Acacias

Acacias - Thorn trees

There are few more striking symbols of Africa than a thorn tree - its gnarled branches, graceful form, jagged thorns and abundant blooms, in many ways reflecting the paradoxes of the continent.Acacias are the dominant woody plants over much of sub-Saharan Africa, with the exception of forests, grassland and mountain heathland. There are about 700 species in Africa, South America, India and Australia. All belong to the Family Mimosaceae (part of the legume group) and some were previously known as mimosa trees. Although just about all acacias have abundant yellow or white flowers, they are not widely cultivated due to their thorny branches. Several Australian species have, however, become invasive weeds in parts of Africa, where their seeds have no parasites or predators, and can lay dormant for up to 50 years.

Adapted for the Hot and Dry:

African savannahs experience hot and often dry conditions, so plants must find ways of retaining moisture. The way in which acacias have evolved to do this, is to have their leaves divided into dozens of tiny leaflets (pinnae) which can be held horizontally to capture sunlight or vertically to reduce transpiration. Leaves with a large surface area are prone to dry out in the absence of shade or moisture, so are not suitable for savannah trees. Acacia foliage is sought after by many browsing animals - from giraffe to beetles - and here too it helps for them to be divided, as the tiny leaflets left behind by the browsers can continue to perform their vital photosynthesis function.Many acacias have exaggerated umbrella-shaped crowns which enable the tree to capture the maximum amount of sunlight, with the smallest possible leaves. Some species have deep tap root systems, allowing them to survive in semi-arid terrain along dry watercourses (they tap into the water table) while others have shallow but extensive splayed root systems to capture limited rainfall in dryer areas. The well-known Fever Tree which grows along lake fringes and on poorly-drained clay soils also has a shallow root system, in order to avoid waterlogging.

Improving the Soil:

Acacias belong to the group of pod-bearing plants known as legumes and have the remarkable ability to enhance soil fertility. The activity of microbes associated with roots of acacias (and other legumes such as Lucerne) fixes nitrogen to soil particles and so improves fertility. Experiments have also shown that soil fertility is higher below the canopies of acacia trees, due to leaf-fall and decomposition, and the accumulation of droppings from roosting birds and from herbivores seeking shade.

Food for the Masses, but Varied Defences:

Just about all parts of an acacia tree are edible to one kind of animal or another, and in many parts of Africa their small leaves provide the only greenery in the dry season, so are bound to be eaten. The roots may be sought after by porcupines, the tiny leaflets by macro- and micro-herbivores, the sticky sap by galagos, the flower nectar by bees and butterflies, the seeds by bruchid beetles, and the stringy bark by elephant. Along with grasses, acacias are the "building blocks" of African savannahs - propping up a colossal food pyramid with super predators at the apex.With so many creatures making a living from their growth efforts, it is no wonder that acacias have evolved some of the most effective and cunning defences in the plant kingdom. Acacia thorns may be straight or hooked depending upon the species (only the Umbrella Thorn has both) and these are capable of keeping all but the largest browsers at bay. Interestingly, straight thorns have been shown to pose little deterrent to impala, while the much smaller hooked thorns succeed in keeping them at bay. Giraffe, however, have leathery tongues which feel no apparent pain against either hooked or straight thorns, and millions of browsing insects and their larvae can simply crawl around the thorns to feed on the leaves. To combat large mammalian browsers some acacia trees - such as the Knob Thorn - release chemicals in the form of toxic tannins which render the leaflets unpalatable and cause giraffe or kudu to move on to another tree. To reduce the impact of browsing insects, some acacia species have developed an association with biting ants - ant-plant mutualism - which is one of the most intriguing relationships in the natural world.

Ants and Acacias:

Among the most important insect browsers of acacia trees are beetles, grasshoppers and the larvae (caterpillars) of butterflies and moths. In a masterful strategy to ward off these micro-herbivores, some acacias provide food and shelter, in return for defence, to cocktail ants. The ants live inside the swollen bases of thorns (Whistling Thorn is perhaps the best-known example) and feed on sweet sap exuded from pores at the tips of the acacia leaves. In order to maintain such ideal living and foraging quarters, the ants patrol the branches and will gang up and physically bite any herbivore that threatens the plant. Insects quickly retreat, and even giraffe and rhino have been seen to become irritated and move off with the unwanted attentions of aggressive ants. Amazingly, the ants also nip off the growth tips and tendrils of strangling vines which threaten to suffocate the tree - and thus their home. Acacias still rely on insects for cross-pollination, however, so it remarkable to note that the patrolling cocktail ants are least active at the hottest time of day - when browsers are seeking shade but bees are out looking for nectar; in this way, they do not disturb the pollen-gathering bees from their important task!

Valuable Fuel:

The wood of many acacia trees is renowned for its excellent fuel properties and can also produce good charcoal. Since many African people still rely on wood as fuel for cooking and heating it is essential that acacia woodlands are managed effectively in order that the trees do not disappear altogether. In areas that have been overgrazed, bush-encroachment by acacia and the related Dichrostachys (as well as other species) is commonplace and restorative land management can harvest this resource as attempts are made to restore savannah conditions (i.e. trees and grass). Acacia sap or gum is another important product and the Sweet Thorn and Scented Thorn produce copious amounts which can be used as a glue. "Gum Arabic" was originally derived from the Three-hook Thorn and synthetic alternatives are now used as a binding compound in cosmetics, medicines, fast foods and paints.

Hippopotamus

Hippos - River Horse of Africa

Known as "river horses" to the ancient Greeks and "sea cows" (seekoi) to the Dutch settlers, the hippo is not related to either. It is, in fact, a distant relative of the pigs, although its ancestry is not well understood. Weighing up to 3 200kg, the hippo is the third heaviest African land mammal, after the elephant and white rhinoceros. With tiny eyes, ears and nostrils all placed on the very top of the head, they are superbly adapted for an amphibious lifestyle.The hippo once occupied almost every river system in Africa, from the southern Cape wetlands to the Nile Delta in Egypt, but due to hunting pressure, it is now largely restricted to protected or inaccessible areas south of the Sahara. Hippos require deep water in which to submerge their bulky bodies and a supply of short grass on which to feed. Their skin lacks sweat glands, so hippos are prone to dehydration and it is critical that they avoid direct sunshine by spending most of the day in water or mud, although they will sometimes bask in the sun for short periods.

Nocturnal Feeders:

At sunset, hippos typically leave their aquatic refuge and wander down well-trod pathways to favoured feeding grounds. Flat areas colonised by creeping grasses such as Cynodon are favoured, and a resident population soon creates a lawn-like landscape. Individuals consume up to 60kg of grass per night. Their broad leathery lips are ideal for cropping the grass short but do not damage the roots, and other grazing herbivores such as zebra and warthog benefit from the constant regrowth of fresh grass shoots. An overpopulation of hippo can, however, lead to the encroachment of woody vegetation as a lack of grass eliminates the chance of restorative grass fires.In recent years, there have been a number of eye-witness accounts of hippos tearing up the flesh of drowned animals or the remains of predator kills, and this has led to the belief that they occasionally stray from their vegetarian diet. Documentation of the actual swallowing of flesh is still lacking, however, and it is possible that the observed hippos were trying to feed on the rumen content of the dead herbivores rather than on their flesh. In the dry season when available grass is in short supply, it is not uncommon to see them feeding on the coarse droppings of elephants.

Social Habits:

Hippos have a hierarchical society in which individuals constantly display their status to one another. Adult females with their successive offspring form the foundation of social units which occupy a home range, while the largest adult male holds dominance in a restricted range in which he defends exclusive mating rights. Fierce and bloody clashes between rival males are commonplace, but subordinate (non-challenging) males are tolerated by dominant bulls.Groups tend to be sedentary during the dry season but move far and wide during the wet season when smaller pools become available. Hippos are extremely vocal when in water (but silent on land), as individuals wheeze, honk and blow air from their nostrils. Calling of any kind seems to be contagious, and noisy bouts of honking and wheezing are made in response to disturbances, or when returning to the water after a night of feeding.

Suckling Underwater:

A single youngster - very rarely twins - is born after an eight month gestation, with the mother moving away from the social group with her new offspring for about two weeks after birth. The baby is born in shallow water or on dry land, but is adapted to swim immediately and suckles while completely submerged. The youngsters are quite playful for the first year of life and are usually weaned at about eight months. Births are usually spaced at two year intervals, and up to four successive calves may accompany their mother before the eldest becomes independent. Females become sexually mature at between seven and fifteen years, and probably live to about 35 under normal circumstances (captive hippo have lived for up to 50 years).

Small Cousin of the Rainforest:

The pygmy hippo is critically endangered in its limited range, with probably less than 1000 surviving in isolated patches of rainforest in Nigeria, Ivory Coast and Liberia. Just about one tenth of the weight of an adult common hippo, the pygmy hippo has declined due to extensive deforestation of its habitat, as well as rampant hunting. An intensive captive breeding program would be required in any conservation plan.

CCAfrica Lodges with Excellent Hippo Sightings:

Superb hippo viewing exists at Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp in the Western Corridor of the Serengeti in Tanzania. There is also good viewing in the Mara River close to Kichwa Tembo in Kenya, where the vociferous animals greatly add to the wild atmosphere. The Zambezi River and Okavango Delta provide ideal hippo habitat, providing guests at Matetsi Game Lodges in Zimbabwe and Botswana's Nxabega Okavango Safari Camp and Sandibe Okavango Safari Lodge with excellent sightings.Hippo are also present on the floor of the Ngorongoro Crater in Tanzania and in Lake Manyara. In South Africa, small numbers of hippo can be seen at Tau Game Lodge, Londolozi Private Game Reserve, Ngala Game Lodge and Phinda Private Game Reserve where they occupy dams.

Sabel Antilope

Sable Antelope - jewel of its tribe

"Clad in their black attire like the chief mourner at a funeral . . . with all the pomposity and self-importance of village billy goats . . . so brilliant an addition to the catalogue of game quadrupeds - so bright a jewel amid the riches of zoology". So enthused Sir William Cornwallis Harris, explorer and trophy hunter, who first described the species in 1838.

Most Magnificent:

The Sable Antelope is regarded by many as the most magnificent antelope in Africa. The males have the glossy, jet-black coat set off by striking white facial markings and underbelly. The females are rusty red and handsome creatures in their own right. In common with other members of the Hippotragini antelope tribe, both sexes have horns, and what horns they are! Few antelope have anything to compare with the massive swept back spikes which commonly exceed one metre in length in the males, and are somewhat shorter in females. Like its close relative, the Roan, the Sable has a conspicuous mane and this, combined with its horse-like build, have earned them the family name of Hippotragini, which means ‘horse-goat'.

The Harem :

Sable live in small herds consisting of numerous adult females, which have a strict hierarchy according to seniority, and their offspring. Each herd is accompanied by a dominant bull which - although it may often feed away from the harem - will never be far away and will always accompany them to water, where attack from a predator is most likely. Even Lions show a great deal of respect for these antelope, however, and there have been numerous instances of the big cats having been gored to death by Sable bulls. Females and calves are at risk to Spotted Hyena, Leopard, Cheetah and Wild Dog. Non-breeding bulls occur singly or in small bachelor herds. After a gestation period of eight to nine months, expectant females leave the herd to give birth to a single youngster. The sandy-coloured calf is then concealed in long grass for the first three weeks of its life, before its mother leads it into the herd.

Seasonal Movements:

Sable are primarily grazers of dominant grass species, either of medium height or in new growth. During the dry season they are typically found in valley bottoms and along drainage lines, where they are able to find drinking water on a daily basis. In the wet season they leave the heavy spoils of the lowlands to move into broad-leaved woodlands.

Endangered Giant:

Sable are thinly distributed in the woodland-savanna of south-central Africa, with two isolated populations commonly regarded as subspecies. The so-called Giant Sable of north-western Angola is endangered, and was actually feared extinct until a population was discovered a few years ago in this war-ravaged country. The Giant Sable is a particularly impressive animal, with males having horns up to 1.6 metres in length! Fears for its ongoing survival in the remoteness of Angola are high as it is extremely difficult to monitor or police its remaining habitat. The Kenyan coastal population (sometimes referred to as ‘Shimba Sable') has shorter horns than the typical Sable but is regarded as threatened as its Angolan relative.

And BEYOND's Sable Hotspots:

Sable are regularly encountered in the open woodlands of Matesti which is situated on the Zambezi River in north-western Zimbabwe. Reasonable numbers occur in Botswana's Okavango Delta, where visitors to Nxabega and Sandibe have a chance of encountering them. Stragglers may wander into Ngala on the western extremity of the Kruger National Park, but there have been just a handful of sightings in recent years.

Hyrax

Hyrax - Rabbit-sized ungulates

When you first see a hyrax (‘dassie' in South Africa) you might take it for a rodent or a rabbit. Indeed they bear a superficial resemblance to European marmots and for many years were commonly known as ‘rock rabbits'. In fact, the hyraxes - of which there are eleven species in three distinct groups - are unique and fascinating creatures. And despite their small size, they play an important role in the ecology of African kopjes and mountains.

Akin to Elephants:

Perhaps the most intriguing aspect surrounding hyraxes is their ancestry. Fossil evidence shows that they were among Africa's dominant medium-sized herbivores about 40 million years ago. Some ancient species were as large as the modern-day Wild Boar. At some point prior to this, is it thought that elephants and hyraxes may have evolved from a common ancestor. Today, the species share some interesting but obscure traits, most notably the arrangement of their toes - four front and three rear, which are equipped with rounded hoof-like nails. Like elephants, hyrax have internal testicles and they have an extraordinarily long gestation period (seven months) for an animal that weighs only between one and four kilogrammes.

Life Among Rocks:

With their rubbery-soled feet and dense coat of hair, hyrax are adapted for life among rocks. They are adept at bounding among boulders and able to withstand extremes of heat and cold. Families can typically be seen sunning themselves in the early morning, and then retreating into shady crevices in the heat of the day. Their dental structure allows them to eat virtually any type of vegetation, although certain plants are generally favoured. Hyrax obtain all of their moisture requirements from their food and hardly, if ever, drink. One species of Rock Hyrax lives on rocky massifs in the Sahara desert.

Named for Habitats:

The three genera of hyrax - rock, bush and tree - are named after their preferred habitats. The diurnal Rock Hyraxes (five geographically separated species) live among boulder outcrops (kopjes), rocky cliffs and boulder screes, often in the company of Bush Hyraxes (three geographically separated species). According to mammalogist Richard Estes, the two species frequently "share the same rocks and associate more closely than any two known mammals, except for monkeys that live in multi-species troops". In fact, it takes a good observer to tell the two species apart. The Bush Hyrax (also known as the Yellow-spotted) has a bold white eyebrow (and very indistinct buffy-yellow dorsal spot), whereas the Rock Hyrax is more uniformly coloured. Rather different in appearance is the largely nocturnal Tree Hyrax which is typically much darker (almost black in central African rainforest) with distinct facial markings, has denser fur, and a pale dorsal crest which is raised in alarm.

Tormented Souls?:

All hyrax are noisy, but the Tree Hyrax is one of the most vociferous of all mammals. The following description by Richard Estes will be agreed upon by anyone who has ever been in earshot of these creatures: "the call starts with a series of spaced cracking sounds, likened to the rusted hinge of a huge gate slowly opening, followed by a series of expiring screams suggesting a soul in torment". Dramatic indeed, but singularly appropriate! Males have favoured calling perches and may call for up to an hour, before suddenly falling silent.

Hyrax Beware!:

Hyrax have many predators, including man who relishes their meat and uses their fur for garments. By far their biggest enemy, however, is the rapacious Verreaux's (Black) eagle which shares the hyrax's rocky home. Studies in Zimbabwe and the Karoo have demonstrated that hyrax may form over 90% of the eagle's diet! These dashing birds of prey frequently hunt in pairs, one bird panicking a family of hyrax, the other snatching up a confused straggler. Leopard, Caracal, Martial Eagle, Giant Eagle-Owl, Black Mamba and Rock Python are among other predators. Interestingly, when the hyrax's natural enemies are eradicated - as has happened in parts of South Africa where eagles have been destroyed by sheep farmers - the small mammals proliferate to such an extent that they soon encroach upon the grazing lands of sheep, and ultimately leave the farmer in a far worse position than if he'd allowed an eagle or two to capture an occasional lamb.

And BEYOND's Hyrax:

HotspotsRock Hyrax and Bush Hyrax are resident on kopjes in the Serengeti-Mara and are thus frequently seen at Klein's Camp, Grumeti and Kichwa Tembo. Large numbers of both species also occur at Lake Manyara at the foot of the Rift Valley wall. Isolated kopjes at Londolozi are home to family groups of Rock Hyrax, which are also fairly common at Kwandwe and Sossusvlei Mountain Lodge. The Tree Hyrax can be seen in riverine forest along the Grumeti River which flows past Klein's Camp and also in forest patches in and near to Kichwa Tembo and Ngorongoro Crater.

White Rhinoceros

White Rhinoceros

White Rhinoceros - Great Grazer

Perhaps the first thing people wonder about the white rhinoceros is why it has its name. It is certainly not white in colour and actually has the same skin tone as its cousin, the black rhino. In fact, the name is thought to have been derived from the Dutch word "weid" meaning "wide" in reference to the animal's broad, wide mouth.

Grazer of grass:

It is in the shape of the mouth that the black and white rhino species differ so markedly, and this determines their diet. The white rhino is a grazer of grass, whereas the black rhino uses its pointed prehensile upper lip to browse on leaves .

Second largest land mammal:

The white rhinoceros is the second largest land mammal in Africa in terms of its dimensions, although the hippo may often be heavier. Male white rhinos average over 2 000kg, while females are smaller at around 1 600kg. (Hippos can weigh up to 3 200kg, while the white rhino rarely exceeds 2 200kg.)

Home range and territory:

Adult females live in overlapping home ranges and are rarely solitary. Mature females are usually accompanied by their most recent offspring, and frequently associate with other females from the area. Aggregations of a dozen or more may gather, particularly in the heat of the day when shade or a cooling breeze is sought out.Males are much less sociable and occupy well-patrolled territories with numerous conspicuous dung middens (females and immatures may add their own dung to a male's midden, but do not engage in the male's characteristic kicking and urine spraying)Females give birth to their first young at an age of about seven years, after a 16-month gestation period. Weaning occurs at about one year, but the calf remains with its mother for two to three years, when the female is again ready to bear a new baby. Interestingly, (and in contrast to the black rhino) the juvenile white rhino always runs ahead of its mother when fleeing from danger. Other than man, the rhino has no natural enemies, although lion and spotted hyena are a potential threat to youngsters.

Back from the brink:

Hundreds of years ago, thousands upon thousands of white rhino would have occurred in the grasslands and savannahs of Southern Africa. Wherever there was grass to eat and water to drink, there would have been rhinos. The area of present day Johannesburg in South Africa would have provided ideal habitat for hundreds of these great pachyderms, with its sweet grasses, wooded kloofs (valleys) and perennial water.One can only imagine the wildlife spectacle that endured before humans developed the ability to hunt and then plunder. Quite how many rhinos were left when the first white settlers arrived on the scene around 200 years ago is uncertain, but wildlife had little aesthetic value in those days, and almost anything was considered fair game to be shot on sight.Just eighty years after having been "discovered" (near present-day Kuruman) and named by William Burchell in 1817, the white rhino had been hunted so excessively in South Africa and beyond, that just 30 individuals remained in a small corner of Zululand. After the establishment of the Umfolozi Game Reserve in 1897, however, its numbers slowly increased so that by the 1960s, surplus animals were translocated to other reserves so as to ensure the conservation of the species. The Natal Parks Board can rightly claim to have saved this great creature from extinction. Since 1960, over 3 000 white rhino have been released from Umfolozi-Hluhluwe into reserves such as Mkuze, Kruger, Pilanesberg, Phinda Private Game Reserve, Waterberg and Madikwe Safari Lodge. Many of these have subsequently sold rhino offspring to smaller sanctuaries.Outside of South Africa, small numbers occur in the Matopos near Bulawayo, Zimbabwe, and the Khama Rhino sanctuary near Gaborone, Botswana, but attempts to reintroduce the species to Chobe in Botswana failed due to uncontrolled poaching.Sadly, the so-called Northern white rhino (a sub-species of the southern white rhino) is all but extinct and the status of the remaining handful of individuals is uncertain (it formerly occurred in Uganda-Zaire-Sudan, and possibly in Tanzania and Kenya). The current status of the southern white rhinoceros seems to be secure, with over 5 000 living individuals. However, the security of the white rhino is dependent on continued and rigorous protection, as well as the maintenance of its CITES Appendix 1 status, which prohibits trade in its horn.

Which is larger, more fearsome and most endangered?:

Comparisons are often drawn between Africa's two rhino species. Which is the larger, which is the most fearsome, and which is the most endangered? The lumbering white rhino can easily lay claim to being the larger - males may weigh up to 2 300kg, as opposed to 1 100kg of the black. However, there is no doubt that the black rhino has the more uncertain temperament. The population of white rhino is considered to be more secure than that of the black, although it is more or less confined to South Africa.

Where to see white rhino at CCAfrica properties:

Superb white rhino viewing is possible at several CCAfrica lodges in South Africa, with Phinda Mountain Lodge, Phinda Forest Lodge and Londolozi Private Game Reserve providing excellent opportunities to view and photograph these giant animals. Less-predictable viewing is also had at Bongani and Ngala, but the rhinos here are shyer and more wary of game-viewing vehicles.

Black Rhinoceros

Black Rhinoceros
BLACK BEAUTY?

"He is a swinish, cross-grained, ill-favoured, wallowing brute, with a hide like a rasp, an impudent cock of the chin, a roguish leer from out the corner of his eye, a mud begrimmed exterior and a necklace of ticks and horse-flies!"A none-too-complimentary profile by trophy hunter Captain W. Cornwallis Harris, 1840.The Black Rhinoceros has a hooked, prehensile nose, carrying its head high on its shoulders, as opposed to the low-hanging head and hump-shoulders of its relative, the grazing White Rhino. Predominantly a browser of short woody trees and shrubs, the Black Rhinoceros uses its pointed upper lip to grasp leaves and twigs, employing its double horns to dig roots or break branches too far out of reach. Its grey, wrinkled skin varies in colour due to the mud and dust in which it frequently wallows to cool down and protect against flies and sun. The two species of African rhino are similar in height, averaging about 1.6m at the shoulder, but the Black Rhinoceros has roughly half the mass of a White Rhinoceros, weighing in at a demure 1000 kg.

Territory and Communication:

Rhinoceros live in established territories but are tolerant of neighbours and share overlapping ranges and watering holes with few confrontations. Their preferred habitat is found along the edges of thickets and areas of low woody growth. Since Black Rhinoceros sweat to reduce their body temperature, their ranges do not tend to extend beyond 25 km from a daily supply of water. Home ranges are criss-crossed by frequently used trails, marked by both sexes with dung middens. Dunging is a social behaviour, and serves as a form of communication as well as means of personal declaration. The animals will defecate, frequently spreading the deposits or wiping their hind legs through the accumulated dung pile as a means of spreading their scent. Males also tend to mark their territory with urine, using their recurved penis to spray grass, stumps and rocks. Several males may peaceably share territory, although there is usually a dominance hierarchy. Confrontation between Black Rhinos generally occurs between males competing over cows in oestrus, or when a nomadic animal enters an already populated area.

Courtship and Maternal Bonds:

Black Rhinoceros males tend to be solitary while females typically are found with their current offspring. Or, if there are no young, cows may develop attachments with other sub-adult rhinos. The maternal bond is only broken when the cow is ready to give birth to a new calf, and the young adult is driven off to make its own way in the world. Births are about two to four years apart and occur at all times of the year with gestation lasting anywhere from 446-478 days (15 months). Lion and Spotted Hyena are known to prey on the calves, and individuals with deformed tails or ears bear evidence of close encounters in the past.Males only associate closely with females while they are in oestrus. Courtship is very businesslike, with the bull making pseudo-aggressive postures towards the female, with typical foot scraping and urine spraying. The male circles the female, curling his upper lip, and nudging her flanks with this horns. He then mounts the female from behind. Copulation may last up to half an hour, and is repeated at intervals over several days.

Endangered:

Poaching and loss of habitat have decimated the Black Rhinoceros population, leaving only small populations in protected areas of Namibia, Kenya, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and South Africa. The existence of these endangered pachyderms in Mozambique, Angola and parts of West Africa is unconfirmed. Use of the horns, which consist of keratin (the same substance in human fingernails), in traditional Eastern rituals and ceremonies has led to massive demand for an ever increasing commodity. From an estimated population of 60,000 in 1970, their numbers crashed to less than 2,000 in 1997. Careful management and protection provide the best chances for the species' survival.

And BEYOND's Black Rhino Hot Spotsl:

A dozen or so Black Rhino inhabit the spectacular Ngorongoro Crater where they are readily viewed and photographed against one of Africa's most breathtaking backdrops. At Kichwa Tembo on the northern border of Kenya's Masai Mara, a lone female has been in residence west of the Mara River for the past few years and frequently provides guests with close encounters; this remarkable individual has on many occasions shown deep aggression towards a variety of other animals, even killing lions and wildebeest. [See our Regular Sightings Report and the Ecological Journal for more details.] At Kwandwe in the Eastern Cape, five Black Rhinos now roam the Euphorbia-clad hills where they are constantly monitored by the reserve's management. On the western border of the Kruger National Park, Ngala is occasionally visited by solitary nomads.

Monitors

Monitors:

Monitors - Giants among Lizards

About forty species of monitor lizards are found from Africa, through India and south-east Asia to Australia. The genus to which monitors all belong - Varanus - contains the world's largest lizard, the much-feared Komodo Dragon from Indonesia which may reach three metres in length and has been known to prey on humans. All monitors are similar in appearance, with strong limbs, powerful claws, flexible neck and extended, whip-like tail. None are poisonous, although the Gila Monster of Mexico (the world's only poisonous lizard) is distantly related. Monitors are unique among lizards in having a forked tongue, similar to that of snakes. Just two species occur in Southern and East Africa, but both are impressive reptiles and are frequently seen.

Nile Monitor:

The Nile Monitor (also known simply as the Water Monitor) occurs in temperate and warm areas with permanent water and is seldom found far from rivers, lakes or dams. It is an outstanding swimmer and quickly takes refuge to water - usually with a loud splash - when threatened. It is most often seen basking on a rock or overhanging tree branch, and sometimes allows humans to approach quite closely.The Nile Monitor is a rapacious predator with a varied diet. It is particularly fond of crabs and eggs, and readily plunders the nests of ducks, coots and jacanas, and expends much energy in unearthing the buried eggs of terrapins and crocodiles (when the "nest" is unattended!). Juveniles feed mostly on insects and frogs. Adults are preyed upon by crocodiles and pythons, less often by leopards and eagles. Youngsters have a high mortality rate, with predatory fish, herons, snakes and even adults of their own species taking a heavy toll. The maximum length on record is 2.4 metres, but well over half of this length was tail!

Termites incubate the young:

In a unique example of insect-aided reproduction, the female Nile Monitor lays her clutch of eggs in the active mound of termites. After the first spring rains, she digs a deep hole in a suitable mound, deposits her eggs - up to 60 - and then scraps some of the soil back to cover them. This rude intervention is quickly attended to by the termites which go about the mound restoration process with vigour. Within a few days the cavity is completely sealed and the eggs then develop - free from any risk of predation - in a living incubator which maintains a constant temperature and humidity. Depending upon environmental conditions, it may take up to a year for the young to emerge - timing their hatching and "escape" with the following season's rains which sufficiently soften the baked exterior of the termite mound.

Tree, rock or savannah?:

The "other" monitor lizard in East and Southern Africa is known variously as the Tree Monitor, Rock Monitor, Savanna Monitor or White-throated Monitor. Any of these names is appropriate (except "White-throated", since not all individuals show this feature), but its propensity for climbing trees - even in rocky areas - makes the first name the most sound.This is a slightly smaller animal than the Nile Monitor, but still an impressive creature well able to look after itself. It has a stockier appearance and proportionately shorter tail than the Nile Monitor, and also differs in having "swollen" slit-shaped nostrils set close to its eyes. Beetles, grasshoppers and land snails are common prey but it will eat anything that it can overpower and readily scavenges from carrion. The Martial Eagle and honey badger are its two most feared predators.Unlike the Nile Monitor, which always lays its eggs in an active termite mound, the Tree Monitor does so only occasionally, preferring more often to just dig a hole into moist soil.

Fashion victims, chicken-like flesh:

The fine skin of monitor lizards have been valued for centuries, being used in the manufacture of shoes, belts and garments. Countless thousands have been slaughtered for this purpose - and the carnage probably continues with those species occurring in south-east Asia. Legislation protects all Varanus species in Africa, but the "tasty, chicken-like" flesh is much sought after by rural folk who must account for large numbers.

What's in a name?:

In South Africa, monitors are often referred to as "leguaans" which is probably a corruption of the word "Iguana" - a family of spine-crested, vegetarian lizards to which they are not closely related. Similarly, the Australians sometimes refer to monitors as "goannas". Interestingly, the name "monitor" may also be a case of mistaken identity: common in Egypt, they became known by the general Arabic term for lizards, ouaran. Pronounced waran, this was apparently confused by German naturalists for warnen, which was interpreted as "warning lizards". This was then Latinized to monitor and has given rise to some authors attempting to explain the name by the lizard's alleged habit of keeping a look out, or giving warning of the presence of crocodiles!

Where to see monitors at CCAfrica properties:

Both Nile Monitor and Tree Monitor can be seen at just about all of the CCAfrica properties, as they are common and widespread throughout the eastern side of Africa. Some of the largest Nile Monitors are to be found in the Grumeti River of the western Serengeti and a stay at Grumeti Serengeti Tented Camp in Tanzania is likely to provide great sightings. A boat cruise on the Zambezi at Matetsi Water Lodges in Zimbabwe or the Mzinene River at Phinda Private Game Reserve in South Africa will also provide good views of both adult and young Nile Monitors.The Tree Monitor is frequently encountered at the South African lowveld lodges of Londolozi Private Game Reserve, Bongani Mountain Lodge and Ngala Game lodge.