Kruger National Park: Interview with Kruger Field Guide

Article by Denni Raubenheimer
Photos by Yolande van Niekerk

The Kruger National Park is arguably the most prolific non-private nature reserve 
in South Africa for encountering the fabled Big 5, such as the Lion.

Margaux Mathey-Le Roux is a registered free-lance Field Guide that often leads open vehicle safaris through the World renowned Kruger National Park. She has been conducting tours for over 3 years and has a deep love for the Park and its wildlife. I am happy that she has obliged us in answering a series of question about her experience of the Kruger. 

Margaux, please tell us why you got into the nature-tourism industry?

It’s actually quite strange- ever since I was a little girl my parents would always take us into wild and remote wilderness areas for holidays, be it Kruger, the Kalahari or Mapelane (Greater St. Lucia Wetlands Park.) My dad, being a passionate nature lover, traveller and adventurer would always try to expose us to various bush experiences, and so the seed was sown.

It was however much later in life that I decided to take up field guiding as a career, as this was the perfect opportunity to combine my passion for people and nature, showing the general public how wonderfully everything in the natural World has been assembled and how everything is interconnected and interdependent, and that we are responsible for maintaining this vulnerable balance.

I did my fist Field Guiding course in 2003, but I soon decided to get a proper university qualification, and decided to study Eco-tourism Management at Tshwane University of Technology. I did the 3 years Diploma course, and went on to do my B-Tech (Post grad studies), and I plan on doing my M-Tech in the near future.
In a few words how would you describe your experience of the Kruger as a safari guide?

I’ve always had a soft spot for the Kruger, and even though I can travel the same road a million times things are constantly changing, and just when you think you’ve seen it all nature always ends up surprising you. I love the unexpected thrill of it all!

It seems a general opinion that game- and tourist densities in the Kruger are highest in the southern portions of the Park. Has this been your experience?

I have to agree with this statement. Animal densities tend to be higher in the Southern parts, where the various ecotypes and vegetation types allow various plant species to flourish- giving rise to a greater mammal species diversity.

Access to the Southern Parts are also fairly easy, with major gates being found in close proximity to the N4 highway, and to easily accessible towns such as White River and Hazyview, so its natural for most tourists to make use of these access points in the South. Unfortunately during peak tourist seasons the roads can become quite congested, and the animals in general move away to find some peace and quite.

Between the southern, middle and northern portions of the Kruger, which do you prefer and why?

I prefer the North. It’s more remote, and although animal numbers tend to be a bit lower than in other parts of the Park, all of the Big 5 can be found in the area. It’s also a brilliant place for bird watching, and the scenery is magnificent. It just feels ‘wilder”, as a day can go by without seeing any other tourist- something that never happens in the South of the Park.
If you had to choose three favourite Kruger camps, excluding the more expensive private camps, which would they be and why?

Punda Maria: It’s far, remote and very hot, and very few people are willing to trek to this area, as this is not known to be an ideal area for Big 5 spotting. On the contrary, all of your Big 5 can be seen here, but I love the place for it lacks the mass influx of tourists who are only there to find the hairy scary animals. Punda is also known for its bird diversity, and any true birder would miss out if they have never been to this area of the Kruger. A true wilderness experience!

For some tourists the abundance and diversity of birds in the Kruger 
are its main attraction. Various birds, such as the Saddle-billed Stork, 
have their South African stronghold in the Kruger. 

Serenhi Bush Camp: This is a private bush camp, and it can be seen as being a little more expensive, but I think it’s worth every penny. It’s remote location and the small number of people that it can accommodate makes this an ideal camp if you want to get away from the masses. I’ve seen amazing things in this area- a leopard chasing buffalo, cheetahs and more seldom seen animals such as tsessebe and roan antelope. I might go so far as to say this is my favourite camp in the whole of Kruger.

Lower Sabie: For the average person who can only stay for a couple of nights, I can recommend Lower Sabie. This is a much more commercial camp than the others I mentioned, but its location on the banks of the Sabie River makes it an ideal place to do game viewing from. A drive next to the river is bound to deliver hordes of elephants, and further north one has a good opportunity to see cheetahs on the open plains. I like the camp for its diversity.

Apart from the Big 5, Cheetah and Wild Dog, what Kruger animals do you particularly enjoy encountering?

Well yes, after the African Wild Dog, I would have to say that my all time favourite animal is the Dwarf Mongoose! They are so curious, and if you were to switch your vehicle’s engine off they would actually come out of the bush in most cases and inspect your vehicle- very brave and often overlooked little creatures!

The Dwarf Mongoose is truly an inquisitive and brave member of the Kruger mammals.

As a guide and as someone staying close to the Kruger you’ve probably witnessed some amazing happenings in the Park. Please share one or two with us.

This is quite a tricky question!

I think one of the most memorable experiences I’ve ever had was when I was fortunate enough to stumble into a group five black rhinos whilst I was out doing a morning drive. For anybody who knows a little about these animals will know its not only endangered and scarce to find, but to see five together all at once was absolutely amazing and very rare. I was the only vehicle with them, and I urged my guests to keep as quite as possible, because these animals in particular have quite a notorious reputation for charging without provocation. We sat and watched them for several minutes, and then something extraordinary happened: two of them started to mate! This was a very rare and sacred moment- one that I doubt I will ever experience again in my lifetime.

Another moment that will always stay with me happened in 2007, during my first week of working as a guide. At that time I worked at one of the 5 star private lodges, and I was living on-site in the Kruger Park. In the middle of the afternoon I was asked to assist some of the housekeepers with preparing a room for the new arriving guests. I heard an alarm call of some of the resident bushbuck as I walked to the furthest suite, but I thought nothing of it, as it was hot and I thought that no predator would be active during this time of the day. I had managed to get to the door, when all of a sudden I saw three bushbuck dashing past us, followed in close pursuit by a rather ‘odd looking baboon’. It happened so quickly, yet it took my brain several seconds to register that this was not a baboon, but a leopard whom had just run past us and killed one of the bushbuck, less than 15 meters from where we were standing. What made the moment even more memorable is that we were standing in an unfenced area, and for the first time I was taught a very important lesson: always respect nature and the warnings she gives, and be ready to expect the unexpected!
Would you say visiting the Kruger on a regular basis has had an emotional or spiritual impact on your life? If so, please elaborate.

For sure it’s had both an emotional and spiritual impact on my life. Unfortunately there are days when the guests just want to chase after the Big 5, and in the process one loses a bit of the magic of the natural environment, but some days you are fortunate enough to come across like-minded souls who are keen to sit quietly and absorb the beauties of the wilderness. It’s in these quite moments that one can become so absorbed in the splendour and grandeur of it all and you cannot go without acknowledging the Awesomeness of our Creator.
If any readers were planning a visit to the Kruger National Park and wished to go on a guided vehicle safari, how could they contact you? And where do you meet-up with your tourists?

They could either email me at margauxmat@mweb.co.za, or they could phone me on 072 146 2716. I don’t have set safari rates, as I ensure each Safari experience is tailor-made to suit the group’s requirements, and I will then discuss all of these details with the party involved.

I do pick-ups at most hotels and lodges in the areas surrounding Southern Kruger, and it can even be arranged that I meet people inside the Kruger itself in the rest camps like Skukuza and Pretoriuskop.

Many people have a deeply emotional and even spiritual experience 

of places of such natural beauty as is found in the Kruger National Park. 

Much thanks to Margaux Mathey-Le Roux for the time and effort she took which made this article possible.

Falling in love with birds

By Denni Raubenheimer

My wife has often teased me about the answer I gave when three years ago she asked me whether or not I like birds. My answer was basically - “No, with exception of Fish Eagles and stuff”. The irony and her reason for teasing me is that in the past year and a half or so I’ve fallen in love with them.

Years ago I didn’t care much for most birds, though I did have an appreciation for eagles, such as these majestic African Fish Eagles.

For me, as is the case for quite a number of South Africans, the Kruger National Park (KNP) played a major role in the development of my passion for birds. My first visit to the Kruger was at the end of my honeymoon. My wife and I had flown to Zanzibar and after about a week on the island backpacked through portions of mainland Tanzania and Malawi. We had really wanted to visit one of Tanzania’s great parks, but we realized that for the price of 2 days and one game drive in the Serengeti Game Reserve we could camp in the Kruger for about ten days, plus do our own game drives. We thus opted for the Kruger. Our expectation was mainly for lions, elephants and other large mammals and throughout our visit we saw mammals galore. What also happened is that we were constantly admiring feathered creatures – constantly getting to know new bird species and raving about their beauty. Some species that stood out for me during that first visit were Lilac-breasted and European Rollers, Carmine and European Bee-eaters, Woodland and Giant Kingfishers, Marabou and Yellow-billed Storks, as well as African Scops-Owl.

During my first visit to the Kruger one of my most memorable experiences was observing an African Scops-Owl at close quarters with a headlamp as it scanned its surroundings for prey. I kept thinking “It’s exactly like a miniature version of a larger Owl.”.

The relatively well known African Jacana has long toes that enable it to spread it’s body weight and walk on floating plants such as water lilies. Though omnivorous it feeds largely on insects and crustaceans that have aquatic habits.

After that first visit to the Kruger, whenever I found myself away from the city I would be more attentive to the birds around me. I also picked up bird books more often, so my knowledge was growing. Probably about four months after our honeymoon my wife and I bought a box full of fifty or so past issues of Africa Birds and Birding. Having a tendency for collecting information and having had developed a passion for wildlife photography I saturated my brain with each issue. My knowledge of South African birds quadrupled in a short time and as it tends to go with most fields of knowledge - the more you know about a study field, the more interesting you find it.

My wife and I are quite lucky to have one or more pairs of Klaas’s Cuckoos visit our garden on regularly intervals each summer. I was lucky enough to take this photo of a male out of one of our windows.

Although learning about birds and becoming familiar with more species was pivotal in the growth of my admiration for them, it was the realization of their beauty and variety that truly enamoured me. I came to realize that birds are arguably as morphologically diverse as mammals and on average much more colourful. They might not be as fierce as big cats, but can be just as majestic. They are probably more often overlooked than wild mammals, but their variety, in terms of numbers of species, far exceed those of mammals. In South Africa, for instance, more than 900 species of birds occur, compared to only about 300 species of mammals. Take that into account, plus the fact that birds are relatively geographically uninhibited, then there is no surprise that no matter where you live you should have a multitude of birds to admire. Take Pretoria for example. I used to just notice doves and other “boring” species in my home city, but since I’ve started to look at birds and keep my eyes open for them, I constantly have the opportunity to muse at the beauty of one or other of the approximately 400 species that have been recorded here.

This White-backed Vulture, along with numerous other vultures, came swooping down to earth shortly after a Zebra had given birth. My wife and I were both amazed at how rapidly the vultures responded and at how they seemed to appear out of nowhere. 

With my eyes open to the abundance of birds wherever I find myself, I am indebted to them for making nature’s beauty and diversity a much greater part of my daily experience. More than that, having developed a love and appreciation for birds, I have found yet another diamond in the treasury of the natural world.

Lilac-breasted Rollers have an affinity for bushveld, savannah and woodland vegetation zones. Can one help but admire their colourful plumage?

My first experience with African Wild Dogs

My first experience with African Wild Dogs



Most of my 30 years on earth I have spend on this continent called Africa, and last month was the first time that I happen to stumble upon a pack of wild dogs. Spending some time in a nature reserve in the Mpumalanga area my husband and I came upon a pack of wild dogs hanging out on a gravel road after a meal. Being called wild dogs, I some how didn’t think that a ‘wild dog’ would actually be so dog like. (I don’t know what I was thinking?). They did absolutely everything exactly like a dog would. They scratched like dogs, growled like dogs, played like dogs, pounced upon one another like dogs, turned their heads slightly to the side and tilted their ears - like dogs. But, on the other hand they where more fit and unpredictable than any dog I’ve encountered.

What also surprised me was that all their teeth where so strong and white and their coats where fluffy and shiny. I don’t know how good it would be to try this at home, but it seems a diet consisting mostly of fresh impala meat goes down very well with dogs.




The other thing that amazed me was how fearless they where. While we were watching the Wild dogs at a water hole, we saw a pack of three nervous zebras chasing down upon the them.  A dog would be singled out for attack by the zebras and it would stand its ground until the last minute before fleeing. As the zebras would chase the ‘unfortunate’ dog the other dogs would assemble from behind and chase the Zebras! It was just one big game for the wild dogs, but the zebras seemed pretty out of it.



Something about wild dogs that I find very interesting is their ability to share - which is definitely not a main characteristic of most carnivores in Africa.  The pack is run by an Alfa male and female which are the only ones that get to mate. The babies born form the Alfas are taken care of by the whole pack.  So every time after a hunt the dogs will assemble and through-up a little ‘fresh’ food into the babies’ mouths. The wild dogs that stay behind to take care of the babies will also receive some take always…

Wild dogs are also known for the fact that they are nomadic and babies are moved on a regular basis. Can’t help to think that it might contribute to the fact that they come across so incredibly fit and slender.



While spending time with the wild dogs I also made a new discovery. I was allergic to them! At one stage we spend some time quite close to a few wild dogs lying under a tree. At first I was captivated being so close to them, but then I got exactly the same allergic reaction I get form being close to normal dogs… I couldn’t keep my sneezes in and startled the wild dogs every timed it happened.  So unfortunately we had to leave…

Even though the mannerisms of wild dogs are very similar to those of your pooch at home, I will under no circumstances suggest that you climb out of your car and try and hang out with them. Unlike your pooch these dogs kill for a living, and it seems like they quite enjoy it too. You might think you have your eye on the dog in front of you, just to be taken down form behind by 15 other dogs. Oh, and if you think that you are a pretty big guy, think again, your might have size but they’ve got the numbers.

There was something quite mesmerizing about these animals.  They represented a sense of freedom, a wild secret that they carry with them. One you would only know if you had run with the pack and felt the excitement of a kill… It always makes me sad to think of how endangered they are.

Tswaing Meteorite Crater

Tswaing Meteorite Crater as seen from the crater's rim.

On a recent visit to the Tswaing Meteorite Crater (also known as Saltpan) my wife and I were pleasantly surprised at all it has to offer nature lovers. Located approximately 40 km north-northwest of Pretoria (4), the impact crater is anomalously well preserved and home to a wide range of prolific fauna and flora. Due to its value to science and tourism the crater and its immediate surrounds form a protected area open to the public at a small entrance fee.

Impact, Geology and Archaeology:

Roughly 220 000 years ago a moderately sized meteorite hit Southern Africa forming the Tswaing Meteorite Crater. Like many meteorites the ‘Tswaing Meteorite’ was vaporised on impact. It is believed to have been 30-50 m in diameter as it sped to the Earth’s surface at 72000-108000 km/hour (2). The energy released by the impact was roughly equal to that of 1000 nuclear bomb explosions (2). Most, if not all, non-primitive life forms within a radius of about 20 km of the impact site was obliterated (2).

The Meteorite impacted the Nebo granite of the Bushveld Igneous Complex, overturning and tilting various portions of granite. Apart from the crater and structural geology of Tswaing, rapidly deformed quartz and feldspar crystals, as well as melt-breccias formed from the granite bear witness to the colossal impact event (4).

The rim of the crater has an altitude roughly 60 m higher than the surrounding country, while the crater floor lies roughly 120 m below the highest portion of the rim (1). The crater’s basin (i.e. floor) lies below the regional watertable (3). This resulted in the formation of a semi-permanent lake inside the crater, as ground- and rain water tend to flow into the crater basin (3). Due to a higher average rate of evaporation from the lake than the average rate of rain water addition to it, the lake has been saline for many millennia.

The saline character of the lake is responsible for much of the crater’s archaeological significance. Stone Age artefacts have shown that people hunted, gathered and collected salts at Tswaing from roughly 150 000 to 30 000 years before present. In historical times, between 1912 an1956, salt and soda was mined commercially at Tswaing by SA Alkali Ltd..

Biodiversity:

Black-winged Stilt is one of the bird species one is likely to encounter at the crater lake.

In terms of nature, Tswaing arguably has most to offer birders, though various mammals and numerous trees and plants occur in it. Roughly 260 bird species have been documented within the conservancy (2). This large array of birds can be attributed to the mixture of bio zones within Tswaing. They are Acacia woodland, mixed woodland (crater rim), river and wetland (wetland occurs in the north-eastern sector of the conservancy), areas where grasses dominate and the crater lake with its shores (2). The Acacia and mixed woodland attract species such as Crimson-breasted Shrike, Red-chested Cuckoo (in summer), Burchell’s Coucal, Southern Red-billed Hornbill, Cardinal Woodpecker, Fork-tailed Drongo, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Pearl-spotted Owlet (2) and Acacia Pied Barbet (2). At the saline crater lake one can expect to see species such as Black-winged Stilt, Cape Teal, Little Grebe, Black-smith Lapwing, Pied Avocet (2) and Three-banded Plover. The wetland in the northeast of the conservancy hosts various Warblers (Willow, Icterine, Garden, Marsh, Great Reed and River), African Rail and African Purple Swamphen, to name a few (2). After high rainfall Harlequin Quail and Dwarf Bittern may visit the wetland (2). A final birding highlight I wish to mention is the African Hawk-Eagle pair that breed within the crater every year (2). The public is strongly urged not to approach the eagle’s nest, as this might interfere with the raptors’ breeding success.

Various small mammals such as rodents, mongoose, hares, genets and Vervet Monkey (2) occur at Tswaing. Larger mammals include Chacma Baboon and introduced antelope such as Impala.

Finally, for those with a passion for botany – many trees in the Tswaing have been tagged with numbers. Lists with the corresponding tree species names can be obtained at the Tswaing Museum (2).

Personal experience:

Upon entering Tswaing the first two birds we saw were Brown-hooded kingfishers...

I’ve only visited the Tswaing Crater once, but the experience has definitely motivated me to want to go again. Upon entering Tswaing the first two birds we saw were Brown-hooded kingfishers, the third species, I believe, was a White-winged Widowbird – both of which you would rarely see in Pretoria. The most prominent birdcall, evident throughout our visit, was that of the Red-chested Cuckoo, which we spotted in flight a handful of times. Other prominent vocals were those of Burchell’s Coucals and Arrow-marked Babblers.

The environment within Tswaing, especially near the crater, seemed healthy and thriving. Walking in-and-around the crater evoked a feeling of being in a remote part of Africa. This feeling was probably due to elevated humidity, pristine woodland, and the strange geomorphology of the crater.

One thing I want to do differently if I visit Tswaing again in summer – is to take lots of mosquito repellent. As soon as we started descending into the crater, we started loosing blood!

Access, facilities and costs:

The Tswaing Crater is open to the public from 07:30-16:00 everyday (2). Entrance costs R15 per adult and R20 per car (optional) and is payable at the Tswaing Museum. One may leave one’s car at the museum and enter Tswaing on foot. The entrance to Tswaing is located roughly 200 m north of the museum along the M35. Obtaining a permit for one’s car gives one access to a limited portion of the conservancies’ road network - enabling one to drive up to near the crater’s rim. A clearly marked hiking trail exists, for which a map is given on the information brochure obtained at the museum. The full length of the trail is 7.2 km (2). Day visitors can make use of the picnic area which includes braai facilities and toilets (2). Finally, camping and chalets are available at Kgotla Camp (2). For more information phone 012 790 2302.

Conclusions:

The Tswaing Crater is a must-see for Gauteng nature lovers, especially to those that enjoy birdwatching. Being only about 40 km from Pretoria – visitors from our Capital City could easily do just a morning- or afternoon visit. Visitors from further a field would probably do best to make a day-visit of Tswaing, or to sleep over at Kgotla Camp.

Denni Raubenheimer

info@wildlifestockimage.com

References:

1) Brandt, D. and Reimold, W.U. (1995). The geology of the Pretoria Saltpan impact structure and the surrounding area. South African Journal of Geology, 98 (3), 287-304.

2) Marias, E. and Peacock, F. (2008). The Chamberlain Guide to Birding Gauteng. Mirafra Publishing, Cape Town. – 384pp.

3) McCaffrey, L.P. and Harris, C. (1996). Hydrological impact of the Pretoria Salt Pan crater, South Africa. Journal of African Earth Sciences, 23 (2), 205-212.

4) Partridge, T. C., Demenocal, P. B., Lorentz, S. A., Paiker, M. J. and Vogel, J. C. (1997). Orbital forcing of climate over South Africa: a 200,000-year rainfall record from the Pretoria Saltpan. Quarternary Science Reviews, 16, 1125-1133.

Gauteng Nature: Austen Roberts and Pretoria Botanical Gardens

Nature oases within large cities’ limits might be prone to unnatural elements, but, as is the case with the Austen Roberts Bird Sanctuary and the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens, may offer a wealth of natural beauty. And though the fauna in such havens might be aware of human activity around them, they often continue with their required daily activities as if we were not there.

1) Austen Roberts Bird Sanctuary

This White-faced Duck was photographed through one of the viewing holes in the wall built along the path leading to the Sasol Hadeda Hide.

The Austen Roberts Bird Sanctuary is located on the site of an old clay quarry in the suburb of Nieuw Muckleneuk and was established in 1958. Though it apparently took a while for a wide variety of birds to start roosting and/or abiding in the sanctuary, it soon became a refuge and prime foraging site to a large number of bird species.

Biodiversity:
More than 160 species have been recorded in the sanctuary and in addition to birds some antelope (Common Duiker and Blesbok) and Leopard Tortoises call the sanctuary home. Slender Mongoose, though not confined to the sanctuary, is also often seen. Some of the birds one is likely to encounter are Blue Crane, Sacred Ibis, White-faced Duck, Knob-billed Duck, Yellow-billed Duck, Egyptian Goose, Little Grebe, Reed Cormorant, African Darter, Black Crake, Warblers (Lesser Swamp, Little Rush and Willow), Southern Masked Weaver, Thick-billed Weaver and Village Weaver. Kingfishers are common (Pied, Giant and Brown-hooded) and various elusive species, such as the Black-crowned Night Heron and Little Bittern, might also be seen.

This female Giant Kingfisher took a breather on a tree adjacent to the Sanctuary’s main dam and next to the walkway leading to the Sasol Hadeda Hide.

Access and facilities:
The general public may not venture into the sanctuary itself, but can view it either from the walkways that follow the sanctuary’s fence, from the Blue Crane Restaurant, which borders and overlooks much of the sanctuary and from the Sasol Hadeda Hide. The walk around the fence may sound dull, but a number of small dams are located close to the fence and one is sure to see a good number of bird species and some antelope if one walks around the whole perimeter. The Blue Crane Restaurant allows a good view over the sanctuary’s main dam, especially from its top deck. With a pair of binoculars one can utilize the restaurant’s vantage point to the full, although the view itself is scenic and many birds should be well within range to observe without optical aid. If one is a birder then a visit to Austen Roberts is not complete without making use of the Sasol Hadeda Hide. This hide is well designed with a walkway leading to the hide that largely conceals the visitor from birds. Furthermore, this walkway also has eye-level gaps in its concealing wall that allow for intimate close-up views of a number of ducks and other birds. The hide itself looks out onto a small stream on side, an embayment fringed by reeds and much of the sanctuary’s main dam. Look out for Warblers and Black Crake around the hide and upon entering and leaving the hide scan the nearby trees that fringe the dam for Kingfishers. Another feature of the sanctuary is the small museum located between the restaurant and hide. It features displays of a number of birds preserved by taxidermy and would be enjoyed by most children, though adults (like myself) are not exempt.

The birds, and certain antelope like the Common Duiker, in the reserve are quite habituated to humans, which allows for close views and many photo opportunities. Whether one is a serious birder and/or nature photographer or just a nature lover, the Austen Roberts Bird Sanctuary has something to offer. Its tranquillity and beauty allow the mind to escape from the hustle and bustle of surrounding suburban Pretoria.

2) Pretoria National Botanical Gardens
Apart from being a nice picnic spot, the Pretoria National Botanical Gardens offers access to patches of bush of pristine flora and a healthy diversity of birdlife. Situated near the N1-N4 interchange, the gardens were established in 1946 and span a large area of 76 hectares. A quartzite ridge runs through the gardens and separates its southern and northern portions. Apart from the woodland biozone defined by the ridge, portions of natural grassland occur, while the remainder of the gardens is composed of a mosaic of mini-gardens, all having different themes, and lawns that are interspersed with trees.

When the fig trees that grow on the quartzite ridge that runs through the gardens develop ripe figs one is likely to find the beautiful African Green Pigeon along with various other frugivores gorging themselves on these fruit.

Biodiversity:
The botanical gardens are home to a wide spectrum of life, from plants and trees to reptiles, amphibians, mammals and birds. Roughly 200 species of birds have been recorded and one may well be surprised to encounter species you might not expect well within Pretoria such as Crimson-breasted Shrike, Acacia Pied Barbet, African Green Pigeon and in summer Grey-headed Kingfisher. A mammal rather ubiquitous on the quartzite ridge is the Rock Hyrax (Dassie) and if you’ve never seen these large rodents in a tree – this is a common spectacle in the gardens. I have not seen any, but I’m sure mongoose, genets and various snakes are also resident in the gardens. Finally, I wouldn’t be doing the gardens due honour by neglecting to mention its floral diversity. More or less 1000 and 500 species of flowering plants and trees occur in the gardens, respectively. The gardens’ diversity in trees is impressive considering that it accounts for more than half of our indigenous tree species. Furthermore, many of the trees occurring in the gardens are labelled - displaying their common and scientific names.

As well as lawns interspersed with threes and woodland area, the gardens contain large patches of grassland that provide ideal conditions for many flowering plants, as well as prime foraging grounds for Spotted Thick-knee and the like.

Access & facilities:
The botanical gardens are open year-round from 08:00-18:00. Adults pay R18.00 for a day’s entrance, students R10 and children under ?? R??. Facilities include a visitor’s centre, an environmental education centre, a restaurant overlooking a small dam and ablution facilities. Note that the restaurant’s entrance is outside the gardens - fringing the gardens’ main parking area. Finally, the South African National Biodiversity Institute’s head office is located inside the gardens and has a commended bookstore.

So, whether one is in the mood for a picnic, a short hike, birding or just nature, the Pretoria Botanical Gardens offers a wide spectrum of natural beauty and diversity at an affordable price.

Denni Raubenheimer

PS: In writing this article I consulted ‘The Chamberlain Guide to Birding Gauteng’, a desirable book to any Gauteng birder.

Gauteng Nature: Pretoria, Rietvlei Nature Reserve (Entry 2)

Photo: Denni Raubenheimer www.wildlifestockimage.com

The first three places in Pretoria that I would recommend for nature lovers are Rietvlei Nature Reserve, the Pretoria Botanical Gardens and Austen Roberts Bird Sanctuary. It must be noted though, that the latter two cater more for bird lovers and bird photography. Also worth note, and by no means inferior, except arguably to Rietvlei, are Roodeplaatdam Nature Reserve and the Magaliesberg Mountain Range. Finally, for those seeking a relaxing walk through nature or to do some birdwatching in Pretoria East, the Fearie Glen Nature Reserve is a very affordable option. Please note that the series of articles I am writing on the nature areas in and around Gauteng will be limited to ones I have personally visited.

Rietvlei Nature Reserve is situated on the eastern outskirts of Pretoria adjacent to, and southwest of, the R50 to Delmas. One of the features of this roughly 4000 ha reserve is its wide range of mammals, ranging from mice and mongoose to black wildebeest, white rhino and a pair of cheetahs. The reserve also boasts a wide range of birds (roughly 280 species have been observed), including water-affinite species like African Fish Eagle, Kingfishers (Giant, Malachite, Pied and Half-collared are common) and Goliath Heron, a whole host of water birds and grassland species such as Korhaans (Northern Black, Barrows and Blue), Orange-throated Longclaw and African Grass Owl.

Grasslands, marshes, gently undulating hills and two dams dominate the landscape. Luckily the network of roads and 4 hides allow visitors excess to almost every nook and cranny of the reserve. Until recently there were only three hides, one at each of the dams and the other along the Vlei Route downstream of Marais Dam. The reserve’s new hide is situated on the eastern side of the Rietvlei Dam, roughly southeast of the camping area. In my opinion it is by far the best hide. It looks out onto a small island which hosts breeding colonies of Reed- and White-breasted Cormorant and allows the visitor a 270º viewing range. Grey-headed gulls, Reed-knobbed Coots, Little Grebes and African Darters are some species usually within sight. Furthermore, there are reedbeds on both sides of the hide that together with a half-drowned dead tree a few metres from the hide attract a number of birds, and offer Kingfishers desirable perches.

Another birding and photography hotspot is at the small bridge just downstream of the Marais Dam along the Vlei Route. Here my wife and I have had the opportunity to photograph Black-shouldered Kite and Malachite Kingfisher and I have read in more than one source that it is prolific for sightings of not only Malachite Kingfishers but also Pied-, Giant-, and Half-collared Kingfishers.

Visitors may enter the reserve between 05:30 and 17:00 in summer (Sept.-Mar.) and between 06:00 and 16:00 in winter. Entrance is R35.00 per person, but no fee is charged for children under the age of 12. The reserve offers accommodation in the form of two overnight huts, as well as camping in a separate portion of the reserve. Please note that the camping fee does not include entrance to the other part of Rietvlei. Finally, guided hikes and game drives are also available to the public.

All in all Rietvlei is a jewel of Pretoria that is well maintained and managed. It offers a wide variety of fauna and natural beauty in close range of the Pretoria CBD at prices affordable to the average Joe.

In my next entry I will be discussing the Pretoria Botanical Gardens and Austen Roberts Bird Sanctuary.

Denni Raubenheimer
info@wildlifestockimage.com

PS: In writing this article I consulted ‘The Chamberlain Guide to Birding Gauteng’, a desirable book to any Gauteng birder.

Gauteng Nature: In and Around (Entry 1)

Photo: Denni Raubenheimer www.wildlifestockimage.com

Gauteng. Economic and industrial hub of South Africa. Probably the Province most synonymous with the rat race. With all the development and industry associated with this region, what does it still have to offer nature lovers? In my opinion, still quite a lot.

In my next entrees I will be focused on the nature reserves, wilderness areas and nature oases in and close to Gauteng. Being based in Pretoria I will start off with “Jacaranda Stad” and her surrounds and by the end I hope I will have done justice to a still beautiful Province.

Please feel free to suggest locations in and nearby Gauteng that you would like to be discussed, or to comment on your experience of such places.

Denni Raubenheimer
info@wildlifestockimage.com