Nightjar Travel | Spoilt for Choice

Time 2020-12-13 02:04:17

Web Name: Nightjar Travel | Spoilt for Choice

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The Nightjar Guidecontains all the information you need to plan an amazing trip to South Africa. We encourage taking a slow tour, exploring far and wide, and enjoying the friendly culture and beautiful landscape.If you would like one of our experts to help you book your trip, get in touch through our safari agency by clicking here. Dec 2020Words Shaen Adey, pics Corinne Merry and Shaen AdeyA short drive from Cape Town, along on one of the most beautiful coastal roads in the world, lies Kogelberg Nature Reserve, CapeNature’s most prestigious and pristine mountain wilderness. In addition to its spectacular scenery the reserve is famous for its extraordinary plant diversity, with some 1,800 species.The recently opened Mbali Collection adds to this already very special place. The eight new chic and affordable eco units - five 2-sleeper ‘eco pods’ and three 6-sleeper, family ‘eco cabins’ are nestled in the valley overlooking the Palmiet river.Built of wood and glass, each has been carefully positioned to make the most of its breathtaking views.The minimalist units are modern, comfortable and stylish, and glass doors and big windows mean they are flooded with sunlight. Each has an open plan, fully equipped kitchen, a lounge with a wood-burning stove for romantic cold evenings and large outdoor decks with built-in braai facilities. Wooden boardwalks meander through the surrounding fynbos and meet at an eco-pool.Mbali means flower, so it’s fitting that each of the eco pods and eco cabins is named after one of the botanical gems found in this phenomenally beautiful reserve. All the units are magnificent, but if you’re of a botanical bent, perhaps knowing a little bit more about the special flora after which the cabin is named might help you decide where to stay.Blue Stars: Nivenia stokoei. Other common names are Kogelberg blue stars, blousterretjie and Stokoe's bush iris. Amazingly all ten subpopulations of this plant occur within the Koegelberg biosphere. The plants have woody stems, fire resistant underground caudex (rootstock) and form clusters of 20-40 vibrant blue flowers. They are pollinated by flies and long-tongued bees. If you want to spot this rare endemic in bloom the best time to visit the reserve is between mid January and March.Golden Star: Paulidia capensis. These sun-loving plants mainly flower in spring. The blooms only open in the warmer parts of the day (generally 11am-4pm) and don't open in cold or wet conditions. There are five vulnerable or endangered species, of which the Paulidia capensis has the largest and most striking flowers with dark eyes at the base of their tepals (centre). It is confined to the lowlands of the south western Cape and threatened by habitat loss due to both agriculture and housing development.Silver Pagoda: Mimetes argenteus, a member of the Proteaceae family, it is defined by its characteristic silver leaves and is also commonly known as the silver-leaved bottle brush and vaal-stompie. This rare, red listed plant is endemic to the Western Cape, ranging from the Hottentots-Holland mountains to the Franschhoek and the Riviersonderend mountains. The plants are not fire resistant but their symbiotic relationship with ants encourages their survival. Ants store and disperse seeds underground and do not eject them once they've eaten the elaisomes, a nutrient and protein-rich coating. Further ensuring seed dispersal, the mimetes tend to only release their seeds after 4pm, when ants become active. They flower from March to June and are mainly pollinated by the Malachite Sunbird, Lesser Double-collared Sunbird and Orange-breasted Sunbird.Strooiblommetjie: Phaenocoma prolifera, commonly known as the Cape everlasting, Rooisewejaartjie, and Strooiblommetjie. They flower from September to March and are restricted to the Western Cape. The name Phaenocoma is derived from the Greek word phaino which means "to shine", and coma, "hair" referring to the shiny bracts, which do indeed look a bit like a shiny wig. It's easy to see why it's named prolifera (which means ‘to grow in number rapidly) when looking at the patches of pink growing on the mountain slopes. Flower heads contain 800 to 1000 individual flowers with very showy bright pink, papery bracts (which look like but aren't petals). They are often used in the dried flower industry.Chincherinchee: Ornithogalum thyrsoides. Other common names are star of Bethlehem, wonder flower, tjienkerientjee, tjienk, wit tjienk and viooltjie. Their distribution extends from Namaqualand to the Cape Peninsula and all the way to Caledon and the Agulhas Plain. In Greek ornis means 'bird' and gala means 'milk', hence the white flowers are referred to as 'bird’s milk'. And when the stalks rub together they make a chinking sound, hence the Afrikaans name tjienkerientjee, translated to chincherinchee in English. The bulbs produce long lasting flowers, which can be seen from late spring to mid summer. Their longevity makes them highly prized in the cut flower industry. They are however poisonous to cattle and horses.Pink Sugarbush: Protea stokoei, part of the Proteaceae family, this flowering shrub is endemic to the Kogelberg and Groenlandberg around Elgin and blooms in winter from May to October. Listed as endangered they are serotinous, meaning their seed heads remain unopened and seeds are only released after fire. They take around seven years to reach their first flowering, which means they are threatened by too frequent a fire. Fortunately their rocky outcrop habitat generally protects them and fires skip past. They have sweet nectar liked by sugarbirds, which are their only known pollinators.Sundew: Drosera capensis. With at least 194 species, sundews are the largest genera of carnivorous plants, and occur naturally in the south western Cape in marshes, along streams, permanent seeps or damp areas of fynbos.They flower in December and January but their flowers open briefly and only in good sunlight. Insects are drawn to the glistening dewdrops on their leaves only to be trapped by the sticky fluid secreted by the glandular cells and subsequently digested. Interestingly they can be pollinated by insects, but are usually self-pollinated.Pic: Chris VynbosImpepho: Helichrysum petiolare, also commonly known as the licorice plant, is native to South Africa. Other common names include the silver bush, everlasting, herbal helichrysum, bedding helichrysum, kooigoed and kruie. It grows in drier conditions, sheltered slopes and forest margins of the Western Cape (Cederberg and Jonkershoek mountains), Eastern Cape and KwaZulu-Natal. It is a water wise plant, with its silvery leaves reflecting heat and hairs also reducing water loss. Flowering in December and January, the strong scent attracts various insects including honeybees. It's the bundle of herbs often seen in Rastafarian medicine kits, and if you've ever slept out you'll know the lovely smell its bedding makes. The fact that it’s an insect repellent is an added benefit!To book into the Mbali Collection, or for more information on Kogelberg, contact CapeNature, 087 087 8250, [email protected], www.capenature.co.za The Lazy Photographer v2It is always fun to read about other people’s setups. 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Tortoises are reputed to be slow and meditative, but leopard tortoises can move quite fast, climb a little and even float in water. They are combative in mating season, with males ramming and overturning one another and butting females into submission. Anyone who has seen leopard tortoises mating will learn something about stamina. Longhorn Beetle Nightjar Travel 7 Mar 2017 This bug was photographed at Woodcliffe near Maclear in the South Africa's Eastern Cape province. The long antennae of these kinds of insects have prompted people to refer to them as 'longhorn' beetles. However, there are many beetles of this shape, colour and description and not all of them are equally harmless. Many beetles feed on poisonous plants and build up reserves of toxins in their bodies which they can secrete when threatened. Leopard Warning Nightjar Travel 4 Mar 2017 Leopards earned their place in the famed 'Big Five' by being one of the most difficult and dangerous animals to hunt on foot. This is not only because of the fearsome teeth seen in this photograph but also because of their incredible mobility and the eighteen sharp claws with which they capture and lacerate their prey. They are mostly peaceful creatures but can be somewhat unpredictable if cornered, injured or old and hungry. Lechwe Herd Nightjar Travel 28 Feb 2017 A herd of lechwe surge through the waters of the Okavango Delta. These antelope have special adaptions that make watery habitats easier for them to negotiate - providing some protection from predators. Firstly, their legs are covered with a substance that repels water, and secondly, their especially long hindlegs help them to dash quickly through swampy areas. They are grazers and feed on aquatic grasses. Wolwedans Scene Nightjar Travel 25 Feb 2017 The aching blue of the Wolwedans skies are not often disrupted by clouds, but occasional periods of high rainfall are enough to sustain these hardy camelthorn acacias. The inselbergs seen here are one of four habitats typically found in the arid NamibRand Nature Reserve - along with sand dunes and sand and gravel plains. Despite the harsh conditions there are many creatures that thrive here. This image shows one of these - the Sociable Weaver - and there are also fluctuating populations of oryx, springbok, kudu, Hartman's and Burchell's zebra, giraffe, klipspringer, steenbok, hartebeest and baboon. Leopard Clambering Nightjar Travel 21 Feb 2017 A leopard navigates its way down a tree - off to find a cooler resting place to hide from the noonday sun. Once a leopard lies down in a shaded grassy area its camouflage is so good that it's likely to utterly blend into the scenery, hence the anecdotes about tourists who take photographs of themselves in what seems to empty bush - only to discern later the mottled outline of a leopard lurking in the background of the photograph. Zebra Peering Nightjar Travel 18 Feb 2017 A zebra grazing in long grass takes a break to peer curiously at the photographer. When one has been travelling in African national parks for many years, it is easy to become accustomed to the striking looks of the zebra. Occasionally though, it occurs even to the most avid bushwhackers that these animals are right out of the psychedelic 1960s. Of course, the zebra's stripes are a vital survival tactic and play an important role in 'psyching out' predators, who seemingly cannot easily discern one zebra from another when they herd together. Cicada Nightjar Travel 14 Feb 2017 Cicadas are tinnitus in insect form. They are famed for their intense, piercing 'song' which they produce by vibrating the rib-like tymbals on their abdomens. There are about 150 different kinds of cicadas in South Africa and about 2000 worldwide. Cicadas have an unusually long lifespan for an insect - they stay in nymph form for about 13 to 17 years before venturing above ground. Oryx Nightjar Travel 11 Feb 2017 A herd of very healthy-looking oryx trundles across brittle scrubland. These antelope are at home in arid areas and don't need drinking water, surviving on the moisture they find in roots and tubers. Their Latin name is 'oryx gazella' and it is the large dark-chocolate patch on their rumps that makes them very distinct from 'oryx beisa' - the east African species. 'Oryx gazella' are more commonly known in southern Africa as gemsbok. Male gemsbok are huge and may weigh up to 240kg. Leopard Aloft Nightjar Travel 7 Feb 2017 This is one kittycat that no fireman would try to fetch down from a tree. This leopard is looking very alert and watchful. Trees form useful vantage points for leopards as they can identify advancing threats very easily. However, they have been known to hunt from trees as well. If the timing is right, they will leap down on the unsuspecting prey beneath them and enjoy a relatively effortless meal. Overberg Sheep Nightjar Travel 4 Feb 2017 Sheep graze in mown wheat fields in the Overberg. This region is named for its location: to get from Cape Town to these fertile farming lands, one has to go 'over' the Hottentots Holland mountains ('berge' in Afrikaans) via Sir Lowry's Pass. These rolling wheat fields are typical of the area which is known for its wheat production and fruit crops. The Elgin Valley in the Overberg produces 60% of South Africa's apple crops. The major towns in the Overberg area are Hermanus, Caledon, Bredasdorp and Swellendam. Northern Black Korhaan Nightjar Travel 31 Jan 2017 In this photograph one can clearly see the large white patches along this korhaan's wings that distinguish it from its endemic southern cousin. The Northern Black Korhaan has a wider range than the southern species as it is found not only in the drier grassland and scrub areas of South Africa and Lesotho, but also in Botswana, Zimbabwe, Angola and Namibia. Male birds like this one are particularly distinctive because of their striking colours, noisy calls and aerial displays. Spotted Eagle Owl Nightjar Travel 28 Jan 2017 A Spotted Eagle Owl demonstrates its brilliant camouflage: its mottled brown and white feathers closely resemble the bark of the tree next to it. This owl is also demonstrating the famed ability of its kin to rotate their heads up to 270 degrees. Spotted Eagle Owls are found throughout southern Africa and are very adaptable. While they are seldom seen during the day because of their nocturnal habits, they are found urban, rural and wild areas. They mate for life. Mopane Worm Nightjar Travel 24 Jan 2017 This worm looks quite similar to the Mopane Worm - one of the most famous worms in South Africa. The Latin name of the Mopane Worm is Gonimbrasia belina and it is a species of emperor moth. During the worm stage of the emperor moth it can almost defoliate mopane and mango trees. However, mopane worms are a reliable source of protein in some African rural areas and it is quite a fun communal event to gather these worms. They are dried and eaten as a snack, or cooked with onions, and are also available canned in tomato sauce. Leopard Relaxing Nightjar Travel 21 Jan 2017 A leopard relaxes in a tree in the morning sun. The ability to climb and rest in trees is hugely beneficial to leopards. Just like other cats, leopards like to sharpen their claws on the bark of tree trunks. These sharp claws and their incredible strength and agility enables them to drag their prey into treetops, giving them an advantage over opportunistic lions and hyenas that may try to steal it from them. Leopards can haul into trees animals that are twice or three times their body weight - even gangly young giraffes. Lechwe Pair on Alert Nightjar Travel 17 Jan 2017 Some alert-looking male lechwe sensing danger. These two lechwe are clearly male since female lechwe do not have horns. These two probably belong to a bachelor herd of young males that have not yet successfully defended a territory and are therefore not in competition. Lechwe are interesting because the females form breeding herds which move through the territories of different rams, mating on the go. Pages…next ›last »NightjarWelcome to our website. South Africa is awesome and you've come to the right place to help you explore it!Enjoy the siteErik

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