Tag Archive for accommodation near game reserve

Did You Know – Heady Maiden Moth

Lacey / November 30, 2011 / No comments

Find below our latest factsheet on the Heady Maiden moth
-Heady Maiden Moth -Scientific name: amata cerbera -Identification: Blackish blue wings with transparent spots. Body is a blue/green with red or orange bands. Usually 4 bands. -Male and female: Similar markings on male and female -Body length: One of the smaller moths - 30mm body length -Behaviour: Sluggish, slow flying day fliers. -Food: Adult moths do not need to eat as they obtain most of the food they need as caterpillars and breed quickly. They do however drink.Some with working proboscis (mouth-piece like a straw) suck nectar from plant flowers and tree sap. Larvae feeds on various leaves, flowers, and fruit dependant on region. -Larvae: Larvae have been found in various places from grass to Coffee. -Communicate: Communicate with chemical signals -Habitat: Succelent Karoo to Sub-tropical Forest -Distribution: Eastern Coast of South Africa extending up to Mozambique and as far inland as Swaziland. -Predators: Varied predators from Chameleons to birds. Roughly summarised to 'anything that can catch them'. Parasitic wasps kill eggs. -Did You Know: - The genus name amata means loved : Butterflies have straight antenna whilst moths have ones that resemble TV aerials to help them fly at night : Unlike m

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In The News – Snakes Alive!

Lacey / November 25, 2011 / No comments

We have been featured in the news once more! See the article on the IOL website here.

Umkhumbi Lodge 13th November 2011

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Did You Know – Pink Throated Twinspot

Lacey / November 23, 2011 / No comments

See below for the latest in our factsheet series
Pink-Throated Twinspot Scientific name: Hypargos margaritatus :Description - Small brightly spotted bird endemic to regions in the Northern KwaZulu Natal, Swaziland and southern Mozambique. :Call - Soft, high pitched trill. :Endemic (only found) in thornveld thickets and and coastal scrub. :Male/female - - Male has pinkish throat, face and breast with a brown crown. - Female has a grey-brown throat, breast and belly. - Both adults have distinct white spots on black on underside below wings and chest. - Juvenile is brown above and pale-grey below. Has no spots. :Nesting behaviour - Builds nest in an untidy ball shape with the entrance is on the side. Tend to be built low down in dense vegetation. 3-4 eggs are lain. Breeding occurs in the early months of the year, usually around January. :Diet - Eats both seeds and insects :Did You Know - - Very rare due to its relatively small distribution, very desirable with birdwatchers. - In Afrikaans they are called Rooskeelkolpensie. - Often mistaken for the red-throated twispot. - There is also a green throated twinspot

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Did You Know – Natal Hinged Tortoise

Lacey / November 16, 2011 / No comments

Natal Hinged Tortoise Scientific name / Genus: Kinixys Description: A group of tortoises who have a hinge between the 7 and 8th marginal scutes (plates) of their shell. Diet: Various - Grasses, forbs, indigenous fruits, succulents, millipedes, insects, snails, carrion and mushrooms. Habitat: Occur in a wide range of habitats including bushveld, thornveld, savanna woodland, forest and grassland. Restricted to North Eastern parts of South Africa. Breeding: Most recorded matings are Sep-Nov, but Natal Hinged tortoise has been observed in Feb. Clutches between 2-10 hardshelled eggs laid in Nov-Apr. Bell's hinged tortoise lays several clutches. Incubation 3-10+ months, hatching Sep-April. Conservation: The Natal Hinged Tortoise is IUCN listed as 'Near Threatened' due to extensive habitat destruction Different species within genus: - Bell's Hinged Tortoise; Kinixys belliana - Lobatse Hinged Tortoise; Kinixys lobatsiana - Natal hinged tortoise; Kinixys natalensis - Speke's hinged tortoise; kinixys spekii Male or female: Avg shell length 155-210mm. Avg weight 600g to 1.8kg. Females larger than males. Hinge may be absent or ill-formed in juveniles Did You Know: - Tortoises are more active in the rain - Have lived up to 22 years in captivity

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Did You Know – Suni

Lacey / November 2, 2011 / No comments

The latest in our quiz sheets! The Suni :)

Suni Scientific name: Neotragus moschatus Description: A very small species of African antelope - can be mistaken for very young duiker. Very little is known about these reclusive animals. Habitat: Rarely seen, found in dense woodland. Have a limited distribution usually in sandforest and coastal forest in North East of South Africa. Communication: Usually thought to be silent, few reported cases of barking. When distressed will cry like a human baby. Male or female: Approx 350mm high. Female/ Male 5.4kg/5kg Both have Light brown - chestnut coloured coat with white underparts and inner legs. Young are slightly darker. Rounded ears are pink inside, grey outside. Rams grow smooth tipped horns with deep ridges. Behaviour: Usually diurnal, the Suni will hide the day away in a sheltered, shady spot. Both males and females are territorial, with home ranges varying from 1-8 hectares depending on habitat suitability. Males mark their territory with the scent glands on their cheek (pre-orbital scent glands). Diet: Feed from the forest floor on newly fallen leaves, flowers and fruit. Usually will feed at dusk and dawn. Predators: Prey to many, the Suni use their camoflague and wait until the last minute to run away. Life Expectancy Unknown Did you know: - Suni sightings are even rarer than that of Leopard. - Suni have the largest pre-orbital scent glands relative to size of all African antelopes. - There are thought to be less than 1000 Suni in Zululand

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Did You Know – Pygmy Kingfisher

Lacey / October 12, 2011 / No comments

See below for the latest in our factsheet series.
Pygmy Kingfisher Scientific name: Ispidina picta Description: The African Pygmy Kingfisher is the smallest Kingfisher in the region at 13cm high. Habitat: Found in the West of South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Non-aquatic the pygmy kingfisher is found in woodland, savannah and coastal forests. Diet: Unlike most Kingfishers, the pygmy Kingfisher does not eat fish.Their diet consists mainly of insects, however they will also devour small lizards and frogs when available. Despite its small size the Pygmy Kingfisher can easily control large prey by bashing it on a tree or stone until it stops fighting. Calls: High pitched 'chip chip' when flying. Male/ Female: Adults the same. Juveniles similar to adult but with darkish bill (beak). Breeding: Usually breeding between October and December the pygmy kingfishers nest in an old burrow or tunnel on a bank. 3 - 6 eggs are normally laid in the nest. Did You Know: - Only Kingfisher that doesn't eat fish. - Can be distinguished from malachite kingfisher by its small size and the violet wash around its ears.

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Did You Know – Purple-Crested Turaco

Lacey / September 21, 2011 / No comments

See our factsheet below for more information about the purple-crested Turaco (formerly known as the purple-crested Lourie).

Purple crested turaco Formerly known as the Purple-crested lourie Scientific name: Musophaga porphyreolopha Description: Colourful African forest bird with red underwings and distinctive call. It differs from the other Turacos due its very dark purple crest, and the lack of white around the eyes. Diet: Feeds almost exclusiely on fruits Habitat: Tends to be found in coastal and riverine forests, sometimes also found in broad leaved woodland. Inhabits a large portion of Eastern African continent including; South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique and Zimbabwe. Male/female/juvenile: Adults the same. Juvenile is duller in colour. Call: Loud 'kok-kok-kok-kok' call Nest behavior: Both sexes build the nest. Usually one will return with sticks to give to the other who will place it in the nest. 2-4 eggs are laid which are incubated by both parents for approx 3 weeks. Chicks are ready to fly at 38 days. Did you know: Despite being brightly coloured, the purple crested turaco is hard to spot. It is mostly noticed by the bright red feathers of their underwings as they move from tree to tree.

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Did You Know – Cocktail Ant

Lacey / September 7, 2011 / No comments

See below the factsheet for the South African Cocktail Ant
Cocktail Ant Scientific Name: Crematogaster peringueyi Description: Small ant species indigenous to South Africa. Habitat: Diverse habitat, usually found in a forested area. Distribution is along the East Coast of South Africa. Predators: Surprisingly few due to red colour and irritant fluid. Tend to be preyed upon mainly by birds. Food: Worker ants tend aphids and coccid insects for honeydew. Social structure: Like all ants they form colonies which comprise of a queen and worker ants. There are many different types of worker ant - some work in the nursery, some collect food, some protect the colony e.t.c. Communication: Unknown, presumed same as standard ant - Using pheremones (scents). e.g. an ant that finds food will leave a scent trail on his way to the colony for other ants to follow. Male or Female: This doesn't really apply to Ants.Two types of ant instead; Queen - Body length 6mm Worker ant - Body length 3-6mm, 2 segmented waist, head, thorax and legs reddish brown and black. Life Expectancy: Unknown, presumed to be the same as a standard ant - 90 days (worker ant) Did you know? Cocktail ants will build their nests near birds nests so that as the birds protect their own nests from predators they inadvertently protect the ants. Cocktail ants are called that because they cock their tails in the air and squirt on the bite.

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