Indholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2019 i Kruger Magazine

While some visitors might prefer the lush vegetation of the summer months in the Greater Kruger, the best time for observing African wildlife, however, is the dry winter season that allows for better visibility and a boma or fireplace for cosy winter evenings. How privileged are you when you happen to witness a special sighting in the Greater Kruger, and your photographs are proof of your unique experience? The entries for our KRUGER MAGAZINE Amateur Photo Competition are exactly that – and how awesome all the entries were once again! But to be able to witness that once-in-a-lifetime sighting is extraordinary. Read about such a rare sighting on page 10 – make sure you look for such rarities when you are in the Greater Kruger again. “The best time for…

The art of spinning a yarn has revived around the globe like never before. This is no truer than for Mpumalanga community-based project, Ukuthunga Handmade. Their knots of love are weaving into the fabric of people’s lives in South Africa and abroad. Interesting fact Here’s the thing: Crochet is cool. So cool in fact, that the resurgence of learning and passing on this ancient skill is evident – not only in the number of courses and workshops available, but, judging by its prevalence on international catwalks, the likes of Valentino, Oscar de la Renta and Carolina Herrera certainly seem to think so too. And have you heard of “yarn bombing”? Check out US-based crochet artist London Kaye’s work. Interestingly, the origins of crochet are tricky to trace. The earliest known…

The two filmmakers, Susan Scott (director) and Bonné de Bod (producer), investigated the reasons why rhinos are killed for their horns. Initially setting out on a six-month project, the duo left their jobs, sold their homes, moved in with their mothers and gave nearly four years of their lives to document not just the rhinos but the various people connected to this iconic animal. During this roller-coaster ride between Africa and Asia, the two women found themselves in some hair-raising situations, embedded on the frontlines of a species genocide where they were given exclusive access to the enforcement aspect of the fight. From rangers, pilots and K9 units patrolling the hardest hit national parks to elite police units raiding wildlife trafficking dens in major cities... Survivors of rhino poaching also…

It is always good to plan your game drives the previous evening while waiting for your fire to get ready for your dinner braai. Morning self-drive A good morning game drive at Olifants is to take the river road along the Olifants River – the S92. It is a gravel road but can easily be driven with a sedan. Wildlife is abundant and huge herds of elephant come down to the river to drink and swim. The S92 is only 7,2km long and takes you up to the S90, where you can cross the Olifants River over a low-water bridge. “Early in the morning the sun rises over the river and makes for spectacular photos.” Just past Balule you can take the S91 towards the H1-4 tar road or keep…

The name originates from their characteristic aerial displays involving swoops and dives and high-speed descents in which they rock their bodies from side to side like an aircraft ‘waggling’ its wings. They occur quite widely in the world, mainly in Africa, but also in Europe, tropical Asia and Australia. In total there are 12 species of which eight occur in Africa and five in South Africa, all of which can be seen in the Kruger National Park (KNP). The colours of rollers are predominantly beautiful shades of blues and greens, but purples, mauves and cinnamon are common. White and browns also feature in most species. The name originates from their characteristic aerial displays involving swoops and dives and high-speed descents in which they rock their bodies from side to side…

Chacma Bush Camp offers the perfect Big Five safari experience on 8 000 hectares of undulating landscape dotted with rocky outcrops. Situated in the Greater Kruger in a private reserve home to a wealth of wildlife, Chacma most certainly sets the standard in terms of being located in a spectacular location. Prominent mountainous ridges and boulder koppies characterise the terrain, making it an interesting region to explore on game drives. Coupled with the obvious mind-blowing geology of the region, are the remarkable riverine vegetation surrounding the Olifants River and the presence of many waterholes in the area. The sheer diversity of flora and contrasting landscapes of the Maseke Balule Nature Reserve provide the perfect habitat for a broad spectrum of species to thrive. “Prominent mountainous ridges and boulder koppies characterise…

It seems the golden-brown baboon spider is bound to its hole for life and is not able to dig another burrow after the maximum seven-year period. They appear to lose their inclination and partly their physical ability to dig a new home ever again. If a burrow is damaged slightly, the spider will repair the damage and continue to live there, but total annihilation of the burrow would lead to the baboon spider dying. Continual research is being done to learn why this happens and how to overcome this obstacle. It is essential for researchers to understand how to relocate this beautiful and vulnerable spider in an attempt to save the species.…

Step ❶ - Find a Spider Searching for baboon spiders is fun. Look for their burrows in open ground or turn rocks to find their silk retreats. Search in different habitats and help fill the gaps on our map. Step ❷ - Take a Photo Use your camera or phone to get a clear photo of the spider with as much detail as possible. Photos from directly above are best for identification purposes. Step ❸ - Upload the Record Use our Record Upload Form or upload directly to the SpiderMAP Virtual Museum, and your contribution to the Baboon Spider Atlas is complete. Have a look at www.baboonspideratlas.co.zafor more information about this worthy spider conservation initiative. For more information, contact Kinyonga via email: reptile@yebo.co.za telephone/fax: +27 (0)15 795-5203 visit www.kinyonga.net…

All KRUGER MAGAZINE Facebook members are invited to share their favourite spots with the community. The TOP 3 winning entries are chosen by the KRUGER MAGAZINE executive team and will be announced on the KRUGER MAGAZINE Facebook group. Popular votes by members of the Facebook group will be taken into consideration in combination with engaging entries. KRUGER MAGAZINE welcomes PENTAX South Africa as sponsor of our popular FAVOURITE SPOTS competition! The TOP 3 entries for our SPRING 2019 issue, are sponsored by PENTAX South Africa! 1 Cayla Howes – A Journey North I have been travelling to the Kruger National Park for 20 years. As a creature of habit, I had become quite repetitive in the routes I took and the places I stayed at. The southern…

The year was 1949. A friend from our local church had just purchased a green Hudson Commodore six sedan, a beautiful streamlined American icon motor car. Our bachelor friend invited our entire family, including myself and my 15-year-old sister, to accompany him in his new car on a trip to the Kruger Park. I was just 12 years old and filled with anticipation of such a wonderful adventure. We set out from Modderfontein Dynamite Factory on a chilly morning in July and headed for the Kruger, stopping near the Crocodile River Picnic Area for sandwiches, coffee and boiled eggs. A problem with this car was lack of dustproofing and as the tar roads ended at Middelburg, we all became covered in dust while travelling further. On alighting from the car…

‹‹ Dr Ian John Whyte is an independent environmental consultant who retired from SANParks in 2007. He was previously engaged in full-time wildlife research in the Kruger National Park from 1970-2007. At the time of retirement, he was responsible for the coordination of all research projects pertaining to elephant, buffalo and other large herbivores and rare antelope. He is a member of the IUCN’s Species Survival Commission’s African Elephant Specialist Group. He has co-authored two field guides to the birds of the KNP and is in the process of publishing a book about his life and work in the KNP. There are three species in Africa – the mountain zebra (Equus zebra), the Grévy’s zebra (Equus grevyi) and the plains zebra (Equus quagga). 1. The mountain zebra is found in…

General description and identification Interesting fact According to the Oxford Dictionary, the word ‘kiaat’ (which is a derivative from the Dutch and now Afrikaans, and the most commonly used name for this tree species) originated in the mid-19th century from the Malay term kayu jati, meaning ‘teak wood’. And ‘Pterocarpus’ is derived from the Greek meaning ‘winged fruit’. Other, less common names are African or wild teak, dolfhout, and of course, bloodwood. In Tsonga it is known as murotso, mutondo in Venda, and mukwa in Shona (Zimbabwe). “The fruit is uniquely characteristic – a wavy, papery, circular winged structure of about 15cm in diameter, surrounding the central pod of 2-3cm diameter bearing a single seed.” A tall, deciduous, slightly flat-crowned tree with a high canopy, kiaat can grow to over…

Olifants Rest Camp is probably one of the more popular camps in the Kruger National Park. Situated several hundred feet up on a hill on the banks of the mighty Olifants River, you get a view so vast, it is truly a window onto Af rica. The nearest entrance to the Olifants camp is the Phalaborwa gate on the northern side of the KNP, a drive of about 80km from the gate. Phalaborwa has an airport and daily flights from OR Tambo can be booked. Game viewing opportunities from the camp is easily the best, stretching for kilometres of open plains, and you can spend all your days just watching as animals stroll to the river for a drink. Wake up to the sound of the fish eagles in conversation…

Jock of the Bushveld connection! The lilac-breasted roller is also historically connected to Jock of the Bushveld. The book by this name is a South African classic. It tells the story of the now famous dog, Jock, who belonged to Percy Fitzpatrick, a transport rider who travelled the old wagon routes through the KNP. It was this bird that indirectly led to the finding of Jock’s birth place. In a published essay entitled Soltké, Fitzpatrick wrote that he and his companions were en route to Pilgrim’s Rest from Delagoa Bay and had met a young German named Soltké along the wagon route. They offered to take him with them to the gold fields. Soltké was an avid amateur naturalist and collected specimens of birds encountered along the wagons’ route. On…

Medicinally, the range of reported uses is even greater. Some believe that the blood-like colour of the sap gives it magical properties that can cure blood ailments. The wood and roots are used to treat ringworm, eye problems, malaria, blackwater fever, stomach problems, and to increase the supply of breast milk. A cold infusion from the bark is used to treat nettle rash and to relieve stomach disorders, headaches, blood in urine, earache and mouth ulcers. A decoction of the bark is taken orally for piles. Bark or roots boiled with fresh meat is reportedly used in the treatment of gonorrhoea. Diarrhoea, abdominal pains and bilharzia are treated orally by an infusion made from the roots. Asthma and tuberculosis are treated by burning roots and drinking the ash mixed with…