Die Kalahari

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Bird watching / Wildlife

The interesting case of the Bateleur / Die vreemde geval van die Berghaan

Have you ever wondered about the curious case of the Bateleur? Why would such a large bird species have various peculiar habits? Survival. As any animal living in the Kalahari Dessert, the Bateleur has adapted to thrive despite all of the amazing challenges. Rooster of the flock! A razor sharp beak and talons distinguishes the Bateleur as a prominent bird of prey. Dark red feet and beak is how this eagle obtained its name. In Afrikaans, ‘Berghaan’ , directly translated means Mountain Rooster. As roosters most commonly have dark red talons and beaks it closely relates as this rooster can...

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Plants

Weet jy van die Gemsbokkomkommer?

Die Kalahari woestyn beskik oor ‘n baie groot verskeidenheid plantegroei wat al vir jare gebruik word deur mense en diere om te kan oorleef. ‘n Gemsbokkomkommer is sekerlik een van die ‘gesondste’ plante in terme van wat dit aanbied vir sy vreters soos, ‘n bron van proteine, vog, medisyne, skoonheid sorg en vermaak. Dit is belangrik om hierdie eienskappe te evalueer en te probeer verstaan hoekom hierdie ongelooflike vrug nie te koop is in ons plaaslike supermark. ‘n Bron van proteine Die Gemsbokkomkommer se grootse voedsel waarde le in sy pitte. Die eerste bevolkings in die Kalahari onder andere die...

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Accommodation / Antelope / Bird watching / Wildlife

The Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: Read this review if you are considering it

If you’re a south african looking for the next adventure or an international tourist browsing through South Africa’s large variety of attractions, consider the Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park. This park is extremely special in a variety of ways. The park and its facilities are more primitive, but comfortable. The abundant game and birdlife are valuable in its complete wilderness. Just be sure you know what to do when coming face to face with the king of the jungle on your way to the loo. All roads lead to sand When traveling to the Kgalagadi, it would be best to plan a...

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Antelope / Wildlife

Have you ever wondered where, when and how giraffe?!

Giraffes have unique adaptations as opposed to their closest relatives, cows and okapis. With their long necks, giraffe hearts pump approximately two meters up to have blood reach their brains. In a giraffe’s body there are three great challenges to their anatomy:

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Antelope / Wildlife

Have you ever seen a baby giraffe this cute?

So what makes baby giraffes so cute? Is it the huge eyes? The elegant eyelashes? The way they move in slow motion even whilst being playful? All of the above. This picture was taken on my way home after a long day and the baby giraffe had me admiring him for quite some time. His playfulness, tiny spots and curiousness was something that seemed blessed only to me. On a previous expedition, I had the privilege of encountering two baby giraffe being quite close with each other. Baby giraffe usually stay with the herd. If they are male they will...

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Accommodation / Bird watching / Wildlife

Cumming Gasteplaas: ‘n voelkyker paradys! / A bird watcher’s paradise!

Hierdie gasteplaas is so teen die Botswana grens wanneer jy daar uitkom sal jy by jouself wonder of jy nie erens verby ‘n grenspos moes ry nie! Cumming Gasteplaas is against the Botswana border. So close actually when you reach it you’ll start to wonder whether you should have gone through a border post somewhere! Cumming Gasteplaas het verskeie aantrekings, maar hul voelkyk geriewe is uit die boonste rakke! Daar is twee hydes waar mens lekker met jou koffie en kamera kan sit en voels kyk by ‘n dammetjie slegs 20 meter ver! Daar kom dikwels ander gaste behalwe voels...

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Bird watching

Have you heard about the Kalahari’s small five?

Everyone knows about the big five, but the small five that is being referred to are the five types of sparrows and all of them are found in the Kalahari Dessert. It comes to show how diverse the Kalahari is despite being a dessert. These sparrows can be observed at about any watering hole and often one can observe all five present at the same time. Any bird watcher will revel in this unilateral show of diversity. The Great Sparrow / Grootmossie Paser motitensis. This sparrow is the largest of all of them hence the name. It prefers dry thornbush...

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Plants

The icon of the Kalahari / Die ikoon van die Kalahari

Described by the San people of the Kalahari as ‘The tree of Life’. There are many animals, birds and plants that can be considered unique to the Kalahari, but one that rises above all would be the Camel Thorn Tree. These trees are more than just magnificent, they play a very important role in the entire ecosystem and here is how! Magnificence Camel thorn trees can grow up to 56 feet in height and can age to anything from 250 to 300 years. To support this height and age, camel thorn tree’s roots can reach up to a depth of...

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Antelope / Wildlife

The top five antelope of the Kalahari Dessert

These antelope have roamed the dunes of the Kalahari for centuries and are adapted in various ways to survive drought and all of its challenges. Different species of antelope are popular for farms to have in the Kalahari as it provides an additional source of income and food. However, in various parts of the Kalahari rainfall is often only average and above every third year. The last seven to eight years have seen below average rainfall for large parts of the Northern Cape and North West provinces. During these drought stricken years, only the most hardy species survive which are...

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Bird watching

Six basic tips for bird watching

Birds hold two concert celebrations of a day in the kalahari: morning and evening.The Kalahari has a remarkable abundance of bird species even though it is a semi-dessert. Since it is a semi-dessert there are a few basic tips one can do to ensure your spot list does not stop at vultures. 1. The early human catches the bird! Prime time to see nearly all bird species are at dawn and dusk. Winter or summer, at noon the whole of the Kalahari are usually enjoying a siesta. Birds tend to be going around looking for worms and seeds during this...