Strange bird meals
Seeds, fruits, insects and meats are the first things that generally jump into people’s minds when they think of what birds eat. This is generally the preferred diet and case with most birds, whether it be an eagle feeding on a kill or a waxbill jumping around feeding on grass seeds. Sometimes birds will go […]
Predatory Creepy Crawly’s
When mentioning predators to people on safari, big cats, hyenas, wild dogs, eagles and crocodiles are usually what pop straight into mind. Yes, it is understandable, as they are spectacular and what everyone wants to see. A cheetah sprinting across the open grassland or male lion roaring next to the vehicle is something everyone hopes […]
Springbok – Not just a Rugby Champion
Unless you’re a South African person, when you hear the name ‘Springbok’, people immediately think of the rugby team. Although they are the world champions, they are not the only springbok found in South Africa. The original, is actually an antelope species and is also the national animal of South Africa. This is where the […]
The Great Apes and Migration
Last year I got a call from two of my repeat guests, Annette and Patsy, saying that after they had a magic safari here in South Africa with me, they were ready for another trip to the continent. The ladies themselves are very well travelled, and so I knew something adventurous would be on the […]
Common Safari Questions – Part 1
Often when going out on a safari, there are old “folk” stories that go around about certain animals or situations. Unfortunately these are often picked up by and used by younger and less experienced guides. Rather than doing a bit of research and correcting themselves, they run with it as it sounds fun and interesting […]
Arm, nose or lip?
For decades, an elephants trunk puzzled us and was massively misunderstood. With a lot of time and research we have managed to understand this incredible appendage much better, and what an incredible appendage it is. From drinking, to breathing and feeding themselves, elephants are able to do more with their trunks than we are able […]
Bird Besties
When we talk about relationships between mammals and birds, the first one that pops into mind is the oxpecker. These little birds are found on all of our large mammals and help rid them of external parasites. This relationship is known as mutualism, as both the buffalo and red-billed oxpecker gain something. The buffalo gets […]
Re-wilding the Heart
My love affair with the African continent – and especially with South Africa – started more than seven years ago, though I’m now convinced that the connection runs much deeper than that. When I first moved here for work, I had no idea that this place would slowly stitch itself into the fabric of who […]
Sausage Tree
The Sausage Tree is a well known tree to anyone that knows a bit about the African bush. Even people that are not interested in trees cannot mistake this large tree. With sausage shaped pods growing large, it looks like someone has hung up pieces of salami to cure and dry. The tree is also […]
Mammalian Senses
In previous blogs we have had a look at the incredible senses of birds. They have incredible eyesight, super senses of hearing and specialised ways of enhancing these even more so. Mammals have done the same and come up with their own ways and means of using their senses. In this blog we are going […]
