Wildebeest

“Golden” Blue Wildebeest

Crimson-breasted Shrike

41 Replies

Laniarius atrococcineus

The Crimson-breasted shrike is a small (53g, 25cm) insectivorous bird native to the drier north-western regions of South Africa and neighbouring Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe, where it can be found in thorny savanna thickets. They are monogamous and pairs defend a territory throughout the year, though breeding occurs mainly in the summer months. They build their nests of bark and spiderwebs.

Crimson-breasted Shrike

Crimson-breasted Shrike (photo by Joubert)

Crimson-breasted Shrike

Crimson-breasted Shrike (photo by Joubert)

Crimson-breasted Shrike

The striking scarlet, black and white plumage of the Crimson-breasted Shrike is a perfect fit for this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge “Vibrant“.

Black Heron

67 Replies

Egretta ardesiaca

One of the most interesting birds you could hope to see in action in South Africa’s wild places, is the Black Heron. It’s a smallish species, about 55cm long and less than 350g in weight. Their black plumage and bright orange-yellow feet make them easily recognisable.

Black Herons roost and breed communally in reedbeds or trees, near or over water, with others of their own species, and other kinds of egrets, herons, cormorants and ibises. Nests are platforms built of twigs at the start of the rainy season, on which clutches of 2 to 4 eggs are incubated.

They search for food, alone or in flocks of varying sizes, in rivers, swamps, lakes and estuaries, and feed predominantly on fish.

Black Heron

Black Herons occur widely in Sub-Saharan Africa, excluding the equatorial forests, The IUCN considers the species’ population stable and in no immediate danger of extinction, though they are highly threatened in Madagascar.

A recent visit to Austin Roberts Memorial Bird Sanctuary afforded us the opportunity to enjoy up-close views of the Black Heron’s characteristic hunting method, knows as “canopy feeding“. The bird uses its wings to create an umbrella around its head, and then picks off fish and tadpoles beneath. This behaviour may serve a dual purpose of preventing glare from the water, making it easier to see their prey, and tricking the prey into thinking that the shadow is a safe hiding place. They are also known to wiggle their toes underwater to attract their fishy prey.

Black Heron “canopy feeding”

Black Heron

Black heron “canopy feeding” on shoals of small fish disturbed by the moving buffalo

Heavyweights

40 Replies

Wide load ahead! African elephants laying claim to the road…

Hluhluwe-Imfolozi 28122014

On the road in Pilanesberg National Park

Three big bulls walking in single file along a road in the Pilanesberg

“Weight(less)” is the theme for this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge.

Circle

46 Replies

The unusual posterior markings of the waterbuck is an ideal fit for this week’s WordPress Photo Challenge “Circle“!

The waterbuck’s most characteristic feature…

Waterbuck cow and calf

Waterbuck herd on the move

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Cheetah

52 Replies

Acinonyx jubatus

Few animals’ anatomy so clearly describes their way of life as that of a cheetah. With a small head, big chest, long legs, a supple back and a tail used as a rudder that enables it to change direction in a split second, the cheetah is absolutely built for incredible speed.

You may be lucky to see a cheetah near Orpen

Cheetah

Hyena and cheetah interaction at Orpen

Cheetah on the road to Orpen

Cheetah

Hunting Cheetah (photo by Joubert)

Hunting Cheetah

Cheetah

Cheetahs inhabit areas of open grasslands, bushveld and semi-deserts. Here they prey mostly on small and medium sized antelope, but also on rabbits, jackals and birds up to the size of kori bustards and ostriches. They are independent of water, but will drink when it is readily available.

Cheetahs are diurnal cats, being most active in the early morning and late afternoon, resting up in shady vantage areas during the heat of the day. Both sexes mark and defend large territories, those of females usually being bigger in size than the males’. Females are solitary, except when accompanied by their cubs or a male suitor, while adult males often form coalitions of 2 or more that band together to defend a territory. While hunting and patrolling their territory, cheetahs will readily take to trees, termite mounds and small hills to scan their surroundings. Cheetahs are most famous for being the fastest mammals on the planet, capable of reaching speeds of 100km/h, which they can only maintain for a relatively short distance of 300 to 400m, in pursuit of prey. After such a chase, the cheetah normally takes a few minutes to catch its breath before feeding hastily, as other predators, even vultures and baboons, will rob them of their meal.

Cheetah on the lookout, Gudzani Road

Orpen cheetah sighting

Cheetahs near Shingwedzi, 27 September 2014

Cheetah cub

Cheetah female

Cheetah in the long grass

Cheetah with a tracking-collar

Cheetah – Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park

Cheetah

The Cheetah female Rain and her latest cubs

Cheetah

Cheetah females give birth to up to 6 cubs at a time. The cubs are hidden in long grass, thickets or rocky outcrops for the first month or two of their lives. They are weaned from as early as 3 months old and the female starts training them to hunt from about 4 months of age. The cubs become independent of their mother between 12 and 20 months after birth, at which time they are forced from her territory. The newly independent cubs roam widely and often have a difficult time of it, until they are successful in establishing a territory of their own. Lions, leopards and spotted hyenas are known to actively hunt and kill cheetahs, and they are susceptible to a variety of diseases. In some populations as few as 5% of cubs reach independence. In the wild, cheetahs live to between 10 and 16 years of age.

Orpen cheetah sighting

The King Cheetah is a beautiful and rare recessive genetic mutation of the cheetah in which the spots are fused into blotches and stripes. Seeing a King Cheetah in the wild occurs very rarely but there are a handful in captivity.

King Cheetah at the Hoedspruit Endangered Species Centre

The 4th of December annually is commemorated as International Cheetah Day, to highlight the plight of these lithe big cats. The IUCN considers the cheetah vulnerable to extinction, with a total population of aproximately 7,500 which is believed to be decreasing further. They are threatened by habitat loss, the eradication of their prey base, conflict with livestock farmers and illegal hunting, and have seen tremendous declines in their distribution range. In South Africa wild cheetahs now probably number around 550 animals only, with a considerable percentage of this population persisting outside the big conservation areas in places where competition with larger predators are less of a threat. In our experience, the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park provides the best opportunities for encounters with wild cheetahs in South Africa.

Cheetah at the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve

Cheetahs at the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve

Cheetah at the Rhino & Lion Nature Reserve

Cheetah

Common Impala

51 Replies

Aepyceros melampus melampus

Impala Ram

Impala Ewe

Impala lamb

Young impala

Impala Ram

Impala

Impala Ram with Red-billed Oxpeckers

Impala ewe (Photo by Joubert)

Impala Ram

Impalas reflecting in the waterhole

Impalas drinking at Red Rocks

Impala ewe

Impala Ram

Very impressive Impala ram

Impala (photo by Joubert)

Impala Ram (photo by Joubert)

Impala Ram

Young Impala Ram (photo by Joubert)

Impala ewe

Curious Impala herd (photo by Joubert)

Impala

The impala is a familiar sight in many of South Africa’s reserves and national parks, and often so numerous that most visitors do not give them more than a passing glance, which is a huge pity. They are medium sized antelope, standing around 90cm high at the shoulder and weighing between 40 and 80kg. The rams are bigger than the ewes and only they carry the beautifully shaped horns.

The Black-faced Impala, a seperate subspecies (A.m.petersi), occurs in Northern Namibia.

Impala ram with unusually shaped horns

Impala ewe

Albino impalas are rare

Young ram

Impala ewe

“Teenage” impala ram

Impala Ram

Proud Impala Ram

Fighting Impala Rams (photo by Joubert)

Impala ram in the long grass of the Lebombo plains, along the S28 between Crocodile Bridge and Lower Sabie

Impalas alert after noticing a prowling pride of lions

Impala ewe

Impalas (photo by Joubert)

Young Impala ram (photo by Joubert)

Impala ewes

Impala ram

Impala (photo by Joubert)

Impala

Impalas occur in fairly dense woodland and bushveld, especially where acacias and mopane trees are dominant, and reach their highest population densities in riverine vegetation. They are mixed feeders, including large amounts of grass and browse in their diet, with considerable variation in the plants they feed on during the different seasons. They prefer to drink daily and access to a reliable water source is an important habitat factor for impala – they’re seldom further than 2 or 3km from water.

Impala are nervous drinkers

Impala grazing near Satara in the Kruger Park

Impala are nervous drinkers

Huge herd of impala

Impala ewe

Impala herd

Impala ram

Impala ewe quenching her thirst

Early morning impalas

Impala

Wet Impalas

Impala ram on Kwalata road

Outside the mating season, impalas occur in large, mixed herds of up to 300 animals. In the mating season, adult rams (between 4 and 8 years old) establish territories in which they herd harem groups of about 20 ewes and lambs that they defend vigorously from the attentions of any other males. During this time, males that cannot successfully demarcate a territory or hold on to their harems will band together in bachelor groups.

Impala ewe at full speed

Impala ewe at full speed – photo by Joubert

Impala ram

Impala ram (photo by Joubert)

Impala ewe

Impalas

Impala (photo by Joubert)

Impala’s crossing the two-spoor road leading from Sweni Wilderness Trails Camp (photo by Joubert)

Impala ram with red-billed oxpecker (photo by Joubert)

Impala Ram

Impala Ram (photo by Joubert)

Impala Ram

Impalas are most active in the early morning and afternoons, and sometimes into the night. During the heat of the day they rest up in thickets or shade near water, at night they sleep in open areas. Impala herds do not have large home ranges and they often associate with other herbivores, most notably zebras, giraffes, kudus, blue wildebeest and monkeys and baboons. They’re extremely athletic, capable of speeds in excess of 60km/h and leaps 3m high and 12m far.

Impala ram in prime condition

Impalas are very athletic

Two rams sizing each other up

Impala ram

Two youngsters dueling

Impala on the watch

Impala ram

Adult and sub-adult impala rams

Impala herd on the move

Impalas are very athletic

Impala ram running to meet an intruder

Impala standoff

Immature Impala male

Impala ram

Impala

Impala Ram

Jumping impala

Impala bachelors

Impala

Athletic impala ram

Impala ewe

Dancing Impala (photo by Joubert)

Young Impala ram (photo by Joubert)

Munching Impala (photo by Joubert)

Impala

Impala rams (photo by Joubert)

Impala herd

Impalas and Red-billed Oxpeckers drinking

Impala

Impalas playing (photo by Joubert)

Impala ewe with a heavy load of red-billed oxpeckers

Impala ewe that’s had enough of free-loading Red-billed Oxpeckers (photo by Joubert)

Impalas drinking (photo by Joubert)

Acrobatic Impala (photo by Joubert)

Impala

Impalas congregating next to the Chobe River

In South Africa, the impala mating season falls in autumn, with most of the lambs arriving en masse in early summer. Ewes give birth to single lambs in thickets or long grass, to rejoin the herd with their lamb after two days. Almost all the lambs in a herd are born within a few days of each other, ensuring that there are more lambs than predators can handle. In the herd, the lambs group together in nurseries watched over by one or two ewes.

Impala ram on the run

Impala ram on the bank of the Sabie

Impala

Impala lamb

Impala ram

Impala Ram

Floppy-eared Impala lamb

Impala ewe

Very lazy Impala

Impala skirmish

Impala Lamb

Young Impala ram

Impala watching a stalking lioness

Newborn Impala

Young Impala ram

Impala Ram

Impala rams on the run

Impala Rams

Impalas are a staple of many of Africa’s large predators, especially cheetah, leopard, wild dog and crocodiles. Lambs are also taken by eagles, pythons, jackals and baboons. Owing to their dependence on drinking water and reluctance to move over longer distances, impala suffer greatly during prolonged droughts. They have a life expectancy of between 8 and 15 years in the wild.

Impala lamb

Impala lamb suckling

Impala lamb

Impala lamb suckling

Impala lamb creche

The lambs are just as fleet-footed as the adults

Impala lamb suckling

Impala lamb creche

Impala lamb

Baby impala in the mopane scrub

December is the time for baby impalas!

Impala

Impala lambs

Impala lamb

Impala lamb suckling

Impala lamb

Impala ram

Impala lambs

Young impala ram

In South Africa, the common impala’s natural distribution stretches across the Kwazulu-Natal, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and North West Provinces, and they are frequently encountered in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, uMkhuze Game Reserve, Ithala Game Reserve, Tembe Elephant Park, Kruger National Park, Mapungubwe, Marakele and Pilanesberg National Parks. The IUCN considers the common impala’s conservation status to be secure, with a stable population estimated at about 2 million, half of which occurs on private land, often outside their natural distribution range, being a popular game ranching animal.

Impala ewe (photo by Joubert)

Impala ram

Impala rams

Impala ewe (photo by Joubert)

Impala ram (photo by Joubert)

Impala ewe

Impala pair

Impala ram

Impala ram (photo by Joubert)

Impala rams in a mock fight (photo by Joubert)

Impala ewe close-up (photo by Joubert)

Impala Ram

Impala Ram (photo by Joubert)

Impala Lambs

Uniquely coloured impalas appear from time to time in natural populations, and on game ranches these are often purposefully bred.

Black Impala ram on a ranch near Rooiberg in Limpopo

Young Saddleback Impala ram on a ranch near Rooiberg in Limpopo

Young Black Impala ram on a ranch near Rooiberg in Limpopo (photo by Joubert)

Black Impala ewe on a ranch near Rooiberg in Limpopo (photo by Joubert)

Black Impala

Black Impala with normal coloured individuals

Black Impala ram (photo by Joubert)

White-flanked Impala ewe (an aberrant colour variation)

Black and normal-coloured Impala

Steenbok

56 Replies

Raphicerus campestris

Steenbok Ram

Steenbok Ewe

Steenbok Ram

Steenbok Ewe

Steenbok Ram

Steenbok

The little Steenbok is one of South Africa’s best known and most widely distributed small antelope. They weigh 11kg on average, and have a shoulder height of between 43 and 52cm. Only the males carry the straight little horns of between 9 and 19cm in length.

Steenbok

Steenbok pair

Steenbok

Steenbok ram

Steenbok ewe

Steenbok

Steenbok ewe

Steenbok on the run

Steenbok

Steenbok (photo by Joubert)

Steenbok

Steenbok have an extremely wide habitat tolerance, occurring from deserts to grasslands and bushveld and even in farmlands and on the edge of suburbia. They reach their highest population densities in open areas with short to medium length grass and only a scattering of trees and shrubs. They’re not dependent on water, but will drink when it is available. They feed on grass and leaves in about equal measures and will also ingest seeds, pods, fruit, roots and bulbs.

Alert Steenbok ram

Steenbok feeding

Steenbok close-up

Steenbok ewe

Steenbok

Steenbok ewe

Steenbok Ram

Steenbok ewe

Steenbok ram

At high population densities individual steenbok of both sexes mark and defend small territories, while at lower densities pairs that share a common home range is more usual. Within their territories the Steenbok has preferred areas for feeding and resting. Steenbok are mostly diurnal animals, most active around dawn and dusk and resting up in deep shade during the heat of the day, though they do tend to be more nocturnal in their habits in areas where they are frequently disturbed. When threatened, Steenbok will prefer to try and hide, even in holes in the ground, and will wait until the last possible moment before jumping up and darting away at breakneck speed. Most interestingly, Steenbok defecate and urinate in scrapes they hoove in the ground and then cover again with soil, just like a cat.

Steenbok

Steenbok ewe

Steenbok Ram

Steenbok pair

Steenbok ram

Steenbok ewe

Steenbok

Young Steenbok

Inquisitive Steenbok (photo by Joubert)

Single lambs are born at any time of the year, though mostly in the rainy season, and are hidden in long grass, thickets or holes in the ground for the first few weeks of their life. Only about half of the lambs reach the weaning age of 3 months. They are fully grown by 14 months of age. All Africa’s larger predators, from the size of eagles, pythons and jackals to lions, prey on the Steenbok, and their natural life expectancy is only 6 to 10 years.