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Field guides say giraffes count among the top animals that guests most want to see. What is it that makes giraffes so charismatic? There’s their status as the world’s tallest land mammal and the quirky coincidence that they have the same number of vertebrae as humans. The pattern of the coat is very striking and every individual sports its own design. They have a remarkably long lifespan compared to other ruminants, around 25 years, possibly due to their massive size putting off predators. Yet giraffe do fall prey to lions. In the Kruger National Park, lions have learnt that giraffe are prone to slipping on tar roads, making them easier to catch and kill.

 

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Photojournalist Justin Fox recently stayed at Kliphuis while on assignment in the Cederberg. This CapeNature property on the Pakhuis Pass is known around the world as a fantastic bouldering destination, but Justin kept his feet on the ground and opted for hiking instead. There are lovely trails to Heuningvlei and up the Krakadouw Pass nearby. The Kliphuis cottages are newly renovated and are warm and welcoming. Each has an outside braai for summer and an indoor fireplace for cooler weather. There’s no electricity, but gas and solar power supply your needs. An advantage of the power restriction is that you can forget about electronic devices and fully relax. At night be sure to check out the sky heavy with stars.

Photograph by Justin Fox

 

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Ah, bless! Aren’t these cheetah cubs adorable? This attentive mother has managed to raise a total of four cubs to the age of three months. No mean feat, as half of all cheetah cubs are killed before they reach three months. The culprits are usually lions, leopards, hyenas and wild dogs. To keep the cubs safe, the mother would have moved them every other day, carrying the little ones by the scruff of the neck. Notice the pale fur along the neck and back. This is called a mantle and will be lost as the cubs grow older. In the meantime this fancy dress gives them the appearance of a honey badger, such a ferocious creature that potential predators may think twice before approaching.

 

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Want to build a blazing campfire and braai your meat on quality coals? Then choose your wood wisely. The best braai wood should have a high carbon content and high density to ensure hot and slow-burning coals. You also want wood with a low ash content and limited trace elements of heavy metals.  A study by the University of Stellenbosch compared various types of firewood to find the one with the best energy output and lowest environmental impact. Rooikrans (Acacia cyclops) scored tops. Another good reason to make fire with rooikrans is that this invasive exotic tree slurps up precious water and out-competes our local trees. Now you know how to support our natural heritage on National Braai Day.

 

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Elephant’s Eye Cave is a leisurely two-hour walk from Silvermine Dam in Table Mountain National Park. The trail winds its way through fields of fynbos until you crest a rise and False Bay lies sparkling below you. This is also where you’ll find the fire lookout hut where rangers are stationed to keep a wary eye out for veld fires. From here it’s easy to see the shape of the elephant’s head in the mountains, with the cave forming its eye. It’s a stiff climb to the cave itself, but the cool overhang, dripping in ferns, is the ideal place to catch your breath and have some water. The walk back is quite easy and if you’ve planned properly, you can have a picnic or braai at one of the scenic spots dotted around the dam.

 

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It was a big bonus to see flowers on a visit to the coastal section of the Namaqua National Park. The predominant flowers in the area are the Namaqualand daisies (Dimorphotheca sinuata) but if you look closer fields of all sorts of flowers can be seen. Tourism officer Elanza van Lente explained that the flowers seem to be arriving earlier each year. But she reminds me that there have also been years where there have been no flowers at all or very little. The coastal section is not the only area where flowers are thriving. Reserve Manager Bernard van Lente is based at Skilpad where he says flowers can now be seen on mass. Flowers to look for include the pale yellow blooms of pietsnot (Grielum humifusum) and the tall conical flowers of cat’s tails (Bulbinella latifolia).

 – Kate Collins (Wild digital editor)

 

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Image: Scott Ramsay   www.yearinthewild.com

Gamkaberg Nature Reserve in the Klein Karoo has been selected as one of Africa’s top 50 ‘green’ properties by Africa’s Finest, an ecotourism project. All the lodges that made it on to the shortlist were subjected to rigorous on-site environmental assessments. Gamkaberg’s stylish eco-lodges make use of safari tents and solar power to touch the Earth lightly. There are three lodges, each rented out in its entirety, offering seclusion and comfort without charging you an arm and a leg. The reserve is managed by CapeNature, the only public entity among the seven South African properties on the list.