Tag Archives: travel

November ’24 update from Rietvlei Nature Reserve

Summer has now firmly returned to our part of the world and our local Rietvlei Nature Reserve has turned into a green paradise boasting with a wide variety of colourful blooms. What a pleasure it was conducting guided drives through landscapes so vibrant with life this past month!

Serene scenic spot in Rietvlei Nature Reserve

Large herd of Eland

Hypoxis flowers

Hypoxis flowers dotting a recently burned grassland

Wild Penstemom (Graderia-sp)

Chocolate Bells

Sweet Thorn blossoms

Sweet Thorn tree in bloom

Helichrysum species

Rorippa species

Red-hot Poker (Kniphofia) species

Gnidia species

Ipomoea species

Bloubietou

Poison Bulb (Boophane)

Solanum species

Doll’s Powderpuff

Fine-leaved Verbena (naturalised weed from South America)

Clerodendrum species

Berkheya species

Dog Rose (must be a garden escapee)

Unidentified bloom

Bloumelkbos

All around birds are nesting and many males are sporting their splendid breeding plumage, showing off their finery, doing display flights and singing loudly to attract their mate’s attention.

Rufous-naped Lark

Cattle Egret

Northern Black Korhaan male displaying

Long-tailed Widowbird

Southern Red Bishop male in breeding plumage

Southern Masked Weaver

Pin-tailed Whydah male

Red-collared Widowbird

Whiskered Tern

These Glossy Starling males were caught in the midst of a bloody fight, which could only be about a female or a prime nesting site – or both!

Cape Glossy Starlings in a vicious fight

The spring season has brought a baby boom to Rietvlei! From tiny lapwing chicks and newly hatched leopard tortoises to the newest addition to Rietvlei’s rhino population; these cute little creatures are sure to make your heart melt!

White Rhino calf

Crowned Lapwing chicks

Crowned Lapwing chick

Ostrich family with newly hatched chicks

Baby Ostrich

Red Hartebeest with newborn calf

Black-backed Jackal pup

Newborn buffalo

Eland calves with the herd

Newly hatched Leopard Tortoise

Zebra foal

Curious baby Yellow Mongoose

White Rhino calf

The resident pair of Black-chested Snake Eagles are also nesting again and providing a steady stream of serpentine sustenance to their new chick.

Black-chested Snake Eagles at their nest

After the first heavy rain shower at the end of October, Sharp-tooth Catfish started congregating at Otter Bridge, ready to move into their spawning grounds in the marshy area upstream.

Sharptooth Catfish at Otter Bridge

We’re also now seeing lots of insects and reptiles out and about on the reserve thanks to the warm weather.

Speckled Rock Skink

Leopard Tortoise

Nile Monitor

Green Milkweed Locust

List of mammals seen at Rietvlei in October & November 2024:

Scientific	Afrikaans	English
Alcelaphus buselaphus	Rooihartbees	Red Hartebeest
Antidorcas marsupialis	Springbok	Springbuck
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
Suricata suricatta	Meerkat	Suricate
Syncerus caffer	Buffel	Cape Buffalo
Taurotragus oryx	Eland	Eland

Plains Zebras

Black-backed Jackal

Black Wildebeest

Blesbok

Black Wildebeest

Black-backed Jackal

Yellow Mongoose

Black-backed Jackal and Blesbok

Meerkat

Waterbuck

Eland

Blesbok

Eland on the run

List of birds seen at Rietvlei in October & November 2024:

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
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
Anthus vaalensis	Vaalkoester	Buffy Pipit
Apus barbatus	Swartwindswael	African Black Swift
Apus caffer	Witkruiswindswael	White-rumped Swift
Ardea melanocephala	Swartkopreier	Black-headed Heron
Ardeola ralloides	Ralreier	Squacco Heron
Bostrychia hagedash	Hadeda	Hadeda Ibis
Bubulcus ibis	Veereier	Western Cattle Egret
Burhinus capensis	Gewone Dikkop	Spotted Thick-knee
Buteo buteo	Bruinjakkalsvoel	Common Buzzard
Camaroptera brevicaudata	Grysrugkwekwevoel	Grey-backed Camaroptera
Cecropis cucullata	Grootstreepswael	Greater Striped Swallow
Centropus burchellii	Gewone Vleiloerie	Burchell’s Coucal
Ceryle rudis	Bontvisvanger	Pied Kingfisher
Chlidonias hybrida	Witbaardsterretjie	Whiskered Tern
Chrysococcyx caprius	Diederikkie	Diederik Cuckoo
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
Crithagra mozambica	Geeloogkanarie	Yellow-fronted Canary
Curruca subcoerulea	Bosveldtjeriktik	Chestnut-vented Warbler
Cypsiurus parvus	Palmwindswael	African Palm Swift
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 albonotatus	Witvlerkflap	White-winged Widowbird
Euplectes ardens	Rooikeelflap	Red-collared Widowbird
Euplectes orix	Rooivink	Southern Red Bishop
Euplectes progne	Langstertflap	Longtailed Widowbird
Fulica cristata	Bleshoender	Red-knobbed Coot
Gallinula chloropus	Grootwaterhoender	Common Moorhen
Hirundo albigularis	Witkeelswael	White-throated Swallow
Hirundo rustica	Europese Swael	Barn Swallow
Icthyophaga vocifer	Visarend	Fish Eagle
Indicator indicator	Groot Heuningwyser	Greater 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
Lybius torquatus	Rooikophoutkapper	Black-collared Barbet
Macronyx capensis	Oranjekeel Kalkoentjie	Cape Longclaw
Merops apiaster	Europese Byvreter	European Bee-eater
Microcarbo africanus	Rietduiker	Reed Cormorant
Mirafra africana	Rooineklewerik	Rufous-naped Lark
Motacilla capensis	Gewone Kwikkie	Cape Wagtail
Neophedina cincta	Gebande Oewerswael	Banded Martin
Numida meleagris	Gewone Tarentaal	Helmeted Guineafowl
Oenanthe pileata	Hoeveldskaapwagter	Capped Wheatear
Onychognathus morio	Rooivlerkspreeu	Red-winged Starling
Passer diffusus	Gryskopmossie	Southern Grey-headed Sparrow
Passer domesticus	Huismossie	House Sparrow
Passer melanurus	Gewone Mossie	Cape Sparrow
Phalacrocorax lucidus	Witborsduiker	White-breasted Cormorant
Phoeniculus purpureus	Rooibekkakelaar	Green Wood-hoopoe
Phylloscopus trochilus	Hofsanger	Willow Warbler
Plectropterus gambensis	Wildemakou	Spur-winged Goose
Ploceus capensis	Kaapse Wewer	Cape Weaver
Ploceus velatus	Swartkeelgeelvink	Southern Masked Weaver
Prinia subflava	Bruinsylangstertjie	Tawny-flanked Prinia
Pternistis swainsonii	Bosveldfisant	Swainson’s Spurfowl
Pycnonotus tricolor	Swartoogtiptol	Dark-capped Bulbul
Quelea quelea	Rooibekkwelea	Red-billed Quelea
Saxicola torquatus	Gewone Bontrokkie	African Stonechat
Sigelus silens	Fiskaalvlieevanger	Fiscal Flycatcher
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
Tchagra senegalus	Swartkroontjagra	Black-crowned Tchagra
Telophorus zeylonus	Bokmakierie	Bokmakierie
Terpsiphone viridis	Paradysvlieevanger	African Paradise Flycatcher
Threskiornis aethiopicus	Skoorsteenveer	African Sacred Ibis
Turdoides jardineii	Pylvlekkatlagter	Arrow-marked Babbler
Turdus smithi	Geelbeklyster	Karoo Thrush
Upupa africana	Hoephoep	African Hoopoe
Urocolius indicus	Rooiwangmuisvoel	Red-faced Mousebird
Vanellus armatus	Bontkiewiet	Blacksmith Lapwing
Vanellus coronatus	Kroonkiewiet	Crowned Lapwing
Vanellus senegallus	Lelkiewiet	Wattled Lapwing
Vidua macroura	Koningrooibekkie	Pin-tailed Whydah
Zosterops virens	Kaapse Glasogie	Cape White-eye

Ostrich

Red-billed Teals

Common Sandpiper

Northern Black Korhaan male

Capped Wheatear

Banded Martin

Cape White-eye

Fiscal Flycatcher

White-throated Swallow

Spotted Dikkop

Capped Wheatear

Black-crowned Tchagra

Pied Crow

Ostrich

African Black Duck

Cape Grassbird

Capped Wheatear

Willow Warbler

Ostrich

Bokmakierie

Cattle Egret

Northern Black Korhaan

Cape Grassbird

Ostrich Male

European Bee-eater

Rufous-naped Lark

Female Pin-tailed Whydah

Levaillant’s Cisticola

African Darter

Black-headed Heron

Malachite Kingfisher

Banded Martin

Yellow-billed Duck

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.

Snaps on Tour: More than a thought for the scavengers

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I’ve dedicated this post to the scavenger animals and birds we encountered while touring the Kruger National Park in October. These creatures are often terribly maligned, despite the vital function they perform in healthy ecosystems.

I have a real liking for Spotted Hyenas. They’re nothing like the cowardly scoundrels popular media would have you believe. They’re intelligent and fascinating creatures and spending a little bit of time with them, observing their behaviour and interactions, will quickly convince you of that. I was very happy that we had so many close encounters with hyenas during or October trip to Kruger.

Spotted Hyena

Spotted Hyena mother suckling her cubs

Hyena on a mission – Maroela Loop near Skukuza

Spotted Hyenas on a mission – Maroela Loop near Skukuza

Early morning at the Hyena den

Spotted Hyena with a wry smile

Spotted Hyena portrait

Spotted Hyena with a wry smile

Spotted Hyena chomping on a buffalo carcass

A parting glance from a Spotted Hyena

Crossing the dry Shingwedzi River on their way home after a night of searching for food

Lazy Spotted Hyena just outside Mopani camp

Our vultures are in crisis. Due to poisoning and habitat loss all the species occurring in the country are now at dire risk of extinction, and it is vital that wilderness’ like the Kruger National Park remain safe havens for these birds fulfilling such a critical task in the ecosystem. We had many sightings of vultures on the wing, pairs at nests and others sitting exposed on the open branches of tall trees, and twice had the pleasure of watching them peck at and squabble over the carcasses of large animals (a buffalo and an elephant respectively).

Lappet-faced Vulture

Hooded Vultures

White-backed Vulture

White-backed Vultures

White-backed Vulture

White-backed Vultures at an elephant carcass

White-backed Vultures at a smelly elephant carcass

White-backed Vultures at an elephant carcass

Some birds and animals are opportunistic more than they’re scavengers. This Yellow-billed Kite is making the most of a windfall spurfowl that was the victim of a hit-and-run on the main road between Satara and Letaba.

Yellow-billed Kite taking advantage of a roadkill spurfowl

Finishing off this post with a few images of another mammal that catches far more of its own food than it scavenges. Black-backed Jackals are the most numerous canid in the Kruger National Park and any visit to the Park will usually yield a few sightings of them. Finding a den however is a rare occurrence, so having the good luck of timing our visit to Satara with the local jackal pair in the family way was wonderful (even if the adorable family caused a traffic jam at the entrance gate to the camp every evening that they played outside just before dark)!

Black-backed Jackal

Black-backed Jackal pups

Black-backed Jackal pup

Black-backed Jackals

Black-backed Jackal

I am a fully accredited and legally registered tour guide (with all the necessary insurance, professional drivers license and first aid certification) – don’t hesitate to reach out if you’d like me to arrange a guided tour of beautiful South Africa and all her natural wonders, like the Kruger National Park, for you as well, or even just to assist with your holiday reservations for our national parks and nature reserves throughout the country.

Snaps on Tour: Spotted Princes and Princesses

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In October 2024 I had the immense pleasure of hosting long-time blogging friend John Steiner (of Journeys with Johnbo), his wife Lynn, John’s niece Patricia Broesder and her husband Gary on a tour of Cape Town and the Kruger National Park. In Kruger we were joined by colleagues Hannes Rossouw and Irving Knight, both experts in their respective fields.

Now, you never can guarantee that you’ll see a Leopard; they’re just such experts at camouflage that they can disappear in plain sight. We were therefore all very excited at our first leopard sighting of the trip, in the early afternoon on the main road between Letaba and Satara, though she was certainly difficult to see!

Just look how well this leopard hides in the long grass underneath the thorn bush

Our next leopard sighting was brief but thrilling – we saw a brute of a male strangling an impala he had just caught and then seconds later he pulled the still kicking antelope underneath the dark bush where we could only see glimpses of movement afterwards.

Leopard killing an impala

Another memorable leopard encounter on this trip was that of a female and two well-grown cubs who had their fresh kill stolen by a crocodile, who dragged it back into the Sabie River. All these predators also almost caused a nervous breakdown in a vervet monkey that was anxiously trying to hide in a tree stump whilst making alarm calls. The despondent cats gave us some good views later that afternoon where they lay on the ground and draped over a branch.

Vervet Monkey calling in alarm

Leopard cubs

Leopard cub

Female leopard lying on a branch

Female leopard lying on a branch – just look at the camouflage!

We drove straight past this leopard and all that gave him away was the terrible smell. Just as well that he slinked off to the river, hopefully to wash the blood off his body so that his aroma won’t scare away his next meal!

Leopard disappearing into the thick bush along the Sabie River

Here’s another leopard lying so still and beautifully blended in with its branch overlooking the Sand River that it was almost impossible to see!

Just look how well this leopard blends into its surroundings!

Up north at Shingwedzi we came across this leopard using a gully to stalk a mixed herd of waterbuck and impala grazing in the dry bed of the Shingwedzi River. Eventually though he was thwarted when he was seen by one of the sharp-eyed antelope.

Leopard stalking next to the Shingwedzi River

Snaps on Tour: It’s the Lion they’ve come to see

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Seeing Lions in the wild remains a highlight for anyone on safari, whether it is your first trip or your 100th. I knew that combining Satara and Skukuza on our 6-night trip to Kruger with the Steiners and Broesders would give us an excellent chance of encountering the big cats, and it was wonderful to see our first pride while we were still on our way from the airport at Skukuza to Satara, having just passed Tshokwane on our way northwards.

Lionesses just north of Tshokwane

Next morning, we encountered the males ruling the surroundings of Satara just after we left the camp. The white lion who is part of this four member coalition was also there but we couldn’t make out much more of him than a twitchy ear where he was lying hidden behind a thorn bush.

Male lion just outside Satara

We were still on our way to Tshokwane, where we were planning on having brunch, when we found a trio of lionesses giving up their spot in the shade to try and hunt a nyala bull, without success.

Three lioness hiding in the shade – can you see all three?

Trying to hunt a nyala bull

On the afternoon of our arrival at Skukuza, and after taking a quick detour to collect Hannes’ vehicle from the Skukuza airport where a fire was raging, Irving got a report of a leopard on a kill at De La Porte Waterhole just a few kilometres to the south of camp. When we got there however the leopard had been chased off its prey by a lioness and hyena, who by this time was having a stare-off at the waterhole. A second lioness appeared and the two then headed to a nearby koppie, crossing the road very near to our vehicle.

Hyena eyeing a lioness at a waterhole

Spotted Hyena turning tail

Lioness looking up from her drink

Lioness on the move

Second lioness getting up from her hiding spot

Lioness on the move

Late one morning as we were heading back towards Skukuza along the Sabie River, after having brunch at Nkuhlu, we came across a pride of lions with two sets of cubs born a month or two apart. While the females made an unsuccessful attempt at hunting kudus and impalas right next to the road the cubs came following from behind, trying as desperately as their little legs allowed to keep up with their mothers.

lazy here, these lions attempted a hunt just a few minutes later

Lioness on the move, looking for something to hunt

Lioness locked on her target

Tiny Lion cub

Tiny Lion cubs

Lioness and older cub

Lioness

We found the pride still in the same general area later that afternoon, though now a lot less active.

Pride of lions in the bed of the Sabie River

Taking our guests to the Skukuza airport for their flight back to Johannesburg and ultimately Europe for the next leg of their journey offered one last glimpse of lions just 3km from camp, though we couldn’t stay long for fear of being boxed in by the number of vehicles building up at the sighting.

Glimpse of a lioness lying on the bank of the Sabie River

Up at Shingwedzi there was only a couple of pools of water remaining in the Shingwedzi River at the end of the dry season, and the lions were making good use of this fact to wait for their prey to come to them. Sometimes they were lying out in the open and other times they were hiding in ditches or behind clumps of vegetation, but almost inevitably some time spent scanning the surroundings of the pool would eventually reveal the tawny bodies lying in wait.

Lionesses at the Tinyarhini Waterhole in the Shingwedzi River

Lioness at the Tinyarhini Waterhole in the Shingwedzi River

Well hidden Lionesses at the Dipeni Waterhole in the Shingwedzi River

Lionesses at the Dipeni Waterhole in the Shingwedzi River

DeWetsWild adds many more destinations in Namibia!

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Following overwhelming requests from our loyal clientele, DeWetsWild is proud to announce that we’ve expanded our portfolio in Namibia considerably, and we now provide a reservation service for 26 destinations in, around and on the way to Namibia’s fabulous national parks and nature reserves!

In the /Ai-/Ais Richtersveld Transfrontier Park:
/Ai-/Ais Hotsprings and Spa
Boplaas Campsite
Hobas Lodge
(We can also assist with reservations at camps on the South African side of the Park)

In the Dorob National Park:
Jakkalsputz Campsite
Mile 72
Mile 108

In the Etosha National Park:
Dolomite Resort
Halali Resort
Namutoni Resort
Okaukuejo Resort
Olifantsrus Campsite
Onkoshi Resort

Hardap National Park

In the picturesque town of Luderitz:
Shark Island

In the Namib-Naukluft National Park:
Naukluft Camp
Sesriem Campsite
Sossus Dune Lodge

Popa Falls Game Park

In the Skeleton Coast National Park:
Terrace Bay Resort
Torra Bay Campsite

In historic Swakopmund:
Swakopmund Hotel & Entertainment Centre

Waterberg Plateau Park

In the capital city Windhoek:
Windhoek Country Club Resort

Off the beaten track in Namibia:
Duwisib Castle
Gross Barmen Resort
Khorixas Rest Camp

You are welcome to email us on dries@dewetswild.com with your request or alternatively complete the following form if you would like DeWetsWild to take care of your next holiday reservation at any of these properties in Namibia (the more detail you provide us, the better service we can provide to you):

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Name & Surname

Please give us the email address we should use for correspondence related to this reservation only.

Please tell us which destinations you'd want to stay at?

Please tell us which kinds of accommodation you prefer (camping, budget units with communal facilities, fully self-contained units, multi-room family units, etc)

Please tell us how many adults and children the required reservation is for (and please provide the ages of the children at the time of the visit)

Please tell us the dates of your intended visit, and please be as specific as possible about your first night, last night and number of nights you're hoping for at the destination, etc.

Any other information you'd want us to be aware of? Give us as much information as possible so that we can provide you with the best possible service.

Snaps on Tour: Cheetahs that weren’t all that hungry…

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It was mid-morning as we were driving back towards Shingwedzi along the S50 road that skirts the mostly dry course of the Shingwedzi River when we came across three youngish cheetahs on their way towards one of the few waterholes remaining this deep into the dry season. By then we had already seen Africa’s two other species of big cat, lion and leopard (more about them in posts to follow), on that same stretch of road that same morning, so we were thrilled to add the third to our tally even before 09h00!

As the cheetahs approached the waterhole a herd of impala noticed them and started running away, prompting one of the three cheetahs to follow in hot, if unsuccessful, pursuit. The remaining two cheetahs, less energetically, sauntered to the water and then took up a position in the open to wait for the return of their companion. While lying there a family of warthogs almost stepped right on top of them but our excitement at the prospect of an easy hunt for the cheetahs were quickly dashed when they just turned their backs on what looked like easy pickings.

Cheetah

Cheetahs

Cheetah

Cheetahs

Cheetah

Cheetah and Warthogs. Will he or won’t he?

Cheetah and Warthogs. No, he won’t.

Snaps on Tour: Lowveld Scenery in the Kruger National Park

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The Kruger National Park is an enormous tract of land, for the most part entirely untouched by human interference, where the heart of Africa still beats to its own rhythm, and whether there are any people around to witness it or not makes no difference to her beauty. Scenes like these make my soul soar. I’m sure it had the same effect on our guests.

Sunset over the plains south of Satara

The Sweni Spruit

A pool of water near Satara

Olifants River

Olifants River at the end of the dry season

Looking up into Von Willich’s baobab

Sabie River sunrise

Sabie River in golden light

Sunset scenery around Skukuza

Olifants River at the end of the dry season

Pioneer Dam at Mopani

The bone dry confluence of the Shingwedzi and Mphongolo Rivers

Waterhole north of Babalala

Snaps on Tour: The Loneliest Elephant

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Still on the subject of elephants. Travelling between Letaba and Satara one early afternoon we came across a most harrowing sight of a lone young elephant, emaciated and totally oblivious to his surroundings and most certainly too small to have been expelled from the herd, walking along an elephant footpath towards – well, what? There was no elephant herd anywhere nearby and we could only guess as to why he was so terribly alone, and obviously has been for quite a while, and where he might be headed. Nature can be cruel at times and watching her take her course is not always easy, but in national parks like the Kruger that is exactly what has to happen. There can only be human intervention if the problem was caused by human interference to begin with and in this case there was no reason to suspect that this was the case.

Young elephant totally alone in the wilderness

Luckily we had many other wonderful encounters with elephants during our visit where we could watch their endearing familiar relations and interactions within the herd.

African Elephant

Young elephant

African Elephant

Baby Elephant

African Elephant

Baby elephant

Big old elephant bull between Satara and Olifants in the Kruger National Park

African Elephant

Baby elephant

Elephant

Elephant calf

Elephant Tusker

Tiny baby elephant

Elephant cow walking past Shingwedzi Camp’s entrance

Snaps on Tour: A Stingy Elephant

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Last month, while following the course of the Mphongolo River north of Shingwedzi in the Kruger National Park on our morning drive, we came across this amusing scene at the Mavatsani waterhole, just south of the turnoff to Sirheni Bushveld Camp. The day was already quite hot and a herd of elephants, a couple of buffaloes, some baboons, nyalas and warthogs were milling around the muddy water. An elephant cow claimed a hole from which clear water was seeping but had her hands – or is that head, trunk and front leg? – full with a youngster trying to muscle his way in on her treasure. The calf protested with loud screams when she tried to shove him away but he did not give an inch and, her gentle nature obviously winning over her frustration, the cow eventually let him through to quench his thirst from her well.

Mavatsani Waterhole between Sirheni and Shingwedzi in the Kruger National Park

Elephant cow bullying a youngster at the waterhole

Snaps on Tour: Skukuza Veldfires

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We were heading south from Satara to Skukuza and already noticed the enormous column of smoke from near Tshokwane Picnic Spot, about 35km as the crow flies from our destination. Fire (especially naturally occurring fires caused mainly by lightning) is an integral part of savanna ecosystems like the Kruger National Park and a rather common occurrence at the start of spring, when the end of the dry season results in the vegetation being terribly desiccated. Still, having to pass straight through the fires, feeling the heat of the flames on the side of the road and breathing the acrid smoke, is an exciting affair and leaves one with a great appreciation for the teams of firefighters battling the flames (as they do with unplanned human-caused runaway fires like this one, at the time thought to have been caused by a spark from an electrical pylon). This particular blaze almost took out the airport building at Skukuza, though in the end ironically the building suffered enough water damage from the efforts to prevent it going up in flames to require temporary plans to be put in place for passengers using the facility to bypass the arrivals hall, check-in counters and car-hire offices. Thankfully we didn’t notice any large animals hurt or killed in the fire and no people suffered any injuries worth reporting on, but doubtless many smaller animals succumbed, providing a boon for especially insectivorous birds.