Africa Wexpeilriendce August 2013
Photo Wild: Predators Focus On: Rhino Poaching Awareness Travel - WildlifeAfrica - Conservation Nature - Tourism Wild experience - August- 2013
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Africa Wild experience
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from the Boma . . .
The Rhino Poaching Scourge continues unabated
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t is with real sadness that we report that the Rhino poaching numbers have climbed over the 600 mark, and we still have 4 months of the year to go!
In 2008 the total loss was 83; in 2009 this moved up to 122 and in 2012 the figure soared to 688! It is not inconceivable that we could get to 1000 by year-end! This has surely got to raise some serious alarm bells, not only in South Africa, but in wildlife circles all over the world. What to do and how to stop the rot is where efforts should be made. There have been many suggestions and ideas. I read just this week that there are those who are lobbying for the lifting of the ban on Rhino horn, thus flooding the market with legal horns which are being held in safekeeping by the authorities. The idea is that this will reduce the sales prices, thus making poaching not such a lucrative option. The funds gathered from these legal sales can then be ploughed back into anti-poaching operations. It is a complicated business, and there are no easy solutions. This month we at Africa Wild experience have focussed on the Rhino and on the people who are heroically trying to create awareness, collect funding and gather information from both the public and those authorities who are responsible for protecting our rhino. These folk need all the support they can get from all of us and I urge you to visit their websites and try to make a contribution in whatever way possible. Also in this issue is a feature on Tau Game Lodge in the North West of the country. This lodge has always been a favourite of mine and offers an excellent stay. We also feature the Sudwala Caves and some great pictures of what I consider to be a few of our best predators on four legs! Enjoy and spread the word! Keep it Wild
Mike Nunan
Africa Wild experience - August 2013
Contents Bush Journal
Battle of the Great Cats! ......................................4
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Destination Wild
Tau Game Lodge, Madikwe ..................................8
Focus Wild
The Pel’s Fishing Owl ...........................................10
Conservation Wild
Africa Wild experience celebrates World Rhino Day - Sept 22, 2013 .......................13 The Plight of the Rhino - Cometh the Day, cometh the Woman! ...........................................14 Rhino Knights “Plight of the Rhino” Awareness Campaign ........................................14 “Wildlife Margrit” of Nikela says: .....................18
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“Eat a PB&J and Save a Rhino”
What the Fuss is all About . . . ..........................20 Rhino deaths top 600 in SA this Year
Destination Wild
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The Sudwala Caves .............................................22
Book Wild
500 Common Bird Calls .......................................27 Wildlife of East Africa ..........................................27
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Photo Wild
SA’s Top Four-footed Predators ..........................28
Travel News & Views
Stop Rhino Poaching! ..........................................32 Special Note: Africa Wild experience is a fully interactive publication - all urls shown, as well as logos, are linked to their respective websites.
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Cover Picture The Glory that is fully horned Rhino
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Africa Wild experience - August 2013
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Battle of the Great Cats!
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here is something about the family of cats (Felidae) of southern Africa, which makes them the most popular animals to sight in the wild by tourists and game reserve visitors, above all other species. We are truly blessed in that the South African bushveld offers us and our many tourists the opportunity to get up close with these predators and to capture incredible photographic memories. From the regal lion (Panthera leo) to the small spotted cat (Felis nigripes), we have an awesome collection, each unique in appearance, social behaviour and hunting styles. They are the most specialized of the carnivores for the capture of live prey, and the most dependent on a diet of meat. The two smallest, the small spotted cat, (also known as the black-footed cat) and the African wild cat (Felis silvestris lybica), are very active during the night and employ the usual stalk, 4
rush and pounce method of catching their prey. Their diet consists mainly of rodents, but these two little hunters will also catch other small mammals and birds. The African wild cat is threatened by the influx of genes from breeding with domestic cats and they are listed as vulnerable in the Red Data Book. The small spotted cat is not as common and is listed as rare. Moving up the size scale to the serval (Leptailurus serval) – an elegant, lightly built cat with long legs and neck. Famous for their high, arching pounces onto prey, mostly rodents, these cats are always a pleasure to sit and watch (also listed as rare). Next up would be the caracal (Caracal caracal), largest of the African small cats. Also nocturnal, this cat feeds mainly on small antelope and is reviled in many farming areas as a stock killer. With long tassels of black hair on the tips of the ears and short tail, this cat joins the lion as the only other cat without distinctive spots or stripes.
Africa Wild experience - August 2013
Bush Journal This brings us to the big three and probably the most famous and sought-after cats – the beautiful but elusive leopard (Panthera pardus), the sleek and fastest cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) and of course our King, the lion. Of all the wild creatures that can be found on a regular safari in South Africa, these three cats are at the top of every guest sighting list.
to watch them in action is a huge adrenalin rush. Built for speed, they outrun their prey and once downed, strangle them. But it is of a particular lion kill that I witnessed that I wish to speak of here.
Leopards hunt mainly by night and are the rarest of sightings. Built with raw power, they stalk, rush and go straight for the jugular.
males, brothers in arms, had been kicked out of their pride and were trying to establish a territory of their own. They had just taken down an African buffalo when I came upon them in my game viewer with a load of guests, and were still busy killing it.
I was working in a reserve adjacent to the Kruger National Park (South Africa) and although we have resident lion prides with supporting pride males, on occaTo find them in the sion lone males would wild, close enough for The pictures on these pages are come into the reserve, impressive photogranot of the actual fight described in on the prowl for a phy is a special thrill, no matter how many this article - Mike did not have a female in oestrus, or possibly getting out of times it happens. The camera with him at the time! other pride male tervery lucky and priviritories. leged few who get to see them hunting and actually killing their prey Early one morning I came across a series of will never forget such an experience. events which was truly awesome. Four young
Cheetahs, by contrast, hunt mainly by day and
We had missed the actual hunt by a few minutes and the boys were getting down to their feast. I sat in the vehicle with my guests and we watched them as they finally subdued the huge animal and began tearing into the fleshy bits. Africa Wild experience - August 2013
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oblivious to his presence. I could immediately tell that this was a big male. His mane was fully developed, unlike those of the lads we were watching. He crept closer and closer. Suddenly one of the belly-laden lions became aware of him, and all manner of chaos broke loose in what I can only politely describe as very damn scary. The first attack came from the cat at the carcass. Lions do not chew, but swallow large pieces of meat ripped off the carcass. Watching them feed is an experience on its own. Collective hunters they may be, but when it comes down to getting the best position at the table, there is no quarter given. It becomes every feeder for himself. We stayed a long while, maneuvering the vehicle around into different positions, getting the best angles for the best pictures. Eventually it was time to return to camp and we left the lions to enjoy their spoil‌ For the afternoon drive, we decided that it may be worthwhile returning to the kill site to see if the boys were still there and what was left of the buffalo bull. We made our way to the killing ground and approached carefully into a good position. The carcass was fairly damaged by the ravening hungry lads, but still had a good deal of meat on it. There was only one cat still at it, while the other three had taken refuge in the shade of nearby bushes, lying around with bulging bellies as lions do for most of their day. They took very little notice of us and we sat chatting in low voices about this and that. We had not been there 10 minutes, when, out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a fifth lion, creeping forward on his belly through the grass and undergrowth, towards the kill. The other lions were at this stage completely 6
Letting out an almighty growl, he rushed towards the interloper, bringing the other three dozing animals to their feet, each in turn coming in from different angles, all growling and roaring their displeasure at the old male. The cacophony of sound surrounding us has no words to describe. All I can say is that it was loud, very loud. The old male, who by now had got himself out of his low crouching position and into a fully erect stance, rushed forward to meet the first oncoming youngster. With a mighty swipe of his front paws, mouth open wide, backing up onto his back legs, he dispatched the first attacker, who did not know what had hit him. A mighty blow sent the young lion sprawled onto the ground, stunned, licking his wounded face. From these first glimpses of his scarred face, it was obvious that this old chap was an experienced, wily fighter, who had done some rounds before. By the time the next lions arrived to join the fray, the old male had moved into position between the vehicle and the carcass, and went down low again. He was now a mere three metres from us. Tail swishing back and forth, eyes glued on the attackers. The defenders came headlong into the fight and a real scrap ensued. I could not even hear one of my guests ask if we should perhaps start the car and get out of the way. We only heard
Africa Wild experience - August 2013
this plea later, back in camp, when we played the video footage back from the guest camera. The young lions were now onto the big boy, but he was fighting back. Try to imagine a typical street-dog fight. This was what we were watching and before I could think about moving out of the arena, the fight was upon us. The lions crashed into the side of the vehicle as they attacked the old boy. Guests were nervous, lions were roaring as they skirmished around us. It was deafening, and the dust rose in clouds. The brawl suddenly moved towards the bushes, away from the vehicle, as the experienced old man got himself into a better position. He was now fighting from a low crouch, giving his attackers a more difficult target. He got his back up against a thick sickle bush, where the youngsters could not get at him from behind. The first cat had tried to join in and assist, but by now he had lost a bit of interest and was standing there lending only verbal support. Another lion had taken a massive blow and a bite to the head and had also backed off. The big cat was bleeding from a cut above his eye, but he hung in, jabbing and hooking as the lads came at him. One by one they backed off as the experienced old male wore them down.
Bush Journal is written by people who live in, work in, and experience Africa Wild daily and are dedicated to its preservation. Text by Mike Nunan big cat, to lie down in the surrounding grass and growl at the victor. He stayed low and only when he thought that the fight had gone his way, did he begin to slowly approach the carcass, in a low crawl. He never took his eyes off the gang of four, who would periodically make a feeble attempt to frighten him off with a short attack. It was unbelievable. The young lions had lost their meal to the experienced fighting skills of the master. Once the stand off was complete, the old lion had reached the carcass and began to feed. It was then that I heard the lady sitting behind me whisper in my ear, “Mike, can we please go now – I need to go to the ladies!” We had not seen the four young lions take down the buffalo, but what we had witnessed that afternoon, and again that evening on the video, was worth a thousand kills.
By now I had started the vehicle and backed off another 20 metres. The whole fight had lasted maybe four to five minutes, but it seemed like an eternity. The wounded slowly retreated, after a few more mock rushes at the Africa Wild experience - August 2013
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Destination Wild
Tau Game Lodge, Madikwe
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n the far northern border of South Africa lies a beautiful area known as the Groot Marico and it in this spectacular setting, in the malaria free Madikwe Game Reserve, that Tau Game Lodge is situated. The jumbled hillocks of Tshwene-Tshwene and the dramatic ridge of the Dwarsberg mountains expose rocks of up to 2630 million years old, and artifacts of the stone and iron ages are still being
found in the Great Marico dust. Privately owned, Tau Game Lodge was built in 1995 and overlooks a vast natural waterhole, which attracts a large variety of game, as does the diverse vegetation that thrives in the fertile topsoil. Situated an easy four hours driving distance from Johannesburg or 50 minutes on the daily scheduled flight, Tau, “the place of the Lion� can host and accommodate up to 60 people. This luxury Safari lodge was designed to reflect the natural surroundings and makes use of the natural resources wherever possible. The main body of the lodge is twolevelled and has a comfortable lounge, a conference room, bar and dining room which are semi openair and overlook the waterhole. Delicious buffet breakfasts and lunches are generally served in the main building or on the veranda next to the plunge pool and dinner is served in one of the cosy boma’s under the stars, or in the lapa next to the main lodge.
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Africa Wild experience - August 2013
A Tau Blog by Guide Kenneth Wessels: This month has been a promising month in terms of sightings, specifically around the lodge area. We had some great nights listening to roaring lions from the watering hole and even witnessed the odd kill. The cheetah has made his appearance at the waterhole and even made a kill at the same entrance gate that guests use to access the lodge. This was a unique sighting, as our guests got the chance to witness a very rare interaction between cheetah and brown hyena. The brown hyena dominated the cheetah by taking his kill from him. The hyena got the back end of the kill (young kudu calf) and took it to a safe place to collect later and then returned to take what was left of it. Fortunately the cheetah had a portion of his own kill for about for 30 minutes before it was taken from him. On the bird side of things: We have discovered some eagle nests around the lodge area, and even have a resident black-chested snake eagle in front of the lodge, allowing the guests to enjoy some
great photo opportunities. There is also a pair of African hawk eagles that are nesting around the Inselbergs. The general bird life is fantastic as well. We hosted a birding day in the park and were divided in two western teams, and two eastern teams. The winter bird count came in at 194 species when all the species were combined between four teams. Sasol birds claims that the winter count is 200, so we were only six species short of that. We are looking forward to the National Birding Day in November and very excited to see what species numbers we can gather for that day. For more see www.taugamelodge.co.za
Africa Wild experience - August 2013
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Focus Wild
The Pel’s Fishing Owl
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he Pel’s Fishing Owl (Scotopelia peli) is a large species of owl n the Strigidae family. It feeds nocturnally on fish and frogs snatched from the surface of lakes and rivers. The species prefers slow moving rivers with large overhanging trees to roost and forage from. It nests in hollows and the forks of large trees. Though two eggs are laid, only one chick is raised. Pel’s Fishing Owl is one of the largest owl spe-
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cies in the world. It measures 51–63 cm (20–25 in) in length, spans around 153 cm (60 in) across the wings and weighs 2–2.35 kg (4.4–5.2 lb). Under current classification, it is the heaviest extant owl outside of the Bubo genus. Among standard measurements, the wing chord is 40.7–44.7 cm (16.0–17.6 in) and the tail is 20.7–24.3 cm (8.1–9.6 in) long. They are well adapted to their aquatic lifestyle. Unlike most owls, they have minimal feathering on the toes and the tarsus, thus minimizing
Africa Wild experience - August 2013
the amount of plumage that gets wet while fishing. Like diurnal raptors that specialize in fish, they have spiky scales on the bottoms of their feet that help them grip slippery fish. Since hearing and auditory stealth is not important to its hunting techniques, this owl does not have strong hearing and does not have the soft edges to its flight feathers that most owls share, which makes them almost impossible to hear in flight. Adults are rich ginger-rufous with dense dark bars to the upperparts and scaling to the underparts. The feathers around the head are loose and long, giving the head a shaggy appearance. The tarsi and toes are unfeathered and straw-colored. The white throat is often largely obscured but can be puffed up in displaying birds during courtship. The flight and tail feathers are barred with lighter and darker feathers. The eyes are distinctly dark, often blackish in color. The two adult sexes are similar looking but females are generally less rufous in color and have a more indistinct facial disc. There is considerable variation in coloration and barring in adult birds, with some birds having extensive pale feathers with others having several blackish markings. Juveniles are more uniform buff than adults. Unlike the eagle-owls the ear tufts of the Pel’s Fishing Owl are barely visible, giving it a very round-headed appearance. The two related fishing owls are smaller and lack the dark barring and scaling (though they do have dark streaks below). The song of the male Pel’s Fishing Owl is a deep, sonorous, horn-like boom, first a single and then a higher pitched huhuhu. The male also utters a ringed hoot, much higher pitched than those of most eagle-owls, followed by a deep, soft grunt: whoommmm-wot or hooomm-hut. The calls of the male are repeated ever 10 to 20 seconds can be heard from up to 3 km (1.9 mi) away. While singing, the male’s throat and breast are often highly inflated. The female’s songs are similar but are higher pitched and even in a double-note, i.e. hoot-oot. Females and young at the nest wail a shrill wheeoouu while anticipating food.
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Africa Wild experience - August 2013
Conservation Wild
Africa Wild experience celebrates World Rhino Day - Sept 22, 2013 W orld Rhino Day is on September 22 and celebrates all five species of rhino: Black, white, greater one-horned, Sumatran and Javan rhinos.
World Rhino Day was first announced by WWF-South Africa in 2010. The following year, World Rhino Day grew into an international success, encompassing both African and Asian rhino species, thanks to the efforts of two determined women, Lisa Jane Campbell and author, blogger, broadcaster and renowned rhino conservationist Rhishja Cota-Larson. (See Rhishja’s website www.rhishja.com). Rhishja is the autor of the well known book on rhino poaching, Murder, Myths and Medicine. It all started with an email: In mid-2011, Lisa Jane, of Chishakwe Ranch in Zimbabwe was already planning ahead for World Rhino Day. She searched online for ideas and potential collaborators, and found Rhishja’s blog.
Lisa Jane sent Rhishja an email, and the two found they shared a common goal of making World Rhino Day a day of celebration for all five species of rhino. In the months that followed, they worked together to make World Rhino Day 2011 an international success, both online and offline. World Rhino Day has since grown to become a global phenomenon, uniting NGOs, zoos, cause-related organizations, businesses, and concerned individuals from nearly every corner of the world! Go to http://www.worldrhinoday.org for more information on World Rhino Day.
Click on this picture to see the World Rhino Day 2012 video
Africa Wild experience is making its own contribution by featuring rhino poaching in this issue and focussing on the awareness efforts of two South African organisations, Rhino Knights and Nikela.
Africa Wild experience - August 2013
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The Plight of the Rhino - Comet
The plight of the Rhino reveals both sides of the Human coin as clearly as any of the other mangreed, corruption and evil that caused the problem in the first place, and on the other, the comm Daily we hear of the atrocities - the death toll of Rhinos in South Africa this year has just crosse fight to preserve this wonderful example of our Natural Heritage. Perhaps it illus
Africa Wild experience has decided to highlight just some of the stories of those people, and it South Africa and around the globe who are D
We have already spoken about the efforts of Lisa Jane Campbell of Zimbabwe and renowned rh we will now highlight the efforts of Isabel Wolf-Gillespie of Rhino Knights (and her
Rhino Knights “Plight of the Rhino�Awareness Campaign Intrepid Isabel takes up 10 000km challenge!
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sabel Wolf-Gillespie, a Durban resident, supported by her husband Lloyd and her sister Raphaela, accompanied by their dog, Pula, has taken on a mammoth challenge- running and cycling a possible 10 000km around Southern Africa in an effort to raise awareness and gather information about the current state of Rhino poaching, which continues unabated, notwithstanding many efforts by many people.
The current action and response to Rhino poaching is vital and helpful but the poaching increasesRHINO KNIGHTS is connecting with stakeholders involved in the industry to gather information on the problems and possible solutions. They started their incredible journey back in May from Durban to Cape Town, up through the west coast into Namibia and the Kunene River on the border of Angola, then east into Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and then down into South Africa into the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Game Reserve and back to Durban. They intend to meet people, talk to conservation authorities and icons along the way and document their journey to create awareness. Every day on the move Isabel will run a half marathon (21km) and then cycle 80-100km. She will cover an approximate distance of 10 000 km over the planned 5 month journey. Lloyd was also planning to run and cycle but an old injury has played up. After an MRI scan he was advised by an orthopaedic surgeon that it would not be a good idea to go on an extreme physical journey like this, so only Isabel will do the running and cycling while Lloyd and Raphaela give her daily support. To read more and maybe get involved in this project, join Lloyd & Isabel on their route and find out more! Africa Wild experience wishes them safe travelling and salutes their amazing efforts!
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Africa Wild experience - August 2013
th the Day, cometh the Woman!
-made catastropies we have witnessed in recent times - on the one side the mitment, dedication and selflessness of those determined to fight the scourge. ed the 500 mark - but less often do we hear of those who have taken up the strates the old adage - good news does not sell newspapers!
t seems as if women are taking to the frontlines in numbers in this fight, in DOING, not just whining.
hino conservationist Rhishja Cota-Larson in promoting World Rhino Day, and team), and Margrit (WildlifeMargrit) Harris of Nikela in the US.
Letter from Intrepid Isabel of Rhino Knights
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n 2009 my husband Lloyd and I did a journey with our horses around South Africa to raise awareness of African Horse Sickness. African Horse Sickness is a virus disease endemic to Africa and many horses die from it every year.
This journey took 581 days and we covered 7411km and whilst travelling and living alongside our horses, going at their pace, they had become the non judgmental barometers of our lives and changed us forever. The further we travelled the more aware we became of our horses and ourselves and the land we were riding through and we became deeper connected to everything. That is why we started our non-profit company Earth Awareness which is about creating awareness of self, others and the environment! When we returned to our horse trail business based on a reserve in the Eastern Cape in 2011, we were hit by a shocking and sad reality. The 11 rhino that used to live on that reserve had been killed and this sparked deep anger, sadness and complete helplessness! It also sparked the wish to do something about it and after moving away from the Eastern Cape to the Natal Midlands, we by chance moved 10kms away from rhino conservation icon Dr Ian Player. He saved the white Rhino from exctinction in the 60s and today at 86 years of age he is still fighting for their survival. Ian became our mentor and after many conversations between Lloyd and myself and him, the ‘Rhino Knights’ campaign under the banner of Earth Awareness was born. Africa Wild experience - August 2013
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Rhino Knights is a campaign to create global awareness for the plight of the rhino and to conduct an anonymous survey. To create worldwide awareness we are connecting different sporting discplines and therefore I am running a half marathon (21kms) and cycle between 80 – 100kms every day on the move for 10000km around Southern Africa (South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique). Horses are our passion and to bring horse riding into the campaign we get in touch with equestrian establishments, stables, safari operators to set up a riding day or join a safari with their horses. The anonymous survey questionnaire is asking rhino conservation organizations, rangers, individuals, reserves, National Parks etc. what they believe are the problems with the poaching crisis and what possible solutions are? This has been a complete eye opener for all of us and the more questionnaires are being filled
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out, the more we realize the value of it. After the completion of the campaign we will evaluate this and get involved in active anti poaching measures. A scientist has also shown interest in the results to possibly use them for his studies. Today every 11 hours a Rhino life is poached for its horn and at this current rate the children of today will not lay their eyes upon this species as adults. The demand for horn comes from Asian countries because it is believed that the horn has medicinal, healing properties and powers or it is used to make dagger handles for example. Sometimes I feel daunted by the sad and shocking state of the rhino crisis and wonder whether what we are doing is actually working. We truly believe that children are the future of conservation and that is why we are visiting schools all along our route to hold a presentation to pupils. But almost every time after we have been to a school I am inspired and motivated to carry on. There is “light at the end of the tunnel� and it
Africa Wild experience - August 2013
shines from within each of them. Lloyd and I are just two normal people trying to do something out of the ordinary and we hope to inspire the children to believe that they can do something and that their voices count. A united and loud voice through a virtual Facebook and Youtube Rhino Knights movement across the world will be heard, and is able to make demands to get governments to protect the rhino and other wildlife!
The campaign is self funded and without sponsorship it is very tough to stay on the road. We have just recently sold our car to be able to keep going but we are 100% behind this and believe in the campaign and its value! We are carrying our message throughout Southern Africa into Botswana, Zimbabwe and Mozambique and hopefully into the rest of the world! If yoou wuld like to assist, go to www.earthawareness.co.za
We started in Durban on the 1st May and after 4800km on the road we have a few more days left in Namibia. Namibia is the second country we have been travelling through and it is my first time in this country! Namibia is beautiful, wild, and very remote and typical for a semi desert, we were welcomed by mild, warm days full of sunshine and cold, rough nights. “Big sky country� springs to mind when marveling at the seemingly endless views and space out there.
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“Wildlife Margrit” of Nikela says: “Eat a PB&J and Save a Rhino”
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Nikela was founded in early 2010 by Margrit and Russ after a trip to visit Margrit’s parents in South Africa where she was born and raised.
Proving that a “a little goes a long way”, Nikela encourages donors to “have a PB&J (Peanut Butter & Jelly) lunch” instead of their normal lunch once a month and donate the price difference to a project of their choice, chosen from the nine or ten featured projects on the Nikela website.
Says Margrit: “In our fifties, Russ and I are in that ‘give back’ time of our lives. Only one problem… we are not independently wealthy and can’t do very much alone. You may relate to that.
cross on the other side of the globe, in Athens, Texas, a former South African, Margrit Harris, and her husband Russ have decided to “make a difference” in another way – raising funds via the internet to support specific conservation projects in South Africa through an organisation called “Nikela”.
At the top of the Nikela list is “Stop the Rhino Poachers” – this project supports the efforts of an organisation called “SPOTS” (Strategic Protection of Threatened Species), run by Peter Milton, which uses UAVs (Unmanned Aerial Vehicles) to locate and track both rhinos and poachers. Nikela also helps fund other projects such as “Send a Kid to Bush School”, and “Help Anton Save a Leopard”.
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Not being independently wealthy, yet wanting to help the dedicated wildlife conservationists they met and learned about, Nikela was created as a vehicle for wildlife lovers around the world to get involved and make a difference by making a small donation and/or volunteering a few hours.
“However, we realized that when we and our friends and you and your friends join together, we can make a huge difference. If you care for wildlife, want to protect it and help kids find their place in doing the same, you may want to join us and find that Nikela provides a rewarding way to do it. “Nikela, pronounced ‘niˈɠɛ:la’ means “give to” in Zulu.
Africa Wild experience - August 2013
“The Nikela slogan, “Helping People ~ Saving Wildlife” perfectly captures the essence of our purpose and what we do,” says Margrit. Nikela’s vision is a world where wildlife is not threatened and children have hope, made possible by a community of compassionate people giving to those who protect our planet’s wildlife and prepare the rising generation to do the same, and their mission is to: •
Protect Now and Educate for the Future.
• Protect Now via rescue and rehabilitation, anti-poaching, advocacy, and providing sanctuary. • Educate for the Future via live educational programs, online resources, and international awareness campaigns. “During one of those reflective moments in 2009, I found myself asking a life changing question,” says Margrit. “What would I regret most if I died tomorrow? “Hmm! I’ve been married to my best friend for over 30 years, raised three amazing children, have had rewarding career opportunities, owned my dream home, served my God in church service, enjoy five grandchildren… “The answer surprised me. “What I would regret most if I died tomorrow??? That I’d done nothing for the wildlife of my homeland.
trapped, grilled and eaten or tied with rope, hung upside down and sold on the roadside. Some scientists have concluded that environmentally the Philippines is a lost cause. In his book, Requiem for Nature, John Terborgh writes, the “overpopulated… Philippines are already beyond the point of no return.” “On coming back to the USA I swore that I wasn’t going to allow the same fate to befall my beloved homeland and its greatest treasure, the wildlife. But what could I do? I was stymied.” • “Africa‘s game parks have lost well over half of their big mammals… since 1970” - REUTERS • “Another rhino found dead… poaching is on the rise.” News24 (Over 330 killed for their horns last year in South Africa) “News flashes like this troubled and overwhelmed me. “Can you believe that when I was born there were over 450,000 lions in the world. Now there are less than 20,000 and declining rapidly,” she says.
Time to Take Action “It was Russ who finally triggered the action. In March 2010 he looked at me with those clear blue eyes and said, “We have loads of experience in business, nonprofits, and teaching kids… we just need to jump in and figure it out as we go.” An incredible journey began - an inspired process emerged that can make a difference now and in the future. Go to www.nikela.org for more information.
Devastation in the Philippines “You see, in the summer of 2007, my husband Russ and I returned from the Philippines where we spent five years assisting in humanitarian and leadership projects. During that time I was appalled and deeply troubled by the devastation and exploitation of the environment and wildlife. “I saw everything that moved, from songbird to iguana, being
Peter Milton’s Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) project supported by Nikela Africa Wild experience - August 2013
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What the Fuss is all About . . . Rhino deaths top 600 in SA this Year A young rhino nudges its mother in an effort to get her up - of course, she never will. A baby rhino will call for its mother for months - a desperate, heart-rending cry
Left - Brutal Slaughter Bottom left - De-horned for its own protection Bottom right - Snare damage
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Africa Wild experience - August 2013
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Destination Wild
The Sudwala Caves
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magine a system of caves over 30 kilometres in length, of which only 600 metres is accessible, that date back 3 000 million years to a time when incredible stresses cracked the dolomite of the Mankelekele Mountains (also spelt Makelexele) - part of the Drakensberg escarpment that separates the highveld from the lowveld of Mpumalanga - allowing water to slowly trickle, forming a series of passages through the rocks.
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The result: an incredible array of mighty chambers studded with giant examples of stalactites, stalagmites and flowstone formations - The Sudwala Caves. Not only are the Sudwala caves regarded as the oldest known caves in the world but the caves rest in Pre-cambrian dolomite rocks that are also amongst the second oldest known sedimentary rocks on Earth. At the base of a gigantic cliff face close to the caves, is the Sudwala rainforest, the recipient of gentle trickles of water over the cliff face. The Caves, described by some as the greatest caves on earth and situated 35km from Nelspruit on the N4 from Johannesburg, are truly spectacular. A visit and tour of these amazing tunnels, stalagmites and stalactites is a definitive must. The oldest evidence of habitation in the Caves takes the form of a fine collection of stone age tools, ranging in date from Early Stone Age (from 2,5 million years ago) to Late Stone Age (up to a few thousand years BC). The Caves were used as shelter by Prehistoric man in the form of Homo habilis (Handyman), a predecessor of Homo erec-
Africa Wild experience - August 2013
tus, approximately 1,8 million years ago. In the nineteenth century the Sudwala Caves were used by Somquba, the brother of the Swazi heir apparent, as a fortress. In a power struggle for the Swazi throne, many bloody battles were fought at the cave entrance. The story: When King Sobhuza I of Swaziland died in 1836, his heir was Mswati II, who was still a minor and too young to ascend the vacant throne. A cousin, Paramount Chief Usutfu, was installed
as regent, which proved to be a flawed choice. Usutfu was too weak to prevent Mswati’s brother Somquba from making an effective bid for the throne by calling an Incwala, or Festival of the First Fruit. The significance of this is that it is high treason, not to mention sacrilege, for any other person other than the Swazi king to hold an Incwala. After a skirmish with Mswati’s army near the Mgwenyana River, 9km west of Barberton, Somquba and his followers fled the area,
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with some 500 head of Mswati’s cattle. They crossed the Crocodile River and settled near the Mankelexele Mountains, between Elandshoek and Schagen, about 10km from what are now the Sudwala Caves. Their settlement was known as M’selezie. Somquba sought and received protection from the newly established Boer settlement of Lydenburg. He made a formal alliance with the) Lydenburg Republic (which had a brief existence between 1856 and 1857). There was continuous conflict between Mswati’s and Somquba’s followers in the form of raids and cattle theft. The Boers continued to side with Somquba, in return for labour to dig the first water canal at Lydenburg. Another benefit for the Boers was that Somquba acted as a buffer for them against Mswati. During the early 1860s Somquba came to know of the Caves, and subsequently, in times of conflict, he and his followers would take refuge there, with their cattle. They stock-piled food and there was plenty of water, so it made a strong refuge. Somquba maintained observation posts, and always kept the cave entrance clear, so that he could retreat there in a hurry. At that stage the cave mouth was much smaller, and could barely accommodate the long horns of his small herd of prized Nguni cattle, as they were led in by hand, in single file. The principal guardian of the Caves’ entrance was Sudwala, Somquba’s chief inDuna (councillor/captain), whose name is thus commemorated to this day, and whose spirit, legend has it, lingers in the Caves. At one time, the ever-persistent regiments of Mswati built a massive bonfire at the entrance, while Somquba and his followers were inside, in an attempt to suffocate them, but the natural airflow in the Caves foiled this attack. 24
Help was sent for and received from a Lydenburg Boer commando, led by one Abel Erasmus, who drove off Mswati’s regiments, and freed Somquba. Traces of the fire are still visible to this day. Around 1868, Somquba was killed in a surprise attack on his village. His head was severed and taken back to King Mswati to prove that the deed had been done. The two men responsible for his death, Kambe and Mataffin then fled, realising that Mswati, knowing that they had killed his brother the prince, might fear them, and have them killed pre-emptively. The Caves also featured in the second South African War (1899 – 1902). Two months before the fall of Pretoria to the British, on June 5, 1900, gold bullion belonging to the Transvaal Republic was sent for safekeeping to Machadodorp in the Eastern Transvaal (now Mpumalanga). This bullion, as well as State treasure of gold sovereigns, accompanied President Kruger to Waterval Onder, where he stayed until after the Battle of Berg-en-Dal, near Belfast, in August 1900. President Kruger then left for Nelspruit and finally on to Lourenco Marques (now Maputo), without the treasure. The so-called Kruger Millions had unaccountably vanished somewhere between Waterval Onder and Nelspruit. Because it was known that Boer commandos had hidden ammunition for their 94-pounder Long Tom guns in the Sudwala Caves at this time, many
Africa Wild experience - August 2013
people believed that the dark depths of the caverns were the most likely hiding place for the legendary fortune also. After the war, fortune hunters descended periodically to the spot to search for the Kruger treasure, but it has never been found. In 1914 a couple of prospectors, who had originally gone in search of the gold, formed a company to excavate many tons of bat guano from the Caves, which they sold to the farmers of the Crocodile River Valley.
The Sudwala Caves were acquired by Mr Philippus Rudolf Owen, a Pretoria excavation contractor, as part of the farm Sudwalaskraal, in November 1965. He opened the Caves to the public, and developed them as a tourist attraction and cultural venue. He devoted his last years to the protection and preservation of this natural wonder, and died on the farm in 1972. For more information go to www.sudwalacaves. com
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Coming Soon! A Whole New Africa Wild experience Africa Wild experience will soon undergo a complete metamorphosis in which our website and our unique e-magazine will combine to provide an unparalleled information and service resource for the eco-tourism, conservation and safari industry. Already the magazine offers an eclectic blend of destination reviews, conservation information, personal bush experiences and practical advice. This will not change and will become even more exciting and topical! What will change is that the magazine will draw you the reader back to the website for a wide variety of resources and services, including:
Jobs, careers and training in the sector Trip Planner Destination Directory e-Shop and many more services!
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Africa Wild experience - August 2013
Book Wild 500 Common Bird Calls in Southern Africa Specifications Author: PDoug Newman Title: 500 Common Bird Calls in Souther Africa ISBN: 9781431701209 Format: Softcover Release Date: August 2013 Imprint: Nature Pages: 176 Price: R190.00 (Click on the Struik logo for more information)
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dentify bird calls with this handy guide and CD, which together feature 500 distinctive southern African species.
The CD gives the best-known song or call of each species; the book provides clear and accessible text, with a brief account for each species, including a description of the song, associated behaviour, similar-sounding species, the bird’s favoured habitat type, and a distribution map. The introduction describes interesting aspects of bird vocalisations, the differences between true songbirds and nonsongbirds and why calls often change with the seasons and time of day. Author Doug Newman is an electrical engineer with a keen interest in birds, particularly bird calls. He is co-founder of the SimplyBirding website www.simplybirding.com, and author of the highly successful Bird Calls for Beginners, More Bird Calls for Beginners and LBJs made Simple (all published by Struik Nature)
Wildlife of East Africa
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his photographic guide to the wildlife of East Africa is an accessible introduction to the region’s more conspicuous and interesting mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, insects, flowers and trees.
Specifications
Author: Dave Richards Title: Wildlife of East Africa ISBN: 9781770078918 Format: Softcover Release Date: Agust 2013 Imprint: Nature Pages: 168 Price: R200.00 (Click on the Struik logo for more information)
A colour photograph accompanies each account, which describes the species’ appearance, size, and habits, and gives information on their conservation status, habitat and the best viewing localities. This book is an invaluable guide for visitors to national parks and other wildlife-rich places in East Africa and is a handy size for travel. Author Dave Richards is an author and photographer who has written a number of books on travel and wildlife in Kenya. He regularly contributes articles and photographs to a range of local and international magazines and books. Dave leads photographic and ornithological safaris through Kenya and Tanzania, but also to Botswana, Madagascar, Namibia, Uganda and Zimbabwe. Africa Wild experience - August 2013
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Photo Wild SA’s Top Four-footed Predators
Pictures by Alistair Mac Dougall
Spotted Hyena
A
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King Cheetah
African Wild Dog
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Lion Couple
Cheetah
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Brown Hyena
Leopard
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Stop Rhino Poaching! Africa Wild experience supports the following philosophy whole-heartedly, and salutes all those involved, in one way or another, in helping curb this scourge.
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Africa Wild experience - August 2013