IT training wild magazine TruePDF autumn 2019

CARD MAGAZINE TM BEST CORPORATE MAGAZINE 2013 T0 2018 SA PUBLICATION FORUM AUTUMN 2019 MEMBERS ONLY www.wildcard.co.za R39.90 GROOTVADERSBOSCH Maxxx adventure in a Cape forest KRUGER WILDERNESS TRAILS Choose the right one TOMORROW’S HEROES Parks on the radar ADDO’S LIONS Outside THE 06028 PRIDE Conserve Explore Experience explore | conserve | enjoy 771993 790001 Nature, your full-size fun park West Coast National Park: Cottages from R1 191 for two, R1 615 for four Reservations (012) 428 9111 E-mail reservations@sanparks.org www.sanparks.org CONTENTS AUTUMN 2019 12 P A R K S 20 Augrabies Falls National Park 24 I N Golden Gate Highlands National Park T H E S P O T L I G H T 26 28 Camdeboo National Park Mapungubwe National Park 40 72 Letters The Wild Parks Challenge Sightseeing coast to coast 10 Pitch your tent at Ithala Why Doornkraal is pure bliss 12 48 hours in Rocherpan Adventure for the whole family 16 Goukamma retreat Find peace in Buffalo Valley 18 Table Mountain Wash Houses Escape from the city 67 Trip planner Sunset drives to seek out DESTINATIONS 20 Five parks to visit in 2019 Wildlife? Tick Dramatic landscapes? Tick Fascinating history? Tick Add these lesserknown gems to your list www.wildcard.co.za 18 50 Kruger wilderness trails The essential guide to finding the one that is right for you 60 Into the woods Discover enchanting trails and magical hideaways in Grootvadersbosch 30 Mokala National Park 76 PEOPLE IN PARKS 40 Women in the wild Meet the female guides making their mark 72 Skukuza through the lens Young photographers on show in new safari lodge PHOTOGRAPHY 64 After dark Get the shot on a night drive 76 Stunning seascapes Capture the Garden Route AUTUMN 2019 WILD GERHARD DE LANGE 32 44 68 84 WIN A STAY 80 NATURE 32 Chameleon quest How one fan is promoting their conservation 44 Lifestyles of Addo lions The lionesses that go it alone 68 Namaqua census Inside an aerial survey 80 Outsourcing parenthood The firefinches that raise another bird’s chick 84 Pride of De Kaap Look for their red blooms 96 KIDS 86 Bizarre birds Feathered friends with the weirdest families WILD CARD 90 Parks protocol Stay safe when watching ellies in the wild 93 Become a member 94 Map of the Wild parks 96 Competition Win a stay in Grootvadersbosch On the cover: Sylvester, Addo’s superstar Read about his new life on www.wildcard.co.za WILD AUTUMN 2019 Gallo Images/ Foto24/ Werner Hills 8498 WestCoastWay Cederberg Wilderness Area Whether you are a nature enthusiast or an adrenaline adventurist, a wildlife spotter or a bird watcher or just need to relax and immerse in the great outdoors there’s a nature reserve for you 021 483 0190 reservation.alert@capenature.co.za Book online: www.capenature.co.za Terms and conditions apply Standard daily conservation fees apply Free access for Wild Card members INSIDE TRACK EDITORIAL BOARD HAPILOE SELLO SANParks SHERAAZ ISMAIL CapeNature MUSA MNTAMBO Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife MBONISENI DLAMINI Msinsi Resorts ANN REILLY Swazi Big Game Parks HEIN GROBLER Wild Card FROM THE EDITOR Relaxing in Ithala Nature Reserve WILD CARD ENQUIRIES 0861 GO WILD (46 9453) wildcard@sanparks.org International Wild Card members call +27-12-428-9112 EDITOR Romi Boom | wilded@tipafrica.co.za DEPUTY EDITOR Magriet Kruger | magriet@tipafrica.co.za ART DIRECTOR Riaan Vermeulen | riaan@tipafrica.co.za DESIGNER Leon Kriel TEXT EDITOR Marion Boddy-Evans PROOFREADER Margy Beves-Gibson DIGITAL JOURNALIST Gaynor Siljeur CONTENT DIRECTOR Igna Schneider EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Joan Kruger CREATIVE DIRECTOR Petro du Toit MISSING COPIES/CHANGE ADDRESS subs@tipafrica.co.za CONTRIBUTORS Emma Bryce, Julienne du Toit, Calvin Fisher, Albert and Marietjie Froneman, Nell Hofmeyr, Hlengiwe Magagula, Jacques Marais, Eric Nathan, Harriet Nimmo, Mitch Reardon, Karin Schermbrucker, Janine Stephen, Lesley Stones, Ron Swilling, Dianne Tipping-Woods, Morgan Trimble, Albie Venter, Henk Venter PHOTOGRAPHY & ART Romi Boom, Stephen Cunliffe, Albert and Marietjie Froneman, Joe James, Kelly Lodewyks, Hlengiwe Magagula, Hellen Mthatshwa, Eric Nathan, Lucky Ndzobela, Thulani Nghonyama, Tyrone Ping, Scott Ramsay, Joël Roerig, Daleen Roodt, Peter Ryan, Karin Schermbrucker, Ron Swilling, Barry Tanner, Warwick Tarboton, Dianne Tipping-Woods, Morgan Trimble, Albie Venter, Henk Venter, Gerhard Vosloo PUBLISHED BY Tip Africa Publishing PO Box 13022, Woodstock, 7915 T: (+27) 021-447-6094 F: (+27) 021-447-0312 wilded@tipafrica.co.za EDITORIAL QUERIES 021-448-5425 BUSINESS & SALES Jaco Scholtz jaco@tipafrica.co.za | C: 083-303-0453 PUBLISHER Theo Pauw theo@tipafrica.co.za | C: 082-558-5730 REPRODUCTION Resolution Colour I n this autumn issue we proudly present five of our undersung national parks The essence of these lesser-known gems has been captured by our five contributors, in singular style I’d be hardpressed to choose a favourite as each park has inimitable appeal and will satisfy your wilderness cravings Staying with the theme of five (yes, you guessed what’s forever at the back of our minds), we visited five other hot spots, hand-picked for their wide-ranging appeal Buffalo Valley in Goukamma Nature Reserve will seduce you with its riverside timber cabins At Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve, you’ll discover a Lord of the Rings fantasy and return with your mountain bike Rocherpan is a pristine eco-reserve on the rugged West Coast where children of all ages will take pleasure in the multifaceted waterworld Table Mountain’s Wash Houses is one of the Mother City’s best-kept secrets, you’ll wonder why you’ve never checked in before My own personal treat was to camp at Doornkraal in the remote but absolutely gorgeous Ithala Nature Reserve in KZN When we were first alerted to millennial Tyrone Ping’s crazy fiveyear quest, we immediately thought: how cool! And yes, how wild is that! “Chasing chameleons” (page 32) is the theme of a mind-boggling conservation feature Turn to page 20 for travel suggestions for Wild Card parks where you can get out of your vehicle to look for specific slow foot species It is our responsibility to conserve them since 80 per cent of our species are endemic From the timid to the gregarious: the social life of lions is not always what it seems (page 44) Sure, they are the only truly social cats in the world, they like each other’s company and depend on it At least in Kruger they do, so why not in Addo? Do write to us at wilded@tipafrica.co.za about your Wild Card travels and adventures Your stories are our lifeblood Have fun! WILD CARD PARTNERS Wild® magazine and Wild Card® are registered trademarks of SANParks Opinions expressed in this magazine not reflect those of the Wild Card or any of the Wild Card programme partners Every effort has been made to ensure accuracy, but Wild magazine cannot be held liable for inadvertent mistakes Prices correct at the time of going to print Letters may be shortened for clarity WILD AUTUMN 2019 WILD LETTERS Connect with us at www.wildcard.co.za | wilded@tipafrica.co.za | PO Box 13022, Woodstock, 7915 WINNIN FINDING LOVE ON KALANDERKLOOF HIKE My family and I drove from Port Elizabeth to Nature’s Valley and parked our car at the start of the Kalanderkloof Hike We walked through a beautiful indigenous forest and then started our ascent to the lookout Multifocal glasses made me feel so insecure at times that I was on all fours climbing up the steepest parts of the hill But I continued, knowing how beautiful the view from the top is Along the way there were butterflies, spiders, snakes, lizards and flowers There were times I stopped to just admire the view, to take photos, or to catch my breath The trip down was far gentler and, during the descent, I told my daughter how it was on this hike that my husband and I fell in love nearly 30 years ago We caught up with my husband and other daughter a little later where they had stopped to chat to the baboons and wait for us Time with family is precious Today, together, we savoured Africa Leslie Clemence Send us your letter for the chance to win LETTERG Leslie Clemence wins Ravus Vent Low shoes (R899) from HI-TEC These crossover shoes will keep you cool and confident on any trail The Multi-Directional Traction (MDT) outsole provides grip for walking both up and downhill while the compression-moulded EVA midsole ensures supreme comfort A DOZEN IN ONE BUSH I am a 75-year-old birder with 750 plus on my list and now find it difficult to see new ones Precisely a year ago I bought Steve Woodhall’s book and started photographing butterflies I have now photographed 102 species On our last visit to Kruger, about km from Shingwedzi Camp, my wife and I took the S52 road to Redrocks We crossed the dry riverbed and I noticed a shrub-like bush (Vernonia) that was attracting large numbers of butterflies as if there were no other flowering plants in the vicinity: topaz tip, small orange tip, common orange tip, African common white, African veined white, brown-veined white, broad-bordered grass yellow, zebra white, yellow pansy, mountain sandman and small orange acraea I took as many photos as possible of these orange butterflies and only back home discovered on my computer that two of the photos were in fact of the Acraea machequena – the image of the latter has subsequently been submitted to LepiMAP, the Virtual Museum Tom Drinkwater www.wildcard.co.za AUTUMN 2019 WILD INSIDE TRACK MOUNTAIN ZEBRA’S LIONS On our morning drive we came across lions in the process of mating right in the road near camp Keeping a safe and respectful distance, we took photos with the car windows down Along came one of the park’s officials with passengers in an open game drive vehicle He told us how fast a lion can strike and said we should close our windows, then drove up to and stopped about two metres from the male lion in the road Afterwards in the camp his explanation was that he wanted to put pressure on them so he could pass and that they were familiar with his bakkie How can such a person be trusted to take visitors on a nature experience trip and let them understand how to respect animals in the wild? Frans Booysen Fayroush Ludick, regional communications manager, responds: As the park has only one game drive vehicle and one field guide on duty at a time, the staff member in question needed to return to camp to prepare for the next guided activity Our guides are all wellversed in the temperaments of more ‘special’ animals like lion and cheetah, and he was comfortable in the knowledge he could pass without incident We apologise if that came across as reckless to the guest We do, however, at all times advise guests in vehicles in close proximity to these animals to take all precautions necessary to ensure their safety BIRTHDAY BASH We’d just renewed our Wild Card and decided to celebrate my husband’s birthday with a quick camping trip to Kruger By the time we arrived at Berg-en-Dal we just managed to find a spot next to the fence and the dry riverbed, which is our preferred place Shortly before midnight we were awakened by monkeys screaming, an antelope’s alarm call as it slammed into the fence by our tent and some yelps As we unzipped the tent we heard excited hyenas, emitting all sorts of vocalisations By torchlight we saw a wild dog and in the ditch next to the fence about 10 hyenas tearing at something and running off with pieces of it Two more wild dogs ran off The action, with the sound of crunching bones, lasted about 10 minutes We figured the wild dogs had chased the antelope to the fence and made the kill The hyenas were quick to pick up on the kill and steal the prize, sadly for the dogs We quickly realised how lucky we were to experience such an event right on our doorstep It was the best present my husband could have wished for Having our Wild Card is the perfect excuse to uncover Kruger’s surprises We have never been disappointed Gabriela Benavides Most marvellous photographs We read every word in these brilliant magazines – Graham Attwood CONSTANT TRAVEL COMPANION Before our marriage, my wife, Anita, often told of her fond memories of Tankwa and the Cederberg mountains It was therefore only fitting that I asked her hand and heart in marriage during a week-long visit to the Cederberg Wilderness Area and Tankwa Karoo National Park And so began our biggest adventure During our honeymoon we made extensive use of our Wild Card, with visits to Goukamma Nature Reserve (Mvubu Lodge was an absolute treat), Gamkaskloof (Die Hel) and, of course, a return to Tankwa Karoo National Park Our first New Year’s celebration was spent at Nature’s Valley in Garden Route National Park and for our first anniversary we visited West Coast National Park We have many memories of Boulders Beach, Limietberg Nature Reserve, Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve, Grootvadersbosch, Addo Elephant National Park, and our recent visit to Richtersveld and Kgalagadi transfrontier parks The milestones in our relationship are celebrated with a constant travel companion: our Wild Card Long may it continue Jacques Wilkinson WHERE TO NEXT? My daughter has been reading your magazine for weeks but she can’t seem to decide which park to visit first Her name is Florence and she is 20 months old She has visited West Coast National Park many times as my parents live in Langebaan On our last visit, she was fascinated watching the flamingoes from the bird hide She has also been to Silvermine a few times We’re hoping to visit Anysberg on our first family road trip Thanks for a great magazine which has provided hours of entertainment Nicky Preston WILD AUTUMN 2019 FANS OF TZENDZE This is just a quick note to express our joy and satisfaction with our recent visit to the Kruger National Park There are so many horror stories about ‘how things are falling apart’, but it has been our experience over the years that Kruger is working Now more than ever We spent four nights in our beloved Tsendze and also travelled to the surrounding camps Everywhere we went we were met with friendly smiles, excellent service and a clean park and camps The shops are well stocked with goods you need and really want to buy The restaurants have all had a big revamp and the results are delectable In the park the roads are well maintained The real delight, of course, is Tsendze and as with all our previous visits, it held us spellbound Please don’t ever think of modernising it, and please keep Rodgers Hobyane, the camp manager, there for ever Rita van den Heever Where did you go with your Wild Card? Send us a picture of your card in the parks and you could win free renewal of your membership Email your pic to competition@tipafrica.co.za (subject line: Card) For rules, visit www.wildcard co.za/category/competitions Claire Fordred wins with this picture taken on the way to the Kruger National Park’s Numbi Gate www.wildcard.co.za Go Wild! PARKS CHALLENGE Make 2019 the year to tick more wild places off your list Draw inspiration from Viv and Ray Ruiter whose Wild Card took them to no fewer than seven Wild properties in a year Hluhluwe-iMfolozi Park, in a safari tent in the unfenced Mpila Camp Kruger for almost a fortnight Kgalagadi, five nights at Twee Rivieren and Kalahari Tented Camp To the coast for a visit to Bird Island Nature Reserve West Coast National Park, with the most beautiful annual flowers Wilderness Section of Garden Route National Park in a log cabin facing the river Addo Elephant National Park, with a lucky sighting, from the underground hide, of hyena and black-backed jackal on a kudu kill ENTER THE CHALLENGE THE PARKS CHALLENGE WILD AUTUMN 2019 BOTANY BAUHINIA GALPINII PRIDE OF DE KAAP I The flame of the plains adds a blaze of colour to the bush Better known as pride of De Kaap, it doesn’t come from the Cape at all magine being greeted by a wonderful splash of colour emerging from the acacia thickets as you drive up to your rest camp At Ntshondwe especially, in Ithala Nature Reserve, the welcome is truly spectacular In many Wild Card parks and reserves in our bushveld regions you’ll find masses of red pride of De Kaap flowers for a long period, from September to March As if that weren’t long enough, the tree also flowers sporadically throughout the rest of the year The semi-deciduous plant, endemic to eastern and southern Africa, is named after De Kaap valley, south of Mbombela (Nelspruit) Also known as orchid tree, red bauhinia, nasturtium bauhinia, African plume and red orchid bush, its Afrikaans name vlam van die vlakte means flame of the plains In its wild state in sandy, loam soil, this shrub-like tree grows to a mature height of three to five metres, behaving more like a climber, clambering through dense thicket vegetation Its shrubby growth habit makes it a popular nesting site for small birds Its colourful brick-red flowers are favoured by pollinators including birds Butterfly larvae eat the leaves and pupate into beautifully coloured butterflies The bark with its smooth powdery texture is often multi-stemmed, ranging from light grey-brown to darker grey-brown People use the long flexible branches for weaving baskets and to construct roof trusses for their huts / To stand a chance to win a certified print of the pride of De Kaap, simply answer the following question: When does Bauhinia galpinii flower? Email the answer with your name and valid Wild Card number to competition@tipafrica.co.za (subject line: Bauhinia) Closing date: 30 April 2019 A winner will be selected by lucky draw 84 WILD AUTUMN 2019 TATIANA GERUS WIN THE ILLUSTRATION ILLUSTRATION BY DALEEN ROODT The colours of the flowers range from brickred to salmon, orange, yellow and white The petals, about 44 mm in length, are shaped like paddles or oars The characteristic two-lobed or winged leaves are 60 mm wide and dark green when mature Their shape inspired the Afrikaans common name kameelpoot, meaning camel’s foot AUTUMN 2019 WILD 85 KIDS Bizarre Birds These are some of the strangest families you’ll find: from mothers who rely on men to all the work to parents who sneak their children into other houses By Emma Bryce WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATER When these little birds decide to start a family, they have all the support they could possibly wish for Bee-eaters live together in huge colonies made up of many different family groups When two birds mate, all the other nonbreeding birds in a family will come together to help This extended family assists the mating couple with building their nest, shares the chores of incubating newly laid eggs, and even takes turns to fetch insects to feed the new chicks With all this extra support from their caring relatives, chicks have a much better chance of survival Can you match the eyes to the birds shown on these pages? A B C A 86 WILD AUTUMN 2019 B C D D A B C D E F GREATER HONEYGUIDE VERREAUX’S EAGLE Once these majestic raptors find their mate, they bond for life Paired eagles will fly everywhere together and help each other build their nest Which egg is the odd one out? Carefully compare the eggs in the nests to find the one that is different from the rest Odd nest out: C These birds are real tricksters Greater honeyguides fool other species into raising their chicks for them! When the female honeyguide is almost ready to lay, she finds a nest that contains another egg While the parent of that egg isn’t paying attention, she deposits her own one in the nest The honeyguide chick hatches first, then uses its hooked beak to pierce a hole in the original egg That way it gets all the parents’ attention — who have no idea that they’re raising someone else’s baby What a sneaky bird! They even share the task of incubating the two eggs they produce each breeding season But their hatchlings have a different kind of relationship Eagle chicks will try to kill each other Usually the bigger and stronger chick will shove its weaker sibling out of the nest This is called ‘siblicide’ and while it seems cruel, it makes sure the strongest chick gets all the attention This gives it the best chance of survival in the harsh wilderness Q: What is the one very important thing that chicks compete for in the nest? A: Eggs B: Sticks C: Food D: Feathers A: You guessed it — food! Having enough food to eat is very important to a chick’s survival www.wildcard.co.za AUTUMN 2019 WILD 87 AFRICAN JACANA In the jacana family, the female rules the roost — literally When it’s time to breed, females mate with many different males and produce several eggs with each one But how does she manage to take care of all these offspring? Easy: she simply relies on the male to all the hard work! In fact, male jacanas are responsible for building the nest, incubating the eggs, and protecting and feeding the chicks when they hatch This allows the female to focus on the important work of watching over her many nests and defending her breeding territory from other birds Q: Can you think of other species where the female has lots of mates? A: Honeybees are one example Female queen bees have multiple male mates, just like the African jacana 88 WILD AUTUMN 2019 find a n a c ja s nest e h t p Hel way to it the KIDS Try your hand at weaving with grass Find 25 longish blades or stalks of grass of the same length in your garden Lie the five stalks down parallel Take a new stalk of grass and weave it under and over the horizontal pieces Left: Cape weaver nest Above: Sociable weaver nest CAPE WEAVER The male Cape weaver has a clever method to attract mates: he builds them a beautiful home out of grass The more mates the better, for this species Cape weavers are ‘polygynous’, which means that males mate with several females, up to nine at a time, to produce as many offspring as possible But female birds are hard to please They’ll agree to pair up only once they’ve closely inspected the nest If they like what they see, females will quickly redecorate the bachelor’s pad with feathers and grass, signaling they’re ready to start a family LOOK There are many different weaver species and they make many different types of nests Keep an eye out for the beautiful oval nests of the Cape weaver dangling from trees beside river banks Or see if you can spot the massive, sprawling nests of the sociable weaver Built up in trees and on telephone poles, they look like huge haystacks Take another stalk but this time weave it over and under the horizontal pieces Keep the stalks of grass close together Listen to them Curious to hear what some of these species sound like? Type these links into a web page and press play to hear the sounds they make in real life Greater honeyguide https://www.xeno-canto.org/339217 Verreaux’s eagle https://www.xeno-canto.org/392307 African jacana https://www.xeno-canto.org/279769 As you repeat the weave with the next stalk of grass, push the bits of grass tight against one another so your weave will be strong AUTUMN 2019 WILD 89 PARKS PROTOCOL WOW look at me now S tuck in the middle, that’s what we were Elephants in front, and elephants behind, on a narrow sand track in Chobe Forced to sit it out for the better part of an hour, we fixed one nervous eye on the elephants, another on the dense vegetation That unprovoked situation still gives me goosebumps and, with every retelling, I spell out the guidelines for safe elephant viewing • Always slow down as soon as you see elephants Never rush up to them • Switch off the engine, sit quietly and enjoy their company • Elephants must be viewed at a minimum distance of 100 metres This is the most comfortable distance for the ellies, therefore the safest for you • If you suspect that a bull is in musth (see box on page 92), the minimum recommended viewing distance is 100 to 200 metres Testosterone levels make them short-tempered • Always assess the elephants’ direction 90 WILD AUTUMN 2019 of movement Do not block them, cut off their escape route, or come between a mother and calf Allow them a clear path away from the area • Keep an eye on both sides and the rear of the vehicle for approaching elephants • If you accidentally drive into a herd, remain calm and quiet Look for the first opportunity to retreat to a safe viewing distance • Give the elephants space to move off the road before driving past them Never drive closer than 40 metres to the nearest elephant • Try to limit the number of vehicles at the sighting to three Never box them in when other vehicles are present • Retreat slowly if the elephants are showing any signs of unease or mild threat • Never hang out of the window or sunroof • Never park your car over any elephant footpaths leading off from the road JANE RIX / SHUTTERSTOCK.COM They’re gentle giants, intelligent and emotional, but elephants in the wild can be dangerous For your own safety and that of dear little Dumbo, leave them in peace and give them lots of personal space By Romi Boom WAIT AND SEE No matter how impatient or hurried you are, remember elephants have right of way They appreciate silence and slow, steady movements Never drive for extended periods behind elephants that are walking along the road Never rev the engine when elephants are present Never try to push elephants off the road Never drive off the road Never make any noises or fast, jerky movements to attract their attention Do not endanger your own life, or that of other visitors Elephants responsible for damage, injury or death may have to be destroyed, whether or not they were provoked Their future lies in your common sense www.wildcard.co.za It’s a privilege to view elephants in the wild Remember, you’re the visitor; the ellies have right of way WHO’S GOT ATTITUDE? Assess the elephant’s frame of mind by looking for signs of stress or aggression Its posture, stance and gestures will reveal uneasiness when the elephant is deciding on a flight-or-fight response Elephants are emotional, intelligent creatures that communicate how they feel Learn to read their signals • Swinging the front foot • Chin slightly up and ears slightly spread • Breaking vegetation without feeding on it • Coiling and uncoiling of the trunk • Twisting the trunk tip back and forth • Touching its own face with its trunk • Smelling in the direction of the vehicle AUTUMN 2019 WILD 91 PARKS PROTOCOL During musth, an oily fluid runs down from the temporal gland BEST YOU RETREAT! A BULL IN MUSTH Musth, a periodic state of dominance in bull elephants, can lead to unpredictable behaviour and increased aggression Reverse if a musth bull is in front of you, don’t drive past nor let him walk towards you To recognise a bull in musth, look for: Profuse streaming of oily fluid down the cheek to the chin, from the temporal gland located between the eye and ear Musth males often rub the glands against trees Temporal gland secretions alone are not a reliable indicator of musth, they can also indicate stress or excitement, so look for co-occurrence with other signs Swollen temporal gland At the peak of musth, it will be at least the size of an orange Musth males often drape their trunks over the tusks to relieve pressure on the gland Constantly dribbling urine or wet hind legs Look for dark streaks running down the legs A strong, musky odour, distinctly different from the typical elephant or dung smell A swaggering gait, chin tucked in 92 WILD AUTUMN 2019 WIN Three lucky Wild Card members will each win a copy of Understanding Elephants (R120, Struik Nature), a guide to safe viewing by the Elephant Specialist Advisory Group To enter the lucky draw, send your Wild Card number and postal address to competition@ tipafrica.co.za (subject line: Elephants) Competition closes 30 April 2019 When the elephant displays annoyance or aggression: • Turning towards vehicle with ears spread out 90 degrees from the body Not to be confused with slow, gentle ear flapping which relaxed elephants to keep cool • Throwing dust, branches or objects towards vehicle • Tail swished vigorously or held at right angles to the body and arched • Standing tall with head raised high, peering over tusks, ears cocked and trunk hanging at an acute angle • Vocalisations such as trumpeting • Head shaking abruptly so the ears flap and crack • Tusks pointing towards opponent with ears spread This is more serious than standing tall • Threat display by bending down with front of body onto knees and pushing head towards the ground or uprooting vegetation • Bush bashing and tree pushing to demonstrate strength Not serious when feeding on the roots or leaves • Ear fold, when the lower half of the ear is forced under and backwards so that a horizontal ridge appears across the ear • Warning charges can often transition into real charges and should be taken seriously • Real charge when the elephant rushes towards opponent or vehicle with ears not fully spread, which they for greater speed The trunk is usually tightly curled up, the head held low, and tusks pointing towards the opponent It is fast, abrupt and silent, so pay attention and respond to early warnings CLUSTER OPTIONS Go Wild! Join the ALL PARKS CLUSTER Individual Couple* Family* SANPARKS CLUSTER CLUB Individual Couple* Family* R 610 R 995 R1 195 CAPENATURE CLUSTER BECOME A WILD CARD MEMBER AND GET: Individual Couple* Family* • 365 days’ unlimited access to participating parks and reserves R 555 R 905 R1 085 MSINSI CLUSTER • Wild magazine four times a year Individual Couple* Family* • Bimonthly Wild newsletter with special offers, competitions and events www.wildcard.co.za wildcard@sanparks.org 0861 GO WILD (0861 46 9453) R 640 R1 055 R1 290 CHANGE OF ADDRESS Remember to update your postal details online if you move or close your postbox R 555 R 905 R1 075 SWAZILAND BIG GAME PARKS CLUSTER Individual Couple* Family* R 460 R 750 R 920 EKZN WILDLIFE CLUSTER Individual Couple* Family* R 610 R 985 R1 185 INTERNATIONAL VISITORS JOE JAMES ALL PARKS CLUSTER: Individual R2 900 Couple* R4 530 Family* R5 420 www.wildcard.co.za Wolhuter Wilderness Trail, Kruger National Park *Couple: Two adults or one adult and one child *Family: Up to two adults and their five children under the age of 18, or one adult and six children (both South Africans and international visitors) Proof of identity, nationality and residency will be required when entering any park, reserve or resort Prices subject to change without notice PRICES VALID UNTIL 31 OCTOBER 2019 See how many of our parks and reserves you can visit in a year – you could win free membership renewal Visit www.wildcard co.za to find out more www.sanparks.org +27 (0)12 428 9111 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 Addo Elephant National Park Agulhas National Park Augrabies Falls National Park Bontebok National Park Camdeboo National Park Golden Gate Highlands National Park Karoo National Park Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park Knysna National Lake Area Kruger National Park Mapungubwe National Park Marakele National Park Mokala National Park Mountain Zebra National Park Namaqua National Park Table Mountain National Park Tankwa Karoo National Park Tsitsikamma National Park West Coast National Park Wilderness national Park |Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park THE PARKS CHALLENGE WILD CARD National parks, RESERVES Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park and resorts IAi-IAis/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park Namibia 21 N 10 Augrabies Falls National Park Orange N7 N 14 Namaqua National Park Conserve Explore Experience 20 Springbok N 10 15 www.capenature.co.za +27 (0)21483-0190 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 Anysberg Nature Reserve Assegaaibosch Nature Reserve Bird Island Nature Reserve Boosmansbos Nature Reserve Cederberg Wilderness Area De Hoop Nature Reserve De Mond Nature Reserve Gamkaberg Nature Reserve Goukamma Nature Reserve Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve Groot Winterhoek Wilderness Area Hottentots Holland Nature Reserve Jonkershoek Nature Reserve Keurbooms Nature Reserve Kogelberg Nature Reserve Limietberg Nature Reserve Marloth Nature Reserve Matjiesrivier Nature Reserve Outeniqua Nature Reserve 20 21 22 23 24 Robberg Nature Reserve Rocherpan Nature Reserve Swartberg Nature Reserve Vrolijkheid Nature Reserve Walker Bay Nature Reserve 94 WILD AUTUMN 2019 12 NORTHERN CAPE Klawer Lambert’s Bay St Helena Bay Saldanha Bay Clanwilliam Langebaan Beaufort West Citrusdal WESTERN CAPE 11 N7 N1 Robben Island CAPE TOWN Table Mountain National Park Cape Point 23 Hermanus 15 Laingsburg Worcester Robertson 13 12 False Bay N 12 22 Breede 16 16 Karoo National Park Tankwa Karoo National Park 18 21 West Coast 19 National Park 17 N 12 24 21 Oudtshoorn 17 10 Bontebok National Park Agulhas National Park Heidelberg Breede 16 19 George Knysna Swellendam N2 14 Mossel Wilderness 20 Bay National Knysna Park National 20 Lake Area 0861 GO WILD (46 9453) wildcard@sanparks.org Mozambique Limpopo Mapungubwe National Park 11 Musina N1 International: +27 861 46 9453 Fax: 086 502 6704 10 OPO 28 Kruger National Park 50 Phalaborwa Marakele National Park 12 Limpopo GABORONE Thabazimbi Mokopane Modimolle Bela-Bela Botswana ydenburg NGA N1 PRETORIA/ TSHWANE N4 Rustenburg Emelaheni Centurion Midrand Sandton Mahikeng Mbombela N4 Middelburg MAPUTO Barberton N 12 JOHANNESBURG NORTH WEST N 14 GAUTENG Vereeniging Potchefstroom MBABANE N 17 Mlilwane Mkhaya Game Wildlife Sanctuary Reserve Klerksdorp Vryburg N 12 10 N3 Kroonstad 19 N5 N 11 Golden Gate Highlands National Park rg 21 20 Ladysmith N8 BLOEMFONTEIN Ladybrand 11 MASERU Estcourt 16 13 Caledon N 12 14 Lesotho Orange Vanderkloof Dam N2 Empangeni Tugela Mokala 13 National Park KWAZULUNATAL 10 Glencoe Harrismith Kosi Bay Lake Sibaya Pongolapoort Dam Lake St Lucia 12 24 17 Newcastle Bethlehem Kimberley Swaziland Retief Vaal Dam N1 Hlane Royal National Park Richards Bay 25 Tugela 24 1-2 N3 Howick 15 PIETER- MARITZBURG 22 North Coast Umhlanga DURBAN Amanzimtoti 23 Kokstad De Aar 18 N2 South Coast www.kznwildlife.com +27 (0)33-845-1000 Port Shepstone N2 N9 N 10 26 M N1 STERN CAPE Wild Coast MTHATHA Queenstown Graaff-Reinet Cradock Camdeboo National Park Mountain Zebra National Park 14 N9 King William’s Town Bisho N 10 N2 EAST LONDON Grahamstown Addo Elephant National Park Tsitsikamma National Park 18 At Ezemvelo, present your Wild Card + ID + confirmation letter N6 Port Alfred Algoa Bay PORT ELIZABETH N2 St Francis Bay www.msinsi.co.za +27 (0)31-765-7724 www.biggameparks.org +268-2528-3943 / 50 100 150 www.wildcard.co.za 200 KM Hlane Royal National Park Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary Mkhaya Game Reserve Albert Falls Dam Bon Accorde Hazelmere Dam Inanda Dam Nagle Dam 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 Amatigulu Nature Reserve Chelmsford Dam Nature Reserve Cobham Nature Reserve Didima – Cathedral Peak Garden Castle Nature Reserve Giants Castle Nature Reserve Harold Johnson Nature Reserve Highmoor Nature Reserve Hilltop – Hluhluwe Game Reserve Mpila – iMfolozi Game Reserve Injesuthi Nature Reserve Ithala Game Reserve Kamberg Nature Reserve Lotheni Nature Reserve Midmar DamNature Reserve Monks Cowl Nature Reserve Ndumo Game Reserve Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 Phongolo Nature Reserve Royal Natal National Park Spioenkop Dam Nature Reserve Umlalazi Nature Reserve Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve Wagendrift Dam Nature Reserve Weenen Game Reserve AUTUMN 2019 WILD 95 BACK PAGE EXCLUSIVE TO WILD CARD MEMBERS Grootvadersbosch NATURE RESERVE S ituated on a ridge overlooking the indigenous forest, these cosy wooden cabins are the perfect base for exploring Grootvaders­ bosch Pick up a hiking trail on your doorstep, visit one of the ele­ vated hides in search of birds (196 species have been recorded), or take your mountain bike to explore further afield After a day’s adventuring, you can unwind around the fire pit or inside the kuierkamer with its indoor braai Each cabin has two spacious bedrooms, a bathroom with shower and a fully equipped kitchen How to enter: Email the answer to the question below along with your name, contact details and valid All Parks Wild Card number to competition@tipafrica.co.za (subject line: Grootvadersbosch) QUESTION: How many bird species have been recorded in Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve? Conserve Explore Experience Competition rules and terms The competition is open to valid All Parks Wild Card members only The prize is a two­night stay for four people at Grootvadersbosch Nature Reserve and includes accommodation only The prize is valid until 30 September 2019, excluding weekends and school holidays and subject to availability CapeNature reserves the right to accept and award a booking at its sole discretion The prize may not be exchanged for cash and is not transferable Competition closes 30 April 2019 The lucky winner will be selected by a draw and informed by email Members can check the website, www.wildcard.co.za, to view competition winners 96 WILD AUTUMN 2019 HENK VENTER WIN A STAY FOR FOUR From May to 30 June 2019, enjoy the Swazi bush for less It may be getting colder at night, but you can count on our warm hospitality and great deals to make your winter breakaway unforgettable WINTER SPECIALS | TWO NIGHTS, TWO PEOPLE SHARING HLANE ROYAL NATIONAL PARK nights people R1 510 (Ndlovu and Bhubesi camps) MLILWANE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY nights people R1 510 (Sondzela Backpackers excluded) MKHAYA GAME RESERVE nights people from R8 140 for dinner, bed and breakfast, plus game drives/walks REILLY’S ROCK HILLTOP LODGE nights people from R4 060 for dinner, bed and breakfast The Kingdom of Eswatini’s Tel: (+268) 2528 3943/4 | reservations@biggameparks.org | www.biggameparks.org ... but Wild magazine cannot be held liable for inadvertent mistakes Prices correct at the time of going to print Letters may be shortened for clarity WILD AUTUMN 2019 WILD LETTERS Connect with us... sprays into the air sharing its joy with visitors It seems to be shouting to the world: It s good to be alive!” And it s infectious With a friendly contingent of wildlife, this arid Kalahari... residence to feel its cooling breeze I try to imagine how the site must have looked in its hey- 28 WILD AUTUMN 2019 day, and it s good to hear the park managers hope to add some 3D exhibits to help