We enjoyed exploring Kwa-Zulu Natal earlier this year - and were lucky enough to share it with both old and new friends. We started our journey with time in Tembe Elephant Park in the north east of the country - it is the ancestral home of the Tembe tribe who own and co-manage both the park and the charming rustic camp. We were well looked after by the whole warm and hospitable team - particularly our guides Patrick and Vezi.
And there is no better place to start than with the elephants... |
| Birds, flowers and trees. |
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Red-fronted Tinkerbird |
Crowned Hornbill |
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Monkey Orange |
Sand Plane |
Weeping Boerbean |
Leopard Orchid |
Toad Tree |
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Tembe Dawn Chorus
Really thrilled with this beautiful (and busy) dawn chorus recorded in a patch of woodland close to the camp. The main players are a Red-eyed Dove calling from the treetops with a lion roaring in the background. Then Dark-capped Bulbuls give their melodious calls and a Black-headed Oriole calls once just before the end of the lion roar. Emerald-spotted Wood Doves start their mournful song and the distinctive “pwow” call of a Samango Monkey is given twice. A little later a Brubru gives its high-pitched trill as more and more wood doves join in on the chorus. Towards the end a Crested Guineafowl gives its cackling call and a pair of Southern Boubous complete the recording with a musical duet.
This is just a short 1.30 minute sample of the greater soundscape.
Listen HERE
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| We then travelled onto Makakatana Bay in iSimangaliso Wetland Park where we were very well fed by the lovely Nadia; and entertained by our incomparable guides - Jaco and Jan. An overriding memory is how incredibly aromatic the area was - even if this was from the invasive Curry Bush and nearby Eucalypts Plantation! |
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Waterbuck |
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Wildebeest |
Zebra |
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Hippo |
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Kudu |
Common Reedbuck |
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Buffalo |
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Green Twinspot |
Red-capped Robin-chat |
Dark-backed Weaver |
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Lichen |
The extraordinary Weaver Ants |
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Jan's Blue Flower |
Fireball Lily |
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The reason for our expanded waistlines! |
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And finally - the sea! |
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