Dullstroom Birds of Prey & Rehabilitation Centre & Raptor-friendly Rodent-control.

Article and photographs by Denni Raubenheimer

This Verreaux's Eagle is one of the Centre's many feathered residents.

The Dullstroom Birds of Prey & Rehabilitation Centre is located just outside of Dullstroom and had its beginnings in 1999. Initially focused on educating the public on raptors and their conservation, the Centre gradually developed its capacity for rehabilitating birds and is today recognised as a rehabilitation centre by Mpumalanga’s Nature Conservation body. The Centre is equipped with a more than capable hospital and manages to successfully rehabilitate and release about 30% of the damaged birds that get brought to the centre. Furthermore, offspring of survivors that cannot be released are released into the wild if the situation allows it.

Mark Holder, one of the owners of the Centre, was kind enough to answer some questions regarding the centre and bird-friendly rodent control methods.

Mark, what do most of the birds that get brought to the Centre suffer from?

Most of the birds that come in are orphans, victims of car collisions, or poison, were hooked up on barbed wire, or are bigger birds that collided with over head cables.

What are the most common sources of poisoning that you deal with at the centre?

Owls poisoned by people putting out rat poison. This occurs when an owl eats a poisoned rat.

Rat poison is a widely used means of controlling mice and rat populations around homes etc.. What birds and wildlife are rodenticides likely to harm? Is any group of raptors particularly vulnerable to rodenticides?

Predominantly owls.

Are all rodenticides harmful to birds that sometimes prey on poisoned rodents?

“All” poisons are harmful, “bird-friendly” poisons just take longer if the owl persists on feeding on the poisoned rodents.

What would you suggest as a means of controlling rodent populations around homes etc.?

Electric Rat Zapper, rat traps and owl boxes (to encourage owls to come and live in your vicinity).

How can the public contribute to the Centre’s success?

They can visit us and then send their family and friends. They can adopt a bird. If they don’t want to do any of the above they can simply donate money :)

Owls are more common in urban environments than most would think. This Spotted Eagle-Owl was photographed just outside of Scheerpoort.

When I visited the Dullstroom Birds of Prey & Rehabilitation Centre roughly two months ago I was impressed with the large aviaries and thoroughly enjoyed the educational demonstration. In these demonstrations, birds that were made dependant on humans by uninformed members of public are kept fit in the process of giving an aerial show to the attending visitors. I was also impressed by much of the Centre’s philosophy. For instance, they put an emphasis on first making sure that a bird is fit before releasing it – a procedure that a study proved capable of making the difference between survival and death.

This Peregrin Falcon became dependant on human care and is a permanant resident at the centre. Members of the public should never raise rescued or found birds of prey as prolonged human interaction, especially with juvenile birds, can render raptors unable to survive in the wild.

Regarding rat poisons: Though owl boxes and rat traps are by far more raptor-friendly means of controlling rodents there are people that insist on using rat poison. Such people would do good in rather using raptor-friendly rodenticides, such as Racumin, that have a very much smaller chance of killing owls and raptors feeding on poisoned rats.

It is encouraging that establishments like the Dullstroom Birds of Prey & Rehabilitation Centre save a large number of birds that would otherwise have died due to human influence. May the Centre and all other such establishments be prospered.

Shakati Private Game Reserve

Article by Denni Raubenheimer
Photos by Yolande van Niekerk & Denni Raubenheimer

Nestled in the Waterberg Plateau lies the little known Shakati Private Nature Reserve. Adorned with plants and trees typical of the Waterberg biome, Shakati’s 700 ha of semi-wilderness is home to an array of mammals, birds and reptiles. Within three hours drive from Pretoria, Shakati is ideal for couples, families and larger groups wishing for relaxation and quality time mixed with the African Bush.
Shakati's largest residents are its Giraffes. When visiting keep an eye out for Red-billed Oxpeckers servicing Shakati's herbivores.

Biodiversity:

Visitors to Shakati would do well to book themselves on a game drive to fully experience the faunal diversity of the Reserve. Whether your preference is mammals, birds, or reptiles - Shakati has plenty. Giraffe, Eland, Kudu, Red Hartebeest, Blesbok, Nyala, Common Reedbuck, Impala, Zebra and Wildebeest represent the bulk of the large herbivores. Mammalian carnivores include Black-backed Jackal, Bat-eared Fox, various Mongoose species, Genets, African Civet, Caracal and Leopard, though the likelihood of seeing the latter two is slim. Day and night drives are good for Black-backed Jackal, night drives are good for South African Lesser Bushbaby, Springhare and Bat-eared Fox.

If names such as African Hawk-Eagle and African Pygmy-Kingfisher make your ears prick, then the Reserve could easily entertain you for more than a weekend. Over 220 species of birds have been recorded on Shakati, which is not surprising as it contains prospering indigenous woodland and is largely bordered by the Moloko River. During a visit one is likely to encounter Fork-tailed Drongo, Black-headed Oriole, African Paradise Flycatcher, Green Wood-Hoopoe, Namaqua Dove, Emereld-spotted Wood-Dove, Kingfishers (Pied, Brown-hooded, Striped and Woodland) Woodpeckers (e.g. Bennets, Cardinal and Golden-tailed), Bee-eaters (e.g. White-throated and Little), Groundscraper Thrush, Violet-backed Starling, White-crested Helmet-Shrike and many more. “Special” species, requiring a bit more luck, are Goliath-, African Pygmy-, and Malachite Kingfishers, Common Scimitarbill, Red-crested Korhaan, African Hawk-Eagle (a pair annually breeds in an large Boekenhout near the entrance gate), Barn Owl and Spotted Eagle-Owl to name a few.
Though Pied Kingfishers are most common along the Mokolo River, they sometimes inspect the waterhole.

Shakati is also rich in reptiles of various types. Nile Monitor, Veld Monitor, Tree Agama, Rock Agama and Leopard Tortoise might all be seen by luck, or a sharp eye. Finally, for those with appreciation for snakes, there is no shortage – Cobras, Puff Adders and Black Mambas representing some of the residents that that should be well respected..

Accommodation:

Visitors to Shakati have the privilege to make themselves home in one of three chalets. Each chalet can comfortably accommodate six adults and contains a kitchen, a single bathroom, an outdoor shower, a porch and an outdoor braai. The chalets are all situated within a camp of roughly 100×70 m dimensions and are widely separated to ensure privacy. The camp’s garden has a distinct Bushveld-feel. It is largely covered with green lawns, which are interspersed with trees, and even has rocky portions that blend well with the surrounding bush. The camp also contains a large communal braai area, a communal kitchen and -lounge and a swimming pool.

Facilities and Activities:

Apart from general relaxation visitors can entertain themselves by hiking, bird watching, exploring the Mokolo River on foot (enquire for keys from reserve manager), or by taking a day- or night game drive with the friendly reserve manager. A waterhole with adjacent hide is within easy walking distance from the camp and is frequented by the whole variety of Shakati’s antelope, as well as numerous bird species.
Tree Agamas, or "Bloukopkoggelmanders", are possibly Shakati's most colourful common reptile.

Personal Experience:

When I think of visiting Shakati, much beauty and many possibilities are stirred-up in my mind. Possibilities of seeing bird species I have not seen before, of maybe catching a glimpse of the deadly Black Mamba, or possibly coming across the resident African Rock Python. Of photographing an African Paradise Flycatcher at its nest, Woodpeckers in the camp, or an Owl during a night drive. Sure as rain I’m reminded of the sweet and earthy smell of the Waterberg Plateau’s bush, and of the abundance of Nile Monitors around the Moloko River. I think of the snorting of Wildebeest and Zebra, of the somewhat elusive Rooihartebeest and their hides – a very similar red as many of the sandstone formations in Shakati. I daydream of the place and wish I was there – amongst the hundreds of bird species, the huge Eland and other antelope, the profusion of wildlife - big and small, seen and unseen, heard and silent.
My first ever sightings of the beautiful African Pygmy-Kingfisher were at Shakati's main waterhole. This is also where this photo was taken.

Contact Details:

For more information on Shakati Private Game Reserve, or to make a booking, visit http://www.shakati.co.za/, or contact Gideon at 082 410 1808. Otherwise, e-mail your queries to reservations@shakati.co.za.

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 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?

Hi All

Hi all

I will be away for a week or so on a photographic/recreational excursion. Just wanted to say I will be posting some new articles in a month or so (could be earlier). In the pipeline: Shakati Private Nature Reserve and an article on some aspects of global warming.

Keep well

Denni Raubenheimer

African Pygmy-Kingfisher photographed at Shakati Private Game Reserve

Tswaing Meteorite Crater

View of the Tswaing Meteorite Crater 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 Stilts are one of the waterbirds one might encounter at the saline 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:

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.

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

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
dennirau@yahoo.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.

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 trees and woodland areas, 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 and students R10. 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.