October 2008 : Sabi Sand Reserve

Every season brings something new and it is always so exciting to spot your first Leopard tortoise, Flap-necked chameleon, Flame lily, Red-chested cuckoo, Wahlberg’s eagle and so on of spring. I catch myself, and my tracker Kenneth, ‘high-fiving’ each other as we spot these ‘firsts’, as our guests look on in delight.

Many of the herbivores are swollen with the promise of new life and everything seems invigorated by the new greenery and rainwater. The lion cubs mentioned in previous journals, as well as the young male leopard cub, are now of a size where it seems more appropriate to call them adolescents – especially as they seem to be preoccupied with their own adventures rather than tripping along on oversized paws close to their mother’s sides. 

Pick on someone your own size!

The porcupine is one of my favourite characters – it’s small, unusual and often not given the respect it deserves – but provoke it unnecessarily and it turns into a frightening monster that can quite easily kill a lion!

Its quills are up to 12 inches long and normally lie flat against the body, but if danger threatens, the porcupine raises and spreads them. If an enemy persists, this scary spiked beast runs backward until it rams its attacker. It does not shoot its quills but runs them into the attacker. The reverse charge is most effective because the hindquarters are the most heavily armed and the quills are directed to the rear. I’ve read accounts and seen photographs of quills puncturing a predator’s lungs and heart and the attacker dying from the intended victim’s defense.

New quills grow in to replace lost ones, and old ones are shed – I always consider it a treasure to find a quill out in the bushveld. (Do be careful about buying porcupine quill products as unscrupulous dealers sell these from porcupines that have been killed for the quill trade.) The porcupine is predominantly a nocturnal creature. One of nature’s many warning signals is to display opposite vivid colours to dissuade predators. The black and white aposematic coloring of the quills is exactly that and for many would be attackers seeing the black spikes with their white bands, and hearing them rattle threateningly against each other, is enough to scare them off. The hollow rattle quills serve as African musical instruments and were once used as containers for gold dust!

The crested porcupine that we occasionally see at Singita Sabi Sands is the largest and heaviest of African rodents. It has small eyes and ears and powerful claws. They prefer hilly, rocky country and have even been found on Mt. Kilimanjaro, as high up as 11,480 feet.

Porcupines sometime inhabit holes made by other animals, especially in termite mounds, but also dig their own. These burrows are most commonly occupied in family units. When asked how porcupines mate the answer I usually give is, “Very very carefully!” And, on the subject of sex, porcupines, dolphins and some primates are among the only mammals to mate for reasons other than only breeding. Continued on the next page

These images are courtesy of http://www.AfriPics.com

.../Pick on someone your own size!

Gestation is about 112 days and between one and four young are born in a grass-lined burrow. Baby porcupines are called porcupettes! They are well developed and have their eyes open at birth. The young leave home for the first time at about 2 weeks of age as their quills, soft at birth, begin to harden. They are quite playful and, outside the burrow, they run and chase one another. The young are suckled for 6 to 8 weeks, when they begin to eat vegetable matter.

Porcupines primarily eat roots, tubers, bark and fallen fruit but have a fondness for cultivated root crops. Sometimes they’ll take carrion back to the burrow to nibble on. Hystrix africaeaustralis is the Latin scientific name for the porcupine. It translates to “quill pig”, however, porcupines are large rodents and not related to pigs at all!

These images are courtesy of http://www.AfriPics.com

Water Monitor Lizard Varanus niloticus

These striking large reptilians don’t have quite the same reputation as the well-known Komodo dragon found in Java, however they are very close relatives and Africa’s second largest lizard.

Water (or Nile) monitor lizards, like all monitors, are not poisonous so you need not fear this stout, beautifully patterned, 2 metered-long lizard as it basks in the sun’s rays. Good luck to you though if you wish to catch one of these fast, powerful creatures as they dive into water and swim for the safety of reed beds. The best way to pick one up is to grab hold of the tail base (which it cannot shed or regenerate) with one hand, and pick up the body by placing the other hand over the top between the strong four limbs. If by now you haven’t completely harmed yourself in the process of slipping and sliding and possibly cursing, then your pride will have no doubt taken the brunt of it. It is important that you hold this fascinating prehistoric animal with respect and definitely watch out for the lashing of its tough laterally compressed tail which is much longer than its body, the bite of its rounded, peg-like teeth with clamped jaw, and long, curved claws. Sound like fun? Perhaps, but we prefer to observe them peacefully basking on the rocks in the Sand River.

As the name suggests, this species of monitor lizard are found in sub-Saharan Africa around rivers, pans and major lakes. They are excellent swimmers equipped with an oar-like tail for a quick get-away from crocodiles and pythons, and for foraging for crabs, mussels, frogs, fish, birds and their eggs. On the shores they can use their great claws for excavating the eggs of terrapins, sea turtles and unattended crocodile nests.

Their skin is tough and covered with small, bead-like scales and the head elongated to make for a very stream-lined physique. Adults are grayish/olive-brown with light yellow spots on the body and crossbands on the tail. In contrast the belly and throat are paler, with black bars. Juveniles are more boldly patterned in black and yellow for camouflage amongst the aquatic plants. As you can imagine their skins are attractive in fashion and this results in thousands being killed each year. Fortunately all varanids are protected in southern Africa by provincial legislation (CITES, Appendix II).

Continued on the next page

.../Water Monitor Lizard

They are clever reptiles when it comes to laying their eggs. Not only do they seek the shelter and protection of active termite mounds but also time it for after the spring rains when the soil is soft to dig. This will be around now (October/November) when the female decides upon a suitable termite nest to excavate a hole and lay 20-60 eggs, taking 2 to 3 days to complete. The termites then repair their nest, and the monitor eggs develop, protected inside and incubated at a constant temperature and humidity. It may take up to a year before the young emerge together, digging themselves out of a rain-softened nest the following summer, and make their way to nearby shallow waters where they will hunt frogs and insects.

It is common to see these lovely lizards when we cross the river on a sunny, hot day. Many water monitors of varying ages glide over the exposed rocks competing for the best “hot spots” to bask upon. When the weather is cooler they may hibernate communally in rock cracks bordering the river. They are a real treasure to observe here year round!

- Shelley Pope, Guide

My most exhilarating sighting

Whilst on drive one not so warm October morning, my tracker Douglas and I came across yet another set of leopard tracks, but only this time they were from a light footed female unlike the ones we unfortunately lost whilst tracking through thick vegetation only minutes earlier. We couldn’t pass-up another opportunity to follow and find one of these ever elusive and majestic cats…

We swiftly decided to follow on foot to gauge the general direction of movement only to discover another set of tracks from the ever-omnipresent hyena, which so diligently follows the leopard in hope to be able to ambush the predator once a kill has been made. The tracks went off-road into a drainage line, disappearing from our clear view and leading us on a ‘wild goose chase’. We decided to drive around to where the drainage meets the road hoping to relocate the female’s tracks.

After a long and patient drive of following her tracks we were finally successful, with the golden sight of the leopard in a tree just off the road. But alas, we had just missed her kill a small duiker, as she was still positioning it securely within the branches of her new-found safe haven. Not too far off, skulking around in the long grass around the periphery was the cunning hyena, still waiting patiently for his opportunity to arise.

As we sat there discussing her amazing strength, skill and agility she seemed distant, concentrating on a far away object, totally spellbound by something we could not see. After great deliberation she reluctantly continued eating until yet again something drew her attention away.  This time it was visible to us, a large lioness was making her way to our position, keeping her eye on the prize - the duiker kill up the tree. Tensions rose, both within the vehicle and out, as did the excitement. What was to happen, who would come out on top?

The lioness circled the tree, my tracker, guests and I sat with bated breath, too nervous to move but yet all wanting and waiting with boiling anticipation to see what would evolve before us. The temperature was steadily on the rise and we could all feel it. The hyena had slunk off into the distance because of the lioness, and the leopard was starting to get agitated and nervous due the new unwelcome arrival.

Continued on the next page

.../My most exhilarating sighting

Amidst the sound of cameras clicking and conversation on how we would like the outcome to unfold, our wishes came true. The lioness started the mighty endeavor to
climb the tree in an attempt to steal the carcass from the leopard. The leopard was frantically, yet nimbly, reversing up a thin branch dragging her precious kill with her, emitting loud ferocious growls and snarls down to the intrusive lioness.

The sounds mixed with the scratching of claws on bark and the determination of the look emanating from the lioness’ eyes made the sighting complete. The outcome had become irrelevant, who could ask for more?

The lioness attempted, and failed, to climb no more than 5 feet up the trunk of the tree with the leopard hanging on by the tips of her claws to the thinnest high branches able to hold her, her kill still safe, out of reach from the undeserving thief!

- Sophia Lehr, Guide

Interview with Field Guide, Lazarus Mahore

Q: What is your age and when is your birthday?
A: I am 36 years old and my birthday is on the 10th of October.

Q: Where are you from?
A: I was born and bred at Newington C, the old gate of Sabi Sand close to the premises of Savannah Tented Camp. Due to the movement of people from game reserves in the year 1979, we moved to Kildare B trust. Today I’m based at Lilly Dale because of where I work – distance-wise it’s about a 45 minute drive.

Q: How long have you been a field guide for? And how long at Singita?
A: I have been a field guide for 3 years and a half. I have worked for Singita for 9 years - Singita Kruger National Park and Singita Sabi Sand.

Q: What do your parents do?
A: My father is a farmer at Mkhuhlu, adjacent to Sabi River, which runs from the west to the heart of Kruger Park and extends further down to Mozambique. He started farmer irrigation in the year 1969, after he was a game warden at Skukuza.

Q: If you could be an animal what would you choose to be and why?
A: I would choose to be a wild dog and my reasons on this are that: these particular animals have sympathy when it comes to feeding - if one of them gets injured during the hunt it’ll stay behind to look after the den site. The returning dogs will regurgitate food for the pups and the injured dog. This ability gives me courage as I believe that supporting each other in your local community is very important.

Q: You win the lottery! How do you spend your millions?
A: This would depend on some careful planning to determine ways of using the money, but my main focus would be giving my children the best education possible and ensuring they live a very healthy life.

Continued on the next page

.../Interview with Lazarus Mahore

Q: You’re most embarrassing moment as a field guide was when…?
A: We were out on a morning game drive and one of my guests was desperate to have a ‘comfort stop’, so I finally found a huge termite mount for her to go behind. We happened to look around for anything that could approach but saw nothing. After a little moment a lioness appeared and headed straight in the direction of the termite mound! I ran to protect her and this lady shrieked for help because of my immediate approach - she was not fully dressed by that time!

Q: If you could pick any four people in the world to take on a game drive at Singita Sabi Sand who would they be/have been?
A: Nelson Mandela, Barrack Obama, Bazima Xilova and Bantu Holomisa. My reasons are that people seem to think that political parties hate each other. But I don’t believe so – I believe they are there to shape the present leadership so that they do not govern in one politically-minded selfish manner.

Q: What makes your heart beat a little fast?
A: Whenever I’m out in the bush tracking animals and I suddenly come across lions without noticing - then my heart beats very fast! Also, walking in the thickets and being confronted by a buffalo bull in the close distance - I know there will be no warning charge, the next step will be a direct run down charge.

Q: The book on your bedside table is …….?
A: My Rich Dad and My Rich Son. It’s about obtaining a high grade at school so that it will assist you in earning a good salary and planning your future.

Q: What’s your charity of choice and why?
A: I would offer money to buy food for people in Zimbabwe.

Q: What was your worst subject at school?
A: It was Afrikaans!
Q: Top 5 films?
A: The Animals from Australia, Deep Blue Sea, Ghost in the Darkness, How to Lose a Guy in Ten Days and Beautiful People.

Q: What’s been your favourite sighting in the last two weeks?
A: It was when the Castleton pride lions killed two zebra at the fence line next to Mantombi drainage. The used a hunting technique of chasing one zebra into the fence, but then the stallion tried to defend that zebra and it too ended up being taken down and killed. It was the most amazing sighting I have ever seen.

The grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never all dried at once; a shower is forever galling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal sunset, eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls.
John Muir

This entry was sumbitted by Jenny Hishin
Unless indicated, all the photographs were taken on location by Sophia Lehr, Shelley Pope & Jenny Hishin
Singita Sabi Sand
31 October 2008