Southern Ground Hornbills

Southern Ground Hornbills belong to the ‘Big Six’ bird list - a list created by the Kruger Park as the birds most sought after by visitors. They are indeed impressive looking birds, if also somewhat bizarre!

In recent years the future has not looked so rosy for the distinctive species due to a number of threats. Habitat destruction has lead to the loss of 50% of their natural range in the last 30 years, and the birds are often victims of poisoning, or caught for use in the tribal medicine trade. On top of which ground hornbills are slow breeders, successfully raising one chick to independence approximately every nine years!

Following a large conservation effort, however, their numbers are slowly on the rise again and we are delighted to report that a group of 4 have been seen around our waterhole several times in the past week. It’s great to see them back!

Stunning sunset

These zebras kindly posed in front of last night's beautiful sunset. 

A perfect moment in the bush!

Elephant monitoring drive

Yesterday afternoon we were lucky enough to join the warden of Olifants West Game Reserve and his team of staff and students on an afternoon’s elephant survey. Following radio leads from other rangers out and about we came across a breeding herd of cows and calves and were able to see first-hand the monitoring that goes on with photographs of any identifying features recorded (e.g. large tear in the right ear of this young cow).

 

On the way back to camp we also caught up with 9 youngsters from the York lion pride, lounging in a dry river bed.

The "dagha-boys" are back in town

Hoedspruit is well-known for its humidity and recently we’ve found ourselves longing for dry heat, albeit with hotter temperatures. It seems we’re not the only ones to have been struggling. Yesterday we were lucky enough to spend the day with three old buffalo bulls who had decided to use our waterhole as their very own splash pool.

Old buffalo bulls that have passed their best are known colloquially as “dagha boys”. Small groups are often found around water sources where vegetation is softer and mud is easily available for a good wallow. It was a great pleasure to watch the trio from the deck, alternating between bouts of eating the lush vegetation and cooling off by lying in the water and wallowing in the mud.

This thirsty young giraffe was less sure of the buffalo. Several times she bent down to drink before taking fright of the bull lying in the water and running back. Eventually she plucked up the courage to drink, strangely choosing a spot right beside the buffalo!

The heat is on

Whilst relaxing on the deck yesterday afternoon we were treated to some wonderful displays of giraffe behaviour panning out below us. Counting up to 5 around the waterhole at one time we were constantly entertained watching them drink. 

Whilst 4 of the giraffe were male the 5^th was a young female who seemed to have attracted some attention to herself. The largest of the males spent the hours shadowing the female, never letting her stray far from him, and certainly not in the direction of the other males!

Elephants on the move

Balule Nature Reserve is open to the Kruger National Park, meaning that animals are free to wander where they chose. As we’re now in the middle of the summer months when the lowveld receives its rainfall, small pools, streams and spruits have filled up allowing animals to cover larger distances, being less tied down to permanent water sources.

Today was a day for elephants. Having enjoyed watching a bull elephant making use of our waterhole during the day, we were delighted when a breeding herd decided to stop by in the evening. By the time they’d reached our house dusk had turned to dark and all that alerted us to their presence was the odd crunch and crash coming from the thick bush! It’s great to have them around again.