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Life Of Riley:The Wild Life |
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“It’s Autumn in the Southern Hemisphere, South Africa and more specifically the Kruger National Park. Life is having a rest before the crazy buzz of spring and summer. It’s still hot though and insect life swarms around us as we make our way through the ancient river beds in search of other carbon based life forms. This is the Wolhuter trail, a set of game trails through the largest non-visitor sanctioned piece of the Kruger National Park’s lowveld savanna bush. It is beauty personified! The air is filled with an intensity and yet a peacefulness that one can only feel in the African bush.”
Wolhuter Trail - May 2004.
Yes, African wildlife and the natural habitats they are found in are spectacular, majestic and other worldly. Few who experience them can easily forget the memories and the thrill. I am often asked why I am so passionate about wildlife, and wildlife in South Africa in particular. The simple answer is that we in South Africa are spoilt! We are not always aware of this, but we are. Here are some of the reasons I say this: |
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Habitats:
- We are home to seven biomes in South Africa, namely:
- Desert
- Succulent Karoo
- Nama Karoo
- Fynbos
- Savanna
- Grassland
- Indigenous Forest
Plants:
- We have 23,200 known species of plants
- The Cape Floral kingdom (yes the Fynbos) is among the most diverse floral kingdom’s in the world with 8,578 known species – some believe this is second only to the Amazon
- 46% of the world’s succulent species found in South Africa, mostly in the Karoo, which gives it the name used in naturalist circles ‘the Succulent Karoo’
Animals:
- Approximately 280 species of freshwater fishes
- Approximately 110 of the global 2500 frog species occur in SA
- Reptiles – over 500 species which is more diverse than the entire United States of America:
- 151 Snakes species
- 338 Lizard species (including chameleons, gecko’s, leguaans, and skinks)
- 27 Tortoise, turtle and terrapin species
- 1 Crocodile species
- Birds – 900 species which is 10% of the global total on just 1% of the land
- Mammals:
- 337 species
- Largest land mammal – African elephant
- Smallest mammal – Golden Mole
- Tallest mammal – giraffe
- Fastest mammal – cheetah
- Largest antelope – eland
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A large proportion of these species are Endemic ie found only in the Southern Africa region and nowhere else in the world and I have only covered the vertebrate species (animals with backbones), and then only freshwater fish species, not the sea dwelling variety. I have not covered the Sponges, Cnidarians, Flatworms, Mollusks, Annelids, Arthropods (Arachnids, Insects and Crustaceans) and Echinoderms that inhabit our land and shores. |
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So in a nutshell – we are rich! South Africans are rulers over a vast dominion of nature.
This is a lot to take in and most of you will be asking: What does this have to do with me? Well life is about ……well, life. There is a reason we feel so at home in the bush alongside the other species we have lived amongst for so many thousands of years. That is our home as well as their’s. |
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So where can you go to experience this abundant life? Here are some suggestions: |
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Kruger National Park – Berg-en-Dal camp
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One of my favourite camps in the Kruger - Berg-en-Dal is situated on the bank of the Matjulu Spruit. There are large trees along the streams and dry riverbeds. Special care has been taken to preserve the natural vegetation in the camp. Berg-en-Dal is also the only camp set in a rugged mountain environment and is built on the site of a prehistoric settlements. Night drives are a must and keep your eyes open for smaller animals that inhabit the area. Spotted Genets frequent the camp and are also great to see. There is a large pool that is great for cooling down after a long and dry game drive. |
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5 things to see:
- White Rhino
- The wily old crocodile at the dam – I have seen him catch a large Nyala male
- Leopard
- Scarlet-chested Sunbird
- Heuglin's Robin
Contact details:
Tel: +27 (0)13 735 6106/7
Fax: +27 (0)13 735 6104
Mobile: 082 802 1201 |
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Kruger National Park – Wolhuter Trail
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This is a once in a life time experience and must be done - The first of all the wilderness trails inside the Kruger Park, it was named after one of the first rangers that was appointed in the establishment of the Sabie Game Reserve in those days - 1902. Harry Wolhuter is famous for killing a lion single handed with his hunting knife while out on patrol on horseback. It is a spectacularly scenic wilderness area characterized by high granite outcrops with deep valleys as well as a flatter undulating landscape. Wilderness qualities are high as the trail area is far removed from the boundaries of the Kruger National Park.
Culturally, Wolhuter Trail was a very active area in days gone by and a lot of relics of the past can be seen everywhere. Evidence of Bushmen and stone and iron age people can be found on the higher lying areas and rocky outcrops. The famous Jock of the Bushveld and his master Sir Percy Fitzpatrick were also criss-crossing this area on their adventurous hunting trips and transport driving routes.
Plantlife is very diverse especially in the higher lying areas – this area is also classified as a botanical reserve within the KNP. Birdlife is good with a lot more species to be seen in summertime when all the summer migrants return. |
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5 things to see:
- Black Rhino.
- Sable.
- Buffalo.
- Elephant.
- Nile or Water Monitors.
Contact details:
Go to www.sanparks.org to check out availability. |
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Tsitsikamma National Park |
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Beautiful forests, rocky landscapes and the sea make this a unique National Park and a gem for nature lovers. It is one of the remnants of the Eastern Cape forests, and with the fact that it stretches 5km out to sea, is a ‘one-stop’ shop for all the outdoor adventurers. There are hikes (the Otter and Tsitsikamma trails start here), mountain biking routes, snorkelling and diving opportunities. There are also adventurous trips up the mountain streams in canoes or boats. |
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5 things to see (besides the waterfall):
- Dolphins and porpoises – keeping vigil on the ocean will produce sightings of schools of dolphins and porpoises frolicking in the waves.
- African Black Oystercatcher – this red data species is one of South Africa’s most threatened bird species. Several pairs nest along the park’s rocky coastline.
- The Knysna Dwarf Chameleon – these beautiful small Chameleons litter the forests, but are most often found on the large Tree Ferns, where they imitate fern fronds.
- Cape Clawless Otter – the source of the name of the Otter Trail, this shy and elusive species hunts crabs along the park’s coastline and rivers alike.
- Blue Duiker – this miniature antelope is found in the forests.
Contact details:
Go to www.sanparks.org to check out availability. |
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