Good morning everyone… Now that the grass are breaking because of the cold, a person can spot the meerkats a lot easier. Normally, one or more meerkats stand sentry while others are foraging or playing, to warn them of approaching dangers. When a predator is spotted, the meerkat performing as sentry gives a warning bark, and other members of the gang will run and hide in one of the many bolt holes they have spread across their territory. The sentry meerkat is the first to reappear from the burrow and search for predators, constantly barking to keep the others underground. If there is no threat, the sentry meerkat stops signaling and the others feel safe to emerge. Enjoy and see you tomorrow!

Good morning everyone… The young males of  Rooiputs are at it again! In the Flehmen response, animals draw back their lips in a manner that makes them appear to be “smirking”. Flehming allows the animals to determine several factors, including the presence or absence of estrus, the physiological state of the animal, and how long ago the animal passed by. This particular response is recognizable, for example, when smelling the urine of a female in heat. The Jacobson’s organ, is a chemoreceptor organ believed to play a role in the perception of certain scents and pheromones. The organ is located on the roof of the mouth. Enjoy and see you tomorrow!

Good morning everyone! I thought it was Friday yesterday, sorry , my mistake! Here in the bush you lose track of time sometimes! Today’s photo is a Cape Fox. The Cape Fox is nocturnal and it is mainly active at night and is most active just before dawn. or after dusk. The Cape Fox is an omnivorous animal, meaning that they will eat plants or animals. Although they prefer mainly invertebrates and small mammals such as mice and rats, they are opportunists and have hunted and eaten small lizards, rabbits, spiders, birds, and young hares. They will also eat eggs, beetle larvea, and carrion, as well as most insects or fruits. Enjoy your weekend and see you on Monday!

Good morning everyone, the lions are very active in the south and are fighting over the females again! The youngest of the 4 males had a bloody nose yesterday, and were lying about 200 meters from the male thats busy mating! The grass is still very long and turning yellow at the moment because of all the frost! Heres a male in the long grass, enjoy your weekend and see you on monday!

Good morning everyone! Well done Dan Hugo!  It was the Elanus caeruleus (Black–shouldered kite). Blouvalk [Afrikaans], and the juvenile Melierax gabar (Gabar goshawk), Witkruissperwer (Kleinsingvalk) [Afrikaans]. So we came to the end of the first bird quiz and Andrew Stegman winning this month with three correct answers, we will have another one next month!

The leopard mom, Luna and the cubs has been scarce the last 2 weeks, except for old Oscar, the father of the cubs, he was marking his territory yesterday. There is a lot of lion activity in the river, and they probably went into the dunes, it’s very difficult to track them in the dunes, because of the long grass, but im sure we’ll find them soon. Here’s a photo of old Oscar cruising along a ridge in Black & White!

Enjoy and see you tomorrow!

Good morning everyone, Andrew Stegman is running away with the first quiz, today will be the last one untill next month. Yesterday’s quiz was the Lappet–faced Vulture (Aegypius tracheliotus) – two of them, and the White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus).

Todays quiz, is again two different birds. Good luck and enjoy!!!

Good morning everyone, hope you had a good weekend! Well done Deryn Petty! Just when we thought no-one will get it, Deryn came forward with the right answer over the weekend! It is a Calendulauda africanoides (Fawn–coloured lark), Vaalbruinlewerik [Afrikaans].

Todays quiz is two birds!  Good luck and see you tomorrow!

Good morning everyone! Well done Andrew Stegman &  Sue James!! Another one for Andrew, which had the finger on the buzzer the quickest!! Yesterdays mystery bird was indeed a Oena capensis (Namaqua dove), Namakwaduifie [Afrikaans]! It was caught just outside our tent! We’ve seen them kill snakes, rats, mice, lizards and birds, they are exceptionally good hunters! Ok the bird in today’s quiz is a LBJ (Little Brown Job), good luck and see you on monday!

PS. This one for you, Luke!

Good morning everyone! … Well done Andrew Stegman! The answer to yesterdays quiz was a Sylvietta rufescens (Long–billed crombec), bosveldstompstert. It looks like it’s too easy, so today we’re throwing a spanner in the works! Try this one, we want the name of the bird in the yellow mongoose’s mouth! Haha! Enjoy and good luck, see you tomorrow!

Good morning everyone! Well done John! Yesterday’s bird quiz was indeed a juvenile Black-Chested Snake Eagle! Good luck with today’s quiz! Enjoy and see you tomorrow!