Volume 15

Stalking the dunes

Conquering the Kalahari

Hazyview

Your gateway to the Kruger

Elephants by Starlight

Lions prowling in the night

HUNTING I FISHING I ADVENTURES I CONSERVATION I DESTINATIONS

Stellenbosch: Devon Place, Corner of R304 & Bottelary Road, Koelenhof, South Africa, 7605

A f r i c a ’ s

Pretoria: Lynnwood Bridge, Corner of Daventry & Lynnwood Road, Lynnwood, Pretoria, South Africa, 0081 www.safariandoutdoor.co.za info@so.co.za Vol 15 2013

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P r e m i e r

Stellenbosch 0861 11 4330 Pretoria 0861122 2269

O u t f i t t e r

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Featured species

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The Giant Eland Smallmouth Yellowfish Martial Eagle Lucky Bean Tree

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Hunting

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Stalking the dunes Greywing survey

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FIshing

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Entomology - the study of insects Fishing grass at Renosterkop

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dESTINATIONS

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Hazyview - your gateway to the Travel & Stay

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cONSERVATION

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Elephants by starlight & lions prowling in the night

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Cowboys in Convoy

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Regulars

Editors Letter Events Recipe: Leek and bacon pasta Product Review

Adventures

Contents

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Kruger

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Editors Letter

After a brief visit to the Kruger earlier this month, I could not help but wonder about the state of our Rhinos. This lead me to some research and after some shocking discoveries it dawned on me that we’re perhaps missing the point or that we maybe need to change our approach.

With the number of poached rhino sitting at a staggering 515 animals for the year, drastic measures needs to be taken before it’s too late.

The legalisation of rhino horn trade will certainly relieve a lot of pressure but what long term impact would it have on the species? This is a hot topic in conservation circles and the debate will carry on for quite some time to come. There are several arguments surrounding this and I hope that a resolution will be found sooner rather than later.

Is it not perhaps time to start educating the user market? Shouldn’t they be made aware of the impact their believes have on a living species and that animals need to be killed and brutally slaughtered to deliver this so-called medicine? Will it not help if we can decrease the demand through this? Well, this is just a thought, but we need to start looking at alternatives.

It’s another great edition filled with wonderful adventures across this beautiful country for your enjoyment with a great romantic weekend breakaway for a lucky couple up for grabs.

“Don’t follow me...you won’t make it.”

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Johan Viljoen

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hunting

Stalking the Dunes

Engee Potgieter

I found that the most successful tactic when hunting such a large open property as FM Safaris was through “spot & stalk” and many hours were spent glassing as can be seen in the photo as my tracker Stef points out a distant herd of Gemsbuck to me.

South Africa is home to an incredibly diverse selection of both wildlife and habitat, from thick coastal forests to the rich bushveld of the old Transvaal. Yet very few places in this country have the mystique and grandeur as the Kalahari, a still untouched area of the Northern Cape Province.

I recently had the fortunate opportunity to hunt an incredible expanse of pristine “duine veld” of some 16 000 Ha nestled at the very heart of the old country, namely FM Safaris just outside of Upington.

I was a guest to the Kriel family who run all operations on FM Safaris, consisting of Dr. Peter Kriel, his charming wife Lynne, his son Roland Kriel and his partner Marie. A more professional, courteous and friendly group of people you are not likely to come across, they treat each and every client of theirs like royalty, which is not surprising as FM Safaris is a popular hunting destination of the Saudi Royal Family. I would be spending a week with the Kriel’s in order to hunt species endemic to the area like springbuck, red hartebeest and gemsbuck, the latter being the main objective as very few antelope symbolizes the Kalahari so unmistakably as our very own Oryx. Now although many people may have the preconception that the Northern Cape or Kalahari is an endless expanse of dry and featureless plains nothing could be further from the truth. Through intense fauna and flora management Dr. Peter Kriel (who has a doctorate in wildlife management) has created what can aptly be called a hunters oasis. I was personally astounded to experience the incredible diversity of terrain and wildlife present on FM Safaris, steep rock strewn mountains

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hunting frame the open salt plains and swarthaak thickets, whilst deep gulley’s and high rolling red dunes present ample stalking opportunity.

As far as species are concerned there is more than enough to choose from the 23 species to satisfy even the most stringent of trophy hunters. Special care had been taken by Dr. Kriel to establish indigenous species and one can easily see what a great success this is. Massive herds of gemsbuck and springbuck (common, black & white), cape kudu, red hartebeest, blesbuck, roan, sable, waterbuck, nyala, ostrich, steenbuck and duiker thrive on this beautiful piece of land.

On this particular hunt I had chosen to use my Tenpoint Turbo XLT Crossbow as I was suffering from a recurring shoulder injury picked up from my earlier rugby playing days, the crossbow was just as capable as my compound bow to cleanly and effectively kill my quarry, but did not require brute power to draw and aim. I did however have to shorten my self-imposed maximum hunting distance to only 50 yards with the crossbow, as opposed to 80 yards with my compound bow, as I felt that my accuracy (3-shot groupings) was not up to par when taking shots further than 50 yards. Although the weapon is very capable of better accuracy at longer ranges when shot from a dead rest, I made the decision to limit myself to 50 yards as I would be stalking game on foot and shooting the Tenpoint offhand. This would still very much be a challenging hunt as the general openness of the area would have one relying heavily on spotting game from a long ways off before carefully stalking to within range or setting up an ambush along a trail all before you get spotted. Something that sounds much simpler than it is, I can assure you.

I arrived on the property late in the afternoon after a grueling non-stop 14 hour drive from home and was welcomed by the Kriel’s at the main lodge with a damp facecloth and ice cold orange juice, just the thing to sooth a weary travelers’ mood, to be honest it actually felt as though I had arrived at a holiday resort let alone a hunting camp!

The main camp on FM Safaris is something to behold, a unique blend of true African styling and furniture with a generous sprinkling of rich Saudi influence and ornaments. As we sat down to dinner that evening, overlooking a nearby waterhole visited by an array of waterbuck, nyala and sable we discussed the strategy for the following days hunting. Although there are a number of waterholes across the immense property with a few featuring very effective and well built hides out of which bow hunters and tourists can be treated to a mosaic of animals coming to water through the day, we decided to try our luck on foot to see if we could bag a trophy.

What this entailed was to take a drive on the property after breakfast in the hopes of spotting small herds or bachelor animals in a stalkable position before setting off on the stalk. Something I particularly appreciated was the fact that Dr. Peter Kriel focused more on fair chase, unhurried hunting as opposed to the “whack-em-and-stack-em” attitude, this did not mean that the hunting was easy only that one spent two sessions a day, both morning and afternoon, in the field interspersed with a light lunch back at the lodge.

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hunting All hunting is done on foot and once an animal has been taken it is returned to the first-rate slaughtering facilities to be processed whilst the hunter retires to the lodge before the afternoon session. The generous numbers of game and general terrain on FM Safaris almost ensures that hunters will get their animals; even with the crossbow I took four animals in 5 days, but rest assured that the hunting will not be a rushed affair.

The first morning we were off after a scrumptious breakfast and drove around stopping regularly on higher ground to look for lone gemsbuck or hartebeest bulls, which would be easier to sneak up on than a herd full of scanning eyes. We soon spotted a small bachelor group of gemsbuck bulls skirting the edge of a small rise, not too far from camp. Giving them time to drop out of view Roland and I set off after them, the wind wasn’t perfect, blowing almost straight at them, but if we closed the gap quickly enough we could get within shooting range before they cut our scent.

Although this meant that we would go after them quicker than I would like or was used to, it was our only option if we wanted to catch up with the group of four bulls before the game was over. We had just crested the rise and were standing scanning the swarthaak thickets below us for signs of the gemsbuck when I spotted what appeared to be a lone blue wildebeest bull calmly feeding some way off to our right, he was in a much better position to stalk so we decided to abandon the search for the gemsbuck and try and sneak up on the old wildebeest bull. (We later caught sight of the same four gemsbuck we had been after, which it turned out, had run a great distance which could only mean that they did hit our scent trail long before we ever got close to them.)

The wildebeest however, was perfectly situated for a stalk, head down feeding with ample cover around him and the wind crossing our front. Making a mental note of his exact position we dropped down between the clumps of brush, heading straight for the bull. The going was easy as our target was unaware of any danger and the sand underfoot made for quiet walking, we soon made it to the spot where we had last seen the bull and went down on hands and knees to close the last dozen or so yards. We hadn’t gone but ten yards when the bull suddenly appeared behind a thick swarthaak only thirty or so yards in front of us, still feeding and totally oblivious of our presence. I carefully made my way to the left and ahead of Roland and got into a position

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hunting to take the shot when the bull looked up in our direction, he must have noticed the movement but thanks to our 3-dimensional camo clothing could not decipher what exactly we were, so he just slowly made his way off before I could take the shot. Waiting for the bull to get swallowed up by the swarthaak, Roland and I got up and hurried off after the bull hoping to still get a shot, this would not have been able had we been hunting on harder ground but the signature red Kalahari sand muffled all sound we made.

Our strategy paid off as we quickly caught up to the bull slowly walking into the wind, a short whistle stopped him broadside at 51 yards as I confidently touched the trigger, sending the bolt high through the bulls shoulders, the shot was however higher than I would have liked and this was confirmed as he took off and I could see the exit. Not good. Anyone who has hunted blue wildebeest can attest to the fact that they are incredibly tough animals and wounding one will have you working very, very hard to get it on the ground. To cut a long story and very long tracking job short, Stef my tracker and I eventually did catch up to the grand old bull and could fortunately put it down with a follow up shot. Hindsight proving that one should never attempt a shot at any animal after rushing off after it, as taking a shot when short of breath always leads to trouble. I was keen to head back out to look for a gemsbuck, but I was grateful to take the rest of the day off as the wildebeest had taken us on a merry run around under the blazing mid afternoon sun, so we retired to the comfort of the deck next to the swimming pool, taking in the most spectacular sunset over the vastness of the Kalahari.

The next morning started out just the same as the day before as Roland and I headed out in search of a trophy gemsbuck, we spotted many fantastic specimens but getting within shooting range with the crossbow was proving very difficult. We did however get tantalizingly close, a mere 26 yards, to a terrific lone bull Roland knew of. We both agreed he would easily measure 40 inches but I never could take the shot, leaving me with my hands in my hair! My PH did however manage to draw blood; Roland took a beautiful springbuck with my crossbow at 33 yards, his first ever with archery equipment! My quest for a trophy gemsbuck did however work out, as two days later Stef and I were out alone walking along the crest of a high red dune stopping every so often to scan the area with our binoculars, when Stef drew my attention to a lone gemsbuck way off in the distance.

As soon as I laid eyes on him the hairs on the back of my neck stood up, and even though he was still a good 600 yards away. A blind man could see that this was no ordinary gemsbuck.

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hunting We watched as the massive bull kept walking purposefully in a westerly direction when Stef spoke up and told me that he had a good idea of where this bull might be heading, a waterhole some distance away where he had once seen this particular bull before. Dropping down off the back of the dune we wasted no time in heading straight for the waterhole, although it was a gamble and I must admit that I was a little uneasy about not keeping the bull in sight. I was confident in Stef’s hunch and placed my trust in his knowledge of the property. We had to cover quite some distance and had to beat the bull to the waterhole if I wanted any chance of getting a shot so we slowly jogged for most of the distance through the soft sand which left my leg muscles screaming for reprieve, but the effort was worth it as we drew closer to an open area where Stef indicated the bull would come through if he was still holding his course.

Panting like a racehorse, I quickly had a look around and could spot a well trodden trail within easy shooting distance of a clump of swarthaak’s. Stef wanted us to continue on to the waterhole to wait for the bull there but I disagreed. There were two good reasons for setting up an ambush right there, firstly the bull should be coming past us totally oblivious of any danger and secondly the few minutes we could wait for him to come by would afford me the opportunity to catch my breath and make a pin point accurate shot. Stef agreed with my reasoning and we quickly took up our positions, I was right at the edge of the clearing, hugging the cover of a small thorn tree with Stef lying down flat a couple yards behind me.

No sooner had I gotten settled in when the suspicions started, I started to doubt my decision, this was very big country and I needed the bull, which I haven’t yet seen again, to come by on this very trail I was sitting over if I wanted a shot. It was a gamble at best but at least both Stef and I agreed that, given our choices this was the best plan, I was still going over and over everything in my head when I was drawn back to reality by a soft whistle from Stef, without even turning around I knew what he was trying to do and as I carefully turned my head to my right I caught a glimpse of a gemsbuck coming along the trail, not just any gemsbuck but thé gemsbuck! The magnificent bull was walking ever so steadily straight toward us, I slowly raised the stock to my shoulder without taking my eyes off the bull, my heart beating out of my chest, my mouth totally dry, I couldn’t believe the moment of truth was upon me. As the bull drew level with me I let loose a sharp short whistle while at the same time clicking the safety off, just as the crosshair of the

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hunting crossbows scope came to rest tight behind the bull’s massive shoulder I squeezed off the shot and sent the bolt blasting through the bull’s chest as he stood there at 40 yards.

At receiving the shot the bull hunched up and took off in a headlong dash, but only managing to go just over 80 paces before going down in a cloud of dust. As I sat there in utter disbelief at what had just happened silence again enveloped me and the only thing I could distinguish as my eyes stayed glued to my downed trophy was Stef’s enthusiastic slaps on my back. It had worked, the plan actually worked! We slowly got up and made our way over to the regal bull as he lay amongst a sea of yellow grass, I knelt next to him and raised his head, still speechless at the utter beauty of the animal. The gemsbuck bull was not only the biggest I had ever had the privilege to take personally but was also the largest bull I had ever laid eyes on, the longest horn taping out at an incredible 43 3/8” with a total SCI score of 103 5/8”, that if entered would not only be the new Crossbow Record but also the general (Compound) Archery World Record. A once in a lifetime trophy indeed and one I will always be grateful for being given the opportunity to take. Thanks again kindly to both Dr. Peter Kriel and Roland for the opportunity to hunt the flowing red dunes of FM Safaris.

A true once-in-a-lifetime trophy, a 43 3/8” Kalahari gemsbuck bull.

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http://m.animal.memozee.com/

Featured species

Taurotragus derbianus www.theanimalfiles.com Main Characteristics The Giant Eland is the largest species of antelope in the world. They have a body length between 2.2 and 3.45 m, a tail length of 90 cms, and they weigh between 300 and 1,000 kgs. Depending on sex, Giant Elands differ greatly in size, males can grow to almost double the weight of females, and can reach up to 1.8 m at the shoulder.

The coat of the Giant Eland is reddish-brown in colour and is usually darker in males. The torso features 8 -12 well defined vertical white stripes. The colour of the male’s coat darkens with age, and it has been stated that the darkness of the coat reflects the levels of androgen in the body.

Androgen is a male hormone which is highest during rutting.

Giant Eland have large ears that serve as signaling devices. Both males and females have tightly spiraled, ‘V’-shaped horns. They can be up to 123 cm long on males, and 66 cm on females. Males have horns that are thicker at the ends, longer, and more divergent than those of females.

Giant Eland can move quickly, running at over 70 km/h, and despite their size are exceptional jumpers, easily clearing heights of 1.5 m.

Habitat Giant Eland live in the broad-leafed savannas, woodlands and glades of central and western Africa. They also live in forests as well as on the fringes of deserts. They inhabit places near hilly or rocky landscapes and those with water sources nearby. They are not territorial and have large home ranges.

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hunting Featured species Diet The Giant Eland is a herbivore, grazing on grasses and foliage, as well as other plant parts. In the rainy season, they browse in herds and feed on grasses and during the dry season eat coarse dry grass and weeds if nothing else is available. Fruits, such as plums, are also on the menu when available. They often use their long horns to break off branches to reach succulent leaves. Giant Elands also require a regular intake of water in their diet.

Breeding Mating occurs throughout the year, but peaks in the wet season. Males fight for dominance by locking horns and trying to twist the necks of their opponents. The dominant male will mate with several females.

Female Giant Eland reach sexual maturity at about two years, and males at four to five years of age.

After a gestation period of nine months one calf is usually born at night. The calf will remain with its mother for around four to six months, after which the young eland might join a group of other juveniles.

Predators Predators of Giant Eland include lions, spotted hyena and sometimes leopards.

Subspecies There are two subspecies of Giant Eland: Western Giant Eland (Taurotragus derbianus derbianus): They are found in western Africa, particularly Senegal to Mali. They have 15 body stripes, are smaller in size and rufous in colour.

Eastern Giant Eland (Taurotragus derbianus gigas): They are found in central to eastern Africa, particularly Cameroon to Sudan. They have 12 body stripes, are larger in size and sandy in colour.

Interesting Facts Giant Eland are also known as Lord Derby Eland. Although The Giant Eland is somewhat larger than the common eland, the name ‘giant’ actually refers to its large horns. The name ‘eland’ is Dutch for “elk” or “moose”.

Giant Eland can be domesticated, and they have numerous advantages over domestic cattle.

Elands can survive with relatively little water and can even manage to ingest some poisonous plants that would kill cattle. They are also immune to some diseases that would afflict cattle. In addition they have high quality hides, produce good meat, and their milk is richer in protein and milk fat than dairy cows.

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hunting

Greywing Survey

Tim van Heerden

We arrived in the Sneeuberg about two hours after schedule. A light drizzle during the early morning in town afforded us to depart at leisure. On arrival, nobody was to be found at the main homestead.

We drove towards Toorberg where our quaint little mountain cottage awaited us. Only to find it locked. We left all our weather resistant and non essential gear on the stoep and departed for the field.

There was a light drizzle coming down which led us to stay on the low lying areas that was out of the main mist belt. The purpose of the exercise was to look for a new Greywing Partridge area on an existing shooting concession. I had a specific area in mind between two areas that I have surveyed before.

When I got out of the vehicle, I realised that due to the wet condition of the veld, it would be a better idea to change my Rainer Event boots for my more appropriate Johnson gum boots.

The dogs quivered with anticipation when I opened the canopy door to let them out. I decided to take all four dogs along. This would ensure a thorough covering of the unfamiliar area to be surveyed. As it was the first real survey before the shooting season, we started on the edge of an area that I knew to hold some birds.

I ordered the dogs to a halt and to sit around me. Then I sent them off to find the Greywing. We found the first covey about three hundred meters from where we left the vehicle. Lady pointed them, but Zimbi, a novice dog, ran through the covey and flushed the lot. I counted sixteen Greywing in the covey.

Working our way back to the vehicle, I heard a Partridge whistling that so familiar call in the distance. I cast the dogs into the opposite direction. The plan was to circle back to where I heard the Greywing. En route I found a promising area, but decided to head towards the calling Greywing and to survey this spot from a different direction later.

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We almost missed the covey. Ally, a liver and white pointer bitch, ran off and came around below the other dogs. Passing a small ledge, she locked onto point. I cast the other dogs towards her, backing her immediately when she came into view. Even Zimbi is more careful this time round. I flush the covey which also tallied sixteen birds. We headed off back to the vehicle as my inner self indicated it was lunch time.

After a quick lunch we set off back to the main gravel road and headed north east towards a farm track I knew would take me a bit further into the next kloof. When we got to the track, we followed for about two kilometers until we reached an internal fence. Here we stopped to assess the landscape in front of us, looking very promising I decided to approach from right there.

I cast the dogs to the west. They systematically work the grassland surrounding the rocky ledges, quartering then to the left and then the right. As the dogs approach the end of the far right ledge, a covey of Greywing flushed unprovoked about fifty meters ahead of them. I could count a total of fifteen birds as they disappeared into the distance.

We headed south towards Toorberg to where I saw the likely spot on the pre lunch survey. When we got there we found a lot of scratchings, but no birds. After a while, the dogs started to act birdy and I decided to let them work the area for a bit.

It was not long before Lady, my best dog, locked onto a point about a hundred meters ahead. The other dogs moved to her direction and immediately backed her point. As I approached Lady, the other dogs followed me, sneaking cautiously forward towards where Lady was holding her point.

As I reached her, a covey of fifteen Greywing flushed not ten meters in front of me and the static dog. We all watched the Greywing disappear over a rise.

I decided to head back to the vehicle. Seeing a small plateau, almost hidden by a line of Harpuis brush, my curiosity got the better of me. I cast the dogs into that direction and headed up the mountain.

The dogs reached the plateau, first. When I eventually caught up with the two tailing dogs, I saw Ally locked on point thirty meters to my right. As I headed towards Ally, I notice Lady was on point fifty meters in front of me. I put my money on my top dog and walked to Lady.

The other two dogs were now backing their colleagues.

As I reached her a group of birds flushed in front of her.

Then all hell broke loose. Birds flushed in front of Ally and another covey where Lady was pointing. A third group flushed further ahead. I counted forty birds in total!

This was one of the biggest Greywing flushes I have experienced. Admittedly, it must have been three

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hunting

different coveys that rose while feeding on the same cluster of rock slabs.

The sight of seeing forty Greywing disappearing in an arc of 180 degrees in front of you is amazing. Heading back to the vehicle the dogs pointed another two coveys consisting of six and eight birds respectively. This put the Greywing count for the day up at an amazing one hundred and eighteen. Back at the vehicle we slowly made our way back to the main gravel road and then onto the main homestead to get the key to our mountain cottage for the night.

That night after dinner, sipping John Walker from a tin cup while watching bush television in the gigantic fireplace, reflecting, I started counting my blessings.

082 929 5373 www.KarooWingshooting.co.za

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hunting fishing

To advertise contact Lizel Stavast lizel@africanadventures.co.za

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fishing

Entomology “The study of insects” Hannes Venter

In order to achieve success as a fly fisherman, you need to have a basic understanding of how to identify some insects that are found in rivers and lakes. From there, understanding the insect’s life cycle will help you to choose a fly to “match the hatch” and improve your chances of catching a fish.

The diagram on the next page indicates the typical life cycle of a mayfly. The majority of insects will follow a life cycle similar to this, with a few subtle changes, but it is not necessary to focus on that in great detail. It is however important to understand the basic life cycle. A general life cycle consists of egg, nymph and adult stages.

Common Aquatic Insects Mayfly life cycle: Egg Mayfly nymph Dun Spinner Egg Characteristics: Mayfly nymph - 3 tails, gills on their abdomen and one claw on each leg.

Dun - Lighter colour than the adult and has very small hairs on the wings.

Adult or Spinner - Large upright sail shaped wings at rest and two to three tails.

Caddis fly life cycle: Egg Larva Pupa Adult Egg Characteristics: Larva - Grub-like worm larva resembling stick like structures.

Pupa - Similar to cocoon of a butterfly or moth.

Adult - Tent like or moth shaped wings at rest. Two long antennas and no distinctive tail.

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fishing Midges life cycle: Egg Larva Pupa Adult Egg Characteristics: Larva - Simple, segmented worms with no distinct body, head or tail.

Pupa - Similar colour to larva but have a much fatter head-thorax section.

Adult - One pair of wings that are smaller than its body, 3 pairs of very skinny long legs.

Spinner Eggs

Dun

Flies to have in your flybox There are thousands of different fly patterns that are available. They have all been created with one thing in mind and that is to catch fish. Some flies are made to look exactly like an insect or bait fish while others are designed to attract attention and provoke a strike. In order to simplify your choice we have grouped different types of flies with the species they are designed to target.

Woolly Bugger Streamer

Trout and Yellowfish Flies Humpy DDD Royal Wulff Elk Hair Caddis GRHE Red Eye Damsel Muddlers Minnow Mrs. Simpson

Mouse fly bass

Muddlers Minnow Streamer

Bass, Barbel, Tigerfish and Saltwater Flies Clouser Minnow Eel Worm Zonker Half Chicken Mouse Fly Kapenta Fly Surf Candy Lefty’s Deceiver Popper

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Humpy

Hannes Venter 082 373 2622 hannes@tffa.co.za

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fishing for large mouth bass. It is a magnet for fish and fisherman alike. Weeds have become the dominant bass cover in dams throughout the country and will play a major role in years to come, but there is more to fishing in vegetation then just blindly casting into it. Grass fishing requires as much of a detailed game plan as any type of structure fishing.

Fishing Grass at Renosterkop Firouz Dockrat Every bass angler worth his plastic playthings knows that aquatic vegetation provides cover and habitat for the species they crave. Vegetation, whether it is floating weeds, reeds or grass, houses everything bass need to survive and thrive.

This vegetation serves as protection from predators for bass fry and ambush cover for adult fish. Its very existence congregates the food chain, beginning with microscopic plankton that feed on plants, which attracts baitfish, frogs, crabs and other food sources for bass. It also provides cooler temperatures in the hot summer months and warmer water in the winter, while offering shade and protection from overhead predators like birds.

Even new anglers to the sport understand the need to fish in vegetation, particularly

Some say fishing is an art and an artist will make full and proper use of what he has on his pallet, discarding inappropriate colors and applying masterful strokes with brushes meant for a particular purpose. To take advantage of structure and vegetation an angler must understand the basics of avoiding unproductive vegetation, be able to pinpoint fish position in the grass and apply proper tools for specific types of vegetation. So perhaps we don’t create masterpieces like Rembrandt or Van Gogh, but we might just set a new South African record or up our personal best.

A day on the water When Bernard Venter invited me to spend a day with him fishing at Renosterkop dam I jumped at the chance. Having fished there previously I knew the potential of the dam and I was yearning to land a ‘buss’ of a fish.

Needless to say I hardly got any sleep the night before, preparing my tackle box and spooling on new line. With extreme excitement running through me, I counted down the hours to my departure to pure fishing pleasure.

We finally reached the dam by 7.30am and wasted no time getting on the water. With the weather forecast looking good (25˚C) we headed off in search of the fish of dreams.

Our first target area would be the inlet on the south bank and on getting there I noticed the abundant grass cover with bass and carp everywhere. The bass were not playing the game on this bank with only a few small

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fishing fish falling to our weightless flukes. We wasted a couple of hours fishing unproductive banks and not picking up any keeper size bass. A run to the island proved to be the same although we did see a couple of huge blue kurpers resting in shallow grass beds, which bodes well for the upcoming season. The opposite side of the island (the north bank) is where all the real fun began.

On my previous trip to this dam we had landed 90% of fish on this bank using weightless flukes. Trying the same tactic again today we came out disappointed. Then, young Rudolph Venter decided to try a ZOOM dead ringer and on his first cast managed to land a decent size fish. Wasting no time I rummaged through my tackle box and came up with DAMIKIs answer to the dead ringer, the MR JUMBO in a watermelon seed color. Quickly rigging it onto a HAYABUSA 4/0 hook I made my first cast into the open water between two grass patches and was rewarded with the familiar ‘pluk’ of a decent size bass. The smaller rats tend to hit the lure at freight train speed and after dropping my rod and reeling in any slack line I felt the pressure of the bass and I struck hard and fast. What joy to know you have a decent fish at the end of the line. After landing it we judged it in the 2kg class and placed it in the live well for a picture shoot later on.

with deeper water? Does it have points where baitfish might collect and are there bottom irregularities under or near the grass?

The next factor is to analyze the ecology of the weed bed to determine its current health, which in turn will indicate its viability as prime bass habitat. Look for fresh green growth, which is an obvious indication of the grass health. In summer one can also tell a great deal about the health of the grass by using a lure like a buzz bait or spinner bait that creates a commotion as it comes through the grass. If baitfish spook, that’s perfect, because then one knows that food is present in the weed bed.

This will tell you that the weeds are producing oxygen and food and thus definitely a viable target.

The third important factor to take note of, when identifying productive grass beds, involves looking for areas which have different types of vegetation intermingled. Mixed species of plant life growing together provide bass with more options for adjusting to changing weather conditions. Further, it affords bass with greater ambush opportunities.

Almost all the big bass we caught that day came out of the grass. The main thing about reading vegetation is to look at it in terms of the total structure of the weed bed. The first thing to do is to pick out a patch that is large enough to hold several bass, instead of small isolated patches of grass. Then move in closer and examine the grass more closely. One of the questions to ask is whether the chosen grass would be attractive to bass, which is determined by the options it provides fish in terms of depth, cover types and ambush points. Is the grass bed adjacent to a channel 26

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fishing locate the bass. Another good approach is to look for differences from the norm, perhaps an open patch of water between two grass beds, a thicker section of grass, or spots where two types of vegetation meet. Think, apply and try.

The proper tools Obviously the physical characteristics of different types of vegetation will eliminate some lures, but it’s still common to see anglers trying to make their favorite lure work in situations for which its not suited, this not only leads to not boating any fish but total frustration for the angler.

In addition, using a seasonal approach helps with selecting productive sections of vegetation and eliminating unproductive areas. In the early spring one looks for the warmest pockets available, which is where the bass will spawn first. Once the hot summers arrive, most fish move out of the flats and into grass beds in deeper water, where these fish will hold until the autumn.

Locating bass in grass After selecting a prime grassy area, the next step is to pinpoint exactly where the bass are located within the grass. The bottom line with grass and probably the toughest aspect is that you literally have to cover meters upon meters of vegetation. The funny thing about weeds is that one can hit a stretch loaded with bass, then hit exactly the same conditions further on and not get a bite at all. With grass there are areas that hold bass year in and year out and then there are areas that never hold fish at all.

This can become quite frustrating, but it can also be the challenge of fishing the grass since it forces you to work, to use your knowledge and experience, forcing you to be a fisherman.

A good starting point is the outside edges of the grass beds and then to work inwards to

There are different lures suited for different types of grass and various stages of growth.

The angler who takes the time to learn to use a couple of lures around grass will certainly land more fish.

For standing, rooted vegetation like reeds, a spinner bait and plastic worm will be the most effective. For fishing submerged vegetation with a layer of water above it, a variety of lures will work, all depending on water clarity and depth; great choices include jerk-baits, worms, spinner baits, buzz baits and top water plugs.

When fishing vegetation a rod and line suited to the job at hand is essential, in this case a medium heavy or heavy rod will have enough backbone to horse the fish out of cover, line choice should be from 14-17lb fluorocarbon for plastics and up to 50lbs for braid when fishing top waters.

Between two boats we managed to land in excess of 60 bass for the day, with nearly 80% of fish coming out from the grass beds. I estimate that over 20 of those fish were in the 2kg class with one 2.8kg fish in between, not a bad days fishing for a cold winters day.

Remember THINK, APPLY AND TRY.

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Featured species

Smallmouth Yellowfish

Labeobarbusaeneus Mario Smit

Main Characteristics Smallmouth yellowfish is a species of ray-finned fish in the genus Labeobarbus. Attaining a mass of around 9kg and a 500mm fork length, it is an opportunistic feeder eating a variety of food types ranging from plant material to aquatic insects, crabs, shrimps and small fish.

Juveniles often display black spots on its dorsal side that aides in hiding from predators.

As the fish matures the black spots tend to go away and the fish’s general appearance becomes golden yellow with a lighter coloured dorsal side.

One distinct characteristic of the smallmouth yellowfish is that it has what is referred to as a sub-terminal or “inferior� mouth type. Fish have evolved to have different types of mouths depending on what their diet is and how they feed. Inferior mouth types generally denote that the fish is a bottom feeder and eats things such as crustaceans or shellfish. Further the smallmouth yellowfish has two pairs of barbels lateral of this subterminal mouth.

Habitat The smallmouth yellowfish is a resilient and adaptable species that is widespread across its natural distribution range. It has the ability to inhabit smaller streams owing to its smaller size compared to the largemouth yellowfish. Although endemic to the OrangeVaal River System, interference by man such as inter-basin transfer schemes, accidental relocations as well as intentional stocking for recreational purposes has greatly increased distribution. The smallmouth yellowfish has successfully inhabited a number of rivers and dams outside its natural range including the Sabie, Olifants, Gouritz, Sundays, Fish, Great Kei and Limpopo Rivers. There are also large populations in several dams in the Orange-Vaal River catchment, notably Sterkfontein, Gariep and Vaal Dams.

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Featured species Diet As mentioned the smallmouth yellowfish has a sub-terminal mouth and therefore mainly an omnivorous bottom feeder. Diet includes algae, snails, zoo plankton, small mussels, insects, small fish and detritus.

Breeding Smallmouth yellowfish become sexually active at around 7 years of age and a fork length of 300mm. The fish migrates upstream or to other suitable gravel beds to spawn usually after the first substantial rainfall of the season through to late summer. The shallow fast water is highly oxygenated and a highly productive zone for algae, diatoms and aquatic insect larvae and nymphs. After fertilization, the larvae of smallmouth yellowfish typically hatch after 3 days.

Conservation Both the smallmouth yellowfish as well as the largemouth yellowfish has at some point been assigned IUCN Red List status. Whilst the smallmouth yellowfish has now been removed, the largemouth yellowfish is still listed as “near-threatened.�

The biggest threat undoubtedly to the preservation of the smallmouth yellowfish is pollution. Effluent from sewerage plants, acid mine water return flows as well as irresponsible farming activities all pose a serious threat.

Other threats include the population explosion of grass carp in the middle Vaal as well as an increase in largemouth bass in the river system. Along with carp these fish has now become widespread and common in parts of the Vaal river and tributaries and compete with smallmouth yellowfish for food. Illegal netting, as well as different provincial fishing laws further contributes to the conservation status.

Organisations such as The Yellowfish Working Group (www.fosaf.org.za) and SAVE (Save the Vaal River Environment) is constantly engaging stakeholders and government in not only the protection of a valuable and ecologically sensitive river but also to promote the long-term conservation needs of yellowfish.

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events

Not to be missed GAUTENG

NORTH WEST

Cars In The Park

Gone Fishing Competition

4 August

10 August

Pretoria

Hartbeespoort: De Rust Oewer

Fred Rascher - 083 369 7020

Contact Wilma - 072 264 0561

Boat, Bike & Outdoor Lifestyle Show

KwaZulu-Natal

8 - 11 August

North Coast-Zululand Great Train Race

Johannesburg

3 August

Dan Savadier - 011 462 4390

Dolphin Coast 078 400 6373

Johannesburg National Boat, Watersports and Dive Show, featuring Dive Expo

Notties Trout Festival

16 - 18 August

24 - 25 August

Johannesburg

Nottingham Road

0861 115 318

Genna - 033 266 6981

Halfway Toyota 4x4 Training days

Pink Bubbly Ladies Fly Fishing Weekend

17 August - Halfway Toyota Honeydew

23 - 25 August

18 August - Halfway Toyota Fourways

Himeville

Contact Ryan - 073 845 2003

Heather-Louise Parsons - 076 951 7911

SA Knifemakers’ Guild Show (KGSA) 30 - 31 August Mosaiek Lifestyle Centre - Jhb Marietjie Thorburn - 082 650 1441

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Mpumalanga Lowveld Open Bass Tournament 17 August Injaka Dam Adriaan Bam - 079 516 6201

www.africanadventures.co.za

events Elandskloof Trout Festival

Northern Cape

30 August - 01 September Dullstroom

Quantum Leap

Celeste Combrink - 082 922 6835

22 August Tankwa Karoo National Park

Rotary Greatest Train Race

021 789 0188

24 August Middelburg

Hantam Vleisfees

0861 187 246

30 August Calvinia

WESTERN CAPE

Lizette Lambrechts - 083 355 8155

Fees van die Ganse 8 July - 1 August

Limpopo

Gansbaai Tourism - 028 384 1439 Die Burger Mountain Bike Challenge 3 August Stellenbosch Dirtopia Trail Centre - 021 884 4752 Hermanus Times Kalfiefees 08 - 12 August Hermanus 028 316 1687

Halfway Toyota 4x4 Trips by Gerald O’Brien

Enid Pretorius Properties Trail Walk St Francis Bay

Kierieklapper Arts Festival 08 - 10 August Mokopane 015 491 5747

Lesotho

Eastern Cape 09 August

Oppikoppi Festival 9 - 11 August Northam 012 326 0560

2 - 5 August Semonkong Contact

Esti Stewart - 073 825 0835

Email: gerald@halfway.ws

Citrus Sports Festival

If you would like to publish your event here, please send details of event to: info@africanadventures.co.za

23 - 24 August Addo Beverley - 041 230 1191

Cell: 082 874 6138

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Destinations

Hazyview

Your gateway to the Kruger ituated on the slopes of the Drakensberg Mountain Range, this S small town is the adventure hub of Mpumalanga. Named after the distinctive shimmering haze that hangs over the Lowveld in the heat of summer, this town was first proclaimed in 1959 with the building of the post office. Established on the farm De Rust on the outskirts of the western border of the world famous Kruger National Park, 6 roads converge from all directions at the heart of this Lowveld community and is the gateway to the Southern Kruger Panorama route of Mpumalanga.

Travel with us through banana plantations as we discover all the activities on offer in this scenic town on the edge of the eastern escarpment. With hot summers and mild winters, Hazyview offers the discerning traveler a unique insight into God’s Window.

The Kruger National Park along with several other reserves east of town, present the nature devotee superb opportunities to view some of Africa’s wildest animals in this area famous for Big 5 sightings. Self drive safaris through national parks often pose a daunting challenge to first time visitors as camouflage and the survival instincts of these animals make them difficult to spot.

Fortunately, there are many other ways to observe the animals in their natural surroundings. Several safari operators offer game

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Destinations drives and night drives and their trained eye will go a long way in sighting some of Africa’s most elusive creatures. The more daring can go on guided walks or catch a flight in a hot air balloon over this unspoiled piece of Africa.

Birding in Mpumalanga can lead to the most memorable experience and some rare and wonderful sightings. The area has all the habitats you could wish for. It is probably the best and best-known birding area in South Africa. With the diversity of the habitat there are over 500 bird species, which include many sought-after and rare specimens. With 58 species of raptors found in the Kruger an encounter with the lords of the skies will leave a lasting impression. You can also expect to see a large number of water birds and remember to share your sighting of the endangered ground-hornbill with authorities to assist in the conservation of this seriously threatened species.

This is a year-round fishing destination and certainly the perfect grounds for your new personal best. Several large lakes in the area offers the ideal habitation for record size bass and bag limits are often filled in a short period of time. Specimen of 4kg’s plus are not uncommon in these waters and the practice of catch and release will ensure they grow even bigger. There is a multitude of private irrigation dams that offers unmatched fishing to the fortunate few who have access to them and stories and pictures of giants aren’t uncommon, but be sure to have the necessary permission to fish these dams... you just might be met by an angry farmer who will prosecute. This is also the perfect destination to paint the sky with your fly line and a whole host of private venues offer the fly fisherman access to some of the most beautiful yellowfish waters in our country.

The town and friendly farming community offers an array of outdoor activities to the whole family and it is undeniably a destination where the adventurer will need a holiday after a visit, but for those who just want to kick back and escape the never ending hustle of city life, this area offers unsurpassed beauty in its landscape.

With the fast-flowing waters of the Sabie and Sand rivers bordering the town there is no shortage of fun-filled water activities. Paddle through the natural forest in the river valley in a kayak or experience the thrill of “Geckoing”. This involves descending down the Sabie river gorge in a one man oval tube but be warned, this is fun. The scenic ravine presents exhilarating quad bike trails which are lead by an experienced 36

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This is banana country

Horse trails enjoyed in Hazyview

Bateleur eagle is one of 58 raptors found in the Kruger National Park

Zipline through the forest canopy

The Mac Mac falls on the Panorama Route

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Destinations guide. All the necessary safety equipment and guidance is provided to ensure a fun-filled day.

Hazyview also boasts the longest aerial cable trail in Africa. Glide through the forest and down into the valley basin, stopping every so often to admire the natural vegetation, bird life and the views of the forest floor below or abseil a 27m high granite outcrop that presents a spectacular outlook across the Lowveld. These are but a few of the activities on offer and other include mountain biking, zipline adventures, animal interactions and many more.

Amongst all the adventures and activities is the natural splendour of the landscape. World famous and some of the most popular natural wonders in our country can be visited. Places like God’s Window, Wonder View, Bourke’s Luck Potholes, Sudwala caves and the 3rd largest canyon in the world; Blyde River Canyon, spring to mind and are all in close proximity of this tiny town.

Here you determine on what scale you want to experience nature or just shop in cultural villages, or visit one of the several restaurants.

Hazyview has something for everyone and it is no surprise that it was dubbed the adventure hub of Mpumalanga.

Cultural Village

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Average Temperatures (˚C) 34

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Jan

21

Feb

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Mar

30

17

28

12

Apr May

26

26

8

8

Jun

July

28

11

30

14

Aug Sep

31

32

17

19

Oct

Nov

33 21

Dec

Average Rainfall (mm) 160 140 120 100 80 60 40 20 0

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun July Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec mm 135 127 101 49 17 3 3 5 21 52 111 137

Bourke’s Luck Potholes

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Low

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River rafting in the Sabie river

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Recipe

Leek and bacon pasta www.cookbook.co.za Leeks are one of the most under used vegetables around. They have a very strong flavor so you don’t need to use a lot. If their could be a food marriage, leeks and bacon would definitely be one of the happy occasions. It’s another one that takes just a few minutes and will leave you peering into the empty bowl looking for the last piece of spaghetti. (4 people) What you need 6 bacon rashers chopped

2 medium size red chilli’s seeded and finely sliced

375g spaghetti or tagliatelli

1 teaspoon garlic crushed

Two heaped tablespoons butter

4 to 6 spring onions chopped

2 small leeks thinly sliced

½ cup Parmesan cheese finely grated.

The process Cook your pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water to al dente, drain leaving a little water in the pot and then return to the pot. While that is going on, cook your bacon in a large pan until well cooked and crisped on the edges. Remove and drain on kitchen paper. Melt the butter in the same pan, add the leeks and cook until tender for about 3 or 4 minutes. Add the chilli’s and garlic and cook for another 2 minutes or so stirring. Now add the pasta and spring onions to the leek mixture, toss to combine all of the flavors and serve.

Done, what could be easier?

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Conservation

Elephants by starlight & lions prowling in the night Sarah Campion

The Tuli Block in Botswana is home to predators and elephants alike, and offers a true bush experience to wildlife enthusiasts. Volunteering with the Tuli African Research Project gives an opportunity to move beyond safari reserves and experience the life of a field researcher in a vast, unfenced wilderness. Sarah Campion spent 3 months at the project and here is her story: “It was always my dream to work with the wildlife in Africa and experience the animals in their natural environment. Being at Tuli allowed me to fulfill this dream and gave me experiences I will never forget. Getting so close to such amazing animals, knowing that they are completely wild is such a privilege, and being able to live amongst them like you do at Tuli is just incredible. In addition to that, being part of something which is trying to ensure the future of these animals for generations to come is a satisfying and rewarding experience. Being on the project for 12 weeks gave me the opportunity to completely adjust to life in the bush, get stuck into the project, understand it, and become more and more attached to Tuli and its wildlife as the time progressed.

Being there for so long also meant that I had many memorable experiences and came home with some fantastic memories. Here are just some of my most memorable moments and highlights on the Tuli Conservation Project.

Tuli lioness darting I was privileged enough to witness the darting of one of the Tuli lionesses, Sabatana. She had a radio collar on which was due to come off as the battery life of the collar had come to the end.

It really was an amazing experience; to be so close and even touch such a magnificent animal was just incredible. The whole process, from waiting to see if she would respond to the call up and come to the bait we had positioned in front of us, to seeing her suddenly appear in the spotlight and then watching her come round from the anesthetic, had such a tense yet exciting atmosphere to it and the whole event was definitely a highlight.

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Conservation My first elephant sighting Seeing an elephant in the wild for the first time is a special moment. My first sighting came 4 days after arriving in Tuli, and it was so exciting. They are incredible animals and to be so close to them in their natural habitat was amazing. And the sightings didn’t stop there – If you go to Tuli you will be sure to see elephants! I had so many amazing sightings.

Elephants by Starlight There is something special about seeing elephants at night – it is a completely different experience to seeing them by day and one which stays with you. I have one particular memory where we were sitting by the fire at camp having just finished dinner and we heard some elephant activity coming from behind the huts. We shone the light to see if we could see them and it was then that we saw how close they actually were. The next thing we saw was a silhouette of one walking right in front of us! We sat silently and just watched it pass by camp – amazing. We then walked up to the camp entrance and discovered that the camp was surrounded by elephants! We stood listening for a while to the sound of them breaking branches, munching, and communicating, and then heard lions roar in the distance! We got into the vehicle and decided to follow the sound of the lions to try and find them. Unable to locate the lions, we ended up sitting in the vehicle amongst a herd of about 50 elephants all surrounding our camp. We sat silently under the stars just absorbing the moment. It was magical!

Sometimes we would hear the elephants behind the huts at night as they moved through the Mopane trees to feed. I would often lie awake listening to them munching, breaking branches, and communicating to each other, and sometimes got a glimpse of them through the gaps in the side of the huts from my bed!

Sleeping Out Sleeping out was one of my favourite activities. It’s just us, our sleeping bags, and the sounds of the bush. One of my favourite parts about it is that we’d get to watch the sunrise in the mornings. It is stunning and watching dawn break over the bush is a really beautiful thing to see.

The male lions arrive at Tuli I was fortunate enough to be at Tuli when 3 male lions came into the area and started to settle down and form a territory. After a couple of weeks of trying to track them down using the telemetry and following tracks, one evening we finally got a sighting! We had seen some fresh tracks so we decided to follow them while using the telemetry equipment as one of the lions had a radio collar on. No one knew how the lion would react to

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Conservation the vehicle as they had not been in the area before so there was an air of nervous excitement amongst all of us. We followed the signal which was leading us into the thickets. At this point the tension was building because we were now doing some serious off road driving and needed to be able to get out quickly if he didn’t respond well to the vehicle! We all had our eyes peeled and then suddenly we saw him – WOW! It was amazing. He was beautiful and we were able to get really close. We then heard him roar right next to us which was awesome! It was such an intense sound and it echoed around the bush – it gave me goose bumps! And we didn’t only hear him roar, we actually saw him roar and you could see him put his whole body into making the sound, from his mouth to the tip of his tail. Thankfully he didn’t seem too phased by our presence and we were able to follow him for some time. He was calling to his brothers, who we heard call back from far off in the distance. We then heard some elephants trumpet and one of the females actually chased the lion away! She then suddenly appeared in front of us from the bushes, stopping when she saw us – she trumpeted and gave a few warning signals as if to say ‘if you don’t move you’re next!’ Needless to say we got out of the way rather quickly!

We followed the lion all the way to Eagle Entrance (where we saw the tracks initially), listening to the contact calls made by him and his brothers. We then watched him walk through Eagle Entrance towards Eagle Rock where his brothers were calling from. There was no road for us to drive down, so we let him go and watched as he walked away. It was amazing. To see a lion in its natural environment, knowing he was there because he’d chosen to be, and watching him go about his normal activity was such a privilege. And the added factor of not knowing how he would react to us certainly got the adrenaline pumping!

The lion sightings continued, and hearing them call and roar at night became a common occurrence at camp. The sound was amazing, so intense and it definitely became one of my favourite sounds of the bush. There were a couple of evenings when we heard them calling and decided to jump into the vehicle and go and find them. One very memorable night was when we followed the lions for a while and ended up bumping into a herd of elephants along the way.

We were literally surrounded by the herd and as it was dark it was hard to see where all the elephants were which certainly added to the tension! We then heard a lion call from behind us, turned around and saw him walk behind the vehicle! Another one then called beside us and we

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Conservation saw him to our left. It was amazing! They were stunning and we were so close! We were surrounded by elephants, with lions either side of us, it was a surreal moment but exciting nonetheless!

Another night when we heard them calling at camp, we took our sleeping bags (as it was cold!) and went out to find them. We followed them for a while, just watching them go about their night time activity. It was amazing, at one point we turned the spotlight off and just listened to the patter of the lions’ paws walking next to the vehicle. It was incredible.

It wasn’t only the sightings of the lions that were exciting. One memorable moment was when we had come back after being out in the morning to lion tracks in camp. The tracks were fresh, from the previous night! It was clear that the lions had walked through camp, past our huts while we were asleep. However the most memorable encounter was when there was a lioness by the showers! An unnerving yet memorable evening for sure, and a true reminder of how wild it is at Tuli and how you really do live amongst the animals.

I was extremely privileged to be at Tuli during the arrival of the 3 male lions. The lions there are seriously hunted, and there are only 17 known lions in the whole of the Tuli Block, and only 2 lionesses in the core study area, until now. The arrival of the males brings hope that the lion population at Tuli could turn around, and the population will grow in numbers, and I feel fortunate to have been there at this exciting time of change.

Camp Living One of my favourite parts of Tuli was the camp setting and the lifestyle that came with it. Living with no electricity, having few luxuries, sleeping in a hut, showering outside and cooking/eating by an open fire each night is surprisingly easy to get used to and is a very enjoyable way of living!

Along with having fantastic sightings and amazing experiences at Tuli, volunteers are very much involved in the data collection that forms the basis of the project. It’s this information, which is sent off for analysis and used by researchers, that helps lead to a better understanding of the environment and wildlife, so that effective conservation takes place in this stunning part of the world.”

Volunteers can join this project for a stay of 2-12 weeks, organised through African Conservation Experience.

Website: www.conservationafrica.net Email: info@conservationafrica.net Phone: +44 1454 269182

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Martial Eagle

Polemaetus bellicosus www.theanimalfiles.com

Main Characteristics Martial Eagles are Africa’s largest eagle and they are one of the largest species of eagle in the world. They have a body length between 78 and 86 cms, a wingspan between 1.9 and 2.6 m and they weigh between 3 and 6 kgs).

They have a white abdomen with gray/black speckling and their head, tail and wings are dark gray/black in color.

Habitat Martial Eagles can be found in sub-Saharan Africa.

They live in a variety of open habitats from semi-desert, steppes, to foothills and moderately forested areas.

Diet Martial Eagles feed on game birds, hares, hyraxes, small antelopes, monitor lizards and other medium sized vertebrates.

Breeding Martial Eagles form monogamous pairs and they usually mate for life. Pairs tend to breed once every two years

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Adventures adventures Featured species and the breeding season correlates with the dry season across their geographic range. Females lay 1 - 2 eggs and incubation takes approximately 45 - 50 days. Between 90 and 100 days after hatching the youngsters are ready to fledge. The young eaglets are independent at 2 - 3 years old and they reach sexual maturity at 4 - 5 years of age.

Predators Martial Eagles have no natural predators, except humans.

Interesting Facts Martial Eagles are the only member of the genus Polemaetus.

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Product Review

www.parkspotterafrica.com

Experience the African Adventure...

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Product review

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Featured species

Afzelia quanzensis

Cobus Steyl

Afzelia quanzensis is a very appealing, medium-sized, deciduous tree, with bright green leaves that turn to an attractive yellowish colour in autumn. Its upright crown also complements its beauty, and the somewhat drooping branches resemble a tree from the eucalyptus family from a distance. More common names that are used are Lucky Bean Tree and Pod Mahogany.

Description
 The Lucky Bean is a medium to large, deep-rooted tree that can grow up to 35 m high, with a large spreading crown. Its somewhat straight trunk may be up to 1 m in diameter and has a greygreen or creamy grey, smooth bark that is beautifully patterned with raised rings that flake off irregularly, leaving circular patches.

The new leaves are usually copper-coloured and become dark green as they age. They are up to 300 mm long and are divided once, with 4-7 pairs of leaflets. Flowers are sweet-scented, borne in erect clusters, and are green with pinkish red petals.

Large and flatwoody pods, 170 mm long, are produced in late summer. In autumn they split open to release distinctively black seeds with scarlet arils. There may be up to 10 seeds per pod.

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Featured species Distribution
 Afzelia quanzensis is widespread. It grows in low altitude woodland and dry forests, usually in deep sand. It stretches from Northern KwaZuluNatal, through to Limpopo, Zimbabwe and other neighbouring countries. It is also found in Somalia.

Uses and cultural aspects
 The light red-brown wood of the pod mahogany is hard and has a good grain. It It has been used for building, making plywood, furniture, paneling and for flooring. Furniture made from this wood is traded under the name chamfuti. The wood is termite and borer resistant and is therefore commonly used as corner poles for fencing. The largest specimens of this species in South Africa have been felled and cut up for railway sleepers.

Seeds of this tree are in great demand for ornaments and charms. They are often used as necklaces or made into trinkets and sold as curios.

Growing Afzelia quanzensis Seeds of Afzelia quanzensis germinate easily, usually with a rate of up to 80%. Sow in a seedling tray filled with a mixture of 5 parts river sand and 1 part compost. Press into the mixture, cover lightly with soil, and keep moist. Germination may take two to three weeks. Seeds that are as old as ten years may still germinate if stored in a cool, dry place.

Seedlings may be transplanted once they reach a two-leaf stage. They should be kept protected for the first two seasons in cold areas, as they are frost sensitive.

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adventures

Cowboys in Convoy Gerald O’Brien I’m not sure whether the Gods were good to us or not on this trip. We went to Lesotho in the pursuit of building snowmen, having snow fights and experiencing a white winter wonderland in the Mountain Kingdom. Instead we had very untypical warm conditions with deep blue skies for the end of June in Lesotho. The good weather of course allowed us to do things that we may not have been able to do had the mountains been covered in icy snow.

There were 17 of us in total with the convoy made up of five vehicles, a manageable size for a trip such as this when there are many twists and turns with hidden turn-offs whilst driving along the dusty dirt roads, but with two way radio’s and a prior briefing on convoy procedures, no one got lost and we went everywhere as a group. Lesotho only averages around 700mm of rain a year which come mostly during the summer months, so during the winter they rely heavily on the snowfalls to fill the rivers during their dry periods. No snow of course leads to water shortages and for those places relying on river powered Hydro-electric plants for their power have regular power cuts.

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Saturday morning was spent on a ride out to the Maletsunyane Falls, the highest of its kind in Southern Africa with a single drop of 205 meters into a deep gorge that winds its way down to the Senqu River in the south which becomes the Orange River as it enters South Africa not far from Aliwal North. The source of the Orange, which is up above the Royal Natal National Park at around 3200 meters, is in Lesotho and every river within the borders of Lesotho flows into the Orange.

Saturday afternoon the group had an absolute blast, we all swapped our 4x4’s for an alternative mode of transport. All warmly dressed we headed off from the lodge, across the river and up into the village of Semonkong on a pub crawl, on donkeys. Pulling up outside a local tavern, dismounting from your donkey and striding into the bar and ordering a quart of Lesotho’s finest Maluti lager brought back memories of all those John Wayne cowboy movies and what a great life they must have had. They had horses and guns and of course the possibility of being scalped by a Comanche on the way home, something that would not happen to us up in the Mountain Kingdom. After three taverns and three liters of Maluti we were ready for the ride home and the warm fireplace in the restaurant at the lodge.

Sunday, another great day in the mountains had us moving off in convoy for a full day’s drive out into the mountains for a lunch-time braai.

We had a braai with a backdrop that will be difficult to beat anywhere; we had positioned ourselves on the very edge of the Senquyane River valley with the River way, way below us. After a pleasant but not too challenging 4x4 drive back to Semonkong Lodge, it was dinner, sharing one of our groups birthday boys’ massive chocolate cake which the staff had made in our absence, and then off to bed for a good night’s rest before the long drive home on the Monday morning.

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Travel adventures & Stay

Bsorah

For more information: Tel: 039 973 2542 | Fax: 086 603 6819

e-mail: umkomaas@netactive.co.za www.aliwalshoalscubadiving.co.za

Happy hunting for the “grey ghost of the African bush “.

E-mail: willem@matlabas.co.za Web: www.matlabas.co.za/ hunting

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Travel & Stay

Tessa Roux 032 458 4093 info@driftw s.co www.driftwoodchalets.co.za

Carol Grobler 082 378 9870 carol@lugardomar.com www.lugardomar.com

Ifi fififi Hfififijfifi vfifi Mfififififififigfi fifi fififififigfififififi

012 254 4794

fi Gfififikfifikfi fififififififigfififififififi fi fifififigfifififififi fi fifi fififififififififififi Pfifififififififififi fififigfifififififififififi fififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififi fififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififi fifififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififififi

Tel: (013) 254 0136 | Sel: 082 922 6835

www.elandskloof.co.za www.sableranch.co.za

Bowhunting destination situated in the Waterberg region Abraham | 073 176 4898 Abraham@sikilelesafari.co.za

Has been in the Roos family for five generations

Affordable accommodation Hiking trails, mountain bike trails, horse riding trails Helena: 083 744 4245 Christo: 083 628 5055 www.bokpoort.co.za

To advertise in

Contact : Lizel 073 777 9524

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fishing

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Vol 15 2013 Certain models may be shown with optional equipment. Prices arewww.africanadventures.co.za subject to change without notice. For your safety, always wear a helmet, eye protection and protective clothing.

Models are for riders aged 16 and older.

E&OE.

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