Volume 18

Volume - 18

Big worms for big fish

Tough, wild and big bass

Versorging van jou veld vennoot

Verseker betroubaarheid

Developing your wild eye

A guide to capture better wildlife images

HUNTING I FISHING I ADVENTURES I CONSERVATION I DESTINATIONS

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Regulars

Contents Editors Letter Recipe: Osso Buco

4 49

Featured species

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Aardwolf Bluefin Kingfish Egyptian Goose Sheperd’s Tree

21 29 39 57

Hunting

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Out of the Closet Versorging van jou veld vennoot

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FIshing

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Rock & Surf rods - Don’t get caught Big worms for big fish

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Adventures

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Developing your wild eye

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cONSERVATION

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Saving the Sacred King

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dESTINATIONS

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Travel & Stay

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Editors Letter

With the horrifying facts of cyanide poisoning exposed in neighbouring Zimbabwe, I can’t help but wonder how long it would take for those poachers to move south into the Kruger?

Cyanide is easily obtainable, making it a lethal and very effective method used by poachers. It’s an agonising death and very few animals are spared.

Animal congregate around water holes and the poachers simply poison these hotspots to return to collect their victims. It allows them to move quietly in and out of these areas making it very hard to patrol.

The 15 year jailed sentences passed on to 3 alleged poachers is just simply not enough to discourage the one’s that is not caught.

We would love to hear of your favourite past time in the outdoors and I encourage you to visit our website to participate in our readers poll, who knows, you might just win the best seller, “Saving the White Lions”.

We also assist you in making an informed decision when buying a rock & surf rod and give you some guidelines to improve your photographical skills.

I hope you get as much joy reading this edition as I did compiling it.

“I would rather be lost in the bush than found in the city”

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Johan Viljoen

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Hendrik van der Schyff I grew up walking behind my father, with him carrying, amongst others, the ‘nine-three’.

My father was a great hunter; at least in my eyes, so was my grandfather. He was born in the mopane bushveld north of the Soutpansberg Mountains in Limpopo Valley, from direct descendants from Voortrekker stock. During the late 1800’s they traded land from the baVhenda chief, Ramapulana, in the Soutpansberg and settled on a prime piece of land right on top of the Soutpansberg Mountains where their marked graves still lie to this day. Since 1929 they were pioneer farmers not far from where the borders of Southern Rhodesia (Zimbabwe) and the Betchuana Protectorate (Botswana) meet with the South African border, an area which is known as the Dongola.

My father started hunting for a living at the age of nine and farmed independently in what was then wild country in the Limpopo Valley only ten years later. One of the tools he used to tame the wilderness was a 577 Martini rifle. He later used a No. 1 Mk III 303 Lee Enfield which was confiscated during WW II. By law, during the war, farmers were allowed to use only .22 long rifle and 12 bore shotgun. After WWII he upgraded to an 8x60 Mauser. This particular 8x60 Mauser was his heart’s rifle. By the time I got my brains, he was a hunter and marksman of such quality and equal I have yet to meet. While walking behind him in the veldt I witnessed him taking pretty spectacular shots. He could track like a true bushman and spoke five African languages. There are very few hunters that could match his prowess as a hunter and outdoorsman as a whole.

While taming the hinterlands he had his fair share of hunting dangerous animals including lion, leopard and buffalo. But it is man with malignant intent that proved to be the most dangerous and gave him his closest shave. Them he sorted out with the 7mm Mauser.

Already in his fifties he once tracked three rogue men who broke into our farm house, on this side of the border, into Rhodesia. One was armed with a 7.62 FN FAL semi-automatic rifle.

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hunting When my father ran into them the armed thug took a shot at my father only to pay for it with his life. A 175gr 7mm Nosler Partition bullet smashed through his chest, ending his lawless career forever, he anchored another with a running shot and the last one is still running. A valuable instruction that he gave us was that any wild animal is potentially dangerous. If an animal cannot kill you with horn, tusk or claw, it can kill you with poisoned fang or infectious disease. He stressed a few things, amongst others, that if a wild animal is facing you and not running away, even approaching you, it would be foolish to regard it as tame or not dangerous. Another fact he stressed was that in order to kill any animal effectively, your shot from any angle must be aimed for the heart and lungs.

My strongest reminiscences about our rifles are that ammunition for them was never freely available. Although American calibers and their ammunition were strongly propagated in the shooting media and freely available at the time, my father refused to acquire any American caliber popularized in the media. He loved his Mausers. One thing he always regretted was that he sold his beloved 8x60 Mauser when he couldn’t find ammunition for it anymore, anywhere. His decision was made a few years too soon. The reloading hobby reached South African shores only in the late 1970’s and by then we were using a 7x57 Mauser. He always kept looking out for another 8x60 Mauser but came across a ‘nine-three’ instead. If asked why going through the hassle of keeping one’s Mausers shooting, the phrase, “…he ain’t heavy, he’s my brother…” springs to mind.

We struggled to get hold of reloading equipment and components but we were grateful to the Americans for their reloading equipment and their knowledge thereof, both of which they were happy to share through publications. At that time the only available bullets for the 9.3 could be obtained through Rosenthal’s in Windhoek, South West Africa (Namibia).

Speer made (still do) a 270gr soft nosed bullet of poor construction. Norma too made a soft (plastic tip called Silver Blix) in 286gr which also did not provide good terminal performance.

Having used the very last Kynoch, RWS and DWM German soft nosed factory ammunition before, did not even consider trying to get some more because of bullet fragmentation. We settled on the 286gr RWS “Full Mantle Geschoss” (FMJ) ordered from Rosenthals, with which we did all hunting. It fully penetrated anything we hunted but we preferred it that way.

The simple logic being: solids gives awesome penetration, causes less meat damage and full penetration leaves a good blood trail on both sides of the trail.

Born with hunting in his marrow, my older brother took to the ‘nine-three’ like it was the love of his life. He hunted his first kudu with my father’s No.1 Mk III Lee Enfield, at age nine.

But he was cursed with a short life of hunting adventure. He died in a motorcycle accident a few weeks after his twenty-first birthday. My father never really got over the early death of 10

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hunting hunting his eldest and had not used the ‘nine-three’ that often but used the 7mm Mauser instead. He went into mourning until his own death a few years later.

The South African Police insisted that my mother hand over all our rifles for “safe keeping” as no one of us was legally allowed to keep any of his rifles. So, the nine-three, amongst others, stood in a clammy police safe for as long as his estate took to finalize.

My younger brother and I inherited my father’s rifle collection. My younger brother wanted only one rifle and in order to ‘save’ the collection, I traded the ‘nine-three’ with my little brother for the rest of the rifles. But an even greater loss than the ‘nine-three’ was to come.

Not willing to consider the responsibility of the farm, my mother sold to the first buyer who made her the most ridiculous offer. He practically stole the farm…my inheritance.

However, my little brother neglected the ‘nine-three’ for the best part of fifteen years. He never used it and never cleaned or cared for it, never even took it out of the safe. All that time it stood in the safe at home, left to rust: literally and figuratively. It was kept in the closet, so to speak. Until one day when visiting, I re-“discovered” it where it stood quietly rusting its life away. It was not yet registered on his name and I asked him if he would consider selling it to me. He said that I could buy him an air gun in exchange for it! Not believing my ears I said he could choose any air gun he wanted. In the end, he chose a No. 2 Gamo.

Ammunition was still not freely available for it commercially. An interesting fact is that for decades South Africa’s very own ammunition manufacturer (PMP) did not manufacture a single cartridge for any European caliber. Reloading for it was the only option. Not that, that was a problem for me because I had reloaded with my father since the age of twelve. “… He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother...!”

But I could no longer use my father’s reloading data because Rottweill or Norma powders were no longer available in South Africa. The days where only South African propellant was available had arrived.

Registering the ‘nine-three’ on my name just happened to coincide with its resurrection and revival by equally dedicated 9.3x62 users. Amongst all the enthusiasts, excellent loads with South African propellant were developed. Components and loads: tried, tested and refined. In a way they were all pioneers in re-establishing it as one of the strongest contenders for the title of best medium bore bushveldt hunting cartridge on the hunting market today. The 9.3x62 Mauser was back…!

Limping.., but back. Its biggest hill was yet ahead… prejudices… American style, but locally brewed.

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hunting More and more old hunters’ rifles came out of many closets where they were stored for one day in the future. That day arrived none too soon and found gun shops with their pants around their ankles because we asked all the wrong questions. Shop shelves were full of 30-06 and .375 H&H rifles with ammunition to choose from various manufacturers but not a single new rifle in caliber 9.3x62 or a single packet of 9.3 ammunition was anywhere to be found. It was like a large scale outbreak of “Parkinson’s disease” as shop owners and sales men constantly shook their heads at our enquiry.

375 H&H rifles, new and secondhand, sold like hot cakes over counters. A few 9.3x62’s belonging to old timers advertising in the classifieds were quickly snatched up. Some custom rifle builders turned out some of the finest 9.3x62 rifles ever to see the light of day.

The aggressive American-inspired hunting literature of the day established the 375H&H as the most popular medium bore among many hunters, but the crown prince of compact medium bores for African use is back with an unbeatable history and heritage equaled by no other cartridge.

Drawing from my own experiences and those of others, and driven by my passion for this cartridge, by 2004 I found just enough courage to submit a 9.3x62 Mauser article to Magnum, The Shooters Magazine, a stern promoter of American and Americanized calibers. I was greatly surprised when they published the article.

In the firearm related press, and Magnum, The Shooters Magazine in particular, one thing led to another and a 375 H&H versus 9.3x62 Mauser penetration showdown was inevitable.

It was a clash of two old rivals. The conclusion in the end was that the 375H&H with bigger shell case for more propellant behind a 14 grain heavier bullet, shot 190 ft/sec faster, 800ft/ lbs more muzzle energy, and the heavier rifle (to tame more recoil), penetrated (just) 25mm further in favorable conditions into the same test medium… The eyes of many hunters, including my own, opened to the real potential of the 9.3x62.

Shortly thereafter, with the help of other dedicated 9.3x62 users, I published the first edition of the 9.3x62 Mauser Journal. As I write this for the new revised edition, new factory rifles in calibre 9.3x62 are made by CZ, Ruger, Sauer, Krico and Mauser. A wide variety of factory ammunition can be bought off the shelf once again.

The 9.3x62 Mauser is fresh out of the closet and ready to take on any animal on African soil.

Go well dear reader, I hope there are no regrets in your study of this fine cartridge.

This article is an extract from the 9.3 x 62 Mauser Journal by Hendrik van der Schyff 12

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Versorging van jou veld vennoot

Kassie Kasselman

Hedendaags word die geweer se gebruik nie tot die jag seisoen beperk nie, want die baie skietkompetisies waaraan geweer eienaars deelneem en die voortdurende lading ontwikkeling wat handlaaiers doen, loop die gebruik van die geweer reg deur die jaar.

Ons moet liewer dink aan gereelde basis skoonmaak siklusse van die geweer, as aan seisoenale skoonmaak. Daar is net soveel tegnieke om gewere skoon te maak as wat daar geweer eienaars is, maar kom ons kyk na die fundamentele dinge wat gedoen moet word om die geweer behoorlik te onderhou.

Veiligheid Heel eerste maak ons seker die geweer is veilig. Verwyder die grendel en kyk in die geweer se kamer in. Verwyder die magasyn, indien die geweer van ‘n verwyderbare magasyn voorsien is, of maak seker dat daar nie patrone in die magasyn is nie.

Uitmekaarhaal Haal die geweer nou uitmekaar so ver as wat dit gedoen kan word, sonder om die 14

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geweer onnodig uit sy bed uit te haal. Indien die geweer aan ekstreme veldtoestande blootgestel was en daar ‘n moontlikheid bestaan dat water of vuilis tussen die aksie/ loop en die kolf kon ingekom het, moet die kolf verwyder word om die vuilis uit te haal en die metaalwerk teen roes te behandel.

As daar ‘n magasyn is, moet die magasyn uitmekaar gehaal word om sand, nattigheid en olie wat met die skoonmaak van die loop gelek het, te verwyder. Dit is goed om sporadies die grendel uitmekaar te haal.

Hiervoor is spesialis gereedskap nodig, omdat die slagpenveer baie styf is en as mens nie weet hoe nie, kan jy baie sukkel. ‘n Kort besoek aan die naaste wapensmid kan die moeite werd wees om jou te wys hoe om die grendel uitmekaar te haal, of as dit in jou geweer fabrikaat se geval spesialis toerusting verg, dit dan vir jou te doen.

Skoonmaak van gestroopte onderdele Blaas al die ongewensde gemors met saamgeperste lug uit die kolf uit, of vee dit met ‘n kwassie of sagte lap uit. In geval van ‘n hout kolf, kan kolf olie soos Schaftöl nou

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hunting aan die binnekant van die hout aangewend word, MAAR groot versigtigheid moet aan die dag gelê word om NIE olie tussen die kolf en die dravlakke van die aksie of loop te laat kom nie, want dit sal beslis tot nadeel van die akkuraatheid van die geweer strek.

Blaas die magasyn se binnekant, die veer, voerplatvorm en bodemstuk behoorlik skoon, en sprei dan met ‘n dun lagie aerosol olie of smeer ligte olielagie oor al die oppervlaktes aan. Verseker net dat die voerplatvorm net ‘n wasempie olie op het sodat dit nie aan die patrone kan afvee nie.

Dit help baie om saamgeperste lug by die slagpen opening in die grendel kop in te

bietjie grendel ghries veral aan die agterkant van die sluitnokke en teen die kam-vlak van die grendelnok te smeer.

blaas, of selfs motor remskoen aerosol, om die gemors onder druk uit die grendel holte te verwyder. Verskeie vervaardigers maak aerosol tipe skoonmaak middels hiervoor, maar dit is nie altyd beskikbaar nie. My ervaring is dat motor remskoen aerosol baie goed hiervoor werk. Nadat die grendel holte nou skoongeblaas is, moet ‘n bietjie aerosol olie weer by die slagpenopening ingespuit word. Dieselfde middel word nou ook gebruik om die sneller meganisme skoon te blaas en dan weer met ‘n bietjie aerosol olie gesmeer. Smeer nou die buite-metaalwerk van die aksie en loop met ‘n ligte olie ter voorkoming van roes. Onthou ook om ‘n

teen atmosferiese blootstelling, indien die geweer vir ‘n lang periode nie gebruik word nie. Laatstens volg ‘n aksie skoonmaak stelom die grendel sluitnok gleuwe aan die agterkant van die kamer skoon te maak.

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Skoonmaak van die Loop Om die loop behoorlik skoon te maak, benodig ‘n mens ‘n goeie skoonmaakstok, flannelette lappies wat tot die regte grootte vir die kaliber van die loop gesny, gepons of geskeur is, koper en nylon borseltjies en ‘n sagte lap. Voeg hierby oplosmiddels vir koolstofneerslag, koperneerslag en nitrosuurneerslag, ‘n metaalpolitoer of pasta vir polering van die loop en ‘n preserveer geweerolie om die loop se wande te seël

Dit is altyd beter om die sluitnok gleuwe skoon te maak nadat die loop klaar skoongemaak is, omdat die loopdrek die sluitnok gleuwe besoedel. Gebruik nou die nylon borseltjie om die droë koolstof aanpaksels in die loop los te borsel. Hierna is dit goed om ‘n koper borseltjie te gebruik wat vir ‘n een-op kaliber bedoel is, (bv ‘n 25 kaliber borsel as jy ‘n 243 het) en dan

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hunting met behulp van die skoonmaakstok, of ‘n kamerstok (chamber rod) in die kamer in te druk en ‘n aantal keer in die rondte te draai om die koolstof wat voor die kamer se bek vasbrand, uit te haal. ‘n Ou afgeknipte skoonmaakstok wat in ‘n boor vasgeknyp word, werk baie goed. Gebruik dan ‘n lappie wat met die koolstof oplosmiddel geweek is, saam met verkieslik ‘n gepunte passtuk voor op die stok en stoot die nat lappie deur die loop. Volg dit dadelik met ‘n droë lappie op en verwyder die koolstof oplosmiddel saam met die donker grys koolstof aanpaksels uit die loop.

Sodra die lappie onbesoedel uit die loop kom, is dit tyd om die koper oplosmiddel aan te wend. Doen dit met ‘n skoon lappie wat met die koper oplosmiddel geweek is, deur die lappie eenrigting deur die loop te stoot en hom voor die kroon buite die loop af te haal en die stok leeg terug te trek. Los die koper oplosmiddel vir nie langer as drie minute in die loop en stoot dan ‘n skoon droë lappie eenrigting deur die loop en verwyder die lappie. Daar behoort ‘n blou kleur aan die lappie te verskyn. Stoot ‘n tweede lappie deur om die loop skoon te kry, en herhaal die koper oplos behandeling tot daar nie meer blou kleur aan die

lappie afsmeer nie. Partykeer is die koper hardnekkig en kom die lappie aanhoudend met blou vlekke uit die loop uit, selfs al het mens die koper oplos behandeling tien of meer kere herhaal. As dit die geval is, beteken dit dat die loop effens skurf is en dat hy dan poleer moet word. Om dit te doen gebruik ‘n poleermiddel soos JB Bore Paste, Iosso of enige ander metaal politoer, smeer dit om ‘n lappie wat om die skoonmaakstok se passtuk gedraai is en vryf die lappie vyftig keer heen-en-weer deur die loop. Maak die loop hierna met ‘n skoon lappie of lappies skoon en wend weer die koper oplosmiddel aan. Indien daar nog koper in die loop wys, herhaal die poleerproses en toets weer vir koper. Wanneer die lappie wit uit die loop kom, is die loop kopervry.

Nou is die tyd om die nitro oplosmiddel aan te wend. Dit word gedoen deur ‘n lappie met die nitro oplosmiddel te week, en die lappie dan eenrigting deur die loop te stoot. Maak die loop direk daarna droog en wend die nitro oplosmiddel weer aan. As die geweer nie vir ‘n lang termyn gebruik gaan word nie, kan ‘n goeie nitro oplosmiddel soos Butch Boreshine of Hoppe’s No 9 net so in die loop gelos word en dan net skoongevee word voordat geskiet word. Dit is nie verkeerd

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For more information, contact Neels van den Berg on 083 451 3105 18

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hunting

om die nitro oplosmiddel te verwyder nadat dit die tweede keer in die loop gesit is en dit te vervang met geweerolie soos Butch Gun Oil nie.

Ek kan net noem dat ‘n skoonmaakstok gids (rod guide) ‘n uiters handige stukkie toerusting is wanneer die loop skoongemaak word. Dit ondersteun nie net die stok sodat hy nie knak wanneer dit in die loop ingaan nie, maar dit beskerm ook die stok en die uitwerper in die aksie self teen beskadiging en verhoed dat skoonmaak middels in die magasyn en die sneller meganisme in stort.

Sodra die loop nou skoongemaak is, word die aksie skoonmaakstel ingespan om nou die drek uit die sluitnokgleuwe te verwyder.

Die Kolf Nadat die geweer nou skoongemaak is soos hierbo uiteengesit, en alles is weer aanmekaargeskroef, moet die kolf met kolf olie behandel word. Gebruik ‘n lappie en wend die olie oor die hele buite-oppervlak van die kolf aan. Wag dat die olie in die hout intrek, en wend weer aan. Hou aan hiermee tot die hout versadig is en vryf dan die kolf met ‘n lap tot die hout ‘n pragtige glans toon.

Sien mooi om na jou veld vennoot, en hy sal jou nie in die steek laat nie.

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Featured species

Aardwolf Proteles cristatus www.theanimalfiles.com Main Characteristics Aardwolves are a member of the hyena family. They have a body length between 55 and 80 cm, a tail length between 20 and 30 cm and they weigh between 8 and 10 kg.

Their fur is buff or yellowish/white in colour and they have 3 dark, vertical stripes down each side and diagonal dark stripes across their fore and hind quarters. They have a mane of hair on their back that stands up when they feel stressed. This makes the Aardwolf look larger and appear more threatening.

Their front legs are slightly longer than their hind, giving them a slightly downward sloping body. Their tail is bushy and they have dark eyes and a dark coloured muzzle.

Their front teeth resemble those of hyenas but their molars are like small pegs. To compensate for this their food is ground up by their muscular stomach.

Habitat Aardwolves are found on the open, grassy plains of east and south Africa. They are solitary and they rest in burrows during the day before becoming active at night. Their territory is between 1 and 4 km², depending on the availability of food, and they mark it with urine, dung and secretions from their anal glands.

Diet Aardwolves mainly feed upon termites, in particular snouted harvester termites. They also eat maggots, grubs and any other soft bodied insects. Sometimes, but rarely, they will feed on small mammals, birds and carrion.

Aardwolves don’t dig into the nests of termites, they just pick them up with their tongue.

They can consume as many as 200,000 termites during one night.

Breeding After a gestation period of approximately 90 days, 2 - 4 cubs are born in a den. They leave the den at 6 - 8 weeks old and between 9 and 11 weeks they begin to forage with their mother.

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Featured Featuredspecies species By the time the cubs reach 16 weeks old they are weaned. Aardwolves reach sexual maturity by the time they are 2 years old.

Aardwolves are monogamous and both parents raise the cubs together. The primary duty of the male is to guard the den from predators. The breeding season is at different times of the year, depending on location.

Predators Humans and dogs are the main predators of Aardwolves.

Subspecies There are two subspecies of Aardwolf: Proteles cristatus cristatus, they are found in South Africa and Proteles cristatus septentrionalis, which are found in east Africa.

Interesting Facts Aardwolves are also known as: Maanhaar Jackal, Protelid , Aardwolf is the Afrikaans word for “earth wolf.� Aardwolves belong to the Hyaenidae family along with the: Brown Hyena, Spotted Hyena, Striped Hyena.

AA

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fishing The purpose of this article is to assist the amateur angler by taking a lot of the guess work out of selecting a range of rock and surf rods. In doing so, I hope to save new anglers the frustration and expense associated with making the wrong or ill-informed choice.

When I first took up the idea of rock and surf angling I had little to no knowledge of how to go about deciding on the right tackle and I knew that the issue of the perfect rod was one that would be difficult to decide on. Fortunately I had the help of a panel of very experienced anglers to guide me through the process. At the time I belonged to a fishing forum and I had the knowledge of many very experienced anglers to guide me through the process. That is why I recommend that all anglers take the time to join an online angling community. There are many forums, groups and Facebook pages dedicated to the sport of angling, all of which are home to anglers who are always happy to assist and answer questions.

When I started out, all the talk centered on heavy tackle and custom built rods. One name that came up time and time again was Blue Marlin. Most anglers were having custom built rods made using the Blue Marlin blanks.

There is no doubt that custom built rods have their place and I would be lying if I said they didn’t.

With custom built rods you have the opportunity to design the rod and include the features that best suite your style of angling, casting ability, target species etc. You get to choose the blank, select your guides and reel seat and ultimately end up with a rod that can pull huge sharks from the sea and tow massive rays over sand banks. Places like Gremlins in Margate are renowned for building rods to meet the need of every angler and I was one angler that couldn’t wait to get his hands on a custom built rod. Fortunately, I had the support of experienced guys to help me before I bought anything.

They pointed out that there are several factors that have to be considered before just rushing in and buying a rod.

TARGET SPECIES: It doesn’t take much to figure out that a 24

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fishing lightweight rod with a casting weight of 4 ounces is not the right equipment when targeting Bronzies in the Cape. So very simply, you have to decide on the type of fishing, target species and locations you will be fishing. For the poor guys stuck inland, it is often a difficult decision because we try to travel to various destinations and they all have different requirements.

This is why so many anglers have a series of rods in order to try and negotiate the various conditions they may be faced with. My first rod was the Shimano Exage 1468. A multi piece rod with a light tip (1-4oz) medium tip (4-6oz) and a heavy tip (6-8oz). This rod is still in my possession and I still love fishing with it. Being a multi piece rod means it travels easily and with the different tips I had a choice of applications readily available. I could scratch for medium sized edibles or slide out after huge sharks and rays. I have successfully landed many memorable fish with the Exage, but there were a few incidents where I felt the rod lacked the pulling power to land some of the larger rays species and as a result I have lost a couple of those over the years.

Another store bought option was the Assassin range of rods. The Beachmaster entered the market at a reasonable price and was aimed at the average angler. It wasn’t quite a heavy action rod, but had more pulling power than the standard medium power rods of the time. Like the Exage, the Assassin Beachmaster is perfect for anglers looking to fish various conditions and species. Conditions, however, can be less than ideal most of the time.

There are many beaches and rocky ledges where supreme power and expert casting ability is needed. This is where the slightly more advanced rods come into play. Assassin makes a light, medium and heavy rod. Made from high Modulus Graphite (HMG) these rods are meant for the slightly more experienced and competitive angler. There is almost nothing I can say against these rods, except that it is more than likely not going to be easy for the amateur to handle. One of my very good friends who stands just shy of 2 meters tall and has a very sturdy frame has had his fair share of challenges in casting this rod. He almost always loads it with the maximum weight in order to cast successfully. That said, the rod is a favourite amongst competitive anglers and depending on the target species, there is a rod for every application. Angling legend, Mike Pautz, has landed many great sharks and rays on the Assassin Blade Heavy and his photos of massive Thorntails tell exactly how powerful the rods really are. Rods in this class are a must when fishing the tougher conditions and targeting the bigger species of sharks and rays.

YOU DETERMINE THE ROD: Your body’s frame will also play a major role in determining the type of rod you’re best going to be able to handle. Shorter anglers tend to find 14 foot rods more comfortable and balanced while taller anglers may extend their rods to 16 feet.

Although the extra length will increase casting distance, your action, once refined, will ensure you get maximum distance no matter what the length of your rod. When selecting a rod, the ability to pull heavy creatures from the sea is not the only factor. How well you are able to cast is just as important. For this reason, many anglers have stepped away from the more rigid rods and are looking into alternatives. I was very lucky to be invited to test a range of rods that have been launched by Western Accessories Fishing Tackle. These rods have simply blown me away. For the first time, I have found a store bought rod which combines the power of many of the custom built or competitive rods with the forgiving nature needed to reduce over winds.

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The WAFT range of rods has combined all the aspects that make a rod appealing to any angler. Japanese made high ton carbon frames allow for a light weight, flexible, super strong rod with all the pulling power needed to land the big one. Casting weights depend on the rod type, but the heavy rods are able to cast 9ounces with ease. The rods are sensitive and have low friction guides. The guides are big enough to allow knots to pass through during the cast without causing any damage. My personal favourite aspect is the casting action. The rod still allows enough flexibility to forgive a jerk in the casting action and I spent an entire day casting with every rod in the range, loaded with various makes and models of reels and monofilament line, and I didn’t come close to a single over wind. Casting distance for me averaged 110m with other makes of rod falling slightly short of the 100m mark and that is more than enough in my books. The two rods in the range that really stood out for me were the Iron Feather and the Pirate. I am torn between the medium and heavy options and will be spending some more time casting and testing before I make a final decision. What is important to note is the price tag. These rods come in a fraction more expensive than the general store bought rods but much cheaper than custom options. It is so far the best value for money rod I have come across. Some big names in the angling community including Protea angler, Robbie Janse, has nothing but good things to say about the WAFT range.

TEST: Casting is something that, once mastered, doesn’t really enter the mind of experienced anglers, but even they will tell you, when it comes to getting a new rod, no-one wants to lose distance. Therefore, it is so important to get out to a beach (or lake if you live inland) and try out as many rods as possible. If you belong to a fishing club or even a forum, you are guaranteed to meet people with various rods and experience. Organise a social day out and use the opportunity to test the rods. This is the best way to get a feel for whether or not you are able to load the rod and get the maximum out of the cast. You can get a good sense of the rods weight, flexibility, pulling power etc.

To summarise: There are clearly some tried and tested names out there like Shimano, Assassin and WAFT. Start off by testing as many of them as possible.

- Consider your locations, target species and personal abilities. The right rod in the right hands is your goal.

- Don’t be afraid of owning more than one. Although there are rods that meet several needs at once, if you are going to be fishing a lot, you are going to find that it is impossible to cover all the bases without a slightly bigger selection of rods in your arsenal.

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fishing - When considering custom vs store bought, bare in mind that the technological advances in rod building have almost brought the two together. As an amateur, start with the store bought.

Experienced anglers will definitely benefit from custom built rods, but unless you’re literally living on the beach or fishing in extremely competitive environments, you’re likely to make the wrong decisions when customising your rod and it is a very expensive decision that you could regret later.

- Test test test. Join a forum, get involved with a club and go testing with other anglers. You will be astounded at how much knowledge you can pick up in a very short time frame.

- Look for the important features. High Modulus Graphite or High Ton Carbon blanks are lighter, stronger and more sensitive. High quality guides that are big enough to allow knots to pass through without causing damage are a must. Ensure they are not likely to corrode and are low friction. Ensure you have a strong reliable reel seat. The last thing you want to see is a reel flying off during a huge fight. Pistol grips eliminate slipping and lead to more confident casts. Tight Lines!

www.free2fish.co.za | 083 481 0328 | bigfish@iburst.co.za

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Featured species

Caranx melampygus

Michelle Watson

Main Characteristics The bluefin kingfish is a large fish, growing to known length of 110 cm and reaching weights of 40 kg, however lengths greater than 80 cm are rare. Similar in shape to a number of other kingies, they have an oblong, compressed body with a slightly more convex dorsal profile.

This leads to a much more pointed snout. The upper body is a silver-brassy colour, fading to a silvery white on the underside of the fish. After reaching lengths greater than 16 cm, blue-black spots appear on the upper flanks of the fish. Its name derives from the colour of its dorsal, anal and caudal fins, which are an electric blue.

Habitat They inhabit a wide range of inshore and offshore habitats. Ranging from estuaries too far out deep reefs. Bluefin kingfish can tolerate fresh water with salinity levels as low as 6.0% and only occupy clear, low turbidity waters.

Diet The bluefin kingfish is mainly a piscivorous predator which shows a wide range in hunting techniques, ranging from mid water attacks to ambush and taking advantage of larger forage fish. The species is reported to hunt during the day, particularly at dawn and dusk in most locations. They feed on a variety of small reef fish and a wide arrays of crustaceans are also preyed upon. The species appears to have a preference for fish of a specific size, which depends on its own length and age. Studies suggest that an individual bluefin kingfish

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Featured species consumes on average around 45 kg of fish per year, making it one of the most effective predators in the ocean.

Reproduction Sexual maturity is reached when measured between 30 and 40 cm in length and around 2 years of age.

Bluefin kingfish found in African waters reproduce between September and March while in Hawaii this occurs between April and November, with a peak in May to July. Spawning occurs at night to minimize predation on the eggs. Studies on captive fish indicates that females may produce as much as 6 million eggs per year.

Bluefin kingfish are also known as bluefin trevally, bluefin jack and spotted trevally.

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events WESTERN CAPE 3 Peaks Challenge 2 November Atlantic Seaboard 021 761 4438

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Home Biltong Making since 1995 Was R 1295.00 and NOW only R 1095.00 Elgin Open Gardens Order via our on-line shop at 2 - 10 November www.biltongmakers.com

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Bierfest Cape Town 7 - 10 November Newlands Evakool Icekool 60L Cooler Box, with thick Wall.

087 985 0635 Keeps ice up to 10 day’s! Five year warranty! info@evacool.co.za Contact us for your nearest stockists

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TCFF/KHL Attorneys Sterkfontein Experience 22 -24 November Sterkfontein Dam Ivan 012 for 371the 3915 “TheDavidson best braai -tools greatest braaing nation” Proudly made in Mzanzi Vredefort Dome Festival 011 452 7703t 1 - 3 November www.madmonkeyoutdoors.co.za

Parys Tanja - 082 778 8429

Daiwa’s Windcast Z 5500 spinning reel SRP - R2400 available from leading tackle outlets Cherry Festival www.kingfisher.co.za

21 - 23 November Ficksburg 051 933 2130

Large range of hand reared baby parrots, and exotic birds available. Cages and accessories also available - Wonderboom Voëlpark - 012 567 1921 or 012 543 0036 | wonderboombird@telkomsa.net

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

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fishing Firouz Dockrat

Without a doubt some of the toughest, wildest & biggest bass I ever had the pleasure of landing have come from this large impoundment only 50km from Selebi Pikwe in Botswana.

Letsibogo is a relatively new dam which opened in the year 2000, it has a 18 square kilometer surface area and 100,000,000 mÂł capacity. The dam was built to supply water to nearby Selebi Pikwe and now also supplies water to Gabarone 400 kilometres away.

The fishing Due to time constraints we got to fish for a day only, but on a dam like Letsi it makes up for 3 days on our local waters. We managed to land just over 30 fish for the day with the biggest topping the scale at well over 4kg and 18 bass in the 3kg range. With so little time we decided to fish the dominant structure in the dam in two sessions. The morning session would be spent fishing the many islands and rock formations in front and to the left of the rip rap, and the afternoon

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session the abundant flooded timber on the right hand side of the launch.

Both these environments can be tough for anglers in any dam but in Letsibogo even more so. The fish are strong and are more than willing to wrap you or snap you at the first opportunity. With that in mind we needed the right tools for the job. Heavy rods in the 7ft range with a strong backbone and a fast, stiff tip is the way to go. I personally fish the sensation magma heavys and find them light enough to fish the whole day and strong enough to haul fish out from heavy cover. Your second consideration is a good reel with strong gears and fast ratios, the Doyo Lubina i was using really outperformed itself, it casted like a dream and never slipped on a tight drag. Line of at least 20lbs breaking strength is the minimal you should opt for. The Berkley Big Game range did the trick for me. The mono lines have some stretch in them so are a bit more forgiving than flourocarbon.

The first thing you will hear from any angler who’s fished Letsi is that the bigger the bait the bigger the fish, the lures that performed exceptionally well for us were Damikis 6.5inch Slam Lunker in junebug, black,green pumpkin and of course Zoom 7

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inch mag fluke in the same colours. Because of the dirty water the darker colours are more visible. Coupled with this we were armed with Lazer Trokar wide gap hooks in sizes 6/0 and 7/0.

These hooks are ultra sharp and very strong.

Every fishing trip is a learning curve for me and this trip was no different, in the next few paragraphs I would like to share some of my observations with you.

Tips for fishing big Senko type baits • Firstly you have to fish them slow, I’ve noticed anglers pulling that plastic in so fast you would think they are scared a bass is going to steal it from them. Slow, slow, slowww.

• When rigging ,add a drop of super glue to the eye of the hook and pull the worms head up over it so that the worm stays straight and does not slip down on the cast.

• You can fish this type of bait almost anywhere, try it on all the basic structure

like trees, grass & rocks. On that day we were fishing there were at least 20 boats on the water, with all of them cruising the trees. We felt the fish would be pressured in those trees so we opted for the rocks, it was the best decision we made that day, the rocks not only produced all the big fish but quantity too, and all those fish fell to the Senko.

• Give that lure some action: after you’ve casted and not had any strikes don’t just reel in, try shaking your rod tip, it causes the bait to jump a foot or so ,when you stop shaking it just glides back down again,this is more of what I call an irritation technique, it gets any bass angry enough to want to kill it.

• M any strikes occur on the fall after you cast so watch your line, keep it loose but stay in contact with it all the time while it sinks. Just like an earthworm when dunked in water a

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Senko will wiggle and glide and try to hold its equilibrium and this twitching action seems to attract fish which hit it on the drop. This is Senko fishing the drop, concentrate on that and you right on the money.

• Make sure your cast is spot on. If fish are sitting tight to cover and if you a meter out don’t waste your time ,reel in and cast again. A tired post spawn bass doesn’t want to chase down a noise a couple of meters away.

• In heavy cover don’t lower your rod at the first indication of a bite ,rather take in the slack fast using the reel, feel the tension on the line then strike with a snap back motion, use the rod to hold the fish away from the structure. Reason being the moment you lower the rod theres at least a half meter to a meter line now lying loose and mister bass uses that slight advantage to wrap you .

box to aid in hook removal.

• Establish a pattern. A pattern is evidence of repeat bass behavior over a period of time.

When fishing a new water you often have to rely on your own powers of observation and understanding, which will save you a tremendous amount of energy, time and frustration in figuring out which spots to fish and which to avoid. Learning what depth the fish are sitting on or after how many twitches of your lure the fish are reacting too all help in confining your search.

Letsibogo was a unique experience and one I hopefully will do again. The dam was a pleasure to visit, very well maintained and with no dirt littering the banks. Although the dirt road to the dam needs some serious work. In 2012 the government of Botswana announced plans to build a five star lodge and resort facility on the dam, what impact this will have on this unspoilt dam only time will tell.

• When fishing weightless the fish tend too engulf the whole lure, 90% of the fish we caught, the lure was way back in the gullet, keep a long hook remover or long nose pliers in your tackle 36

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Conservation

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Layla Black

Alopochen aegyptiacus

Egyptian Goose

Conservation Featured species Main Characteristics The Egyptian Goose is not really a goose, but is actually a Shelduck. It is a cross between a goose and a duck. It has many duck-like characteristics, but it also has some external gooselike traits. Egyptian Goose is the most widespread of all the African waterfowl.

The two most distinctive marks of the Egyptian Goose are the chestnut eye patches and a brown chest patch. There is also a brown stripe that forms a collar around the nape of the neck.

It has pink legs and feet with the bill also pink with a black tip and a dark base. The male has green secondary feathers, but a large portion of the adult wing is white. The white usually remains hidden but is visible when the bird takes to flight. It has a cinnamon coloured under tail with black on the upper tail. The sexes look alike, but the female is slightly smaller. The young birds look similar to the adult, but lack the eye and chest patches.

Range and Habitat Egyptian Geese are mainly found south of the Sahara in Africa, along the Nile River Valley, and in southern Israel. They were introduced into England in the 1700’s, and some feral birds can be found in the United States. They are usually found inland, close to wet areas, and can sometimes be found on the open plains.

Behaviour The Egyptian Geese are terrestrial; they spend a lot of time ashore and feed both day and night sometimes far from the water. They are good swimmers and divers and feed mainly on seeds, leaves, grass and berries. They also eat locusts, worms, insects and small animals. They will perch in trees and on buildings, often returning to the same spot each night to roost.

Egyptian Geese are notoriously bad-tempered especially during breeding season. They are quarrelsome and aggressive and very intolerant of other birds. The males hiss and the females make a cackling noise.

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Featured species Breeding and Nesting Egyptian Geese are sexually mature at 2 years and mate for life. They can breed all year around, but usually breed at the end of a dry season. Courtship is noisy with honking, feather displays and neck stretching. Pairs nest alone and are excellent parents. They build their nests in a variety of locations and use a variety of nesting materials, but the nests are always lined with soft, downy feathers. The female lays 5-8 eggs which are incubated for 28 days. If the nest is built up high, the parents will call to the chicks from down below, until the chicks jump to the ground. The young chicks are reared by both parents. They fly at 11 weeks, but remain with the parents for several more weeks.

Predators Animals such as Kites, large lizards, snakes, various mammals and tortoises which catch the young with adults falling prey to crocodiles.

AA

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adventures

Developing your wild eye

Gerry van der Walt

Africa’s natural heritage is world-renowned. People from all over the world travel to Africa each year to witness and photograph the amazing wildlife our continent has to offer.

When looking around on social media platforms like Facebook you will see a huge amount of images from Africa’s wild places which all attest to the fact that the photographic opportunities are quite amazing in both their abundance and diversity.

That being said, there are only a handful of images that stand about above the masses. I am sure you have found yourself looking at these images wondering what special tricks the photographer used or why your images don’t look the same.

The reality is that it is not difficult to create striking wildlife images.

By focusing on the basics you will see an immediate improvement in your own photography so let’s look at three things you can do to get you started on the exciting journey that is wildlife photography.

1. You Can Only Shoot What You See The first thing to always keep in mind is that you can only shoot what you see.

You cannot, will not, photograph a herd of hundreds of thousands of wildebeest crossing a river in the Kruger National Park. The Great Migration takes place in Kenya so hoping to photo something like that in the Kruger will create false expectations.

Before heading out to a destination do your homework. Read up on the area, check out field guides and browse through one of the many online forums where you will get real and up to date information of the wildlife you can expect to see and photograph.

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adventures When you then get out into the field open your mind and do not go out with preconceived ideas of getting images that you’ve seen in magazines or on Facebook.

Take each and every subject that you find and take it from there. Shoot what’s in front of you and don’t worry about whether it’s a leopard or a zebra. By doing this you will create a more comprehensive portfolio of images from every trip that you do.

The more time you spend out in the field and the more destinations you visit the more you will see and the more you will be able to photograph.

2. Focus on the Basics Getting to a wildlife sighting, picking up your camera and firing at will might give you some decent images but you will have to spend a lot of time working through your images afterwards to find the keepers.

You can however up your strike rate, and immediately improve the quality of your images by focusing on a few of the basics of photography.

These include: • Rule of Thirds • Shoot in both landscape and portrait orientation • Know your equipment Rule of Thirds The rule of thirds is one of the foundations of photography and will, from the moment you start applying it to your images, make a difference to your images.

Simply put, the rule states that you should not place your subject in the dead center of the frame but rather on one of the 4 points created when you divide your frame into three both vertically and horizontally.

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adventures The four power points that are created in the frame are the strongest visual areas in a frame and will best highlight the subject in your image.

Shoot in both landscape and portrait orientation Most of the time we get stuck shooting in landscape orientation but there are most definitely times when a portrait orientation will serve you better. This is especially true with giraffe and large trees where you want to emphasize the height of the subject.

The best way to decide which orientation would best suit a particular scene is to see which way the visual energy in a frame is moving. Do you find your eye moving side to side through the frame? In that case, shoot in landscape mode.

If you find your eyes moves up and down in the frame you might be better served shooting in portrait orientation.

When you next find yourself in a sighting make a point of trying to shoot in both landscape and portrait orientations.

Know your Equipment There is nothing more frustrating than sitting in an incredible sighting and not being able to capture the moment. One of the reasons that many people miss shots is that they do not know their equipment. Take the time to do a course and get to know exactly what your equipment is capable of. You won’t be sorry!

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adventures 3. Shoot More, Look More This is something that all wildlife photographers should do more of. I am not referring to rattling off a hundred frames of a static subject but rather looking for different angles, different settings and different stories.

By continually trying to create different images and working a scene or subject you will improve not only your images but also your photographic eye. In time you will start ‘seeing’ shots even before you take them.

Closely linked to this is to look at other photographer’s image. By looking at more images, and specifically the work of photographers whose images resonate with you, your photographic eye will become more trained and you will find it easier to see shots out in the field.

That being said, don’t try and mimic other people’s images but rather use them as inspiration to create your own unique stories. Your own unique images.

In the next article we will look at more specific techniques you can use out in the field to create unique and interesting wildlife and nature images. For now it’s time to head out into the wild places of Africa and capture the amazing wildlife that only Africa has to offer. Until next time.

Gerry van der Walt www.gerryvanderwalt.com Courses & Safaris: photography.wild-eye.co.za Facebook:www.facebook.com/gerryvdwalt gerry@wild-eye.co.za 46

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Recipe

Osso

B u co www.cookbook.co.za Osso buco is a classic Italian veal dish which is rich and delicious. Almost every good Italian restaurant has a house specialty and Osso Buco recipes are closely guarded secrets in many.

They are the types of recipes that are passed down through the generations of Italian Mammas.

What you need 750g veal knuckles or shanks 100g butter 2 large carrots cubed 2 large onions finely chopped 2 celery sticks chopped 2 cloves garlic crushed 2 tins chopped peeled tomatoes pushed through a sieve

½ cup red wine 250ml beef stock 1 teaspoon dried basil 1 teaspoon dried thyme 1 bay leaf Grated rind of 1 lemon Palm of chopped fresh parsley A little flour, salt and pepper

The process In a pan on a medium heat melt 1 tablespoon of the butter, add the carrots, onions, celery and garlic, cook until onions are beginning to turn brown and transfer them to a casserole dish.

Season some flour and coat the meat by placing in a bag and shaking it around. Place the rest of the butter and a splash of olive oil in the pan and brown the meat on all sides, remove and place on top of the vegetables in the casserole dish.

Clean the pan and add the tomato, wine, beef stock, herbs and lemon rind,season with salt and pepper and bring to a boil the pour the sauce over the veal and place in the oven at 180 Celsius for 1 and ½ hours stirring occasionally. Before serving add the parsley and a little lemon rind and give it a stir.

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Conservation

Saving the Sacred King Yolandi van Jaarsveldt The Global White Lion Protection Trust is a leading non-profit organisation with a community-based conservation mission to protect the critically endangered White Lions as a global heritage for future generations. For two decades, the organisation has successfully implemented the White Lion Protection Plan™ - a 10 point strategy to ensure the survival of the White Lions against formidable odds, including legalized trophy hunting and illegal poaching. The survival strategy has included the implementation of a long-term scientific reintroduction program to restore the White Lions to their endemic range, and the acquisition of large tracks of heritage lands as a Protected Area for this rare and iconic animal, regarded as the King of Kings by African tribal elders.

Some key questions answered: 1. What is the conservation value of the White Lions?

These critically endangered animals urgently need protection not only for conservation reasons, but for important cultural reasons as well. The White Lions are the key to preserving the entire Kruger-to-Canyon Biosphere, a vast eco-system which has been declared a biosphere region by the UN, in fact the third largest biosphere in the world. The White Lions conservation importance is that they hold the key to protecting the wild lion population of this region, including the Kruger genetic pool, which is under great threat at the present time. Equally important is the White Lions cultural significance in that they hold the key to the socio-economic revival of the low-income communities in this region, whose cultural pride and purpose is directly linked to the survival of this living heritage.

2. Why is the White Lion regarded as “Africa’s most sacred animal”?

African wisdom keepers from many different cultures believe the White Lion to be the King of Kings, sometimes referred to as “the firstborn of God’s Creatures”.

They also understand them to be “Starlions”, and the only place on earth where this rare genetic strain of Panthera Leo has been born by natural occurrence is in the greater Timbavati region, a wildlands game area neighboring South Africa’s Kruger National Park. In the ancient Tsonga language, the word Tsimba-vati means “The Place where the Starlions came down.”

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Conservation Furthermore, the African myths and legends surrounding these magnificent animals reveal fascinating links with Ancient Egyptian beliefs and rituals, in which the Pharaoh himself was understood to be a Lion, with stellar origins.

This mystery linking the White Lions to ancient Egypt deepens when one considers that the land of Timbavati (the birthplace of the White Lions) aligns geographically exactly with Giza (the resting place of the Great Sphinx), along the exact same Nile Meridian. So the mystery of the White Lions is directly connected with the Sphinx, humankind’s greatest lion riddle.

It is a profound mystery, with many deep consequences. Ultimately, the White Lions are not only an African legacy but are associated with other prophetic animals on other continents, such as the White Buffalo prophecies of Native America.

These legendary aspects of the White Lions were first documented by conservationist Linda Tucker, Founder and CEO of the Global White Lion Protection Trust, in her book Mystery of the White Lions (Hay House).

3. How did so many white lions end up in zoos?

Since their discovery by Europeans in the 60s, the White Lions have been artificially removed from their ancestral lands, where records show they were flourishing in the wild. They were put into zoos and circuses around the globe and into cages in South Africa, where they are being bred to be killed.

Tragically, while the White Lions are regarded as the most sacred animals on the African continent by African elders, they were exploited as the highest income earning trophies by international trophy hunting syndicates, zoos and circuses around the world because they have the greatest “visitor value” of any animal. Despite the ongoing efforts of the Global White Lion Protection Trust to have the White Lions declared a protected animal of national importance in South Africa, no legislation has been enforced to ensure the survival of this critically endangered heritage.

Today, White Lions may be hunted to extinction in the wilds of their natural endemic habitat of the greater Timbavati region, and they may be tamed and killed in cages, a wide spread malpractice known as “Canned Lion Hunting”, which is still legal in South Africa today.

Many members of the public are unaware that they are supporting the cruelty towards these rare and endangered animals by paying to handle cubs in captive breeding centers, which these same commercial operations later shoot these same tamed animals as trophies.

Captive slaughter (“Canned Hunting”) of lions and other endangered animals has now reached

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Conservation shocking proportions in South Africa. There are more lions in cages in South Africa than in the wild, many suffering from malnutrition and genetic malformations as a consequence of the brutal speed-breeding activities that have been taking place for commercial exploitation of our wildlife. These animals can never return to the wild, as their genetics are compromised.

If these captive malpractices continue, the result will destroy the species of Panthera Leo, with unimaginable consequences for wildlife.

4. Are white lions albinos?

No. There is a lot of misinformation circulated about the White Lions.

In 1997, a scientific study by geneticists, Krookshank and Robinson, proved that the White Lions are not albinos, but rather their unique colouring is the result of a rare genetic marker, which sets them apart from Panthera Leo as a species. However, it took another two decades before science discovered the exact genetic code behind this genetic marker. My organisation, the Global White Lion Protection Trust, led this genetic study in collaboration with geneticists from several different countries including the UK, the States, Namibia, Korea and Canada, involving research on Snow Leopards, Tigers, White Bears and White Lions. In 2012, after great investment in time and resources, we finally made this watershed genetic discovery.

The Genetic Marker is the genetic code that will enable us to lead the campaign to have the White Lions declared a protected sub-species or critically endangered sub-population according to international legislation (CITES and IUCN RED DATA LISTING).

Further factual inaccuracies about White Lions include: 1) that they can’t survive in the wild and 2) that they can’t hunt for themselves for lack of camouflage. These claims are untrue, and are being circulated by people keeping White Lions in captivity, to justify their actions. Scientific records (such as Robinson and de Vos 1981) show White Lions were surviving perfectly well in the wild until humans interfered and artificially removed them from their natural habitat. The Global White Lion Protection Trust’s scientific reintroduction program of White Lions back to their natural endemic habitat has established that they are apex predators in their natural ecosystem, perfectly capable of camouflaging themselves and hunting self-sufficiently in their natural habitat.

How will your community-upliftment programs aid conservation of the White Lions as a living heritage?

Today, there is still no national and international law protecting this rare animal. The risk to South Africa’s lion population is directly linked to the rhino-poaching onslaught, with a comparative study of numbers showing 52

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Conservation that Panthera Leo at greater risk of extinction than rhino, and the White Lions on the brink.

As a committed long-term strategy, our “Eco-Cubs” educational programs are creating a generation of wildlife-guardians in a poverty stricken area where many of our schools are facing a 60% orphan rate, and where poaching is a livelihood. Alternative livelihoods are created through our craft-development and other dedicated programs, with community leaders emerging who are fiercely protecting the White Lion in the wild as this country’s unique living heritage.

The WLT has also established an annual White Lion Leadership Academy, which is equipping future grass-roots leaders to take pride in their living heritage, and find purpose in the service of humanity and our planet. Through this multi-layered approach, the WLT generates awareness of the shared cultural heritage links between the people of the region and their White Lion heritage, encouraging direct responsibility for the White Lions’ continued protection and conservation, as well as equipping communities with effective leadership skills and sustainable living methods.

Interview with Linda Tucker Why did you write your newly published book, Saving the White Lions?

“I’ve dedicated my life to protecting the White Lions, and I want to inspire others to take up important causes in their lives. Saving the White Lions (North Atlantic 2013) is the story of my life with the White Lions, and how I’ve had to face, and overcome, so many challenges in trying to protect these magnificent creatures. It’s intended to empower other people to follow their lion-hearts, and make a meaningful difference in the world. It’s a quick exciting read. It also shows my support for what the African elders’ belief systems.

“This is my second book on the subject. My first book (Mystery of the White Lions, Hayhouse 2010) first came out in 2001, and took ten years to research, as I was working with a number of different African elders from a number of different cultures, and needed to ensure that the information being entrusted to me was accurate.

The book a magical record of the myths and legends behind these iconic animals, and the meaning behind their arrival in our times.”

The Global White Lion Protection Trust is a registered non-profit organisation, which relies on public donations for its long-term community-based conservation work. www.whitelions.org Tel: 015 793 0657

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Shepherd’s Tree Boscia albitrunca

Stephan Steward

Description This tree inhabits hot, dry areas and prefers well-drained soil. It is widespread in dry, open woodlands and bushveld. It very seldom occurs in groups or clusters, and often solitary trees are in an area. It is a small to medium height 3 - 8 m, with moderate density.

This is a single-trunked tree that branches into a few, large branches. This branch out profusely to form a rounded canopy. The bark is a noticeably pale grey with white patches.

In some areas the bark may have a more yellowish or blackish look. The young twigs stand out from the canopy and are covered with spirally arranged leathery leaves. They are tough and may be slightly hairy, and usually evergreen. Subtle, yellow star shaped flowers grow in bunches of 4-5 and blooms mostly from August to November. They have a sweet scent and contributes to the yellow- green tinge on flowering trees. Bunches of berry-like fruit, ripens from green to yellow from December to March.

Uses The leaves are nutritious and high in protein and vitamins, and are a valuable food source for both live stock and wild animals especially during the dry months. Many antelope and especially Giraffe feed on the flowers and leaves. New shoots soon spring up from

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Featured species any severed area, maintaining the food source.

Coffee and porridge can be made from the roots, and the fruit is used to treat epilepsy. The wood is of a medium density and used to make household utensils.

Cultivation This is an attractive tree that provides good shade in gardens in dry areas.

It can be grown from seeds as well as from root or shoot cuttings. It is drought- resistant, but sensitive to frost and a slow grower.

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Destinations

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Travel fishing & Stay

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Travel & Stay

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