Fauna & Flora

An outstanding feature in the Ingwelala landscape during March was the Golden Orb spider. There were hundreds of them everywhere, spinning and guarding their webs, and going about their spider business.

Plants currently flowering at Ingwelala:

The Springhare derived its name directly from the Dutch/Afrikaans name Springhaas which describes its mobility, almost kangaroo like. 

The Steenbok (Raphicerus campestris) is a small antelope that is often seen on Ingwelala. I was recently asked by a Member why currently it seems that the Steenbok numbers are more prolific than usual.

The focus in this month’s report is another mammal that rarely makes it to the reception sightings book!

Sunbirds belong to the family Nectariniidae. South Africa has 21 species of sunbirds. Male sunbirds are bright in colour, whereas females are mostly dull brown.

Stuart Woodhead from Bungalow # 153 took the stunning and interesting picture below of terrapins swamping a hippo resting up in the pan as Buffelsbed Hide.

One of my favourite reports so far to write. To confine a story and passion to two pages is difficult to do when one is so passionate about a certain species. But here we go:

When I decided on the topic of grasses it was very difficult to decide on a subject heading regarding the topic as grasses is such a diverse, scientifically based, factual, boring, and comprehensive subject.

If you come to a wilderness area such as the Umbabat Private Nature Reserve, you immediately notice the myriads of different land animal forms of all different shapes and sizes.

Falling in the Class Reptilia, tortoises are from the Order Chelonia and are parallel to other Orders Crocodilia and Squamata, these being crocodiles and snakes and lizards respectively.

This species (Parabuthus transvaalicus) is by far the most venomous scorpion species found at Ingwelala.

The tree squirrel (Paraxerus cepapi) is one of the most common small mammals in the lowveld, however it is also one of the most overlooked.

Most mornings in camp, at precious dawn, if you listen very carefully and are able to shut out the rhythmic sound of your partner’s sleepy breathing, you can hear the distinct call of Verreaux's Eagle-Owl.

This small and resourceful monkey, (Chlorocebus pygerythrus), is found commonly throughout the lowveld. 

The troop of vervet monkeys (Cercopithecus pygerythrus) that frequents the Reception car park are a growing concern from the point of view of behavioural changes.

A very interesting meal was witnessed first-hand by Rob and Sylvia Vollet in Bungalow # 148. This ingestion took place in their Mbombela garden, amongst the busy branches that overhang the bird bath. 

An interesting observation at this time of the year following the Nhlaralumi flowing in the summer is the congregation of large waders at the receding water pools along the river course.

The common warthog, Phacochoerus africanus, is no stranger to Ingwelala, often seen grazing on the lawned area around the swimming pool. 

Common waterbuck (Kobus ellipsipyrymnus ssp. ellipsipyrmnus) are large antelope with a limited distribution in the northern and north-eastern parts of the Subregion.