Tag Archives: outdoors

February ’25 update from Rietvlei Nature Reserve

We’ve been having loads of rain in Pretoria since mid-December and our local Rietvlei Nature Reserve has turned into a lush green paradise where even rhinos and buffalo can disappear among the tall grass, in striking contrast to the fire-ravaged veld in early spring. The reserve was even closed due to flooding for a few days in February! Nature’s resilience is remarkable! The month of February marks a year since I started guiding guests on drives and walks through this special reserve on a freelance basis, and in conjunction with Hannes Rossouw Photography we presented another “introduction to wildlife photography” workshop for aspirant wildlife photographers from Gauteng at the reserve in February as well.

Early morning at Rietvlei, on my way to meet my guests for the morning drive

Sunrise at Rietvlei

Sooty Blue butterfly pair

Speckled Rock Skink

Mosquito Fish

Common Diadem butterfly

Swainson’s Spurfowl landing on a dead branch

Storm building over Rietvlei

Heading home in the evening

The young Black-chested Snake Eagle is venturing further afield of the nest in which it was raised, though still returning to it regularly. I haven’t seen its parents at the nest at all during January and February, and suspect they’re probably coaxing the youngster to roam more widely by feeding it at other places.

Adult Black-chested Snake Eagle

Juvenile Black-chested Snake Eagle

Aside from the Black-chested Snake Eagles, Rietvlei’s grasslands, thorny thickets and wetlands are positively bursting at the seams with a wide-variety of other birds, several of them in enormous numbers.

African Black Duck

African Darter

African Quail Finch

African Stonechat

Amur Falcon

Banded Martin

Black-chested Prinia

Bokmakierie

Cape Grassbird

Cape Longclaw

Cattle Egret

Crowned Lapwing

Diederik Cuckoo

Fan-tailed Widowbird

Giant Kingfisher

Hamerkop

Orange-breasted Waxbills

Ostriches dustbathing

Ostriches

Ostriches females in a tiff

Pin-tailed Whydah male displaying to the female

Pin-tailed Whydah

Red Bishop

Red-billed Quelea

Red-collared Widowbird

Red-throated Wryneck

Reed Cormorant

Rufous-naped Lark

Southern Masked weaver

Spotted Thick-knee

Wattled Lapwing

Willow Warbler

Yellow-billed Duck

Yellow-fronted Canary

Zitting Cisticola

List of birds seen at Rietvlei in January and February 2025:

Scientific	Afrikaans	English
Coturnix coturnix	Afrikaanse Kwartel	Common Quail
Gallinago nigripennis	Afrikaanse Snip	African Snipe
Fulica cristata	Bleshoender	Red-knobbed Coot
Elanus caeruleus	Blouvalk	Black-winged Kite
Telophorus zeylonus	Bokmakierie	Bokmakierie
Tricholaema leucomelas	Bonthoutkapper	Acacia Pied Barbet
Vanellus armatus	Bontkiewiet	Blacksmith Lapwing
Pternistis swainsonii	Bosveldfisant	Swainson’s Spurfowl
Buteo buteo	Bruinjakkalsvoel	Common Buzzard
Prinia subflava	Bruinsylangstertjie	Tawny-flanked Prinia
Chrysococcyx caprius	Diederikkie	Diederik Cuckoo
Jynx ruficollis	Draaihals	Red-throated Wryneck
Merops apiaster	Europese Byvreter	European Bee-eater
Hirundo rustica	Europese Swael	Barn Swallow
Muscicapa striata	Europese Vlieevanger	Spotted Flycatcher
Apus apus	Europese Windswael	Common Swift
Lanius collaris	Fiskaallaksman	Common Fiscal
Sigelus silens	Fiskaalvlieevanger	Fiscal Flycatcher
Neophedina cincta	Gebande Oewerswael	Banded Martin
Anas undulata	Geelbekeend	Yellow-billed Duck
Turdus smithi	Geelbeklyster	Karoo Thrush
Crithagra mozambica	Geeloogkanarie	Yellow-fronted Canary
Colius striatus	Gevlekte Muisvoel	Speckled Mousebird
Saxicola torquatus	Gewone Bontrokkie	African Stonechat
Burhinus capensis	Gewone Dikkop	Spotted Thick-knee
Dessonornis caffer	Gewone Janfrederik	Cape Robin-Chat
Anthus cinnamomeus	Gewone Koester	African Pipit
Ortygospiza atricollis	Gewone Kwartelvinkie	African Quail Finch
Motacilla capensis	Gewone Kwikkie	Cape Wagtail
Passer melanurus	Gewone Mossie	Cape Sparrow
Tringa hypoleucos	Gewone Ruiter	Common Sandpiper
Numida meleagris	Gewone Tarentaal	Helmeted Guineafowl
Streptopelia capicola	Gewone Tortelduif	Cape Turtle Dove
Centropus burchellii	Gewone Vleiloerie	Burchell’s Coucal
Plegadis falcinellus	Glansibis	Glossy Ibis
Sphenoeacus afer	Grasvoel	Cape Grassbird
Streptopelia semitorquata	Grootringduif	Red-eyed Dove
Cecropis cucullata	Grootstreepswael	Greater Striped Swallow
Gallinula chloropus	Grootwaterhoender	Common Moorhen
Passer diffusus	Gryskopmossie	Southern Grey-headed Sparrow
Lophoceros nasutus	Grysneushoringvoel	African Grey Hornbill
Bostrychia hagedash	Hadeda	Hadeda Ibis
Scopus umbretta	Hamerkop	Hamerkop
Upupa africana	Hoephoep	African Hoopoe
Phylloscopus trochilus	Hofsanger	Willow Warbler
Acridotheres tristis	Indiese Spreeu	Common Myna
Zosterops virens	Kaapse Glasogie	Cape White-eye
Acrocephalus gracilirostris	Kaapse Rietsanger	Lesser Swamp Warbler
Ploceus capensis	Kaapse Wewer	Cape Weaver
Scleroptila gutturalis	Kalaharipatrys	Orange River Francolin
Tachybaptus ruficollis	Kleindobbertjie	Little Grebe
Lamprotornis nitens	Kleinglansspreeu	Cape Glossy Starling
Alopochen aegyptiaca	Kolgans	Egyptian Goose
Vidua macroura	Koningrooibekkie	Pin-tailed Whydah
Euplectes axillaris	Kortstertflap	Fan-tailed Whydah
Vanellus coronatus	Kroonkiewiet	Crowned Lapwing
Trachyphonus vaillantii	Kuifkophoutkapper	Crested Barbet
Corythornis cristatus	Kuifkopvisvanger	Malachite Kingfisher
Crinifer concolor	Kwevoel	Grey Go-Away Bird
Cisticola juncidis	Landeryklopkloppie	Zitting Cisticola
Euplectes progne	Langstertflap	Longtailed Widowbird
Vanellus senegallus	Lelkiewiet	Wattled Lapwing
Dicrurus adsimilis	Mikstertbyvanger	Fork-tailed Drongo
Falco amurensis	Oostelike Rooipootvalk	Amur Falcon
Macronyx capensis	Oranjekeel Kalkoentjie	Cape Longclaw
Cypsiurus parvus	Palmwindswael	African Palm Swift
Turdoides jardineii	Pylvlekkatlagter	Arrow-marked Babbler
Microcarbo africanus	Rietduiker	Reed Cormorant
Amandava subflava	Rooiassie	Orange-breasted Waxbill
Anas erythrorhyncha	Rooibekeend	Red-billed Teal
Phoeniculus purpureus	Rooibekkakelaar	Green Wood-hoopoe
Quelea quelea	Rooibekkwelea	Red-billed Quelea
Estrilda astrild	Rooibeksysie	Common Waxbill
Spilopelia senegalensis	Rooiborsduifie	Laughing Dove
Laniarius atrococcineus	Rooiborslaksman	Crimson-breasted Shrike
Euplectes ardens	Rooikeelflap	Red-collared Widowbird
Amadina erythrocephala	Rooikopvink	Red-headed Finch
Mirafra africana	Rooineklewerik	Rufous-naped Lark
Euplectes orix	Rooivink	Southern Red Bishop
Urocolius indicus	Rooiwangmuisvoel	Red-faced Mousebird
Threskiornis aethiopicus	Skoorsteenveer	African Sacred Ibis
Anhinga rufa	Slanghalsvoel	African Darter
Laniarius ferrugineus	Suidelike Waterfiskaal	Southern Boubou
Prinia flavicans	Swartbandlangstertjie	Black-chested Prinia
Circaetus pectoralis	Swartborsslangarend	Black-chested Snake Eagle
Anas sparsa	Swarteend	African Black Duck
Ploceus velatus	Swartkeelgeelvink	Southern Masked Weaver
Ardea melanocephala	Swartkopreier	Black-headed Heron
Pycnonotus tricolor	Swartoogtiptol	Dark-capped Bulbul
Chalcomitra amethystina	Swartsuikerbekkie	Amethyst Sunbird
Apus barbatus	Swartwindswael	African Black Swift
Bubulcus ibis	Veereier	Western Cattle Egret
Icthyophaga vocifer	Visarend	Fish Eagle
Cisticola tinniens	Vleitinktinkie	Levaillant’s Cisticola
Asio capensis	Vlei-uil	Marsh Owl
Struthio camelus	Volstruis	Common Ostrich
Phalacrocorax lucidus	Witborsduiker	White-breasted Cormorant
Corvus albus	Witborskraai	Pied Cow
Lamprotornis bicolor	Witgatspreeu	Pied Starling
Hirundo albigularis	Witkeelswael	White-throated Swallow
Apus caffer	Witkruiswindswael	White-rumped Swift
Euplectes albonotatus	Witvlerkflap	White-winged Widowbird
Afrotis afraoides	Witvlerkkorhaan	Northern Black Korhaan

The tall grass and lush vegetation is making it very difficult to see most of the mammals and especially the smaller kinds. One exception is the zebras, seeming to now prefer the reserve’s roads for walking from one grazing area to the next and giving me and my guests wonderful up-close encounters with these beautiful animals.

Black-backed Jackal with a bullfrog

Black Wildebeest

Blesbok

Buffalo

Plains Zebras

Plains Zebra

Plains Zebra female and foal

Plains Zebra foal getting a tail in the face

Plains Zebra

Plains Zebras

Red Hartebeest calf

Eland running across the road

List of mammals seen at Rietvlei in January and February 2025:

Scientific	Afrikaans	English
Damaliscus pygargus	Blesbok	Blesbuck
Equus quagga	Bontsebra	Plains Zebra
Syncerus caffer	Buffel	Cape Buffalo
Taurotragus oryx	Eland	Eland
Sylvicapra grimmia	Grysduiker	Common Duiker
Suricata suricatta	Meerkat	Suricate
Alcelaphus buselaphus	Rooihartbees	Red Hartebeest
Canis mesomelas	Rooijakkals	Black-backed Jackal
Hippopotamus amphibius	Seekoei	Hippopotamus
Antidorcas marsupialis	Springbok	Springbuck
Connochaetes gnou	Swartwildebees	Black Wildebeest
Leptailurus serval	Tierboskat	Serval
Kobus ellipsyprymnus	Waterbok	Waterbuck
Cynictis penicillata	Witkwasmuishond	Yellow Mongoose
Ceratotherium simum	Witrenoster	White Rhinoceros

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.

Barn Owl

7 Replies

Tyto alba

The species of owl with the widest distribution, being found on every continent except Antarctica, the Barn Owl is also found throughout South Africa and often in close association with human habitation. While it may roost in mine shafts and on buildings in towns and cities, in natural environments Barn Owls roost in trees and caves in any habitat with suitable numbers of prey. Barn Owls are almost completely nocturnal and feed on an extremely wide variety of creatures, ranging from insects and other invertebrates, small reptiles and birds to mammals the size of hares and rabbits.

Barn Owls nest at any time of year, using roost sites in building, hollows in trees or caves in which the female incubate clutches of about 6 eggs for approximately a month while the male provides her with food. When food is scarce chicks that hatch earlier may sometimes cannibalise their younger siblings. The chicks may stay in the nest for up to 2 months before taking their first flight, and usually start hunting for themselves at about 3 months of age.

With a worldwide population estimated at as many as 10 million, the IUCN considers the Barn Owl to be of least concern.

Barn Owl

Barn Owl fast asleep at Fish Eagle Picnic Spot

Barn Owl

Barn Owl in flight (photo by Joubert)

Common Milkweed Locust

18 Replies

Phymateus morbillosus

The vibrant colours of the Common Milkweed Locust, both in the adults and in the nymphs, serves as a warning to any would-be predators that these insects are not only foul-tasting but also potentially lethally toxic. They feed on poisonous plants, incorporating the toxins into their own tissues. The females lay their eggs in late summer with the nymphs then appearing the following spring and maturing slowly over the next 2 years. They’re found in open habitats over most of South Africa and usually in groups congregating on their favourite food plants.

Common Milkweed Locust nymphs

Common Milkweed Locust

Common Milkweed Locusts

Common Milkweed Locust

Ludwig’s Bustard

6 Replies

Neotis ludwigii

Ludwig’s Bustard occurs only in the southern and western provinces of South Africa, Namibia and a corner of southern Angola. The IUCN considers it to be an endangered species, sadly indicating that, mainly due to in-flight collisions with telephone and power lines and wind turbines, their population has declined by at least 50% in the past 30 years.

The Ludwig’s Bustard inhabits open, arid scrubland in the Karoo, Kalahari and Namib, migrating considerable distances over these areas as it follows the rains and the resultant proliferation of seeds, rodents, insects and other invertebrates (it is an omnivore) that follows. They’re usually seen either singly or in small groups though congregations of up to 80 individuals have been recorded.

Male Ludwig’s Bustards are territorial, defending a small patch in which they try to keep and mate with as many females as possible during the breeding season that spans the spring and summer months, and playing no further role in the rearing of the precocial chicks. The female nests in a shallow scrape in the ground, usually surrounded by vegetation, incubating a clutch of 1-3 eggs. Fully grown they stand approximately 85cm tall, with a wingspan of up to 1.8m and weighing between 2.5kg and 4.5kg, males being considerably larger than females.

Ludwig’s Bustard

Ludwig’s Bustards

Ludwig’s Bustard

Ludwig’s Bustard coming in for a landing

Ludwig’s Bustards

Ludwig’s Bustard

Fairy Flycatcher

10 Replies

Stenostira scita

The tiny Fairy Flycatcher occurs only in South Africa and Lesotho and marginally into neighbouring Namibia and Botswana. Their distribution in our winter months is much wider than in the rest of the year. Fairy Flycatchers live in the more arid and open regions of the country, preferring areas of thorny shrubland and grasslands with pockets of thorn trees, though they have become increasingly numerous in suburban gardens and plantations. Their diet is restricted to invertebrates, including insects and spiders, and they are usually seen singly or in pairs but only very rarely in small groups.

At the start of the nesting period in our spring season the female constructs a cup-shaped nest using very fine materials in a dense shrub. She also takes sole responsibility for incubating the clutch of 2 or 3 eggs which hatch within 3 weeks of being laid, though the male will provide her with food while she is on the nest. Fully grown Fairy Flycatchers weigh only about 6g and measure approximately 11cm in length.

According to the IUCN the Fairy Flycatcher is not at risk of extinction.

Fairy Flycatcher

Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin

14 Replies

Tursiops aduncus

The Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin has a wide distribution in the coastal waters off Australia, Asia and Africa’s eastern seaboard. Locally they’re found as far west as Table Bay, living on a diet of fish and squid.

Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins live in pods numbering between 20 and 2,000 individuals. Females give birth to a single baby at 2-6 year intervals, following a 12-month long gestation. Fully grown, these dolphins measure about 2.6m in length and weigh between 150-230kg, and have a life expectancy of up to 40 years in the wild.

The IUCN considers the Indian Ocean Bottlenose Dolphin to be near-threatened, citing the species’ coastal occurrence which brings them into contact with many negative human-induced factors but also indicating that there’s been insufficient research on their population numbers and trends on a global scale.

Indian Ocean Bottlenose Dolphin

Dolphins in the waves at Cape Vidal

Dolphin tricks

Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin

Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphins

Indo-Pacific Bottlenose Dolphin

Buff-streaked Chat

10 Replies

Campicoloides bifasciatus

The Buff-streaked Chat is a bird that is found only in South Africa, Lesotho and Eswatini (formerly Swaziland), where it occurs mainly on the Drakensberg range and in its foothills (with an apparently isolated population in the Waterberg), being a denizen of grassy, boulder-strewn hillsides and isolated rocky outcrops, though it has also adapted to living near human dwellings on farms and in small towns. They feed primarily on insects and other invertebrates, taking seeds and nectar on occasion.

Usually encountered in territorial pairs, Buff-streaked Chats breed in the summer months, when the female builds a large, untidy cup of twigs, fine roots and grass in which she incubates a clutch of 2-4 eggs, usually in a crevice, under an overhanging rock or in a thick tuft of grass. Both parents take care of the nestlings and are often assisted by the young from the previous brood. Fully grown they measure about 16cm in length and weigh approximately 30g.

The IUCN considers the Buff-streaked Chat to be of least concern, and though commonly encountered where they occur their habitat must’ve been severely diminished in recent history with the proliferation on exotic plantations in their preferred distribution range.

Buff-streaked Chat

Male Buff-streaked Chat (photo by Joubert)

Female Buff-streaked Chat (photo by Joubert)

Common Brown Water Snake

9 Replies

Lycodonomorphus rufulus

The Common Brown Water Snake is a small snake that on average grows to about 60cm in length, adult females being considerably larger than males. It is of no danger to anything except the small frogs, tadpoles and fish it feeds on, being as its name suggests closely associated with watery habitats where it is an excellent swimmer. The Common Brown Water Snake is non-venomous and kills its prey by constriction. It is placid by nature and rarely bites when handled. Females lay between 10 and 20 eggs in the summer months, with the babies hatching about 2 months later.

We have Joubert’s sharp eyes to thank for seeing this beautifully camouflaged specimen at a stream in the Mountain Zebra National Park. The sighting was rather unusual as these snakes are usually active at night.

Common Brown Water Snake (photo by Joubert)

Common Brown Water Snake

More snaps from our summer days in the Mountain Zebra National Park

13 Replies

For the majority of local and international tourists the Mountain Zebra National Park is probably one of the country’s most underestimated protected areas. Conservationists and those visitors who have fell under its spell, however, can’t praise the place highly enough. But don’t give away the secret – we love Mountain Zebra National Park for its untrammeled wilderness feeling far from the madding crowds!

During our visit earlier in January I posted a few photographs on a daily basis to give those following along on our travels a glimpse of what we were experiencing. Let’s start this recap with those.

Kudu bull eating sweet-thorn blossoms

Gemsbok

Black Rhino

Springbok ewe (photo by Joubert)

Blesbok lamb (photo by Joubert)

Mountain Zebra (photo by Joubert)

Young Kudu bull (photo by Joubert)

Black Rhino (photo by Joubert)

Speckled Mousebird

Mountain Zebra National Park: Scenery along the Kranskop Loop

Mountain Zebra family squabble

Black Wildebeest

Black Rhino

Springbok

Black Rhino

Ostrich chick

Yellow Mongoose

Ground Squirrel

Marsh Terrapin

Mountain Zebra

Kudu calf

Scenery in Mountain Zebra National Park

Of course, pride of place goes to the population of Cape Mountain Zebra, as saving these beautiful creatures from extinction was the reason behind the Park’s proclamation almost 90 years ago.

Cape Mountain Zebras

Cape Mountain Zebra

Cape Mountain Zebra foal

Cape Mountain Zebra foal being shy

Cape Mountain Zebra

Cape Mountain Zebra mare and foal

But of course, Mountain Zebra National Park is also home to an amazing variety of other wildlife that also finds a home in this beautiful landscape.

Ludwig’s Bustard

Chat Flycatcher

Blesbok

Warthog (photo by Joubert)

Southern African Ground Squirrel

Yellow Mongoose

Yellow Canary

Ammocharis lily

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Four-striped Grass Mouse

Blesbok

Springbok herd on the move

Meerkat

Cape Longclaw

Familiar Chat

I suspect this is Cotyledon campanulata

Common River Frogs

Blue Cranes

Southern Ground Agama

Namaqua Sand Lizard

Springbok (photo by Joubert)

Eastern Clapper Lark

Blesbok lamb

Spike-heeled Lark

Black Wildebeest herd

Scaly-feathered Finch

Bar-throated Apalis

Red Hartebeest

Poynton’s River Frog

Southern African Ground Squirrels

Male Ostrich sunbathing

Blesbok Ram standing proud

Malachite Kingfisher (photo by Joubert)

Grey Rhebok

Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow

Nile Monitor

Male Buff-streaked Chat (photo by Joubert)

Common Brown Water Snake

Female Sentinel Rock Thrush

One of the most exciting sightings of our entire trip occurred early morning on our last full day in the Park, when we came across a herd of buffalo anxiously milling on the road at a precarious downhill stretch on the Kranskop Loop, just where it crosses a small stream. Only after some of the herd passed us, nerve-wreckingly due to the steep slope next to us parked off to the side of the very narrow roadway, we could go around the corner and saw the reason for the buffaloes’ distress – they were being stalked by two lionesses! The cats never went into a full blown attack while we were watching but seemed content to keep following the buffaloes and working on their nerves.

Buffalo roadblock

Buffalo herd on the move – photo by Joubert

Buffalo herd almost forcing their way past our vehicle on a narrow, steep road!

Buffalo close-up (photo by Joubert)

Buffalo

Very nervous buffalo cow – photo by Joubert

Nervous buffalo cow

Buffalo herd continuing over the stream and up the hill to get distance between them and the lions

Lioness

Lioness eyeing us and the buffaloes from the grass (photo by Joubert)

Lioness

Seen high from the Kranskop Loop Road the buffaloes are still trying to put distance between them and the lions

But the lionesses are following patiently behind

We ended our visit to Mountain Zebra National Park with a night drive. The Park is renowned for the quality sightings of otherwise rarely seen nocturnal creatures and our drive certainly did not disappoint!

Scrub Hare (photo by Joubert)

Bat-eared Fox (photo by Joubert)

Aardwolf (photo by Joubert)

DeWetsWild is proud to be a contracted reservations agent for the Mountain Zebra National Park, so whether you’d like us to assist you with a reservation to visit on your own or would like us to include the Park in a guided tour arranged specifically for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out!

More snaps from our summer days in the Addo Elephant National Park

17 Replies

The Addo Elephant National Park is one of South Africa’s most visited wild places, and not without reason. The Park has a wealth of habitats and a wonderful array of wildlife, not least of which is the elephants that were the original reason for Addo’s proclamation. Furthermore it is such an easy destination to visit, with an excellent network of roads, conveniences like a shop and restaurant, and comfortable accommodation options for visitors.

Baby Elephant walking away with mom

Spekboom blossoms

Lots of activity at Rooidam

Bokmakierie

Elephant Bull

How’s the weather up there?

Warthog

Plains Zebra stallion

Black-backed Jackal

Cape Sparrows

Hyenas occupying a stretch of mud at Hapoor Dam

Buffaloes drinking at Hapoor

Black-backed Jackal

Red Hartebeest

Warthog

Elephant Bull

Elephant Bulls

Elephant Cows begging for a chance at the waterhole

Elephants enjoying the water and mud

Elephant youngster

Elephant rough-and-tumble

Zuurkop viewpoint

Spotted Hyena portrait

Plains Zebras

Elephant herd in a rush to water

Scrub Hare

Ndlovu Valley view

Juvenile Pale Chanting Goshawk

Elephant Bull at Hapoor Dam

Cattle Egrets

Buffaloes

Three little warthogs and an Elephant

Spotted Hyena

Ludwig’s Bustard

Black-backed Jackal

Warthog

Yellow Mongoose

The tip of an elephant’s trunk

Meerkats

Kudu bull

Common Duiker

Bushbuck

There’s no denying that Addo’s Elephants are the stars of the show – rightly so, considering how close the population were to being wiped out when the Park was proclaimed – but national parks like Addo conserve so much more than just the big, charismatic African fauna. Addo is richly endowed with various kinds of smaller, often less noticeable, plants and wildlife, and visitors who take care to look for them will find their visits endless enriched.

Wild Asparagus in bloom

Spekboom blooming

Bush Karoo Rat

Addo Flightless Dung Beetle

Brown-veined White butterflies congregating on wet dung

Bush Karoo Rat female with young

Tasman’s Girdled Lizard

Buquet’s Vagrant

Karoo Boer-bean

Crassula perforata

Snake Plant blooming

Robber Fly

Angulate Tortoise

Addo is also a haven for a wide variety of birds – we managed to identify 81 species during our four day visit.

Immature Fiscal Flycatcher

Red-necked Spurfowl

Malachite Sunbird

Black-headed Heron

Cattle Egret

Karoo Scrub-Robin

Black-crowned Night Heron

Black-crowned Night Heron chick

African Spoonbill

Southern Boubou

Speckled Mousebird

Red-faced Mousebird

Forest Buzzard

Fiscal Shrike

Ant-eating Chat

Cape Crow

Pied Crow

Pale Chanting Goshawk

Southern Black Korhaan male

Helmeted Guineafowl

Bokmakierie

Red-billed Oxpeckers

Male Ostrich

Streaky-headed Seed-eater

Ludwig’s Bustard

Red-knobbed Coot chicks at the nest

Brimstone Canary

Female Southern Double-collared Sunbird

Cardinal Woodpecker (photo by Joubert)

Common Buzzard

Common Buzzard (photo by Joubert)

Red-capped Lark (photo by Joubert)

Of course a national park on this continent will never grow famous if it isn’t home to a wide variety of charismatic mammals, and here Addo certainly ranks among the best of the best. Lions, hyenas, jackals, zebras, antelope, buffaloes and warthogs can pop out around any corner and are usually quite comfortable around humans in their vehicles, making for great photographic opportunities.

Plains Zebra

Plains Zebra smile

Plains Zebras

Warthog

Kudu bull in thick bush

Spotted Hyena

Black-backed Jackals

Plains Zebra foal

Buffaloes

Plains Zebra stallion

This warthog family almost ran straight into the jackal!

Warthog babies

Spotted Hyena

Black-backed Jackal

Lions on a distant hillside

And then, of course, there’s the elephants. Addo’s elephants are more relaxed than most other populations in the country and, if you are as enthralled with these beautiful animals as we are, you will enjoy the many up-close encounters Addo delivers with the giant pachyderms.

Elephants playing in the water

Elephant calf

Tiny Elephant calf

Elephant bull taking a drink of water

Two elephant bulls greeting each other

Elephant cows in Addo seldom have well developed tusks

Elephant cow and calf

Elephant herd in a rush to the waterhole

Close-up detail of an elephant’s tail

Elephant feeding on a Plumbago

DeWetsWild is proud to be a contracted reservations agent for the Addo Elephant National Park, so whether you’d like us to assist you with a reservation to visit on your own or would like us to include the Park in a guided tour arranged specifically for you, please don’t hesitate to reach out!