Page 10 - Kyalami Issue 3 2021

Kyalami Estates Corporate Brand Bible Design 26
3.0 Folder (Inner)
NATURE
to be aware of the many potholes in
the tarred sections. Some of the gravel
roads too have been badly rutted by
the heavy rains that fell earlier this
year. The Legacy Group that owns both
Bakubung Lodge and Kwa Maritane
is in discussion with North West
Parks on ways to improve the roads,
and one hopes that decisive action
is taken soon to rectify this problem.
The numerous dams, however, have
benefitted from the good rains and are
at high levels last seen many years
ago. Black-backed Jackal
Interesting bird sightings on and
around the dams included African
Black duck, Red-billed Teal, Glossy
Ibis, Cape Shoveler, Giant Kingfisher
Juvenile Gabar Goshawk and numerous African Fish Eagles.
Winter is an ideal time to observe lions Being winter, we didn’t expect to see
in a game reserve as, in the cooler too many raptors but notable sightings
weather, lions tend to be more active included a juvenile Gabar Goshawk,
during daylight hours whereas, in the Spotted Eagle Owl, Pearl Spotted
heat of summer, one tends to see Owlet and a number of Black-winged
them only snoozing under the shade of Kites. Bushveld birds seen included
a tree. In June, we were very fortunate Kori Bustard, Jameson’s Firefinch,
to see different prides of lions every Neddicky, Red-billed Oxpecker, White-
day, and all very close to the road. throated Robin Chat, Green-winged Cheetah
Indeed, just north of the Pilanesberg Pytilia, and the magnificent Violet-
centre we came across lions at a kill eared Waxbill.
(wildebeest) that was only some 3m
off the road. Four Black-backed jackals Only nine cheetahs currently inhabit
suddenly appeared on the periphery the Pilanesberg as the open savannah
of the kill and squabbled over scraps terrain favoured by cheetahs is largely
while keeping a safe distance from lacking in the reserve. Nevertheless,
the feeding lions. As we left the scene we were fortunate to come upon
of the kill, a leopard ran across the four cheetahs beside the road only a
road in front of us. Other lion sightings kilometre from Kwa Maritane and were
were at Batlhako Dam and along Kubu able to take photos before they totally
Drive, while we had a second leopard concealed themselves in the tall grass.
sighting in a tree not far from the road
leading to Ratlhogo Hide. Other excellent mammal sightings
included brown hyena, springbok,
Rhinos in the Pilanesberg have been steenbok, and slender mongoose. The
dehorned as a deterrent against once abundant red hartebeest and
poaching and a spotter plane was tsessebe were very few in number, no
often seen flying low over the reserve doubt with many having fallen prey to
as a further deterrent against illegal the many lions in the park. Elephants
activities within the confines of the are plentiful in the Pilanesberg and
reserve. Several of the roads in the it was heart-warming to see so many
park are in a poor state and one has white rhinos with calves. Sue at Manke Hide

Brown Hyena Anthony at Makorwane Hide
8 Kyalami Estates • CONNECT • Issue 3 • 2021