Volume 20

Volume - 20

NEPAL

The land that defies description

Dropshot tactics

A guide to this facet of fun fishing

My traditional warthog hunt Patience and persistence leads to pleasure

HUNTING I FISHING I ADVENTURES I CONSERVATION I DESTINATIONS

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Editors Letter Events Recipe: Easy Chicken Cacciatore

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Cape Dassie Mantis Shrimp Osprey Wild Seringa

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Hunting

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Tips for improving your wingshooting - Part 2 My traditional warthog hunt

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FIshing

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Dropshot tactics

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Adventures

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Nepal - The land that defies description Memories from a mountain kingdom

cONSERVATION

Regulars

Contents

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Tracking Secretary birds in South Africa

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Costa idilica - idyllic coast of Inhambane Travel & Stay

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Featured species

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dESTINATIONS

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Editors Letter

As the wave of success and good fortune of 2013 gently wash out on the beach, we found ourselves at the foothills of Mount 2014. The anticipation of the challenges ahead lies like a blanket of fog on the slopes and an air of expectation grips us all at base camp.

Facing the challenges of a new year is quite exciting, most of us have a string of new year’s resolutions and while some might fail at archiving theirs, you can be sure that we’ll stay committed in bringing you all nature has to offer. 2014 is the year in which our team will go to great lengths to provide you with even better content and expanding our multiple platforms to keep you in touch with mother nature wherever you find yourselves.

After a successful 2013 it is important for us to hear from you, our readers, on what you would like us to improve on or ad to the magazine. I invite all of you to send your suggestions to johan@africanadventures.co.za.

May 2014 be fruitful to you and your family and may you have endless hours of enjoyment in the great outdoors.

“Never be afraid to trust an unknown future to known God.”

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Johan Viljoen

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hunting hunting

Tips for improving your wingshooting David Rearick

Part 2

After discussing grip stance and gun mounting in part 1, we now take a look at other techniques to improve your success at wing shooting.

Analyzing target flight path and best shot location Paying attention to the flight path of the target will simply help a shooter break more targets. More often than not, a target will have a slight curve, angle, rise or drop. There will often be a short window where the target will show more of it’s face or bottom side depending on the angle it is thrown. The key is to figure out where the target has the most stable flight path and where the target presents itself the best. Whenever the target has more surface area showing or is on a stable flight path, it is easier to break. It is often not wise to wait on a target to start a rapid descent or try to shoot a target rapidly. Take the time to watch the target and decide where the most opportune target location exists.

After you establish the most opportune shooting point, try to break the target in the same exact location every time the target is thrown. Repetition and shooting the target at the best location each time will often minimize guess work. This way, a shooter can utilize the same follow through, timing, and lead to repetitively break more targets.

Game Hogg Erik Nilsson; Avery and Zink Calls Pro-Staff 1997 Pennsylvania State Pump Gun Champion 1998 Pennsylvania State Sporting Clays Championship Class Champion 2000 Pennsylvania State Sporting Clays Championship Class Champion Various regional, state and local top places including 5 stand and F.I.T.A.S.C competitions Applying sporting clays to birds in the field When shooting target games, like sporting clays, keep in mind that target presentations were designed to replicate specific hunting scenarios. Targets like a pair of incoming clays can represent a pair of mallards drifting into a block of decoys. A crossing target may simulate a teal flying hard and fast in front of a blind or a quartering away target can relate to a flushed pheasant. Applying what you learn on the target course will pay dividends in the field.

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hunting The importance of set-up From clays to the field, how we set ourselves up for the shot is equally important. As hunters; we need to give ourselves the best opportunity when incoming birds bomb the decoys. Give yourself a good view of your intended landing hole when you get set-up for the day by cleaning out a shooting port. This will allow you ample time to prepare for the shot and avoid obstructions from hanging up on your gun when you go to mount it.

Read the target One tip I was given by a seasoned target shooter years ago was to learn how to read a target. While clay targets generally take a given flight path, real birds are much different.

When a bird approaches, I watch their wings. By watching the wings and learning the different movements they make, a subtle dip left or right can give me a good idea of where the bird is going, affording me the ability to anticipate the shot.

Don’t aim and swing that gun Wing shooting is a dynamic activity. Common problems with wing shooting are that shooters aim at a target and pull the trigger or they provide no follow through on their target. Aiming occurs when a shooter has slowed or stopped the gun prior to the shot and the target simply moves away by the time the shot arrives. Follow through is swinging through your target as you pull the trigger. By completing a good follow through; it allows the shooter a better chance of not stopping the gun prematurely resulting in a miss behind and a broken target or downed bird. It takes time to learn the concept and timing of your swing and lead, but when you do, it will be game on.

Gun fit Having a gun that fits your body structure is very important. Think of the gun as an extension of your body. If you are in the wrong size shoes, it doesn’t feel right to walk, and the same principle can be said for a gun that is too long in the stock. If the stock is too long or too short, your head and eye will not be in proper alignment causing you to make compensations with your head. And then, if the drop of the stock is too little or too much you are battling two factors at once. It is best to seek the services of a trained instructor or gunsmith for proper gun fit. Taking the time to get each gun you intend to shoot fit to your body dimensions is a great step in improving your shooting.

Pattern your gun Patterning your shotgun allows you to determine a couple of things, point of impact and pattern density. Pattern Density is the amount of pellets acquired in a 30” circle at a given yardage. Different shot sizes and choke constrictions will vary and its best to know what combination of shell, shot size and choke works best for your hunting scenario. What you are looking for is a good even pattern without any voids in it. Trying multiple loads and chokes may sound like a lot of work, but not knowing that your combo has large holes or shoots 6” high can ruin a day or even a season, if not corrected. Point of impact is where your gun actually shoots; a properly fitted gun will center the pattern nicely on target. If the gun shoots left, right, high, or low; this can be corrected by the use of shims or the service of a gunsmith. www.africanadventures.co.za

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hunting Regularly clean your gun While many waterfowlers hunt in harsh conditions, the last thing they do is think about their gun at day’s end. Taking a little extra time to make sure everything is in working order will make your days less stressful. Keeping your gun clean and free of dirt and debris will ensure a smooth operating firearm when you need it most. Avoid using lubricants that will gum up actions of autoloaders, especially when it’s cold outside. Also, make sure to keep your choke tube and barrel clean and free of plastic build up from wads. This build up can cause blown patterns and frustration from missed shot.

Josh Noble; Avery Outdoors Two time NSCA All-American Team Member Three Time High Over All Zone 7 Champion Eight Time High Over All State Champion (2 Oregon/6 Utah) Owner Operator Clay Target Academy www.claytargetacademy.com Focus One of the most important parts of shooting clay targets or real birds is focus. When shooting, focus on the target at hand before moving onto the next. Never think about the potential for a double or even a triple, worry about shooting the first bird cleanly, before attempting to swing your gun to the next. Not only will this make your first shot more successful, but also you follow up shots, as they will not be “rushed” and the gun will flow fluidly from target to target.

Practice your weaknesses Shooting incoming or crossing targets from your strong to weak side because they are easy or you are good at it isn’t going to make your weaknesses much better. When you go out to practice for the upcoming season, stress shooting targets that give you trouble like quartering away birds, overhead shots, or weak to strong side crossers. Not only will it improve your bad areas, it will help you with the lay-up shots when you get into the field.

Mount your gun One of the easiest things to do in the off-season to improve your shooting is practice mounting your gun. Start out by holding the gun just like you would in the field or set-up a layout blind in your living room. Then, take a 3X5 note card, pencil a nickel sized dot in the center of the card, place it on the wall, take your gun and place the muzzle 5-10” away from the card and practice mounting the gun. The object is to keep the muzzle/sight in the center of the dot while mounting the gun. This exercise will generate muscle memory and

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hunting stabilize the muzzle of the gun while mounting the shotgun which will keep the barrel on the line of the target.

Perfect practice The adage of practice makes perfect is true to some extent, however if you’re practicing/ training in an unfamiliar way, you’re only gaining a fraction of what you would if you were training in the correct way “Perfect Practice Makes Perfect.”

If you just don’t know where to start, find a better shooter to learn from or better yet find an accomplished shooting coach. Don’t be afraid to admit your need for help as an accomplished shooting coach can point out obvious technical errors that will make you a better shooter over night.

Practice what is taught If you take the time to learn from an accomplished shooter, make sure you remember what he or she taught you and practice it. Just because your friends decided to go out the week before the season to shoot a round of skeet like to make fun of the way you are mounting your gun or setting up for the shot, don’t let them discourage you. The only one that will be laughing is you, when that first flock of teal scream through the decoys and you are the only one needing to pick up birds, as they stand there with empty guns.

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Featured species Main Characteristics Cape dassies are small, solidly built animals.

They have a body length between 30 and 58 cms , a very short tail and they weigh between 3 and 5 kgs.

Their coat is brown or grey/brown in colour and they have a paler coloured underside. Their fur is generally short but they have a few longer guard hairs that are very sensitive to touch. They have a black nose, rounded ears and tusk like incisors. Their eyes are round and dark in colour with a paler coloured strip above each eye.

Cape dassies have a dark brown gland on their back and on the soles of their feet they have large, soft pads which are kept moist by secretions. These pads help them grip onto and climb up the rocky surfaces of their habitat.

Most of their time is spend resting either alone or in huddles. They use the heat from the sun to regulate their body temperature as it fluctuates with ambient temperature.

Habitat They are found in Africa and west Asia but prefer Savannah and grassland areas and live in cavities in rocky outcrops and can often be found in the burrows of other animals including meerkats and aarvarks. They live in large herds of up to 40 individuals and this is split into smaller groups of 3 - 7 related adult females. One adult male will defend a territory that

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Featured Featuredspecies species will encompass the range of several groups but females are not territorial and their ranges will overlap.

Diet The diet of a Cape dassie mainly consists of grass, but they also feed on fruit and invertebrates.

Breeding During the rainy season and after a gestation period of 7 - 8 months, 2 - 3 young are born. At birth the young are well developed; they are covered in fur and their eyes are fully open.

At 2 weeks old they begin to eat solid food and by 10 weeks old they are weaned. When young males reach 16 - 24 months old they will leave to find their own territory but females stay with the group.

They become sexually mature between 16 and 24 months of age and will reach their full adult size by the time they are 3 years old.

Predators Predators of Cape dassies include birds of prey, leopards, african wild dogs, snakes and humans.

Subspecies Subspecies of the Cape dassie include: Procavia capensis bamendae, Procavia capensis capensis, Procavia capensis capillosa, Procavia capensis erlangeri, Procavia capensis habessinicus, Procavia capensis jacksoni, Procavia capensis jayakari, Procavia capensis johnstoni, Procavia capensis kerstingi, Procavia capensis mackinderi, Procavia capensis matschiei, Procavia capensis pallida, Procavia capensis ruficeps, Procavia capensis scioanus, Procavia capensis sharica, Procavia capensis syriacus, Procavia capensis welwitschii.

Interesting Facts Cape dassies are also known as: Rock Hyrax, Rock Dassie, Dassie, Rock Rabbits, Pelele (Swahili), Wibari (Swahili).

They produce large quantities of hyraceum which is a sticky mass of dung and urine. This has been used by people in the treatment of several medical disorders including epilepsy and convulsions. Males have internal testes and during the breeding season they increase in size by up to 20 times.

Dassies are within the group of mammals known as Afrotheria, as are elephants, elephant shrews, aardvark, dugong and manatees.

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hunting

Willem Pretorius

My traditional warthog hunt For those of you who don’t know me, it has always been a hunting dream of mine to hunt a warthog armed only with my CS boar spear and my recon scout knife...To prove to myself that it could be done solo by an average guy using a lot of dedication, determination and patience....

But also to show all my rifle- and bow hunting buddies back home, who for years just smiled and shook their heads behind my back, what real ethical and responsible hunting is actually all about!

Having before dispatched many a wounded critter with this spear, I just felt that this yearIT’S TIME!

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hunting After a full 6 years of trying and many frustratingly close stalks, but just not close enough for my spear, I finally realized my spear hunting dream. After 7 hours of walking and stalking, spanning two days, in the deep Bushveld of the Limpopo near Botswana, I finally got my reward—a ‘trophy’ warthog without the help or assistance of any trackers, dogs, binoculars, range finder, blind, gadgets etc. Just me, my spear, the Bushveld and that Warthog!

Boy oh Boy-what an exhilarating experience it was to finally get it right!

Talk about ethical hunting with true epic proportions! At the time I did not even take notice of the tusks! I was fully preoccupied by focusing and concentrating on its ears and tail for any indication that it become aware of me as I carefully finally stalked to within an adequate throwing distance for me.

Eventually I managed to stalk this particularly warthog to within 7 meters, and after a nervous and soft, deep breath to steady myself, I let fly with this big and heavy spear. The razor sharp spear blade entered the warthog a bit low on the right side just behind the ‘elbow’, and like a hot knife through butter it completely penetrated the hog, only to be stopped by the 2 ‘wings’ where the blade join the handle, in the process severing 2 ribs on entry and 4 ribs on exit at the far side!

It also destroyed amongst other things, the bottom of the heart, the liver and one lung, also causing who knows what massive other internal damage.

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hunting

When the warthog immediately ran away with the spear still sticking out of its side, the handle dragged on the ground at an angle allowing the big 18.5” sharp blade to do some more serious damage as it cut-up everything in its way internally until it finally dropped out after about 10 m.

The left photo on the previous page you can see where it stumbled after about 20 m when a part of its cut up liver even fell completely out of the entry wound!

It does say something about the toughness and will to survive of a warthog, that even after such a massive traumatic and deadly wound, it still managed a ‘death run’ of about 100m until it just fell dead in its tracks!

Well, back home that evening the astonished PH immediately contacted his neighboring hunting contacts with the news, but none of them wanted to believe him until he sent them some photos of this trophy warthog hunted only with a spear.

It is the first recorded hunt in a 150 km radius of game ranches in this far Northern Limpopo area that anyone came solely to hunt a warthog only with a spear, and then actually also achieving it!

After the trophy (for me) 11” & 12” tusks

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hunting hunting respectively of this mature boar warthog were removed, I took these pictures just for comparison with my 7” blade hunting knife.

Maybe spear hunting will eventually become a recognized ethical hunting discipline, one-on-one, without help, gadgets, blinds or dogs when this story becomes known? It is definitely not for everyone, and I stand firm that chancers, ego chasers and irresponsible ‘hunters’ best be discouraged.

It definitely requires a whole different mindset and hunting skill. This type of hunt is most of all about the thrill of the hunt and to again become ‘one’ with nature in a certain primitive way, and not primarily about the trophy or the meat. It’s the hunt and not the kill that matters here most of all.

I fully expect someone to object or will want to make a case about true responsible spear hunting as being unethical, and I say you are entitled to your opinion. I alone know about the years of frustration and preparation and total new set of hunting and stalking skills as an old and experienced rifle, handgun and bowhunter I had to master first before I could finally achieve this ‘back to basics’ spear hunt in a truly ethical and responsible way.

Remember way back when everybody frowned upon and then even said that it was unethical and impossible to hunt with a hand gun, then later with a bow and arrow, and nowadays even with a Co2 air gun? Just see where these sport disciplines are now!

Let’s wait and see....

In the meantime, I still get goose bumps, reliving my long awaited dream hunt come true!

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fishing

Clive Kinghorn In this article I will attempt to illustrate a few basic tactics that will help the budding angler recognize good areas for Dropshotting as well as select the right tackle and lures to catch that elusive fish. As with the majority of my angling success stories, it took a lot of trial, error, patience and money to achieve those catches, and it is my hope that I can save you some of the frustrations I endured, so you may enjoy this truly fun facet of the sport.

Rocky Ledges & Gullies: These areas are usually teeming with small edible fish. Species like Karenteen (Strepies), Black Tail, Small Steenbras, Moon Fish, Galjoen etc. gather in these gullies where they are protected from large predatory fish. These areas are usually quite turbulent. The resulting white water and foam on the surface creates even more of a sense of security for these smaller fish. These areas can mean hours of fun for Dropshot anglers, especially ladies and young children. There is no need to cast very far, and you only need use small, lightweight rods and reels.

The most common lures that work well in these gullies are the sandworms, especially in a camo colour. Rigged on a 1/8th oz Jig-Head with a very small hook, the turbulent water causes the lure to be washed around and causes a very life like reaction from the worm. Bites will be fast and light like a tiny machine gun rattling off at the end of the line. It is better to break the worms in half so that you are not left with a long tail end hanging off the hook. Often, the small fish will take various bites out of that tail and cause the angler to strike several times with no success. A

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fishing shorter worm will mean that the fish are biting much closer to the hook and your chances of a successful strike will increase dramatically.

Do not be too eager to strike, small bites are usually as a result of the fish investigating the lure. Wait for the fish to start moving away with the bait and then strike. The strike does not need to be too furious. A firm jerk is more than enough to set the hook. Remember, these are not huge fish, so a big strike may pull the hook from the mouth.

This is also a good place to play around with various lures. Blood Worm, Crab, Sand Crab Fleas (Sand Lice) and small Squid lures are also options that can entice inquisitive fish to bite. Although there are several colour variants in all these lures, I prefer sticking to natural colours.

Lagoons and River Mouths: One of my most memorable catches occurred in Plettenberg Bay where the ocean enters a small mouth into the Keurbooms River. Small islands of flat rocks allow the angler to fish into deep water and fast moving currents. The first sign that I would be facing some bettersized species was the presence of Mullett in the water. These little fish were everywhere and every so often, there would be a disturbance on the surface with several Mullett leaping out of the water. My mind immediately turned to Garrick. Juvenile Garrick love these areas. They are strong enough to swim through the shifting currents and because of their pronounced lateral lines; they are able to detect prey in low visibility conditions.

An ideal area for Dropshot: Under these circumstances, you want to be able to cast out a good distance and swim your lure through the currents. Despite the average Garrick in the area weighing around 2kg, there was always the chance that bigger fish would be taking advantage of the freely available supply of food. These two factors led me to use a 9ft Sensation Passion Stick and a Shimano Exage 4000 reel. The water was fairly clear and a few nasty rocky ledges were visible. This is usually the type of conditions that call for heavier gear and line. Fluro Carbon is also highly beneficial, especially if the water clarity improves.

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Finding a lure that imitates the baitfish in colour as well as shape and movement can often be more difficult than expected. Minnows and Jerk Shads are very versatile, but it is important to have a variety of sizes and shapes. If the lure is too big or too small, it may be rejected by the fish you are targeting, and of course if it’s colour is totally different than that of the baitfish, you’re probably not going to get a bite. In my instance, Smelt and Peppered Prawn were the two colours that proved most effective. 5” and 6” Jerk Shads produced more bites than the smaller lures on the day.

Due to the low visibility, it was necessary to adjust my retrieve to allow the Garrick to respond. I fished slightly slower, pausing every few turns of the reel handle to allow the fish to dive downwards. This proved effective, because the lure looked like an injured baitfish and because it wasn’t screaming through the water, the Garrick did not have to exert too much energy while hunting them. One tip that works very well when targeting species such as Garrick and Cob, is to extend your index finger of the hand holding the rod. As you reel in with the other hand, the line knocks your finger sending a very strong vibration down to the lure. This vibration is brilliant because it sends information to the fish through the lateral line making it sense an injured fish and the hunting instinct is immediately invoked.

Species like Garrick and Cob are often found in lagoons and estuaries. Other species such as Grunter, Stumpnose and Kingfish are also regularly caught in these areas. Although the majority of these fish are still juveniles, there are a lot of 2kg plus fish that can be caught, and these are great fun on the lighter tackle. The rule of thumb when it comes to lures and their colour and size is, select colours that will present themselves naturally to the fish you are targeting. Bare in mind that weather and light conditions determine how the lure will look under water and it very often is not the same as when we look at it on land. It is best to select darker colours in darker conditions and lighter or brighter colours in lighter calmer conditions. This way, the lure will produce a profile in the water that the other fish will recognize as bait fish and entice the bite.

Deep Water: When fishing off a boat or from rocks that drop into very deep water, it often pays to use bigger Jig-Heads ranging from 1oz and more, alternatively, the range of hard plastics like Rapalas can be fished or trawled behind the boat. Depending on where you fish and the species you plan to target, you will have to adjust your tackle accordingly. I am not going to cover aspects such as hunting 20kg+ Kingies or Jigging for monsters of the deep, because those aspects require tackle, rigs and lures that are considerably different to the average Dropshot equipment discussed in part 1 of this article.

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fishing There are literally hundreds of species that one can target off a boat, depending on the area you plan on fishing. Worms, Minnows, Squids, Jerk Shads and Paddle Tail Minnows all have the potential to produce bites. Bright colours, like the nuclear chicken or chartreuse work well in deeper waters. Again, match the lure to the species being targeted as well as the weather and light conditions on the day. Fishing off rocks into deep, working water can be very rewarding.

Species like Cob of over 6kg-7kg’s can be readily caught from these ledges and believe it or not, the majority are caught at night. Larger Jerk Shads in pale colours work well for this application and again, the Cob relies on the lateral line to assist in the hunt. Fishing the lure slowly and allowing it to bump the bottom every now and then will increase your chances. Applying the fingertip method to cause a good vibration will also assist the Cob in locating your lure.

Hard plastics will often drive predatory fish wild. Many of these lures have big lips that cause violent vibrations and water splashes that are identical to baitfish trying to escape predators. Some hard plastics have rattles built into the lure that vibrate and cause a sound vibration in the water. This too is very effective in attracting fish. Take a look at the various Rapalas and Strike Pro lures available on the market. Be sure to read the package to determine the swimming style and diving depth of the lure. Some lures dive very deep and this is a bad idea when you are fishing an area with a lot of structure. Others are able to target fish in the mid water levels of the ocean. So, again, determine the species that are in the area before you go shopping. Learn everything you can about their favorite baits, swimming depths etc. That way, you can match the lure type, size and colour accordingly.

Alternative Rigs and Baits: It is important to note that you do not always have to fish with jig heads and lures.

Sometimes, the fish simply will not respond to sandworms or small crab lures. This can be a result of extreme water clarity, or simply an absence of that bait in their natural habitat.

In cases like these, it pays to use baits like small pieces of sardine or squid (chokka) rigged on a hook and made up on a simple trace. Use a three way swivel attached to the main line, with one piece of line to a small sinker, coming off the second eye of the swivel, and a piece of line to the hook off the third eye. The size of the sinker and hook will depend on the species of fish in the area and the strength of the water you’re casting in. Remember to use a white or clear monofilament, especially on the hook length so that the fish are not spooked by visible line. www.africanadventures.co.za

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I prefer chokka baits because they tend to hold onto the hook very nicely and the small fish really have to work hard to remove it. Sardines tend to come off very easily. I almost only use sardine when I fish for Mullet. There, I don’t even use a sinker. I use a large swivel to slowly cause the line and bait to sink beneath the surface. This floating bait is very attractive to the Mullet, but be warned, the bites are super fast and the bait will not survive more than one or two bites.

Recapping on lures, colours and tactics: As I mentioned in this article, there are a few basic rules and tips that commonly help increase the angler’s chance of catching a fish. Here are a few of those: • Identify the species in the area you plan to fish. Speak to locals or check out online forums.

• Match the lure to the natural food of the species you are targeting.

• Dark turbulent conditions = dark colour lures.

• Light or calm conditions = light or bright colour lures.

• Match the lure size to the baitfish in the water. Bigger is not always better.

• Experiment with different retrieval speeds and styles. Sometimes, a slower retrieve is necessary. Allow the lure to bump the bottom occasionally, before giving a little flick causing the lure to jig upwards. Added vibration entices certain fish to bite, so try the finger tip technique.

• Some fish will not take a lure, so keep a bit of bait handy and rig that up to catch the fish on light tackle.

• Always rig the lures so that they are presented as naturally as possible. Be very sure to rig minnows, paddle tail and jerk shads perfectly straight so they swim straight and natural.

This is a step by step illustration of how to rig a swimming lure e.g. a Jerk Shad.

1) Insert the tip of the hook through the front end or “mouth” of the lure.

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2) Continue edging the lure around the bend in the hook, stopping just short of the bait holder. Bring the tip of the hook through the back of the lure.

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3) Secure the lure onto the bait holder of the jig head. Make sure the lure sits perfectly center on the jig head.

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Featured species

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Featured species

Compiled by Stephanie van der Walt Main Characteristics Everyone agrees that some of the animals on this planet are beyond amazing. They are all unique in their own way… Mantis shrimp are lightning fast predators with the most complex eyes in the animal kingdom; humans only consist of 3 receptive rods in our eyes, which consist of green, red and blue, while mantis shrimp have 16 colour perceptive. Not only for this interesting fact, but mantis shrimp also receive photons, which mean they receive polarized light, this means that intertwined waves are turned into light which the humans eyes can’t see, so they see the world in an entire different way that any other animal on the planet. They range from 2 – 30 cm in length, depending on the sub species.

With striking coloured bodies, they are beautiful to look at, but would not want to come near one. Have you ever wondered why you have not seen one in an aquarium? It is because it’s been known that they have broken and cracked aquarium glass with their lighting speed reaction with their clubs. Mantis shrimp have 2 raptorial appendages in the front of its body, these clubs can accelerate to the same velocity as a bullet leaving a barrel of a .22 calibre rifle in less than 3000/s, with that speed the mantis shrimp can kill its prey with 1 500 Newton of force.

Habitat Mantis shrimp usually occur along the equator which means they live among shallow waters of Africa and as far as southern America. Most of them live in excavated burrows, either built self or stolen from other organism’s burrows. You can also find them in coral Cont. on pg 34 crevices or inhabitant rock. www.africanadventures.co.za

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events

Not to be missed GAUTENG

KwaZulu-Natal

Huntex 26 - 28 April Midrand 012 803 5986

Dolosfees 1 - 3 May Richards Bay Elize - 083 635 5358

Outdoor expo 30 May - 1 June Midrand 011 803 1362

Indaba 10 - 12 May Durban 011 467 5011

Wild expo 20 - 22 June Tswane 012 348 5550

Durban international boat show 18 - 20 July Durban 031 266 9828

Limpopo Kranskop Druiwefees 9 - 11 January Modimolle 082 796 4874 Windpompfees 1 - 3 May Mookophong 076 533 4513

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MPUMALANGA Mpumalanga wineshow 14 - 15 March Nelspruit/Witrivier 011 482 5936 Innibos kunstefees 2 - 5 July Nelspruit 013 741 5294

www.africanadventures.co.za

events WESTERN CAPE

Eastern Cape

Suidoosterfees 28 January - 2 February Cape Town 021 406 2900

Rattel rally 20 - 23 March Uitenhage eddiehall11m@yahoo.com

Lambertsbaai Kreeffees 21 - 23 March Lambertsbaai 027 432 1000

Kirkwood Wildsfees 27 - 29 June Kirkwood 042 230 0066

KKNK 29 March - 5 April Oudshoorn 044 203 8600

National arts festival 3 - 13 July Grahamstown 046 603 1103

Africa travel week 28 April - 3 May CTICC - Cape Town www.africatravelweek.com

Freestate Reitz Bieliemielie fees 13 - 16 February Reitz 058 563 2307 Nampo harvest day 13 - 16 May Bothaville www.nampo.co.za

Northern Cape Kalahari Desert Festival 20 - 22 March Askham The South African San Institute-SASI on 053 832 2156 Tankwa Arid Birding Bonanza 12 April Tankwa Karoo National Park Jenny - 021 559 7636 If you would like to publish your event here, please send details of event to: info@africanadventures.co.za

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Featured species Diet Their diet varies from fish and invertebrates, they are fast, and efficient predators, the ‘spears’ or forelimbs of the mantis shrimp are extremely fast, they use numerous spines to capture many soft-bodied prey like fish and shrimp or crush hard shelled animals such as snails and clams.

Breeding During breeding, mantis shrimps have rituals, this includes that their bodies lights up with florescent colours, which match the wave length detected by the pigments of their eyes. Females are only fertile during a certain moon phase. When they come together to mate, sperm is transferred but females can store the sperm for some time before fertilizing the eggs. In their lifetime mantis shrimp can have between 20 and 30 breeding episodes.

This amazing species only have one partner for up to 20 years, but some of them can be promiscuous.

Larva shrimp are planktonic and are just as dangerous as their parents, they too have the strong raptorial clubs and prey on other larvae.

Predators Known predators of the mantis shrimp include trigger fish, puffer fish and octopus.

Subspecies There are around 400 species that occur worldwide and in the suborder Unipeltata. They are commonly separated into 2 groups determined by the manner of their claws.

Interesting facts Mantis shrimp may be beautiful but this predator has also been called sea locusts, prawn killers and now more known as thumb splitters.

The surfaces of their appendages are composed of an extremely strong mesh work of extremely dense hydroxyapatite. The composition and structure of the material is currently being investigated for potential uses in body armor. Not surprising that they have super-strong bodies when you consider how hard they hit and how often they fight each other.

The shockwave produced by the strike is powerful enough to knock out the prey on its own, even if the strike misses.

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Sarel van Ren sb

urg

NEPAL The land that defies description Imagine a landlocked country bordered by China in the East, India in the South and West and Tibet (now also China) in the North. Imagine a country where many ancient cultures are still today preserved, where the climate can vary from tropical in the valleys to cold alpine deserts at altitudes over 8000m.

The mountains The collision of continental plates pushed fragments of the earth’s crust vertically up to form the highest mountains on earth. This is a relatively recent occurrence when compared to the age of mountains in our country. This created a wonderful vertical world with permanent snow on the mountain peaks, massive glaciers up to 23km long and scenes unequalled anywhere in the world. The geological transformation process is active even today and for a South African the instability of the mountain regions is evident. A collapsed steel bridge, where the one wall of the gorge fell down in a massive landslide and a path through glacier moraine landscape that has to be rerouted weekly is enough prove that this is an ever changing world.

The challenges offered to mountaineers to climb most of the peaks over 8000m and many more above 6000m remain extreme. Many attempts failed and many climbers lost their lives on these mountains. Yet it remains an irresistible challenge to stand on top of one these great peaks.

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The People The Nepalese are not a specific race. A great variety is noticed ranging from typically Mongolese and Chinese to Indian. Due to the remoteness of settlements in the mountains some inherited features and lifestyles have been preserved.

Until recently access to some areas were closed to tourists due to the remoteness and the lack of exposure of the people to the outside world. There is no typical Nepalese!

The ability of these people to pick up huge loads (sometimes in excess of their own body weight) and to carry this over any terrain up and down mountains even at altitudes above 5000m is simply unbelievable. The way in which the human mind and body are able to adapt to its environment remains one of the miracles of our world.

Of the most famous people are the Sherpa climbers, some of whom have scaled Everest and other 8000m peaks several times. Likewise are the Gurkha fighters who are feared soldiers and who are in permanent employ of some western countries. Yet the Nepalese generally are a very friendly and likeable people possibly the result of many years of existence in a harsh environment.

Religion Hinduism and Buddhism are both strongly represented in Tibet. In both cases the teachings have been founded in Tibet or at the least were very strongly influenced by leaders, who

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adventures found answers to their questions, in the mountains. The Tibetan culture is greatly influenced by their religion with numerous religious festivities, monasteries where dedicated monks are educated in the teachings of Buddha, and an abundance of temples and monuments.

The typical patience and good nature of the Nepalese people, might to a great extent, be the result of the practical application of their specific blend of religion!

Kathmandu Imagine a city, with five million inhabitants, without traffic lights and stop streets. It bustles with traffic consisting of large busses, light vehicles, motorbikes, tricycles and pedestrians.

Yet I have not experienced any accidents or bad tempered drivers. The key to it all seems to be lots of patience, allowing every road user his right of way and ample use of hooters.

Business is hectic in the narrow streets with every conceivable item on sale. Branding seems to be a flexible concept as the buyer can never be sure that an item is original or fake!

Infrastructure Landing at Lukla, one of the most dangerous airports in the world. Nepal only became a democratic country during this century. Only now some of the neglected areas are attended to but much has to be done to make full use of the Nepalese resources. Access into the mountains is simply by aircraft into hazardous landing strips and from there on foot. In these regions there are no vehicles and transport is either by yak or by the

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adventures unbelievably strong porters. Helicopters are used more frequently now for freight, rescues and passenger transport up to 6000m.

Roads with some exceptions, consist of narrow gravel passages winding up mountain sides with sheer drops that makes any of our famous passes look like childs play. However the scene is rapidly changing as access roads to more remote areas are constructed.

There is precious little level ground available for cultivation of crops and it is interesting to observe the ingenuous way that mountain sides are contoured with terraces. The visitors to the mountains can be sure of fresh vegetables with their meal in a teahouse.

Tourism Obviously the main attraction to Nepal is the spectacular Himalayan mountains. Thousands of trekkers from all parts of the world accumulate on the well known routes during the autumn and spring seasons. The summer monsoon and cold winters are less popular. It should be, noted, however, that trekking is but one of many activities available in Nepal.

The game parks with elephant rides, river rafting and meditation venues are but some of the alternatives.

To explore Nepal is a must at least once in a lifetime! The cost is comparable to or even cheaper than other destinations and the value for money definitely the best. For more information and a full itenary please contact Hikers Paradise in Centurion on 012 663 7647 or attend a workshop on this unique experience on 16 January 2014.

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Conservation adventures

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adventures Featured species

Osprey

Pandion haliatus www.theanimalfiles.com

Main Characteristics Ospreys are medium/large birds of prey. They have a length between 51 and 62 cms, a wingspan between 152 and 167 cms and they weigh between 1.5 and 2 kgs.

They are brown and white in colour, their underside and head being mostly white, and their upper side being mainly brown. They have a dark eye mask and a dark breast band, although this is more prominent in females. They have a short tail and long, narrow wings.

They are also able to close their nostrils when they dive into water to catch fish.

Their feet are grey/green in colour and are specially adapted to aid them in catching fish.

They have reversible outer toes and backwards facing scales on their talons to help them grip their prey.

Habitat Ospreys are found throughout the world, except in Antarctica. Their nests are usually within 3 - 5 kms of a body of water and they choose structures that are safe from predators, such as rocky outcrops, telephone poles, trees or man made platforms, on which to build their nest.

Ospreys that breed in Europe, winters in Africa and those that breed in North American and Canada winters in South America or the southern most states of the USA. Australian Ospreys do not migrate.

Diet Ospreys mainly feed on fish. They rarely eat reptiles, rodents, salamanders and other birds.

They locate their prey from the air and plunge feet first into the water to seize a fish.

Breeding Ospreys usually mate for life and breeding takes place in spring. Females will usually lay 3 - 4 eggs and they incubate them for approximately 37 days. www.africanadventures.co.za

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Featured species Osprey chicks only weigh 50 - 60 g when they hatch and they are covered in white down.

At 10 days old the white down is replaced by charcoal coloured down and at 2 weeks old the down starts to be replaced by feathers. By the time the chicks reach 8 weeks old they are ready to fledge.

Ospreys become sexually mature at 3 years of age, but usually don’t breed until they are 5 years old.

Predators Owls and Eagles will prey upon Ospreys and foxes, skunks, raccoons, snakes and other climbing animals are known to prey upon Osprey eggs and chicks.

Subspecies There are four subspecies of Osprey: Pandion haliaetus haliaetus - this subspecies breeds in Eurasia and winters in South Africa and India.

Pandion haliaetus carolinensis - this subspecies breeds in North America and the Caribbean, but winters in South America. It is generally darker in colour with a paler underside.

Pandion haliaetus ridgwayi - this subspecies is nonmigratory and it inhabits the Caribbean. It has a very pale coloured head and breast and a pale eye mask.

Pandion haliaetus cristatus - this is the smallest subspecies, it is non-migratory, and it is found in Australia and Tasmania.

Interesting Facts Ospreys are also known as: Fish Hawk, Sea Hawk or Fish Eagle.

The Osprey is the official bird of Nova Scotia in Canada and Sodermanland in Sweden.

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Memories from a mountain kingdom

Gerald O’Brien

The trip was to start off by leaving Mount Currie nature reserve by 08h00 on the Friday morning; this made sense to some of us to spend the Thursday night at Mount Currie. Some were lucky and through work commitments could only make it on the Friday morning, Terry and Lyn were quite sharp and because they left home so late booked into a local B&B in Kokstad. This left Joop, Hennie and me to do the camping bit. It poured down, from about 5 minutes after we got the tents pitched, right through the night and into the morning. Mount Currie is a great little resort a few Kilometers outside Kokstad, the campsite is on the edge of a dam, the zebras roam freely through the camp and we were fortunate enough to witness a very frisky pair of hare’s doing what could have been a courting dance. We braaied under the cars awning, stood around because the chairs were wet and when we could stand no longer we went to bed.

By 08h30 we were on our way to Matatiele for our final fill up until we would reach Himeville a few days later. If ever you are in Matatiele, go to the butchery just around the corner from the BP garage for the finest Biltong in the Eastern Cape. Getting into Lesotho was no problem at all, the Lesotho officials were all very friendly and quite efficient, such a pity we could not say the same about the SA side. Our first stop was in only 2 or 3 kilometers where

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we simply could not pass the local off sales without stocking up on the local Maluti beer. It’s not brewed or sold in SA but it’s a great beer and should be taken in large quantities, especially on rainy evenings like we were to experience once more that evening. We stayed over at the Kings Holiday home, which is situated in the centre of the Sehlabatheba national park. Fortunately for our travellers there was no guests as some prefer to rather take refuge under a zinc roof than risk the elements outside. Terry, I must admit, did have the well- being of the few us who were braving the mountain kingdoms elements outside. At one stage Terry admitted to opening the front door to check up on us but found the cold night air too difficult to inhale and the chilly breeze touched his chest so he just quickly retraced his footsteps back to his sofa next to the blazing fire in the lounge.

Saturday morning we woke to the most awesome of mountainous mornings that we could ever have wished for. The sky was a deep blue and the clearest sky that I have ever seen. The contrast of the blue skies with the lush green mountain sides was breathtaking. Not for Terry though, he lost his the night before and was still looking for it!

The drive up to the peak of Matabeng pass at 3250m was an interesting one, but the road’s condition was reasonable and the going was fairly straight forward.

The lunch point at the bottom of Matabeng pass is one of the great stop over points in Lesotho, and if ever you are in the area, it’s certainly one of the best campsites ever. Shady poplar trees with a strong flowing river, you have everything you will ever need. The drive from the lunch stop point to the campsite is a fantastic one, on the one side you have the Senqu River meandering at the bottom of a mighty gorge and on the other side tall Majestic Mountains making up the true Mountain Kingdom.

The campsite that evening, and much to the delight of Terry, because it didn’t rain, was in the banks of the Sani River and in the middle of nowhere. As Joop put it, we were camping wild and it was great. There were a few local youngsters that pitched up to watch us, but they are honestly not a problem, they are simply fascinated by what we have and what we do. There is no need to be abrupt

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or aggressive towards them, ask them to keep their distance and they do. The secret is to never give them anything at all. Promise them that when you leave in the morning they will be given whatever it is that you want to give them, left- over food, fire wood etc. The remainder of the trip to the Sani top again took us through some awesome mountain passes and scenery and the final 100kms took us around 4,5 hours which included stop overs every now and again.

The good news about the Sani top chalet is that it has changed hands and changes for the better are already noticeable.

The road from Sani top to Mokhotlong is already being ripped up by the Chinese and should be tarred the whole way by 2015. Construction work on the road from the Sani pass Hotel to the border post is due to get under way by May and should be completed by 2015. Tarring the Sani, who knows, let’s just hope that it never happens.

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Burkea africana

www.plantzafrica.com

An attractive, medium-sized, flat-topped tree, difficult to grow and not yet produced on a commercial scale.

Description Burkea africana is a deciduous, medium-sized, spreading, flat-topped tree up to 8 m high.

Leaves are pinnately compound, silvery-pubescent or glabrescent. Each leaf is 100–350 mm long, with 2–4 pairs of pinnae and 5–18 leaflets per pinna. Leaflets are oval and silvery when they are young and marked with brown spots. Flowers are creamy white, fragrant and in pendulous racemes of up to 300 mm in length. The bark is toxic, rich in alkaloids and tannins and used for tanning leather.

Conservation status The wild seringa is not listed under the Tree Species Protected list in terms of National Forest Act of 1998 (Act 84 of 1998) nor the Threatened Plants list or the Red Data List.

Distribution and habitat Burkea africana is widely distributed in tropical Africa and in sub tropical regions southwards to Namibia, Botswana and the Limpopo, North West, Gauteng and

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Featured adventures species Mpumalanga provinces of South Africa. It is a common and characteristic tree of sandy soils in dry deciduous bushveld and woodlands.

Derivation of name and historical aspects The name Burkea is derived from the surname of the famous collector Joseph Burke who collected plants in the Magaliesberg area during the 1840s; africana refers to the continent Africa, where it is widely distributed. Burkea is a monotypic genus (comprises only one species).

Ecology Wild seringa is attractive with a unique form. The leaves are the only food resource of two kinds of edible caterpillars which are harvested in thousands during the rainy season, mainly January and February.

Uses and cultural aspects Burkea africana, like any other tree, is used for fuel wood, but is not very popular. However, the wood is important for making mortars.

The leaves are the only food resource of two kinds of edible caterpillars which are harvested in thousands during the rainy season, mainly January and February. The bark is used as dye for Combretum zeyheri roots which are woven into baskets. The roots are used to treat stomach pain and tooth ache. For both treatments, the outer skin of the roots is scraped away, the roots are cut into pieces of about 50 mm long and are boiled for 5 to 10 min. Used for stomach pain, the infusion has to be cooled down and 3 cups a day are taken. For tooth ache, the infusion has to be still warm. It is swilled in the mouth around the aching tooth for about 3 min. and then spat out.

This has to be repeated 3 times a day. The bark of Burkea africana is used medicinally in large areas of sub-Saharan Africa. The constituents responsible for its putative activity are not well known.

Growing Burkea africana Burkea africana is one of the species that are difficult to grow and have yet to be produced on a commercial scale. This is the reason why we don’t see them in the nurseries.

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Conservation

Tracking Secretary birds in southern Africa Dr Hanneline Smit-Robinson In 2011 BirdLife South Africa launched a scientific project to study the Secretary bird, of which the species status was changed to globally Vulnerable in the same year. Since then we have gained a better understanding of the considerable distances these birds travel after they fledge, as well as the many significant threats they face. Not only are we obtaining new information about their biology, but perhaps one of the most gratifying outcomes of the project is the overwhelming support we have received from a number of donors, landowners, members of the public, other NGOs and government departments.

The Secretary bird Sagittarius serpentarius is a charismatic raptor, quite easy to identify and, with its long legs and characteristic body shape and quill of head feathers, cannot be easily confused with any other bird species.

The Secretary bird can be found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, except for areas covered by forests and true deserts, such as the Namib Desert.

Its preferred habitat is pristine grassland, but it will also avoid areas where the grass cover is too long. Over the last few years, these charismatic birds have been encountered less often than they were in the past. Ad hoc records, localised surveys and anecdotal observations indicate apparent declines in many parts of the species’ range.

Evidence suggests that the Secretary bird population is experiencing a rapid decline, not only in South Africa, but also across their range elsewhere in Africa- probably owing 52

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Conservation to habitat degradation and loss, disturbance, hunting and capture for trade. Consequently this species was up-listed, during 2011, to Vulnerable on the World Conservation Union (IUCN) Red Data List.

Similarly, a preliminary analysis of information collected during the two southern African bird atlas projects (http://sabap2.adu.org.za/) shows a considerable reduction in the area this species previously occupied in South Africa.

Possible Reasons for decline: • Habitat fragmentation and degradation through the spread of agricultural development and commercial forestry; • Collisions with power lines; • Collisions with farm fences; • Excessive burning of grasslands may suppress populations of their prey; • Intensive grazing by livestock can lead to veld degradation; • Disturbance by humans is likely to negatively affect breeding; • Secondary poisoning; • Capture and trade of small numbers of birds.

Also in 2011 BirdLife South Africa launched a scientific project to assess the reasons for decline and to gain information which will lead to conservation action. The aim of the project is to monitor their daily movements using sophisticated tracking devices and there by gain insights into their biology. Little is known about the life history of this species, and knowledge gained from the tracking of Secretary birds could contribute immensely to our efforts to conserve this species.

The aim of our study is to determine the preferred habitat of Secretary birds and dispersal patterns of juveniles, as well as to identify the threats responsible for the apparent high mortality recorded in Secretary birds.

Devices are fitted to the back of chicks with teflon tape when they are between 7 - 8 weeks old and only when it weighs more than 3 kg. Although a standard method of fitment is employed, the first harness was tested on a captive Secretary bird.

BirdLife South Africa has fitted five Secretary bird chicks with GPS satellite tracking devices and we have obtained very useful information about these birds’ movements to date.

The first bird stayed at a nest site in the Free State for about one month and then, after leaving the nest, moved about 100 km in an easterly direction. The second bird moved all the way from Bela Bela, Limpopo, to the Makgadikgadi pans in Botswana, a distance of about 270km. The third bird has moved from its nest near Warden in the Free State to the KwaZulu-Natal coast, thereafter settling near Ixopo for a while and then moving again to www.africanadventures.co.za

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Conservation an area about 50 km from its nest site.The fourth and fifth birds will fledge in December and we look forward to receiving their daily stories.

Taemane, a Secretary bird fitted with tracking device sponsored by De Beers, moved from its nest near Warden, down to the KwaZulu-Natal south coast. It later seemed to settle on a farm near Ixopo where it moved between various grassland patches for a number of weeks. However, on 2 November, Taemane left the area and moved westwards towards Lesotho and then further north. By 16 November Taemane was in an area a few kilometres south of Harrismith.

BirdLife South Africa would like to fit tracking devices to more Secretary birds. For this, BirdLife South Africa needs your assistance. Please be on the lookout for Secretary bird nests in the grasslands areas of the Mpumalanga, Free State and North West Provinces.

Secretary birds usually nest on thorn trees, but will sometimes also use alien trees. Trees of height of up to 5 m are usually utilised for nesting. The best way of finding a nest is to look out for adult birds standing on top of the tree. If you should find a nesting pair, please contact Ernst Retief at ernst.retief@birdlife.org.za or 072 223 2160.

For more information about these birds’ movements and other aspects of the project, visit the BirdLife South Africa Facebook Page.

Tracking devices are not cheap, with a single device costing in the region of R15 000.

Apart from the devices themselves, there are many other associated costs, such as camera traps fitted at nests and traveling to remote places to fit the devices to Secretary bird nestlings. We therefore need your support to help us further our study to ultimately conserve the Secretary bird.

The research is made possible through a number of donors and project supporters as well as the BirdLife International Preventing Extinctions Programme, of which Petra Diamond Mines and Airports Company South Africa are the Species Champions.

For more information or on how to get involved contact Dr Hanneline Smit-Robinson at conservation@birdlife.org.za or Ernst Retief at ernst.retief@birdlife.org.za www.birdlife.org.za

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Photograph of Secretary bird nest taken by a camera trap fitted in close proximity to the nest. www.africanadventures.co.za

Product Review

It’s time to treat yourself to a top of the range tactical/outdoor flashlight.

NiteCore flashlights are known to be intense little monsters that spew out a whole lot of light from a small, robust, comfortable handheld device.

NiteCore has done it again with their newest addition of SRT or Smart Ring Technology flashlights to their already fantastic collection. Included in this range are the SRT3, SRT6, SRT5, and SRT7 (10-15cm length) providing a staggering 550, 930 and 960 lumens and utilising the latest ground breaking Cree XM-L2 LED. Rotating the Smart Ring with your fingers allow for effortless mode and brightness adjustment from a mere 1 lumen all the way up max, 960 lumens on the SRT7 model. No more struggling to accomplish different tasks at night with a flashlight that only provides one brightness level. You can tune your SRT to dim when reading your favorite novel in the tent or bump it right up to brightest to see that illusive leopard stalking its pray.

Other modes like Strobe, Beacon and SOS are also available for the more adventurous. For the most technical user, the SRT3 and SRT5 allows for blue and red color signaling, where the SRT7 will add green as well.

Open the tail cap and you will find the magic is powered by a robust rechargeable NiteCore Li-Ion battery solution. Recharging is conveniently achieved using the bundled NiteCore i2 intelli charger that can be powered from mains or 12v. The SRT3 even has a backup function to allow you to use a normal AA battery when you’re in trouble. If you want the most advanced torch for its size in the market today, this is the range to choose from. Visit NiteCoreSA.co.za for more info.

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Recipe

Easy Chicken Cacciatore

www.cookbook.co.za

Chicken Cacciatore has got to be one of the best recipes when you are entertaining. It is a sophisticated and very tasty dish that is easy to make and never fails to please.

What you need 3 teaspoons crushed garlic 6 fresh sage leaves 1 pinch of fresh rosemary 1/2 teaspoon dried red chilli flakes 2 red peppers sliced 10-12 chicken pieces

150g Olives 1 cup dry white wine 2 tablespoons tomato puree 2 x 420g cans chopped tomatoes Olive Oil Button Mushrooms

The process In a heavy based pan on a medium to low heat, add about 3 tablespoons of olive oil, toss in the garlic, rosemary and sage leaves. Allow them to cook for about 30 seconds or so and then, if you are adding a little heat to your cacciatore, toss in the chili flakes and cook them for another minute or so. Increase the heat to medium high and brown your chicken pieces on both sides. This should take about 10 minutes. Add the red peppers and allow to cook for another 10 minutes, giving them a stir from time to time.

Once the chicken pieces are nicely browned and the peppers are beginning to soften add the wine and the olives, give it a stir and allow to simmer until the liquid has reduced by about half or even more. This should take about another 10 minutes and you should move the chicken pieces around every now and then. Stir in the tomato puree, add the tomatoes and a little extra liquid (water) if need be, reduce the heat to medium and leave to simmer for 30 minutes with a lid on.

If you are preparing ahead you can now remove from the heat until about 1/2 an hour before you are ready to serve. When you are ready, place on a medium to high heat, bring to a simmer and allow it to simmer with the lid off for another 20 minutes or so until the sauce has thickened a little and the liquid reduced. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

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Destinations

a t s o C Destinations Product Review

idílica

Idyllic coast of Inhambane

Jessica Botha Surrounded by coconut palms and magnificent beaches lies the picturesque town of Inhambane. The rich history and architecture mirrors a diverse past dating back as far as the 11th century. The port of Inhambane where visited by Muslim and Persian traders and later became a major centre for the ivory and slave trades. When Vasco da Gama rounded Africa in the late 15th century he docked in Inhambane for supplies and to explore. He took an immediate liking to Inhambane inhabitants and named it Terra de Boa Gente or ‘Land of the Good People’.

Situated 470km north of Maputo and 945km from OR Tambo international, visitors can either travel by air or tarmac to this idyllic destination. It is the main centre for breathtaking resorts in southern Mozambique. Banks, fuel and convenience stores followed the war that ended in 1992. Now tourists enjoys lazy cocktails at numerous sidewalk cafes or just relax on one of several famous beaches such as Praia do Tofo, Praia dos Cocos, Ponto do Barra, Ilha de Benquerra, Guinjata Bay and more. Accommodation ranges from camping and backpacking, to self-catering cabanas, private guest houses and luxury lodges.

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Destinations

The Indian Ocean and all the recreational activities it offers is the heartbeat of this region. With breathtaking dives, fantastic sport fishing, whale watching and many more to keep any traveller entertained.

The Inhambane region is renowned for offering some of the best game fishing in Mozambique. Hard fighting adversaries such as Wahoo, Kingfish, Tuna, Couta and Billfish await you in these waters to test your tackle and skill. There are several charter companies with experienced skippers whose local knowledge will come in very handy. These unspoilt waters are world renowned for its most incredible fish life, translating into a world class destination for big game fishing. There are various fishing competitions annually for ski boats, jet skis and paddle skis and are a testimony to the productiveness of these waters.

The tropical waters surrounding Inhambane are rated as one of the top Whale Shark & Manta Ray diving locations in the world. The reefs offer great opportunities of close encounters with Whale Sharks & Manta Rays on every dive and are also home to a huge variety of other marine life including Whales, Dolphin, Turtles, Eagle Rays, Devil Rays, www.africanadventures.co.za

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Destinations Ribbontail Rays, Moray Eels, Game Fish, many species of reef fish and more.

4x4 enthusiasts can head north along the coast over the Tropic of Capricorn to explore beautiful Pomene Bay and its mangroves. It boasts dune forests and plenty of marine life. Strike out west for Banhine National Park, a totally undeveloped area that boasts with 2 of the Big Five or the Limpopo National Park with the Big 5 near Massingir Dam. The dry winter months from April to October are good times to visit when the temperatures are milder and mosquito’s aren’t so plentiful to lower the risk of Malaria.

This is a remarkable destination with ample attractions to keep the entire family entertained.

So if you’re looking to kick back and enjoy a fresh ocean breeze, head up north-east to the land of the good people.

All images supplied by Jessica Botha

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