Summer in the African bush can be
tough, especially for those who shudder in the presence of creepy crawlies.
In sweltering, sticky heat, the
beetles, spiders, mosquitoes and reptiles are all making the most of
summer before the rains depart.
Of course, in these modern times we
have it way easier than our forebears did, back a hundred years and
more.
Air-conditioning, bug spray, medicines
and comfortable vehicles to move around in, can make the whole
experience seem quite effortless, until....
 |
| Mozambican Spitting Cobra |
...you sit down on the toilet, only to
look up and see a snake wound around a rafter;
...cobwebs cling to your face and hands as
you walk up the footpath every morning;
 |
| Golden Orb Web spider |
...an enormous dung beetle collides with
your face on the game drive;
...another beetle catches in your hair
under the lights during dinner;
...just as you sit down to eat dinner, the
arrival of the stink bugs make the plagues of Egypt look pathetic;
...during some dry days between rain
storms, the ants come pouring out in their millions (you should see
me dancing the “ant-dance” whilst I'm trying to sort out the
vehicles before a drive!!).
 |
| A colourful grasshopper |
Fortunately for my guests and me, we
are only in the real “hot zone” for a few days and for the other
animals we get to see at this time of the year, every spider, dung
beetle and snake is worth it!
If you are keen on birds, summer is
definitely the time of year to be in the bush. Apart from all our
locally breeding species we have thousands of summer visitors
escaping the winters of the northern hemisphere. In late summer, they
are to be seen everywhere as they feed intensively to build up fat
stores for their long flight home.
 |
| European Roller |
 |
| Southern Carmine Bee-eaters |
The grass is long, the bush thick and
morning dew drenches the vegetation. Many animals, including the
predators prefer the open road and path ways early on a summers day.
So good sightings of lion, leopard,
wild dog, hyena, rhino and elephant can be had........
More difficult to find at this time of
the year are the giraffe, buffalo, wildebeest and the more solitary
antelope.
To make up for this though, are all the
great tortoise, lizard and other reptile sightings.
I won't even start on about the wild
flowers, sprinkled everywhere in the golden green grass......
So, the following photos are just a
small sampling of some of the great experiences we've had on safari
over the last four weeks.
Enjoy!
