The Karoo National Park is such a harsh environment, and yet there is so much beauty on every scale!
A hot summers day in the Karoo National Park today delivered some more wonderful wildlife encounters.
The summer holidays are upon us here in South Africa and we Wild De Wets are starting off our trek through the Western and Eastern Cape with a few nights in the amazing Karoo National Park.
A conspicuous and beautiful plant when in bloom during the spring season on our Highveld grasslands, Chocolate Bells are found in parts of Gauteng, Mpumalanga, Limpopo and Kwazulu-Natal. They’re well adapted to survive the worst elements of life on the Highveld – cold, frosty winters and frequent veld fires – in fact the plants often don’t flower at all if they weren’t subjected to a fire first!
Today is Birding Big Day in South Africa, so in a clever twist of irony we’re showcasing a bird that none of the participants in the event is at all likely to encounter! 😀
Bradfield’s Hornbill is found in only five Southern African countries: Botswana, Namibia, Angola, Zambia and Zimbabwe. According to the IUCN it is not in any imminent danger of extinction though it does note that the population is probably in decline due to habitat loss as a result of logging operations. They occur in savanna-woodland and feed mainly on invertebrates, small vertebrates, seeds and berries. They’re usually seen in pairs or small flocks.
Typical of most hornbills, Bradfield’s Hornbill also breeds in holes in trees in which the female is plastered inside with the (usually) three eggs for the 4 week incubation period while the male feeds her through a slit. She leaves the nest a few days after the chicks hatched to help the male feed them until they’re ready to leave the nest at almost 2 months old. The parents take care of the chicks for another month of so thereafter.
Genus Hypoxis
There is at least 90 species of plant in the genus Hypoxis, known colloquially as the Star Lily, with indigenous representatives being found in Australia, Asia, the Americas and sub-Saharan Africa. Almost half the known species are found in southern Africa. Most species occur in grasslands. They grow to about 50cm tall, with the star-shaped flowers – bright yellow in colour in the majority of species – being rather short lived. Leaves and flowers are only borne in the warmer months, with the plants overwintering through their underground rootstock. It is this rootstock that is used traditionally as food and medicine that gave the Star Lily its alternative name of African Potato, now even researched in western medicine as an immune booster.
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!
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.
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!
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!
The resident pair of Black-chested Snake Eagles are also nesting again and providing a steady stream of serpentine sustenance to their new chick.
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.
We’re also now seeing lots of insects and reptiles out and about on the reserve thanks to the warm weather.
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 |
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 |
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.
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.
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).
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.
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)!
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.
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!
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.
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.
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!
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!
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
We found the pride still in the same general area later that afternoon, though now a lot less active.
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.
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.
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.
DeWetsWild 