Fauna & Flora

Bungalow # 197 offered this account of witnessing a fantastic interaction between the African Barred Owlet and the Fork-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis).

An endearing trend that occurs each winter in the camp environment is the frequent visits, if not semi permanent residency, of a couple of old bachelor buffalos.

It was another month of elephants in camp, breaching the perimeter fence most nights.

The African Honeybee (Apis mellifera scutellata) is one of the most common insects to see during the winter at Ingwelala, particularly near the flowering aloes on the reserve and in camp.

The leopard (Panthera pardus pardus) is an elusive, solitary big cat and member of the Big 5, found throughout sub-Saharan Africa. 

The African Scops Owl is the smallest owl species in Africa with a weight between 50-90 grams.

Through November, the African wattle (Peltophorum africanum) was an endearing feature in the landscape.

Currently in bloom with bursts of bright yellow flowers, this common tree species is a regular and favourite at Ingwelala.

The African Wild Dog, (Lycaon pictus), remains a frequent visitor to Ingwelala, and once again have been active in the Umbabat during the early summer.

At this time of the year the aloes have just finished providing the most beautiful colours against the drabness of passing winter. The flowers are alive with buzzing insects and birds feeding on the sweet nectar.

Anthrax has a worldwide distribution and is caused by a bacterium (Bacillus anthracis) resulting in a non-contagious disease that can affect wildlife, domestic animals and humans. 

A beautiful image in the landscape at this time of the year is the prolific flowering of the tree Philenoptera violacea, formerly known as Lonchocarpus capassa.

An interesting presentation on our more poisonous species; how to identify them and what to do.

An iconic tree in the landscape is the Baobab (Adansonia digitata), currently in full leaf. In Afrikaans, the Baobab is known as Kremetartboom and in Tsonga as Ximuwu.

Our gorgeous Baobab tree was spotted flowering in early March, during the day! Thanks to this rarity, it has been chosen as our species of the month.

The bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus) is a striking and distinctive raptor.

A fascinating event is that of a few Wahlber’s Epauletted Fruit Bats (Epomophorus wahlbergi) roosting under the eaves of the office block.

Bee-eaters are brightly-coloured, insectivorous, birds in the family Meropidae. There are 9 species in South Africa.

The black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) is a snake often seen on Ingwelala. 

Known as the largest venomous snake in Africa, with a maximum length of up to 4.5m, the black mamba is a naturally shy and elusive snake species.