At nDzuti Safari Camp, we are privileged to have access to a portion of the Olifants River as it meanders through the bushveld and into the Kruger Park. Hippos and crocodiles abound along this wide shallow river. I recall the reflection of hundreds of sets of eyes shining back at us one night as we shone a spotlight over the Olifants River at Bangu Gorge close to the Mozambiquan border. Crocs are masters of concealment; while searching for them and looking out over the river for a while; a partially submerged or log-lookalike croc might suddenly materialise, having been there in front of you all the time.

Crocs are often encountered sunning themselves of the riverbank. Being ectotherms crocodiles and all other reptiles regulate their body temperature using the environment. When crocs feel too hot they may lie out on the river bank with their mouths wide open. The breeze over the moist surface of the mouth interior causes cooling like the pant of dog does.
Crocodiles and the ambient temperature are closely connected in more ways than this. Crocodile hatchlings have their sex determined by the temperature of the nest in which the eggs grow.

Typically, all embryos start out as female but may become male when certain environmental conditions are reached. At a certain high temperature within the nest, androgenic hormones are produced by the embryos and male sex organs in the baby crocs begin to develop. It follows that the site of the nest, whether in the sun or a shady spot will determine the sex of the crocodile hatchlings.
Crocodiles are fascinating primitive creatures and a joy to watch living in the natural wild environment of the iconic Kruger Park.

Our dramatic landscapes and interesting geology has many a story to tell. We have several different rock types including one fascinating component within the rocks here; the sheet-like, multi-layered “books” of mica. There is a small village close-by named Mica where they have for many years mined this mineral.

Mica is essentially a phyllosilicate – meaning sheet silicates in layers and it is found in all three of the major groups of rocks.

Mica has a myriad of wide-ranging uses from insulators in missiles to the sheen in eye shadow cosmetics.

Many years ago, large sheets of transparent mica were used as early window panes in the area around Moscow, giving this type of mica the tag “muscovite”. Sheet mica is used in insulation of aerospace components, for “windows” of furnaces and ovens, optical instruments and electrical condensers.

Ground mica is a filler and stabiliser for asphalt road surfaces, for rubber products and drywall. It is added to the plastic components of automobiles where it adds strength and flexibility. It gives the pearlescent quality to automobile paints and the sheen to wallpaper.

On our evening drives when the moon is full, mica can be seen glittering on our roads and hillsides giving the bush a magic quality.

Kudu bulls with their spiralled horns and attractive facial markings are breathtakingly beautiful. Kudu antelope do not have territories and perhaps, for this reason, they exhibit a marked sexual dimorphism. The males typically weigh a lot more than the female. Their corkscrew horns can attain two and a half spirals and are have a wide span. When the kudu lifts his mouth to feed off trees his horns fit perfectly over his broad back. Likewise, when a kudu bull runs through the thick bush of the Kruger Park he needs to lift his head to run under low branches and his horns fit down over his back.  Kudu generally walk through the bush slowly and quietly placing the back foot in the track of the front foot- this track -on track gait is typical of the spiral-horned antelope tribe.  Quiet movement through the bush allows kudu to hear any danger in the vicinity. Their large rounded ears are highly mobile and can swing around pointing towards the disturbance. The pink lining of the ear is a capillary rich skin that helps cool the animal, rather than sweating.

Kudu are not water-dependent, getting most of their need for moisture from what they eat.  However, where water is available, they will drink often. Kudu eat leaves off trees and are required to put their face right into the tree canopy to find the preferred shoots and buds. Accordingly, their eyes are positioned far from the small mouth and on the sides of their face. The pointed face and small mouth allow kudu to be selective about what they eat.

Kudu calves are born in summer when the cow leaves the group to give birth alone. The calves remain hidden in thick bush for 2 months with the mother returning to suckle the calf just once a day! Such discipline ensures survival!