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In this series, tour leader and native South African Leon Marais has chosen his Top Ten South Africa wildlife experiences. Here are his final two choices.
Gemsbok, Namaqualand
Number 9: The hide experience
Hides are not for everyone. You need to be patient; to be able to sit still for long periods and to be able to keep your mouth shut for an hour or two, but they can be great for wildlife watching under the right conditions. And although many reserves have hides, there are four that stand out for me. Lake Panic Bird Hide in the Kruger National Park is a must for birders, with fantastic views of species such as Black Crake, Goliath Heron, African Darter, Malachite Kingfisher and African Jacana pretty much guaranteed, while occasionally something as elusive as a White-backed Night Heron or Pel’s Fishing-Owl might turn up. In Mkhuze Game Reserve Kumasinga Hide offers some exceptional viewing of general game, with a steady procession of Nyala, Blue Wildebeest, Burchell’s Zebra, Warthog and Impala coming down to drink during the heat of the day, while birds gather in flocks to bathe in company at the water’s edge.
Further into KwaZulu-Natal, the Vulture Hide at Giant’s Castle Game Reserve offers superb views of Bearded and Cape Vultures, sometimes interacting with scavenging Black-backed Jackals to create astounding photographic opportunities. And in Mapungubwe National Park, Maloutswa Bird Hide is another great place for wildlife, with general game streaming through in a steady procession through the day, and if the Red-Billed Queleas are flocking (late summer) they provide amazing sights as they flow through in untold numbers, often to be harried by Lanner Falcons. In the late afternoon the Elephants often come down and their preferred drinking spot is right in front of the hide, making for some breathtaking moments!
Best tours: South Africa - Kruger (Birds), South Africa - Kruger (Mammals), Butterflies of South Africa
The West Coast of South Africa is usually a stark and dry place. The cold Atlantic Ocean currents create an arid environment, leaving thick convection fog to deliver much of the land’s moisture. During winter (May to August) cold fronts sweeping up from the south deliver soaking rains, and if these have been generous enough, the area is set for a spectacular transformation. From Langebaan to Springbok and beyond, wildflowers erupt from the earth, transforming barren stony plains into carpets of colour.
Namaqualand, a large and variable stretch of desert and semi-desert between the Orange and Olifants Rivers and the Atlantic Ocean is the heart of the flower region, with spectacular shows of annuals, geophytes, dwarf shrubs and succulents. Early rains in the autumn followed by steady winter rains herald a good flower season to come, and early-August to mid-September is usually the best time, though absolute predictions are impossible. And although the flowers are unpredictable the tourists are – August and September are busy periods so you need to book early!
Best tours: South Africa - Best of the Cape, The Wild Flowers of the Cape & Namaqualand