branch Archives - Page 12 of 26

Moustache

The greater kudu of South Africa has tawny-brown to grey-brown coats with distinctive white stripes running down on its flanks. They have a white V-shaped band across the eyes and forehead with white spots on their cheeks. There are strong physical differences between males and females. The males grow long, spiral horns that can reach up to 1,8 m in length. The kudu bull’s horns reach full length at the age of six years old, and males are significantly larger than females. Bulls can weigh as much as 300 kg with a shoulder height of 1.4 m and cows weigh 210 kg with a shoulder height of 1.25 m. Kudu has long manes of hair that run on its back from head to tail and along the lower neck to the underbelly. A kudu herd tends to split up into two sub-groups. Young females remain with their mothers, while sexually mature males around the age of two years old form bachelor groups. Kudu males will join the female herds during mating season. No territorial spacing exists amongst bulls, but as they show age in their physical appearance, they have size-graded dominant hierarchies.
Info source: http://southafrica.co.za/kudu.html

9 May 2019Picture of the day, Wildlife

Innocent

The glossy coat of the Impala shows two-tone colouration – the reddish-brown back and the tan flanks; these are in sharp contrast to the white underbelly. Facial features include white rings around the eyes and a light chin and snout. The ears are tipped with black. Black streaks run from the buttocks to the upper hind legs. The bushy white tail features a solid black stripe along the mid-line. The Impala has scent glands covered by a black tuft of hair on the hind legs. Sebaceous glands concentrated on the forehead and dispersed on the torso of dominant males are most active during the mating season, while those of females are only partially developed and do not undergo seasonal changes. There are four nipples.
Info source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Impala

20 February 2019Picture of the day, Wildlife

Last light

Segaia – a name you’re not likely to forget once you’ve visited this charming lodge. One of the jewels of Northern Gauteng, it offers an escape to the magic of the bush that reminds of areas far more remote. Our Conservancy is well stocked with game, blessed with prolific bird life, and is infused with that unique African magic found only in the bush. Segaia Bush Retreat has a watering hole right in front of the lodge where wild game come to drink. Enjoy, therefore, stunning African sunsets on the deck whilst watching zebra, kudu, impala and warthog wandering the grounds of the Lodge. A lucky few may even spot the reclusive leopard. A paradise for birdwatchers with more than 450 bird species, many of which can be spotted from the lodge itself. Alternatively, you can follow the walking trails through the Conservancy and seek the rarer birds on foot.

18 February 2019Landscape, Picture of the day