mark

6 Things To Do in Hluhluwe

DumaZulu Traditional Village DumaZulu Traditional Village presents something special to its guests. Experience the traditions and language of the Zulu people, learn and interact with a living culture, one of our planet’s most indigenous cultures. A visit to our Cultural Village is an experience of a lifetime. Discover the Zulu way of life and watch the pulsating traditional dancing with the taste of Zulu beer on your lips and the drumbeat of the Zulus echoing in your ears. Not only is DumaZulu a cultural enriching experiencing for guests where they are afforded the opportunity to learn more about the rich variety of African cultures, but it also allows the local community to continue practicing their traditional ways of living and earn profits from selling curios. All products and produce sold on the property are made from natural products and are sourced from the land – 100 % green. The cultural shows are performed daily at 08:15 and 15:15. Enjoy the 11:00 show followed by a traditionally cooked Zulu lunch. Guided Walking Tours at Emdoneni Guided walking tours will keep you busy for an hour or more at Emdoneni Lodge. On this tour your will learn more about the various geology, wildlife and plant-life of the region. Without the fear of predators, guests feel safe and are more relaxed during the walk. One can get close to Zebra, which might follow us on the walk and also meet some Impana, Nyala, Wildebeest and the shy red and grey duiker as well on the way. The guided walk also offers the chance to view the abundant bird life in the sand forest trees and also in the vlei lands, one can also notice the ever popular dung beetles hard at work, rolling the days collection whilst following the sun. All walks are done by qualified guides. Hluhluwe Horse Safaris Hluhluwe Horse Safaris is the only lisenced operator organizing horse safaris within the iSimangaliso Wetland Park – False Bay section, a UNESCO proclaimed world heritage site. With years of experience in providing a world class experience, Hluhluwe Horse Safaris would like to take you on an adventure ride through the beautiful False Bay Nature Reserve, part of the Isimangaliso Wetland Park and a World Heritage Site. With horses to suit all ages and levels of experience the Horse Trails experience is one to be enjoyed by the whole family. Experience Nature up close and personal, enjoy the thrill of seeing Zebra, Impala, Kudu and Hippo without any disturbances. Under the guidance of qualified guides you will be taken out into the False Bay Nature Reserve to experience the scenic beauty and tranquility of this world heritage site. As part of the Isimangaliso Wetland Park, False Bay Nature Reserve is an area of grand Landscapes and beautiful Natural Bush and Sand Forest. We look forward to sharing our special piece of Africa with you, from the comfort of our well trained horses. Experience Nature, Up close and personal, the ultimate African Safari. Primitive Trail Join the Primitive Trail in Hluhluwe for a fun, exhilarating and challenging hiking experience like no other. Backpack for three or four nights and make the most of the trail and the game reserve. Get in touch with nature and enjoy camping under the stars with the animals and wildlife around you in a well known Big Five area. There are no tents or permanent camping spots available but equipment and food will be provided. You will be taking a bath in the river and will carry all your own food and gear with you during the day. Trails will only take place if there is a minimum of four persons on a three night stay or a minimum of six persons on a four night stay. Although the distances you hike during the day are not too taxing you will need to be physically fit to carry your stuff with you along the way while tackling the change in terrain. You are advised to wear clothes that will blend with the surroundings and avoid bright colours. The trail is suitable for children aged fourteen and over only. Rules are strict with age and proof will be required. The trail officer may also turn you away on arrival if they feel you are not fit or able enough. For an experience of a lifetime make sure you book onto the Primitive Trail. Zulu Croc Reptile Park Zulu Croc Reptile park offers a two hour croc and snake experience – you will be up close and personal with the creatures and will be able to touch and feel them. The manager of the park also gives daily demonstrations and talks on snakes; both handling and interacting with venomous species such as boomslangs and puff adders. You will be able to watch the crocs and feeding times with the Park manager once again answering any questions you might have on these scary reptiles! Snake Shows and Croc feedings at 10h00 or 15h00 (Bookings essential) For more that 10 people we are willing to adapt our times and we do night shows on request. Directions: Take the Hluhluwe/Sodwana offramp on the N2 and head towards Hluhluwe town. Follow the signs for Sodwana / False Bay and travel about 15km down this road. Zulu Croc is on the left hand side. Zulu Croc Restaurant The Zulu culture is one of South Africa’s most significant, and has a history that is as fascinating as it is long and deep. This culture is celebrated throughout the county (along with many of the other African cultures), but is particularly significant to the KwaZulu-Natal Province. Hluhluwe is a small town in this province, but is known for its many things to do and see. In fact, it is a veritable tourism hotspot, despite its small size. One of its little gems is the Zulu Croc Restaurant, situated at the reptile park and educational centre of the same name. Zulu Croc Restaurant offers excellent food with a real local twist, as

6 Things To Do in Hluhluwe Read Post »

Emdoneni News

World’s last male northern white rhino dies

The world’s last male northern white rhino has died, the Kenyan conservancy taking care of it said, leaving only two females of its subspecies alive in the world, although scientists still hope to save it from extinction by in vitro fertilization. Ol Pejeta Conservancy said it had made the decision with wildlife officials to put down the 45-year-old rhino, named Sudan on Monday, because of a rapid deterioration in his condition. Sudan was being treated for age-related complications that had affected his muscles and bones and also gave him extensive skin wounds. Sudan had previously lived at the Dver Kralove Zoo in the Czech Republic before being transported to Ol Pejeta Conservancy, about 250 km (155 miles) north of Nairobi, where he lived with the last two females of the same species, his 27-year-old daughter Najin and 17-year-old granddaughter Fatu. The two female rhinos were quietly grazing at the conservancy on Tuesday, where staff mourned Sudan. “It’s very sad to lose Sudan because it shows clearly the extent of human greed and what sort of impact humans beings can have on nature,” Samuel Mutisya, head of wildlife conservation at Ol Pejeta, told Reuters. “If we don’t take care of what we have, we will definitely continue to lose it, particularly lose other species that are currently endangered.” Veterinarian Dr Stephen Ngulu said doctors recommended putting the aging rhino down because he was in severe pain, with no hope of treatment to alleviate it. “Sunday morning, he completely was unable to wake up. His left hind foot gave in completely, he was unable to support himself on it and he was not able to raise,” he said. “We decided to evaluate the quality of life and advise stakeholders that this available option would be the better option: to alleviate pain, suffering.” The rhino had spent two weeks in late February and early March lying in his pen due to discomfort from a deep wound on his right hind leg, the conservancy said. “The veterinary team from the Dvur Kralove Zoo, Ol Pejeta and Kenya Wildlife Service made the decision to euthanize him.” After all attempts at getting Sudan to mate naturally failed, conservationists last year put him on dating app Tinder, hoping to raise enough money to pay for a $9 million fertility treatment. Ol Pejeta said that staff had collected Sudan’s genetic material on Monday, which could be used in future to attempt reproduction of northern white rhinos. It said scientists were also seeking ways to perform in vitro fertilization. “The only hope for the preservation of this subspecies now lies in developing in vitro fertilization techniques using eggs from the two remaining females, stored northern white rhino semen from males and surrogate southern white rhino females,” it said. While there are thousand of southern white rhinos still roaming the plains of sub-Saharan Africa, decades of rampant poaching have drastically cut numbers of northern whites. Poachers were able to sell northern white rhino horns for $50,000 per kilo, making them more valuable than gold. Kenya had 20,000 rhinos in the 1970s, falling to 400 in the 1990s. It now has 650, almost all of which are black rhinos. “It’s very sad to lose Sudan because it shows clearly the extent of human greed and what sort of impact humans beings can have on nature…” A scary insight into the detrimental effects humankind can have on the planet. Let’s do our best to protect the wildlife we have left! Come visit the Emdoneni Cat Project, where you can learn about South Africa’s endangered wild cat species.

World’s last male northern white rhino dies Read Post »

Emdoneni News

Amazing facts about the Cheetah

The cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world, reaching speeds of up to 113km/h. They can accelerate from 0 to 100km/h in just 3 seconds. Amazing Facts About the Cheetah Built for speed, cheetahs are slender, with long thin legs and a long tail. They have coarse, short fur that is yellowish tan in colour and covered in solid black spots. Black tear-shaped streaks on the face help to reflect the sun when hunting. Adults weigh around 46–158 lb (21–72 kg). How many spots do cheetahs have? Cheetahs have between 2,000 and 3,000 spots, which help them to camouflage themselves. Where do cheetahs live? Previously, cheetahs were wide-spread across African and Asian continents, but now they are confined mostly to dry open grasslands of Sub-Saharan Africa, with the majority inhabiting natural reserves or parks. What do cheetahs eat? Cheetahs are carnivores, so rely on meat for survival. Their diet is made up primarily of smaller antelopes including springbok, steenbok, Thomson’s gazelle, impalas, and duiker. Cheetahs will also feed on wildebeest calves and, occasionally, smaller animals including rabbits, hares and birds. How often do cheetahs drink? Cheetahs have evolved to live in an environment where water is scarce, and can survive on one drink every three to four days. Are cheetahs solitary? Female cheetahs are solitary, living alone or with their young. Males however, live in small family groups of 2–3 brothers, known as coalitions. How fast can cheetahs run? The cheetah is the fastest land animal in the world, reaching speeds of up to 70 miles per hour. They can accelerate from 0 to 68 miles per hour in just three seconds. Cheetahs are the only big cat that can turn in mid-air while sprinting. How does the cheetahs tail help when running? Cheetahs long muscular tails have a flat shape that is used for balance and steering. The tail essentially acts like a rudder on a boat. Where do cheetahs give birth? Cheetahs start reproducing at a young age; males at the age of one and females at two. There is no specific breeding season and cheetahs will mate with many individuals throughout their lifetimes. Male cheetahs do not remain with the females after mating, and do not play any role in rearing young. Female cheetahs on the other hand are caring, affectionate and dedicated mothers. Following a pregnancy of three months, female cheetahs will give birth to a litter of 2–8 cubs in a secluded spot such as a rocky outcrop or marshy area with tall grass. Cubs are vulnerable to predators, and many do not survive the first year. Initially, mothers leave the cubs hidden whilst hunting, but cubs will start accompanying her at around six weeks. How long do cubs stay with their mothers? Female cheetahs spend a long time caring for their cubs and teaching them essential survival skills like hunting. Cubs typically stay with their mothers for one and a half to two years. What is the biggest threat to cheetahs? Cheetahs are classified as vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. With around 10,000–12,000 individuals left in the wild, cheetahs are Africa’s most endangered big cat. Historically, cheetahs have been hunted for their fur, but today some of the biggest threats to their survival are loss of habitat, and competition for resources. Cheetahs require large areas of land for survival, so increased human settlements and road construction in their habitat puts them at risk. Source: onekindplanet.org

Amazing facts about the Cheetah Read Post »

Emdoneni News

Birdlife in Natal

South Africa is known the world around for its abundance of wildlife, not least of all its many birds. In fact, there is an established avi-tourism industry that invites birding enthusiasts from all over the world to indulge in top-class bird-watching. The subtropical climate of KwaZulu-Natal makes for the ideal habitat for a number of exciting bird species. The lush greenery and tropical abundance of the north-east of the province is especially abundant in really gorgeous bird species. The landscape is made up of freshwater lagoons, grasslands that have been flooded, dense forests, marshes, acacia woodlands and tidal estuaries. These provide the natural habitat of choice for a number of birds; most notably the Knysna Turaco, Palmnut Vulture, Neergaard’s Sunbird, Rudd’s Apalis, African Broadbill, Woodward’s Barbet, Delegorgue’s Pigeon, Livingstone’s Turacos and Southern Banded Snake Eagle. Due to its being such a popular birding destination, KwaZulu-Natal has implemented a number of initiatives in order to improve the birding experience for locals and visitors. There is the Zululand Birding Route, which is focussed on Eshowe, the home of the Dlinza Forest. This forest has a boardwalk on which visitors can meander to the canopy and enjoy sighting Delegorgue’s Pigeon, Grey Cuckooshrike, Crowned Eagle and Spotted Ground Thrush. African Fish Eagle Appearance The African Fish Eagle is a fairly large eagle. It has a distinctive black, brown, and white plumage. Diet Although, as its name suggests, it feeds extensively on fish, in some areas it preys on flamingoes and other water birds. It is also known to eat carrion and is classified as a kleptoparasite (it steals prey from other birds). Goliath Herons are known to lose a percentage of their catch to Fish Eagles. Their main diet is fish, sometimes dead, but mostly caught live. Catfish and lungfish are caught most frequently. Larger prey are eaten on the ground next to the water. Behaviour The African Fish Eagle has two distinct calls. In flight or perched, the sound is something like the American Bald Eagle. When near the nest its call is more of a ‘quock’ sound – the female is a little shriller and less mellow than the male. So well known and clear is the call of this bird that it is often known as ‘the voice of Africa’. The African Fish Eagle is usually seen in pairs inside and outside the breeding season, even sharing kills made by either of them. They spend more time perched than flying, and usually settle for the day by 10am, having made their kill, although they will kill at any time of the day. Habitat It is most frequently seen sitting high in a tall tree from where it has a good view of the stretch of river, lakeshore or coastline, which is its territory. Near a lake with an abundant food supply, a pair may require less than a square mile of water to find enough food, whereas next to a small river, they may require a stretch of 15 miles or more. Some tend to move around to avoid the wettest weather, whereas others stay where they are all year round. Where they are found Widespread in Southern Africa. It is particularly common in and around some of the Rift Valley lakes. Source: SA Venues & Kruger National Park

Birdlife in Natal Read Post »

Area Attractions, Emdoneni News

The Wildlife of Hluhluwe | Imfolozi The Game Reserve that Saved the White Rhino

Famed as the wildlife park that saved the White Rhino from extinction, today Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve in KwaZulu Natal is home to a large population of Rhino and is a must-see destination while visiting South Africa. The game reserve that saved the White Rhino – Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Located on 96 00 hectares of land, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi is approximately 3 hours from Durban and is considered one of the highlights of any visit to South Africa’s KwaZulu Natal province. Home to over 96 species of mammals and more than 330 species of birds, visitors to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi can look forward to spotting at least one or all of the Big Five while exploring the reserve. The Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Viewing Experience The nature park is home to the second largest population of White Rhinos in the world, after the Kruger National Park and also has a large population of Black Rhino and growing populations of Elephant and other African wildlife. Visitors should aim to spend a few hours in one of the hides overlooking a water point as it is here that one will see game sauntering down to the water for a refreshing drink or to wallow in the mud on the banks. Nile Crocodiles, Water and Rock Monitor Lizards can all be found in the rivers. There are 31 species of snake in the game reserve including the venomous Black-necked Spitting Cobra and Puff adders, both of which frequent the camps and visitors should be weary of where they are walking. Up at the Hilltop Camp one can look forward to seeing Red Duiker and Blue Duiker in the scarp forest surrounding the camp and Buffalo and other game can regularly be found grazing right outside the camp’s main entrance. Although the large carnivores such as Lion, Leopard, Cheetah, Wild Dog and Spotted Hyaena are found in the reserve they are more likely to be heard, calling at night, than seen. A great destination for the avid birder Today the reserve is flourishing and visitors can look forward to excellent game viewing opportunities in a beautiful setting. A top bird watching destination, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi is home to a wide array of bird species from residents to migrants and regularly visitors. Some of the special species include the African Finfoot that can be seennear Memorial Gate from the Gontshi stream crossing. The Southern Bald Ibis, Striped Pipit and the Mocking Chat are all regularly spotted on a cliff viewed from the Siwasamakhosikazi picnic spot to the south of the Hluhluwe River. Heading out along the Mbhombe self-guided walking trail at the Hilltop Camp will provide sightings of some of the scarp forest birds including the Crested Guinea fowl, Olive Bush Shrike, Lemon Dove and Green Twinspot. Along the river, especially in fruit season, one will find a wide variety of fruit-eating birds including Crowned and Trumpeter Hornbills and Purple-crested Turacos. Visitors should also not forget to spend time at one or more of the many bird hides as any time spent there is always fruitful. The History of the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Game Reserve Split into two sections, the hilly Hluhluwe Section in the north and the iMfolozi section with its rugged hills and wide jagged valleys towards the south, the first evidence of human occupation is iron smelting and metal-working sites from about 1 500 years ago during the Iron Age. More recently the land was occupied by Dingiswayo and his Mthethwa tribe and later still by Shaka and his mighty Zulu warriors. Shaka and his tribesmen used to hunt in the area and later, from the mid- 1800s white hunters and ivory traders discovered the wildlife populations and severely hunted the game. A remains of the White Rhino population in the area in 1895 led to the establishment of the Hluhluwe and iMfolozi game reserves in 1895 however the arrival of the tsetse fly borne nagana disease in the local cattle saw farmers calling for a de-proclamation of the reserves and the start of an extreme hunting spree over a 10 year period that saw over 100 000 heads of game slaughtered. During this hunting spree only the Rhinos were sparred and in 1952 the sparse remaining wildlife was again protected. In 1989 the Corridor separating the two reserves was opened, incorporating them into one. Habitats The reserve has 3 distinct vegetation types; the most widespread is the Zululand lowveld, while the higher areas are dominated by the Zululand sourveld and the rest of the reserve has patched of scarp forest. The extreme north and south of the reserve are particularly hilly with the landscape being carved out and cut through by three major rivers which then split into a number of small streams. Source: nature-reserves.co.za

The Wildlife of Hluhluwe | Imfolozi The Game Reserve that Saved the White Rhino Read Post »