Volume 12 by Cobus Steyl

Volume - 12

Protecting our heritage!

SANParks Honorary Rangers

Hunting Open Spaces Stalking lechwe

BAttle the AFRICAN TIGER

Trophy tigers in Tanzania

HUNTING I FISHING I ADVENTURES I CONSERVATION I DESTINATIONS

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Regulars

4 32 62 45

Featured species

4 15

The Lion Mudskipper The Great White Pelican Bird of paradise

15 27 41 59

Hunting

Hunting the wide open spaces 8 A hunt that made a difference 18

A glimpse of the African Tiger 22 Specimen carp angling in 29 South africa

cONSERVATION

A passion for our natural heritage

Leaving your soul behind...

FIshing

Editors Letter Events Destinations Mussel Stew

Adventures

Contents

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Vol 12 2013

Editors Letter

It’s extremely hard to imagine that this edition celebrates our one year existence. It was a year filled with highlights and the occasional disappointment. I’ve been fortunate to spend a lot of time pursuing the wonderful and exciting adventures in this beautiful country. I cannot express enough gratitude to my wonderful staff and family for all their support and hard work over the past twelve months. This would not have been possible without you. This brings me to our loyal advertisers and contributors; your ongoing support is what enables us to deliver a high quality magazine to our readers on a monthly basis. Certainly the most important are you, our readers. Thank you for the loyal support and the compliments you’ve been sending through. The photo competition has been a great success and although difficult to pick the finalists, be sure not to miss next month’s edition where we will publish the three contenders. We also received great support for the fundraiser towards the various conservation projects that the Honorary Rangers undertake in our National Parks. For those who missed the opportunity to make a donation at Huntex can do so by checking out pg 7. Enjoy this edition and the start of winter. I get excited as the drop in temperatures is a telltale sign that the hunting season is open. Remember to hunt ethical and treat your quarry with the respect it deserves. “If some animals are good at hunting and others are suitable for hunting, then the Gods must clearly smile on hunting.”- Aristotle

Johan Viljoen

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hunting

Hunting the Wide Open Spaces

Engee Potgieter

It was an awe inspiring sight, looking out across the vast plains as flat as a billiard table with literally thousands of kafue lechwe as far as the eye could see. Herds so big that the clouds of dust kicked up by their hooves darkened the sky and left us looking at them whilst standing in the shade on the incredible Lochinvar flood plains. I felt small and the bow in my hands felt even smaller, I was told that I was nuts to even contemplate going after kafue lechwe in Zambia with my bow. Standing there I thought to myself they were right. I had no idea of how I was ever going to get close enough to launch a carbon arrow. The incredible mass of moving bodies and multitude of horns against the skyline was making even picking out a suitable bull an impossible task. I had the privilege of traveling to Zambia with good friend and fellow hunter Randy Westraadt and was hoping to stalk both kafue lechwe and puku. I had spent the few months leading up to the hunt researching, in the hopes of finding other hunters who had successfully taken kafue lechwe with bow and arrow. I couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t find anything so I merely continued diligently practicing at

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hunting ultra long range, as I was sure that any chance I might get would be at the very limit of my abilities as a bow hunter. The tactic I looked to try in Zambia was to single out a small contingent of lechwe that had a good bull in and widely circle the herd, all the while ever so slowly moving closer, hopefully without them becoming spooked, allowing me to get close enough for a shot. This actually worked to some degree and had gotten me closer than 200 yards of a few bulls on a couple occasions, but any closer and they would take off to the security of the water. I did however get to arrow a mature puku a few days later but returned home after a week without a lechwe. So after having to admit defeat in Zambia, lechwe was always in the back of my mind and I was looking forward to some retribution. Lechwe are fond of water which often makes hunting them difficult. I finally found the opportunity to arrow a trophy lechwe early in 2008 when I booked a hunt with Nico Fick just outside of Piet Retief in Mpumalanga. Although the lechwe in South Africa are a sub species to the kafue in Zambia they looked and acted very much the same. Nico also had an incredible number of these graceful antelope and the terrain on his property was ideal for stalking. Although a non indigenous species here in South Africa the red lechwe has adapted very well and is quite at home on the open plains so typical to Mpumalanga, the Free State and regions of the Eastern Cape. Originally from Botswana they form part of three sub species recognized by Safari Club International, the other two being the kafue flats lechwe found in Zambia and the black or nile lechwe that calls Sudan and the western regions of Ethiopia home. A stocky built antelope standing just more than 110cm at the shoulder and adult bulls tipping the scale at about 120kgs. They are animals that have adapted to live in tough swamp like or marsh areas, often taking to the safety provided by water when danger presents itself, being the most aquatic antelope after the sitatunga. Although they may seem ungainly on firm ground because of their hindquarters being higher than their shoulders and judging by the unique way the big bulls run with their heads held low to the ground, they are actually far from it and are fortunately for the hunter just as home on terra firma as they are in the near inaccessible marshes. They are often found grazing in great numbers on the short grassy plains close to these waterways.

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hunting hunting As mentioned there are good number of these handsome antelopes in South Africa and they are very popular with trophy hunters across the world. Lechwe are very attractive antelope and their long sweeping lyre shaped horns make for most spectacular trophies. Known for forming incredibly large herds, as is especially the case with the kafue lechwe in Zambia, they do also break away as small family groups with one large bull in attendance, and bachelor herds of up to twelve bulls of varying ages. Some bow hunters have been successful by using a pop up blind that has been set up near popular grazing areas or traveling routes. This requires time scouting the herds to determine traveling routes, but it is none the less a viable option. Arriving at Driefontein early the morning of my hunt, Nico and I took some time to drive around so he could show me his 2000 hectare property and we could look for a good bull, of which there happened to be no shortage. I was keeping an eye out for a group that was in such a position and would give me the gap to get in close enough for a shot. We soon found what I was looking for, a small bachelor group lying down on the gently sloping hill, adjacent to a thick stretch of black wattles. Using the wattles as cover I could skirt around the edge of the thicket using the high summer grass to my advantage in getting within shooting range. The strong wind and tall waving grass should be perfect concealment. This was before I had discovered the necessity of wearing my hecks stealth-screen but I quickly put on my leafy camouflage top and grabbed my bow whilst Nico drove to a distant hill where he could keep an eye on the whole stalk. The initial going was easy as there was a lot of cover to keep between myself and the herd of bulls but as soon as I had gotten halfway around the clump of wattles I had to go down on all fours to remain undetected. The small group of bulls were peacefully lying in the early morning sun, chewing the cud so I took my time getting closer. Although the tall grass was a blessing when stalking, it was making getting an accurate distance reading with my range finder difficult. In order to get a good reading I had to stand up out of the cover and as soon as I did one of the bulls spotted me, causing them all to stand. This was actually a blessing in disguise as I could now carefully pick out a suitable bull and by standing the particular bull I was looking to take presented a larger and unobstructed target to his vitals. Fortunately the majority of the group did not seem too startled as the only one that was looking

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hunting in my direction was the initial bull that spotted the movement. I knew I still had to act fast as I feared the others would sense the sentry’s uneasiness, so knocking an arrow I carefully sneaked closer a few yards. Kneeling between the long stalks of thatch grass right on the edge of the shorter grass of the open ground I slowly drew back and anchored, finding the bulls in my peep sight I was mentally willing the closest bull to move out of the way of my shooting lane as he was squarely blocking the vitals of the bull I was hoping to arrow. I was remarkably steady as I knelt there waiting at full draw, whilst the wind was whipping the grass around me. Finally the closest bull took a few steps toward another bull, exposing the bulls shoulder behind him. Allowing for the wind I settled my small pin low and tight behind the shoulder. Aiming for the point of the offside shoulder I lightly touched the trigger and the shot suddenly broke, sending the 550 grain arrow arching across the 64 yards to the unsuspecting red lechwe bull. As I released I immediately noticed that the wind had a much more pronounced affect on my arrows trajectory than I had anticipated. The strong wind that was quartering toward me from my right caused the arrow to impact lower and a little further back behind the bull’s right shoulder than I had wanted. Although playing havoc on my arrows’ flight the strong wind did deafen the sound of my shot and the group of bulls did not at all react alarmed. As the bull I had aimed for received the fatal arrow they calmly trotted off down the slight slope and out of sight. I exchanged my bow for my binoculars to confirm my initial suspicion of where the arrow had struck. Although not immediately fatal the affects of the arrow passing effortlessly through the body cavity, and slicing through the liver quickly started to take it’s toll. The bull I had shot soon broke away from the group of seven and headed up a shallow depression toward some distant cover in a larger black wattle thicket. Nico agreed with me that although the bull was hard hit I wanted to try and get in for another insurance shot as soon as the bull settled down. I allowed time for the bull to stiffen up and slowly walked in the direction of the wattles that held my trophy. Twenty minutes later I was crouched behind the scant cover provided by a tangle of branches from a fallen wattle under the dappled shade. The thicket with my Lechwe in sight just a few yards away. The cover was unbelievably thick and although the bull was only 24 yards away there was but one small gap to shoot through. I would have to thread my arrow through a rather small opening about three yards from the bedded bull in order to place my arrow high and behind the last rib on the left side of the sharply quartering away bull. A quick second glance with my Leica’s assured me that there weren’t any other unseen twigs that could blow my shot so I slowly drew and carefully moved out from behind my cover. As soon as my bright red pin settled on the chosen spot, I sent the arrow toward the bull. It connected an instant later with a loud “thwack!” as the 100 grain Muzzy came to a shuddering stop against the far shoulder. The weakened and fatally wounded bull stumbled out of his bed and breaking through the cover went down about 40yards away. He was down for good and by the time I

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hunting leaned my bow against him all the life had drained from the beautiful bull. He was in prime condition with a beautiful unscathed coat and very handsome, widely splayed horns. In retrospect I would like to think that my first shot would have been right on the mark had I been using a higher poundage bow with heavier and smaller diameter arrows, as that would be better suited to this type of hunting. Regardless, the 70-pound bow I used on the day did serve me well and I was thankful that I could quickly follow up on the already hard hit bull and put in a second finishing shot. After we loaded the bull onto the bakkie I was delighted at the successful conclusion of an enthralling hunt and being able to finally close my personal chapter on lechwe. Hopefully one day I will go back to Zambia to try again for my kafue lechwe.

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hunting Featured specie

The Lion Panthera leo

www.theanimalfiles.com Main Characteristics The lion is the second largest feline species. They have a body length between 1.7 and 2.5 m, a tail length between 0.9 and 1.1 m and they weigh between 120 and 250 kgs. Males are much larger than females and can weigh up to 50 % more. Their colouration can vary from nearly white to deep brown, but tawny/yellow is the most common colour. They are solidly built and have a long tail which has a black tuft on the end. Male lions have a very distinctive mane. The mane enables them to be distinguishable from a female lion from a distance, it acts as protection in a fight and it is also a sign of a healthy lion. The mane is thick and woolly and it develops on the neck and shoulders as they mature. Habitat Lions are found in Africa and the Gir Forest in North West India. They live on the fringes of deserts, in woodlands or on open savannahs. Lions live in prides that consist of 3 - 30 individuals, but they usually average 4 - 6 individuals. The pride will be made up of females that are related to each other and males that are related to each other, but not to the females. Lionesses stay in the pride that they were born into, but males are expelled from it when they reach sexual maturity. They usually form coalitions with other males, often to whom they are related, and they hunt together. Male lions defend the pride and they patrol and mark their territory with urine and faeces. The size of a lions home territory depends on the available resources but it can be between 13 - 240 kmÂ˛. Competition between the males to rule the pride is fierce and they only tend to hold ownership of it for 2 - 3 years.

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hunting Featured specie Diet The diet of a lion mainly consists of antelope, gazelle, warthog, wildebeest, deer, buffalo, young giraffe, young elephant, zebra and the occasionally hare and bird. They will also readily eat carrion and sometimes they take kills from hyenas and wild dogs. Hunting usually takes place either at night or dawn and several females will hunt together in a pack to increase their chances of success. They will stalk their victim until they are within 30 meters then launch a short powerful attack and prey is usually killed by strangulation. Male lions that are attached to a pride do not usually participate in hunting unless it is for large prey such as a buffalo. Adult females need 5 kgs of meat per day and adult males 7 kgs of meat per day. Lions can survive for long periods without water as they get most of the moisture they need from their prey. Breeding After a gestation period of 100 - 120 days, 2 - 5 cubs are born in a den. When they are born they are blind, helpless and they weigh less than 2.3 kgs. They have a spots on their coat which disappear as they get older. Within 3 weeks they have their eyes open and they can walk around, and by the time they reach 1 month old they develop their first set of teeth. They are weaned when they reach 6 - 7 months old but they stay in the vicinity of their mother for the first 2 years. The females in a pride will synchronize their reproductive cycles so they all have cubs together. The cubs are cared for by all the females in the pride so if a mother is away hunting another lactating lioness will feed her young. In the wild competition for food is fierce and between 14% and 73 % of cubs will die before they reach 2 years old. A new male lion in a pride will kill all the cubs under 2 years old, this encourages the females to come into season so the new male can mate with them and therefore all the cubs in the pride will be his. Lionesses will become sexually mature at 2.5 - 3 years of age while a male lion will become sexually mature at approximately 5 years of age. Predators Lions do not have many natural predators, but it has been known for hyenas to kill an injured lion, or if food is scarce they will attack a healthy one. Subspecies Lions have several subspecies, the main differences being in location, size, mane appearance and distribution: Barbary Lion, North East Congo Lion, South West African Lion, South East African Lion, East African Lion, West African Lion, Asiatic Lion Interesting Facts The male lion is the only cat to have a mane, thus giving it a regal appearance and earning it the title â&#x20AC;&#x153;King of the Beastsâ&#x20AC;?. Lions are the only cats to live in groups, have a tuft at the end of their tail and have a mane.

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Vir alle wapensmidwerk en jagtersbenodighede www.magalieswapensmede.co.za Johan 083 284 9785 loggiesj@gmail.com Grobbies 082 447 9391 richardgrobler@vodamail.co.za Eufeesgebou Nr.5, Gerrit Maritzstraat Pretoria-Noord

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hunting

A Hunt that made a difference

Henrie Degenaar

Life Christian Adventure is all about combining Christianity with the outdoors. We live in a beautiful country where we are blessed with many activities where we come in contact with God’s creation. Through different types of contributions, we would like to provide food and necessities to needy people and organizations. We focus mainly on children from financial disadvantaged and abusive families. Through camps and mentor programs we try to have a positive impact on their lives. It was time for us to go hunt the eland cow that Johnny Bell had donated to LCA. The whole of February was spent planning this hunt. End of February, Johnny chose a good location for the pop-up blind, thus allowing enough time for the game to get used to the blind. We left on Saturday for the farm, located in the Eastern Free State near Wepener. We arrived on the farm around 17:30. The hunting arrangement was that I will have a day and a half to try and shoot an eland cow with my bow from the blind, and if I was not successful by Monday afternoon around 14:00, we will hunt the eland with Johnny’s 30-06 rifle. Sunday just after dawn I was in the blind. I quickly ranged a few points to determine the distance I needed to set my sight, the distance would be between 20 – 25 yards. At around 10:00 there was a herd of eland cows that walked past the blind, but did not even stop. No more than 30 minutes later a herd of oryx came in, one bull with five cows. They settled at 40 yards. The rest of the day they ruled, no eland, springbuck, or blesbuck were allowed close to the salt lick.

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hunting

That night, around the fire, I discussed the day’s activities with Johnny and he gave permission to shoot a young eland bull, if one came in. He requested politely that I not shoot any of the big bulls on the farm. I could not believe it when the first game to walk in the next morning, were 3 big eland bulls. The longer I watched them, the bigger they got, and eventually I took a few photos. I did not want to ruin the first LCA hunt by shooting the wrong animal. When I later showed the photos to Johnny, he indicated that they were shooters and not his trophy bulls! The oryx came back, but this time they did not hinder any other game from coming in. I was still watching the oryx when a herd of 7 young eland bulls ran in from the back. They eventually settled and I lined up one of the youngsters, but before I could take the shot they became suspicious and left. At 14:00 Johnny picked me up and after a few practice shots with the 30-06 we decided to go look for a young eland bull. We did not have to travel far before the eland was spotted, standing in a semi-dry pan. We got of the vehicle and started to stalk them. There were enough cover between them and us which allowed us to get close enough for a shot. Johnny identified the bull and instructed me to shoot it. After a well placed shot, the bull went down a mere 30 meters away. The bull measured 27 inches and weighed 252 kg. The meat was processed into “biltong” and “droëwors”. We sold everything, and the money was donated to an orphanage of Life Christian Foundation, The Promise Centre in Mozambique.

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fishing hunting In a fly fishing sense Africa is still very much a Dark Continent. Overpopulation, poor logistics across vast distances and political unrest are a few of the reasons for the lack of numerous magical fisheries throughout its varied

A GLIMPSE OF THE AFRICAN TIGER Photographs and text by Leonard Flemming – Tourette Fishing

landscapes. I recently spent four months guiding Tourette Fishing clients for trophy tigerfish in the Tanzanian wilderness. Here, in 2008, Keith Clover (one of Tourette Fishing’s directors) discovered an abundance of big tigerfish (Hydrocynus tanzaniae) that regularly go 20 lb plus and that’s part of what makes this destination African magic. What follows are snippets from my guiding diaries.

July 15 Rob Scott, my fellow guide and boss, an intelligent man with a piercing look, clears his throat, “Sheez Leonard, it’s a big fish, it’s 24 lbs...”; A trophy tiger fish cradled gently by the net, lies in front of me. The Steve Farrar’s bait-fish pattern has already fallen from its grip on the heavy jaw line. I reach out to touch my catch, but can’t. I notice for the first time the uncontrollable shake in my hands and then my entire body. I breathe in deep to calm myself. Rob conveys the importance of getting clients into 20 lb tigers, i.e., trophy size. July 25 It is a jungle out here; trees are covered in carpets of creepers and vines with giant seed pods. Tassel pods, they call them. The water of the Mnyera and Ruhudji Rivers boils with fish species. In the eight days since my arrival, I have collected eight fish species, each one unique, for my scientific database. August 21 A fly fishing reconnaissance starts down the rapids on the upper Mnyera River. Four of us, Rob Scott, Edward Truter (journalist and fishing junky), Saidi Kalimang’Asi

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hunting fishing (our navigator and Kiswahili interpreter) and I, are loaded on an eight-man raft packed to the brim with camera gear and enough food for four days while shooting through grade 4+ rapids, which cut through steep , rolling hills and rain forest where it’s questionable if any white man has treaded before. The rafting expedition has barely started and I have already added three new fish species to my collection. Amongst these is an unidentified yellow fish, similar to the rhino fish found in Kenya, a mysterious hump-nosed animal that may grow in excess of 50 lb’s. August 28 The guiding season has officially started. I stand nervously on the airstrip, a 900 m clearing in African miombo woodland, waiting to introduce myself to the first group of four clients that will arrive on a charter flight from Dar Es Salaam. We clear the strip of wild animals before Mike Riley arrives with his mates from South Africa. I learn that Mike enjoys this place so much he booked two slots for the season. August 31 The break of dawn lights up the misted-over Ruhudji River, the morning sun casting a sheet of warm colours over the water. I am suffering from a gastrointestinal virus, with fever , cold shivers and stomach cramps testing my patience to the fullest. Mike’s group hasn’t landed a 20 lb fish yet and I am starting to feel the pressure. Two trophy tigers come out that day, including a 24 lb fish taken by Mike; the clients are satisfied, Rob and I are over the moon! September 3 “Warm, glassy conditions; lots of big fish moving, lots of big fish lost” I entered in my notes for the day. As a guide it is not easy to convey the force required of the hook-set to penetrate the bony jaws of large tiger fish. Although the nights are still cold and the fishing slow, the water levels are dropping fast and the weather is improving every day. Tiger fish activity seems directly related to the weather; the hotter the sun burns down the harder they feed. Additionally, their feeding pattern may also be moon phase-dependent; full moon just never seems as productive as the dark moon phase. However, when these fish come on they ambush prey with such ferocity that the anticipation of the next take sends a cold shiver down one’s spine. September 5 The catch register indicates that we have so far caught and released 6 fish over 20 lbs this season. Today one of the clients landed his personal best, a 21 lb tiger; when I mentioned the weight,

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hunting fishing he replied “Is that all!?”. Regardless of the amount of trophy tiger fish landed, the magnitude of their dimensions keeps blowing me away. September 22 “Warm, glassy conditions; Lots of big fish moving, lots of big fish lost”. The temperature reached a high 30 degrees Centigrade today which resulted in the biggest fish yet taken from these rivers, a 26 lb tiger fish with jaws that could bite off a careless hand. The angler, Mike Tarr, happily claims the camp record and the thought of a 30 lb fish arises. Besides a remarkable increase in fish activity, the tiger fish are starting to show signs of the spawn. Young males are congregating around groups of large females. We designate several of these areas off limits to clients for the rest of the season. October 3 Rob’s words, “This place tests your sense of humor,” plays in my mind; at this stage I have lost all sense of humor. A warm shower and music on my laptop before the next group arrives are the only things keeping me sane. Australian fly fisherman David Long arrives with friend and dorado fly fishing fanatic Mark Cowan, a man who has devoted his life to his favourite pass time. After spending a great deal of his fly fishing career chasing dorado in South America, Mark explains his excitement to test his skill against the infamous tigers of Africa. October 8 The upper Ruhudji is magical, the narrow river complicating poling, but the water has a light blue tinge and big tiger fish can be observed taking flies up close as they rush out from behind clay outcrops that form like mushrooms in the deep river bends. Nothing compares to the sight of a large tiger fish screaming past the boat with your fly in its mouth. David and Mark conclude their final day of a two day fly-camp on the upper Ruhudji with a remarkable number of trophy tiger fish landed on fly. The verdict from two experienced anglers place dorado as second comer to tiger fish when it comes

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hunting fishing down to sheer speed and power between these two species. “I like these fish...” Mark admits with an impressive tally of double figure tiger fish under his belt. October 28 The floodplain surroundings of the lower Mnyera River has drained most of its pans, forcing wild animals to visit the main stem for drinking water. The number of hippos and crocodiles in the Mnyera has nearly doubled since my arrival and elephants are now regularly spotted grazing on the riverbank. The fishing is wild in the low and warm water levels. Wakes of large females can be seen as they give chase after fleeing baitfish. A 5 lb tiger is slashed in half right in front of our eyes shortly after its release by a fish of unknown size. November 7 “Warm glassy conditions; Lots of big fish moving, lots of big fish landed!” I get the opportunity to fish for trophy tiger fish in Kasinga Rapids on the upper Mnyera River on my final day in the Kilombero Valley. The water clarity delivers incredible sight fishing opportunities. American fly fishing icon, Jeff Currier, joins me for some yellowfish in the shallow, fast water and adds to my list of 29 fish species documented over the season with a beautiful Labeobarbus sp. exploding with colour to make it look like a character form Alice in Wonderland. Later the day Jeff lands his personal best, an 18 lb tiger fish. I am rewarded with a 14 lb tiger at the same time and we spend the following 5 minutes posing alongside each other for photographs. What a way to conclude four months of intense guiding! November 8 The plane hits the last dusty bumps on the landing strip and takes off to bank hard over the lower Mnyera River. A smile on my face hides the lump in my throat as the last colours of sprouting miombo woodland fades like a Monet into a hazy horizon. For more information on trophy tigers in Tanzania, visit www.tourettefishing.com or contact Keith Clover or Rob Scott. Cell: +27 84 622 2272 Tel: +27 33 343 2182 Fax: +27 (0) 86 719 3621 Email: keith@tourettefishing. comenquiries@tourettefishing.com

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fishing

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Featured specie

Mudskipper Johan Viljoen

Main characteristics The common mudskipper is brown in colour with asymmetrical spots and markings on its body. Adults are 6-10 cm in length with a round-shaped head. A pair of protruding eyes above to help spot possible predators. Well-developed and strong pectoral fins and tails makes it possible for this fish to skip and hop on mud. The pelvic fin has evolved into a sucking disc which allows it to grip to the roots and trucks of trees in mangroves. Habitat They are wide spread throughout the worlds coastlines. The prefer to live near river estuaries, lagoons and swamplands. The spend most of the time perched on roots and branches but have to skip back to the water to fill its storage gills. Destruction of wetlands and mudflats along with pollution leads to the demise of these unique species habitat. Diet Mudskippers feed on insects, sandworms and small crustaceans that is found in mangrove swamps but they will eat other small creatures like crickets and insects if available. Breeding During the mating season, the maleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s colours turns more intense and they become more vigorous.

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Featured specie To attract females, the males leap and flip in the air, do what appears to be push-ups, and even stand up on their tales. They also deter fellow suitorsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; with biting and raising their dorsal fin. If attracted to the male, the female performs her own mating ritual with distinctive movements. She lays her eggs in a special part of the burrow constructed by the male. He then fertilize the eggs and the responsibility of oxygenating the eggs falls on him. This is done by swallowing air on the surface and releasing it in the burrow . Predators Snakes, seabirds and humans are the biggest threat to Mudskippers. They are a popular pet and are served as a delicatessen in some eastern counties.

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Specimen Carp Angling in South Africa. It originated in Europe in 1970 were the don of the sport Fred Wilton came up with the idea of creating a high protein paste bait that was round and hard on the outside and larger than normal baits. The reason for this invention and shift in conventional baiting was to prevent baits being picked up by smaller nuisance species like tench and bream and to be able to have bait that could be left in the water for greater periods of time without the worry that it would need to be checked every so often. The real breakthrough was the invention of the hair rig which allowed the angler to place any type of bait on a hair instead of on the hook itself. The hair rig made for far better bait presentation and allowed the hook bait to move freely and naturally. Due to the bait not being placed on the hook its hook up ratio was far greater and once a carp sucked up bait and blew it back out the hook penetrated the mouth area with ease. Today there are endless bait combinations that get fished on the hair rig. The methods and rigs for specimen carp fishing have been improved over the years but the basics of the sport will always remain the same. But it’s only in the last couple of years that our tackle stores have seen a greater influx of specimen fishing gear and baits on the shelves. Back in the early 80’s it was a different story. There were but only a hand full of anglers doing specimen fishing in our country. Anglers in our country have mostly been brought up on the conventional way of fishing taught to us by our fathers and grand fathers. Our ways and methods were nowhere near as technical and involved as those of our European counter parts. And it’s pretty clear why this is the case; carp fishing in other countries is a well organized business. The establishment of fisheries across Europe had created specialised fishing venues for all

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fishing kinds of carp fishing. The lakes all across Europe are managed and carp are grown in lakes to attain size, these fish are then sold to venues and anglers pay top dollar to either be part of the syndicated lakes or fish these lakes as day visitors. The lakes are under strict rule and regulations with permanent fishery managers, guides and ground keepers that manage these waters full time. There is great pride in having a famous fishery and even more so lakes with record size carp are the ones that draw the big names in the sport making it a popular establishment. But down south we donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have this, we have something better. Wild waters with endless opportunities to catch huge carp that have never seen an anglers bait. Our waters are vast with dams like Buffelspoort, Fanie Botha, Doorndraai and many more delivering stunning carp with many fish being landed on the latest specimen fishing methods. Our waters are recognized by overseas anglers as the ultimate fishing destination for big carp. Due to the facet of specimen carp angling being very new to our country we have a long way to go before we will ever reach a point where we have managed waters. And by this I mean not someone at the gate asking for an entry fee but waters that have rules and regulations and that are taken care of. There are a few private owners of waters that have taken up the challenge and that have made their lakes into dedicated specimen carp fishing venues, Rushmere, Donaldson top lake, Bass O Mania are a few places that come to mind. These venues have created waters with stunning big fish and through strict rule and regulation are making sure that the carp and environment around the waters are protected and managed properly. They have also seen the value in how specimen fishing can be turned into a business when managed. Unfortunately we have other

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fishing issues with regards to the general mind set of our anglers in South Africa where through ignorance we cause damage not only to our waters but also the species that live in them. It would be wrong to label all anglers as part of the catch and kill brigade, but that’s what we were taught growing up. I’m sure most of us can admit to having keep nets full of fish at one stage or another. Then there is the issue of pollution in our country with daily reports of dams and rivers being polluted by industry, minning and over population. And last but not least carp in our country is seen as an alien species and there has been great debate over the last few years about the plan to exterminate carp from all our waters. So looking at all these issues it’s clear that we still have a long way to go. However even though there are many things not quite right with our waters and our ways one thing is for sure and that is that through the growth of specimen carp fishing in South Africa the mind set of anglers will change only because specimen carp fishing has principals that ensure that we as specimen anglers protect and preserve both fish and environment. More and more conventional anglers are going over to the specimen facet. And over the past few years we have seen the competitive fresh water anglers making fish safety a part of their angling principal. Provincial angling clubs have tabled rules that prevent damage to fish and this in its own has changed the mind set of not just the older anglers but the younger generation of anglers. As the saying goes” knowledge is power” and if we can teach the young anglers to take care then they will be the better anglers of tomorrow. In the next issue we discuss how to get started and methods to achieve those big carp catches.

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events

Not to be missed GAUTENG

KwaZulu-Natal

Johannesburg Wine Show

Pecanwood Pig & Beer Fest

3-6 May

14-16 May

Johannesburg

Howick

LA Sport 4x4 Products in action show 4-5 May

Ladysmith Swartkop Challenge 19 May

Pretoria

Ladysmith

SAKKS National Koi Show

Cars in the Park

19-20 May

19 May

Randburg

Pietermaritzburg

Sasol Bird Fair

Art in the Park

25-26 May

29 May - 2 June

Parkview

Pietermaritzburg

NORTH WEST

Mpumalanga

Gone Fishing Outdoor & Angling Expo 9-11 Augustus Hartbeespoort - Eagle Water Resort Contact Wilma - 072 264 0561 Rustenburg Show 25 May

Summerhill 4x4 Day 4 May Hazyview Brondal Avocado Festival 19 May Nelspruit

Rustenburg

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events

Freestate

Reforest Fest 17-21 May

Clarens MTB Challenge

Gansbaai

5-6 May

Northen Cape

Clarens Autumn Fair

AfrikaBurnand

11 May

1 - 7 May

Ficksburg

Tankwa-Karoo National Park Upington Landbou Skou

Limpopo

2 -5 May Upington

Lions 4x4 Charity Event 1 May

Lesotho

Phalaborwa Thabazimbi Expo

4x4 Trips by Gerald Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Brien

31 May - 1 April

14-17 June

Thabazimbi

21 - 24 June 12-15 July

WESTERN CAPE

26-29 July Semonkong

Riebeek Valley Olive Festival 3-6 May Riebeek Castle

Contact Email: gerald@halfway.ws Cell: 082 874 6138

Wheels & Runners Hermanus 11 May Hermanus Italian Motorcycle National Gathering 20-23 May Oudtshoorn

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

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Vol 12 2013

Members of the Addo region assisting during a rhino capture.

Conservation

A passion for our natural heritage! Louis Lemmer South Africa is a country blessed with an incredibly rich natural heritage. From the iconic Table Mountain with its unique floral community in the South, up to the mystical Mapungubwe cultural landscape with its golden rhino in the North. From the Kruger National Park bristling with wildlife in the East, all the way across the country to the rich desolation of the Richtersveld in the West. This heritage belongs to, and is the responsibility of, the people of this great country. Much of this heritage is conserved in our national parks. The SANParks Honorary Rangers is the chosen South African National Parks volunteer organization. It offers all South Africans the opportunity to be involved in the conservation and promotion of our twenty one national parks. With thirty one regions spread across the country and more than a thousand three hundred members, the SANParks Honorary Rangers movement offers support in all our national parks. The work of the SANParks Honorary Rangers The Honorary Rangers perform a wide variety of support functions. Practical involvement in parks is an important part of the services offered. This includes activities such as fence patrols in Addo National Park, taking vacationers on rock pool explorations in Tsitsikamma NP, restoring a historic farmhouse in Agulhas NP, organizing a marathon in Marakele NP and taking underprivileged children to parks such as Bontebok and Kruger National Park.

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Conservation Conservation With many highly skilled and experienced members the organization offers a skills base on which SANParks can depend for specialist support. Members are involved in activities such as assisting in the technical revision of the parks management plans, ecological studies and providing architectural skills in the design of infrastructure projects. The movement is also involved in a variety of fundraising and public education activities, spreading the conservation message and offering business and civil societies the opportunity to support conservation in our parks. The SANParks Honorary Rangers is the SANParksâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; preferred fundraising channel.

Scientists capturing a crocodile in a cage donated by the Honorary Rangers.

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Conservation Relationship with SANParks The movement works according to an official agreement with SANParks and its focus is determined by SANParks priorities nationally and in the local park. The movement annually reports to SANParks and provides SANParks with audited financial reports. It is however an independent organization, with its own independent management structures elected by the members. It is a registered public benefit and non-profit organization and manages its own finances. It can provide companies with tax certificates to acknowledge donations made to the conservation cause. All honorary rangers are volunteers who are motivated by their love of nature and driven by a passion for the conservation cause. No member gets paid for doing duty. The reward is in the knowledge that they have made a contribution to the benefit of our national parks. Members come from all walks of life and each one contributes in his own unique way by donating skills, time and knowledge. Honorary rangers do not need to have a nature conservation background, though many members are qualified in conservation related disciplines. Counter Poaching The rhino poaching scourge has hit home in the last four years with 668 rhino being poached in 2012 alone and the brutal number standing at more than 200 at the start of April 2013. Horrible scenes of these magnificent giants having been mutilated for their horns, often still alive, has horrified all good people. The terrible threat of extinction is rearing its ugly head and can become a real possibility if the situation continues to grow.

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Conservation The majority of poaching is performed by people experienced in bush craft and warfare. These are skilled and ruthless criminals who are heavily armed and willing to kill to get their prize. This has forced conservation authorities to completely change the way counter poaching activities are managed. There is heavy pressure on resources, since rangers needs to be re-trained, equipped and supported in a low level poaching war. SANParks has turned to the SANParks Honorary Rangers as their key strategic partner in generating the resources necessary to fight this war. “The SANParks Honorary Rangers corps is an indispensable vital pillar of the SANParks machinery in the fight against rhino poaching. I personally acknowledge and appreciate the enormous contributions made by our Honorary Ranger colleagues in the form of personal time, driving campaigns like “Unite Against Poaching”, financial and equipment donations. These interventions and many more not listed in my letter have made significant differences. The question that begs an honest answer is “how many rhinos would have been lost if these interventions did not happen?” The answer is too aghast to contemplate.” - Dr David Mabunda, CEO SANParks

Honorary Rangers during an alien invasive species removal work party in Kruger National Park.

The SANParks Honorary Rangers movement is entirely volunteer run and therefore has the ability to guarantee that every sent raised will be used to support our rangers’ needs. No funds are syphoned off from donations to be used for other purposes such as administration or salaries. Because of the close cooperation with the counter poaching teams on the ground in parks such as Kruger National Park, the SANParks Honorary Rangers is the organization best positioned to provide effective support for the counter poaching effort on the ground in our national parks.

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Conservation

A tracker dog team funded by â&#x20AC;&#x153;Unite Against Poachingâ&#x20AC;?, a combined effort between the SANParks Honorary Rangers and Unitrans Volkswagen. Over the last four years the Honorary Rangers has provided support to the value of R17 million to the counter poaching effort. Through projects such as Unite Against Poaching they have succeeded in providing rangers with training and the necessary equipment for the poaching effort. Tracking dog teams have been introduced in to Kruger and high tech equipment, such as night vision equipment and GPS systems, have been donated. The need remains huge and the Honorary Rangers are committed to raise a further 10 million over the next year to fund the current key priority items on the counter poaching agenda. This includes the introduction of more dog and counter poaching teams, improved access control to parks and improved air support for the counter poaching teams. Support The SANParks Honorary Rangers is always looking for new members and supporters who are willing to contribute to the SANParks cause. People who are willing to give themselves without expecting payment, and who associate with the culture of selfless service are welcome to apply for membership to the nearest region.

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Conservation The visitor safety dog unit at Table Mountain National Park is another SANParks Honorary Rangers initiative.

The business community can support the effort by donating and providing the necessary services needed to support the work in our national parks. For more information visit www.sanparksvolunteers.org The SANParks Honorary Rangers offer every nature lover and every proud South African the opportunity to become involved in the support of our national heritage.

Marius Stoltz (SHR) hands new bat houses to Stephen Nel, the camp manager of Berg-en-Dal rest camp.

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Featured specie

The Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus

www.theanimalfiles.com

Main Characteristics Great White Pelicans reach lengths between 148 and 180 cms , they have a wingspan between 226 and 360 cms and they weigh between 5 and 15 kgs. They are white in colour with long, broad wings that have black and grey primary feathers. They have a large body, short legs, a short tail and webbed feet. They have a long, yellow bill that has a pouch on the lower half. During the breeding season adults have low, hoarse display calls, but they are generally silent when they are not nesting. Great White Pelicans are strong swimmers and they can reach speeds up to 6 km/hr. Habitat Great White Pelicans can be found in the freshwater lakes, marshes, swamps and deltas of Africa, Asia and eastern Europe.

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Conservation Featured specie

Diet Great White Pelicans feed on fish, mainly carp and cichlids. They do not dive to catch their prey, instead they dip their head underwater and scoop up fish. Several pelicans fish cooperatively where they move into a circle to concentrate the fish, then they dip their heads under simultaneously to catch fish. Breeding Great White Pelicans nest in colonies and an average of 2 eggs are laid in a nest on the ground. The eggs are incubated for 29 - 36 days, the chicks fledge at 65 - 75 days and they reach sexual maturity at 3 - 4 years of age. Predators Humans are the main predator of Great White Pelicans. Interesting Facts Great White Pelicans are also known as: White Pelican Eastern White Pelican The Great White Pelican is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. Pelicans and their relatives make up the order â&#x20AC;&#x153;Pelecaniformesâ&#x20AC;? and they can be distinguished from other birds by having feet with all four toes webbed totipalmate.

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Recipe

www.cookbook.co.za The first time I had this stew I just could not get enough of it and had to ply the creator with alcohol before she would release the recipe. It has a mild curry flavor and is another dish you will need a whole lot of bread for to mop up every last drop in the plate. (good for 6 servings) What you need 2 dozen mussels cleaned 500g of hake or any white fish 1 celery stick chopped 1 medium onion finely chopped 1 carrot chopped Palm of chopped parsley 2 ripe tomatoes chopped 2 tablespoons tomato puree

2 chicken stock cubes 3 tablespoons flour 2 teaspoons curry powder (mild) 1 ½ liters water 1 heaped tablespoon butter 3 tablespoons flour Salt Pepper

The process Cut the fish into larger than bite size pieces. Add the water to a large pot, add the celery, onion and fish pieces, bring to a boil and reduce heat to low and then simmer for 10 minutes. Drain through a sieve into a bowl, you need the fish stock you have made and discard the vegetables and flake the fish, set aside. Melt the butter in the pot, add the curry powder and the flour and stir until smooth. Add the tomato puree and add back the stock slowly, stirring constantly and bring to the boil. Crumble in the chicken stock cubes and the chopped tomatoes and allow to simmer for 2 minutes. Add back the flaked fish and the mussels and simmer for another 5 minutes or so, season with salt and pepper (if need be) and stir in the chopped parsley. Serve with plenty of crusty bread. This is really worth the effort folks. It’s light, really tasty and a full meal on it’s own.

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Leaving your soul behind... Valerie Davies My trip started early on the morning of the 7th of March as I made my way out of Cape Town in my Hilux, long before the serious traffic started on the N1, and before the sun made its appearance on the horizon. My destination early that Thursday morning, the Growcery, a camp on the Orange River that borders the Richtersveld. The reason was to meet up with experienced overlander, safari guide, and friend Hennie, from Umkulu travel, who had planned the trip and invited a few friends to join him. Our trip included Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, Marbuasehube, Central Kalahari and finally the Okavango Delta. I made my way through the roadworks at Citrusdal and Vanrhyns dorp towards the Northern Cape, and as the roadworks ceased, and traffic lessened, layers of city stress vanished and the open road lay ahead. It was a comfortable eight hour trip to the river. Hearing the calls of fish eagle as I set up camp alongside the river signaled the start of another wonderful adventure. The next morning we loaded camera equipment, camping equipment, and 2 weeks supplies of food and necessities into the Land Cruiser and we left the Orange River to meet up with the rest of our group at a pre-arranged venue, from there we headed for the entrance gate at Twee Rivieren.

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adventures We sorted out our bookings, and our passports for our entry into Botswana at the Twee Rivieren entry gate. Our vehicles were pretty loaded because most of our stay was to be in isolated areas where we needed sufficient water, fuel, refrigeration and food to keep us going for a number of days. After sorting out the formalities we left for our camping spot at Mata Mata. Kagalagadi was hot and dry. The carcasses of the animals that had died a while back were still evident in the park as we entered. On our drive to the camp we saw a fair number of gemsbok, wildebeest, springbok, giraffe, secretary birds, kori bustard, cape vultures (or is that white-backed vultures?), pale chanting goshawk and many other bird species. I must confess at this point, that I have never been a keen birder nor do I have an extensive knowledge of them, but, I was fortunate to have some knowledgeable and enthusiastic bird lovers with me on this trip, and so found myself learning a lot more about them as we went along. The cape vultures (or is that the whitebacked vulture?), were mostly perched in nests at the top of acacia trees. It was quite interesting as every now and again they would stretch their huge wings for a moment, possibly to re-adjust their nesting positions. We stopped for a while at one of the trees, hoping to get a shot of one with outstretched wings, and had to chuckle when I looked at the photo’s later and it looked as if the tree had wings. Most of the animals were huddled in the shade of available trees to get refuge from the sun and the heat, or were gathered around watering holes. The campsite was quite busy when we arrived. My first priority after setting up camp was to go for a refreshing swim in the pool. We had a great system for evening meals. Each of us took turns to cater and prepare dinner for the rest of the group. So, a couple of nights off dinner duty. We heard jackal that night but I was a bit disappointed we didn’t hear any lion. The next morning we broke camp early and headed for our next destination, Matopi camp. As we drove out of the gate we saw a family of bat eared foxes. A little later we came upon a rednecked falcon on a dead tree branch near the road, feeding on a bird,and as more vehicles arrived on the scene it took off, firmly clutching its meal. And then, what could have been the shot of the day, a cheetah with three adolescent cubs, that is of course, if I had a 800mm lens, which I didn’t. Anyway, it was precious watching them for a while, particularly the cubs that

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adventures adventures

where lower down the dune from the mother and were chasing and tackling one another like playful kittens. Mother cheetah moved off the dune and started moving a little in our direction, the cubs followed a behind her, and then moved out of our sight into the dense bush. Nossob, Boso trail and Matopi camp awaited us, so we needed to get a move on to make it before nightfall. We stopped at Nossob on the way to refuel and buy some colddrinks and ice. The condition of the twee spoor sand roads didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t even warrant us locking hubs and was quite easy to drive in 4x2. We saw cat and hyena spoor here and there on the track, and hoped that we might find lion, but we didnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t. We spent a night wild camping at Matopi and left the next day for Mabuasehube. We arrived at our campsite at Monamodi to find the pan dry. Mabua and Lesholouga pans each had a small pool of water. We anticipated night visitors so every evening we packed everything away in the vehicles. Some of us had had some experience with hyenas on past trips that had run off with potjie pots, and attempted to drag fridges and cooler boxes away. We heard lion at night, or was that the snoring, we were never really sure, in fact that might explain the lack of night visitors to our camp. Again we saw lion and hyena spoor, but think they

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adventures had conspired to stay far away from my camera and field of vision. We were fortunate enough to see a Bateleur female and 2 of her young at the Mabua waterhole. The female arrived first to drink and then one followed by the other youngster to join her. We watched for a while and it seemed as though she was teaching them to drink from the waterhole. She watched their every move and they appeared to copy her as she first drank and then they followed. After they left, a small family of warthog carefully made their way towards the waterhole but appeared to be a bit concerned about us parked nearby, so we left so that they could get to the water. At the other waterhole, we saw a couple of white-backed vultures. Driving through the park we saw a small herd of springbok, a family of bat eared foxes, black backed jackal and a variety of bird species. A brown hyena visited our camp on our final night once we had all tucked in for the night. Our stay at Mabuasehube ended, and we were once again packing up camp, and on our way first towards Kang and then on to Ghanzi. The road from Mabuasahube to Kang had some pretty thick soft sand and some attempts at roadworks. Nothing too tough though, the Cruiser still managed in 4x2. It was a sort of a challenge we had set ourselves. Our next stopover was at Thakadu camp, and the promise of warm showers and flushing toilets. There is a waterhole at Thakadu camp and we watched some of the animals as they came to drink while we sipped on some much needed refreshments. I managed to get some great shots of wildebeest at the waterhole. We saw kudu and some gemsbok around the camp. It was time to stock up on some much needed supplies so we went into town the next day to do a bit of shopping. Found fillet at R52 per kilo, fantastic for my next dinner of beef stroganoff. The vegetables didn t look that great, but we figured they had been brought in from somewhere a while back. Spar and Choppies had almost everything you could ask for and more. After shopping, filling our depleted water tanks, and a couple of good nights sleep, we were ready for the next leg of our journey. We woke up early the next morning to travel to the Central Kalahari. We drove as far as the Kuke

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adventures vet fence and turned left and drove along it until we got the gates to Central Kalahari. The staff were friendly and very helpful. After sorting out our bookings we headed for our campsite at Tau Pan and set up camp. The Kalahari was also very dry, and in our travels to Phukwi pan, Deception and Leopard loop we found no water. The only place we found water was at Matopi pan. Another thing that evaded us were the cats we were hoping to see. We heard them at night, and saw fresh spoor in the morning, but never managed to see them in the areas close to the road. We also saw only one other vehicle in the park, and they were also in search of the elusive cats. We met some people at Thakadu that had spent about 8 days in the northern area of the park where we were, and had seen lion, leopard and cheetah. We did, however, see large herds of springbok, a large number of gemsbok, giraffe, steenbokkies, ground squirrel, mongoose, a large group of marabou stork, and a wide variety of birds. It seemed as though the springbok and gemsbok were much bigger and more robust than what we had seen in Kagalagadi. Not sure if it is because they have harsher, drier conditions, but that was quite interesting. So as a result of the lack of cat species, I found myself turning more and more to my new found interest, birds, and attempts at photographing them. I

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have always believed that bird photography is an absolute art in itself. I have great admiration and respect for photographers who have the patience and passion for birds, and have perfected the art of photographing them. At Motopi water hole we came across a large gathering of marabou storks. I must confess I find them rather unattractive. But while watching them at the waterhole I was quite amazed at how they took on the appearance of ballet dancers as the approached the water to drink. They stretched out their wings and pointed one leg forward and delicately dropped their heads and beaks to drink the water. Another interesting thing was that every now and again almost the entire group would spread their wings and face in one direction for a couple of minutes, then drop their wings and continue their activity at the waterhole. A number of giraffe approached the water hole and Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m not sure whether it was our presence or the marabou that helped them to decide not to come any closer. A gemsbok and wildebeest also approached the waterhole and then changed their minds and headed off back into the bush. Then almost by some prior arrangement they all opened their wings and took off and left behind a huge cloud of dust. They looked so inelegant as they flapped their large wings and took to the skies. For a short while the waterhole was deserted and then a secretary bird arrived and appeared to get a bit stuck in the mud as it drank some water. As was the case in Mabuasehube, the clouds would collect later in the day, with the promise that some rain might fall somewhere nearby. Late one afternoon about 10 drops, okay so maybe a few more, fell, but the ground absorbed it immediately. We saw a beautiful rainbow far in the distance and then were treated to an evening lightning display.

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adventures So ten days into our trip we headed back to the main gate, along the vet fence, and out towards Khuke, left at Sehitwa, and on to our overnight stay at Drotsky’s cabin and campsite. When we got out of our vehicles we were met by the sound of running water, fish eagle, hippo and later that evening a swarm of mosquito’s. A 150 mosquito bites later, a good shower, meal and some sleep, we packed up and headed for the Namibian border, Mahango Game Reserve and Ngepe camp. That is, after we had had an early wake up call from a troop of monkeys. They watched intently as we packed up, and scuttled down trees whenever possible, to steal what was left unattended. Mahango is a wildlife photographers feast of animals and birds. We went to the park every day of our stay at Ngepe. We saw red lechwe, roan antelope, kudu, zebra, buffalo, elephant, giraffe, blue wildebeest, red hartebeest, impala, a single hippo, warthog, baboon, duiker and many bird sightings. On our second day in the park we saw a large herd of buffalo that we manage to follow for a while and get some good photographs. We saw three male elephant each day in the park. They are one of my favorite animals, even more so after reading Lawrence Anthony’s book “The Elephant Whisperer”. They appeared to be quite irritated by us when we found them closer to the road, and on the final day we saw some creative displays by two of the bulls. We kept the motor running while we got a couple of shots of them, just in case they charged the vehicle.

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adventures We had a hippo that grazed around our campsite at night at Ngepe. I sleep pretty lightly and heard it coming out of the water and through the grass. Of course no-one believed me until the final night. The resident Labrador cross made itself at home at our campsite that night. As everyone was making their way to their tents the dog started barking. When we went to see what the fuss was, we almost bumped into the hippo in the dark. Well, that changed the sleeping pattern of some of the more cautious members of the group for the night. The dog barked a number of times during the night, and I woke the next morning to find a tent practically standing at my tent entrance. After a couple of great days at Mahango and Ngepe it was time to once again pack up our tents, and this time, head south. We spent our final night in Windhoek with an entertaining evening at the famous Joeâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Beerhouse. After a good nights sleep and breakfast with comfortable accommodation, we left for our final border crossing at Vioolsdrift. It takes a while to settle back in to everyday life after spending time on safari. I often wonder, is some part of me left in the bush after every experience there, or do I bring something of the bush back with me when I return to the hustle and bustle of city life? Well, whatever the answer, something changes every time.

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• Large, transflective 65k colour TFT, dual-orientation touchscreen • Barometric altimeter and electronic compass • 5MP autofocus camera with automatic geotagging

To learn more, visit Garmin.co.za

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• Up to 25 hours battery life • Waterproof (IPX7) rating (1m of water for 30mins) • Barometric altimeter and electronic compass

Featured specie

bird-of-paradise flower Strelitzia reginae

www.kew.org

About this species The bird-of-paradise flower, or crane flower as it is sometimes known, was first introduced into Britain in 1773 by Sir Joseph Banks, then the unofficial director of the Royal Gardens at Kew (as they were known at that time). He named the exotic-looking plant Strelitzia in honour of Queen Charlotte, wife of George III and Duchess of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, who lived at Kew for many years. Geography & Distribution Strelitzia reginae is native to the southern and eastern parts of the Cape Province and northern Natal in South Africa. It has been introduced into parts of central and tropical South America and is widely cultivated as an ornamental. Description Reaching a height of 1.2 m, Strelitzia reginae plants consist of clumps of greyish-green leaves, with long stalks and broad oval blades, arising from an underground stem (rhizome). The plant gets its common name from the exotic appearance of the inflorescence (flowering head). Emerging from a horizontal green and pink boat-shaped bract (a leaf-like structure) in slow succession, the flowers look like the crest on a birdâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s head. Uses Bird-of-paradise flower is highly-prized and widely cultivated as an ornamental. The flowers are good for cutting and make an exotic addition to floral displays. Individual flowers last

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Featured specie for about a week, but a single boat-shaped bract will produce several flowers in succession. When not in flower, the plant still has a striking appearance due to the large glaucous leaves which resemble those of banana plants. Millennium Seed Bank: Seed storage. Kew’s Millennium Seed Bank Partnership aims to save plant life world wide, focusing on plants under threat and those of most use in the future. Seeds are dried, packaged and stored at a sub-zero temperature in our seed bank vault. Description of seeds: Average 1,000 seed weight = 197.96 g. Number of seed collections stored in the Millennium Seed Bank: One. Cultivation In Britain, bird-of-paradise flower cannot usually be grown outside as it requires a minimum temperature of 10°C. During the winter, the plants should be kept almost dry but in summer they need plenty of water. A suitable compost can be made from one part loam, one and a half parts coir, one part grit and one part bark. The plants require regular feeding. Flowering occurs in spring and early summer and can be encouraged by keeping the plants slightly pot-bound. Handpollination is necessary to produce seeds, but this seldom works. For germination and initial growth, the seeds need bottom-heat of at least 21°C. Some new stocks of seed-raised plants can reach flowering size in two to three years, but individual specimens may take up to ten years. Due to the difficulty of producing seeds,Strelitzia reginae is usually propagated by dividing the plants or using suckers produced at the base. Mature plants should not be re-potted too often, as the fleshy roots can easily be damaged by disturbance. Bird-of-paradise flower at Kew Strelitzia reginae is grown in the south block of the Temperate House (known as the Mexican House until 1977). It was the first plant to be replaced in the newly restored Temperate House in 1979. Grown here are typicalS. reginae with small lanceolate leafblades (tapering at both ends); ‘Kirstenbosch Gold’, a superb yellow-flowered form, as well as S. juncea, an interesting species with reed-like leaves from a limited area on the eastern Cape coast. The ‘Kirstenbosch Gold’ plants were presented to Kew in 1991 by Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden, the leading botanic garden in South Africa, and flowered for the first time at Kew in 1992. Since 1880, similar forms have made brief appearances in cultivation and ‘Citrina’ flowered in the Mexican House in 1914.

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PTA caravane

ANS

PRE-OWNED CARAVANS

www.pretoriacaravans.co.za

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Destinations

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 â&#x20AC;&#x153;grey ghost of the African bush â&#x20AC;&#x153;. E-mail: willem@matlabas.co.za Web: www.matlabas.co.za/ hunting

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Destinations

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

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

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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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FRONT RUNNER

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