Rainfall and Temperatures

Temperatures

The average maximum temperature for this month was 32°C / 90°F and the average minimum temperature 21°C / 70°F.  The average maximum temperature for January 2010 is 1°C higher than January 2009, but falls within the range of temperatures that have been experienced during the previous years which gives the indication that temperatures are not increasing rapidly.  The highest temperature recorded for January was 38°C / 100°F and the lowest was 16°C / 61°F.

Rainfall

January was not a high rainfall month, but the small showers received have kept the vegetation looking lush and green.  A total of 53 mm was received during the month bringing the total rainfall received during 2010 to 53 mm.  The total for this wet season (September 2009 to August 2010) has increased to 467.5 mm.

Field

Maintenance

Most of the maintenance work was undertaken at 1933 and Mlechuaan dip during January, where the Habitat Squad and I constructed several gabions.  These gabions were constructed in a large drainage line at 1933 to help stabilize the ground and to prevent the soil from being washed away during the remainder of the rainy season.  At Mlechuaan dip we constructed another gabion to prevent the road from being washed away when the Mlechuaan River flows during the rainy season.

The repair and rehabilitation of two-tracks cause by vehicles during off-road driving for animal sightings was also undertaken during early January.  Once again only a few two-track were in need of repair and rehabilitation, these are usually created when the Rangers have located a predator on a kill, as these give excellent sightings for a couple of days.

Two-track repair and rehabilitation involves chipping the soil crust and adding rhino dung before brush packing the sight with vegetation.  The soil is chipped to allow water to infiltrate the soil, while the rhino dung acts as an important seed source of various grass species and the brush packing reduces the impact of raindrops on the soil surface while also reducing herbivory on the sprouting grasses.

Roads

As a result of the heavy rains received during the month several roads were in need of repair. The entrance road into Lion Sands, Bonsela, required the addition of a couple of mitre drains to facilitate the removal of water from the roads surface. The mitre drains on this section of road were also opened and their associated humps were repaired. These mitre drains and humps are extremely important as they prolong the life of a road and ensure that the surface water is quickly removed from the roads surface, preventing damage to the roads surface.

In addition Piva, Tamba, sections of Puza Manzi and Rhino Dam underwent routine maintenance, whereby the mitre drains were opened, humps repaired and certain sections were gravel patched to ensure an even road surface.

Vegetation and Water

With the small amount of rainfall received during the month the vegetation is still lush and green.  Most tree species have started producing their fruits and seeds, a welcome sight for all the browsers of the Reserve.  The herbaceous vegetation too has a good biomass and is providing ample grazing for all the grazers of Lion Sands.

The rainfall received during the month has helped maintain high level of water in the major waterholes on Lion Sands.  In addition to these, several smaller, natural pans have been formed throughout the Reserve providing ample water to all the animals on Lion Sands.  Water is essential as all of the animals on the Reserve depend on water for their survival - either by being directly dependent on water for drinking and pest removal purposes or by being dependent on the animals attracted to the water for their survival.

Animals

Birds

A wide variety of birds were spotted during January, including several of the migrating species, such as Eurasian Bee-eaters (Merops apiaster), Eurasian Rollers (Coracias garrulous) and Woodland Kingfishers (Halcyon senegalensis).  Several African Fish eagles (Haliaeetus vocifer) have been located along the Sabie River, catching and feeding on Tigerfish and other indigenous fish species.  Saddlebilled (Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis) and Woollynecked storks (Ciconia episcopus) were also seen at many of the numerous mud pools and natural pans, feasting on the small crustaceans and vertebrates.

There have also been several sightings of large predatory bird species, including Bateleurs (Terathopius ecaudatus), Whitebacked Vultures (Gyps africanus), Wahlberg’s Eagles (Aquila wahlbergi) and Martial Eagles (Polemaetus bellicosus).

Reptiles

January has once again been an excellent month for reptile sightings, probably as a result of the high temperatures and reduced rainfall experienced in the Reserve during the past month.  On these days when the temperatures have been warm, we have been lucky enough to sight the following species:

- Black mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis)
- Leopard Tortoise (Geochelone pardalis)
- Mozambique spitting cobra (Naja mossambica)
- Tree agama (Acanthocerus atricollis)
- Giant plated lizards (Gerrhosaurus validus)
- Olive Whip Snake (Psammophis mossambicus)
- Flap-neck chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis)
- Vine snake (Thelotornis capensis)

Special Sighting

Vine Snake to quick for a Chameleon!

Generally our interesting sightings happen out on the Reserve during a game drive or bush walk, but occasionally something special happens right in the middle of the lodge for all to see.  This was the case earlier this week in the River Lodge car park.

While welcoming new guest arrivals in the River Lodge reception, a Chameleon came out of the confinement and safety of the trees to attempt to pass the vast dessert which was the parking lot.  For those of you who don’t know chameleons, lets just say that they are not the fastest animals in the animal kingdom.  The distance from one side of the parking lot to the other is about 30 m, and it will take a chameleon approximately 15 minutes to cover that distance.

About 10 m into its journey, the normally green chameleon started changing colour in an attempt to fit in to its new environment.  A mechanism it uses to avoid predation, but it was already too late!  A Vine snake with its keen eyesight already spotted his victim from out of the trees.  The snake came rushing down the trees straight for his unsuspecting victim which was passing the River Lodge parking lot for the last time …

Onlookers to this spectacle suddenly saw the snake coming out of the trees heading for the chameleon!  The snake caught the chameleon and injected its deadly Heamotoxic venom into its prize catch.  Once the snake had the chameleon it never let go, staying in the open waiting for the venom to take effect.  The chameleon tried to fight back from the inevitable by biting his attacker but it was a lost cause.  After a struggle of about 20 minutes the snake took it’s meal to the safety of the trees, where it could enjoy its meal.

Mammals

Lion

Certain members of the Charleston Rock pride have been seen on several occasions throughout the month, mostly in and around the vicinity of 1933 Lodge and the Sabie River, but also as far west as Legogote.  The lone cub is alive and well, appearing slightly bigger every time we see her.  A female from the Charleston pride has broken away from the other three females and has been seen in the vicinity of Warthog Wallow pan over the last couple of week.  We have reason to believe that she might have cubs in the area and we are hoping that we might catch a glimpse of them in the next few weeks.

The Southern pride was seen occasionally during the month, with the pride fragmented over a large area instead of in one large group.  The pride is still strong and healthy – numbering 13 individuals.  Predation was average and a number of impala kills being recorded during January.

Leopard

We have once again been treated to some incredible leopard sightings during the month of January.  On several occasions we have located our dominant male, the Sandriver male, patrolling his territory in search of females and protecting it from rival males.  Warthog wallow female and her sister Outcrop, have also been a regular sighting during the month.  Outcrop’s two female cubs are strong and healthy and we were lucky enough to have witnessed one of them stalking and catching an adult banded mongoose earlier during the month!

Edwin Pierce
Ecologist – Lion Sands  Private Game Reserve