African Wildlife and Environment Issue 68

FAUNA, FLORA & WILDLIFE

FAUNA, FLORA & WILDLIFE

This 670 square km reserve is home to an impressive variety of wildlife due to its location in the transitional zone between the dry western and moister eastern regionsof SouthAfrica.Majesticmountain landscapes, which give way to grass-clad hills and deep valleys, characterise the park. Yellowwood and cedar trees, Eugene Marais cycads and tree ferns, are some of the plant species found in this Waterberg sanctuary. Typical alpine species like proteas are found growing in belts just below the escarpment. The greater part of the reserve is classified as Waterberg Mountain Bushveld with the higher altitude areas beingWaterberg-Magaliesberg Summit Sourveld. Typical high-altitude species like Cape Bunting, Mocking Cliff-chat and Cape Rock Thrush are found on the top of the mountain, especially at picnic spots where they wait for that dropped crumb or two from human visitors. During the summer months, and when the various plants are flowering like the mountain bottlebrush and the proteas, one can find Gurneys Sugarbird and Malachite Sunbirds. The reserve is home to over 270 bird species, including a number of red data species, (African Finfoot, White-backed Night Heron, Half-collared Kingfisher, Black Stork and Cape Vulture, to name a few) and Marakele hosts a large number of migrant birds during the summer months. The Kransberg is home to one of the largest breeding colonies of Cape Vultures in South Africa,

numbering over 800 breeding pairs. One can view the birds soaring up into the thermals from the Lenong view-point on top of the escarpment. To get a view of the actual nesting sites, one has to leave the park, turning right at the main gate and travelling along the dirt road, over the Rankin Pass, to get good views of the Kransberg cliffs in the distance, from the road below. Binoculars or a spotting scope will be beneficial. The dirt road is often in poor condition. Apart from the ‘Big Five’, the park is home to 16 species of antelope includingTsessebe. Great sightings can be had of Klipspringer, on the escarpment in the morning, being relatively used to cars and often close to the road. Visiting the reserve and where to stay Roads are generally in a good condition, with some being concrete or tar, but the majority are dirt. Most roads are accessible by normal vehicles. The one road to the top of the escarpment and Kransberg is very steep, narrow and winding one lane road, with ‘passing areas’ up the mountain pass. This road is not recommended for nervous drivers! In times of late rain, the early part of the summer can become rather dusty. The park has two camps. Tlopi safari tented camp set inwoodland surroundings of the Apiesrivierpoort Dam, deep in the reserve approximately 17 km from reception.

The Swallow-tailed bee-eater surveying the surroundings

A rare spotting of one of the park’s lions

A family of elephants enjoying an afternoon walk

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