Africa’s Little FIVE

Africa’s Little FIVE

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We always talk about Africa’s Big five. Now its time to meet Africa’s “Little Five”

Africa’s small five – The Elephant Shrew, Buffalo Weaver, Rhino Beetle, Antlion, and Leopard Tortoise are not as well known or often spoken of, yet equally fascinating animals that hold a special place in the hearts of wildlife enthusiasts and conservationists alike. By virtue of their titles and physical attributes, the Little 5 are a collection of tiny mammals and insects that are connected to the Big five.

 

ELEPHANT SHREW:
The Elephant Shrew is among the cutest of Africa’s little five species. These tiny, insect-eating mammals get their name from their long, flexible nostrils, which resemble the trunk of an elephant. Elephant Shrews can be found in many different types of environments, including forests and savannas, all over sub-Saharan Africa. These creatures, despite their adorable look, are vicious predators who hunt prey by using their excellent sense of smell and agility. Shrew females give birth four or five times a year. The female will spend three to four weeks hiding her young, and then the young will stay in her area for an additional six weeks before they go.

 

 

BUFFALO WEAVER:
The sociable Buffalo Weaver is frequently observed in big flocks, constructing elaborate nests in prickly trees. Due to their remarkable degree of adaptability, these birds can be found in a variety of environments, including cities and grasslands. They are often seen riding on the backs of buffalo and eating the insects on their coats and around their hooves. In the wild, they are easily recognized by their broad bills and red eyes. They are very messy birds. This is obvious when you look at the untidy structure of their nests.

 

 

 

RHINO BEETLE
The Rhino Beetle is a large, armoured insect that is named for its resemblance to a rhinoceros. These beetles are well-known for their remarkable strength, which enables them to easily burrow into the earth and uproot plants. In several African nations, Rhino Beetles are regarded as a delicacy and consumed as a protein source. These beetles may seem scary, yet they play a crucial role in the environment by recycling nutrients and breaking down organic materials. Rhino Beetles are able to lift 850 times their own weight.

 

 

 

ANTLION:
The intriguing insect known as the Antlion is distinguished by its distinct way of hunting. In the sand, these insects build cone-shaped traps where they wait for gullible prey to fall into their mouths. Antlions are expert predators that seize and devour their prey with the help of their strong jaws. There are more than 2000 species of Antlion that belong to the Myrmeleontidae. Their exact population is still unknown as they are quite understudied in terms of population.

 

 

 

 

 

LEOPARD TORTOISE:
Large and slow-moving, the leopard tortoise gets its name from its unusually patterned shell which resembles a leopard’s coat. Sub-Saharan Africa is home to these tortoises, which live in a range of environments from grasslands to deserts. The main food sources for Leopard Tortoises are grasses, leaves, and fruits. The huge anal sacs of Leopard Tortoises are used to store water. These take up most of the space in their abdominal chambers.

How can you most likely encounter the small five?

A bush walk is the best time to try to check these interesting creatures off your safari list. We offer bush walks in the Pilanesberg and Family bush walks in Letsatsing Game Park.

Bush Walk Pilanesberg
Family Bush Walk

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Gentle Giants

Gentle Giants

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Renowned for its varied fauna, South Africa is the home of the well-known “Big 5” animals. Among the big 5, is The African Elephant. For many years, elephants have wandered the African plains, contributing significantly to the continent’s ecosystems and have also been important to African tribes and cultures. Elephants are regarded as emblems of strength, power, and wisdom in many African nations.

The African elephant is one of the most magnificent animals on the earth and may be found throughout Africa. These enormous creatures are renowned for their size, intelligence, and social habits. Male African elephants can grow to a height of 13 feet and weigh up to 14,000 pounds, making them the largest land mammals on Earth. Their long, curved tusks, which are essentially lengthened incisor teeth, are what make them so famous. These tusks are employed in many different ways, including as foraging for food, digging for water, and peeling bark off trees. As herbivores, they eat grasses, trees, and bushes, which helps to sculpt the terrain. This then makes room for other animals to graze and encourages the development of new plant life. In addition, elephants disseminate seeds by eating fruits and then leaving the seeds in their excrement, where they might sprout and develop into new plants. African elephants consume around half a ton of plant material each day since less than half of the food they eat is adequately digested. Approximately 65 litres of water are used to wash down the plants.

Game drive safaris are a popular tourist activity in South Africa which provides tourists an opportunity to see elephants in their native environment and discover more about these amazing animals. Getting up close and personal with elephants in their natural habitat may be an amazing and informative experience. But as much as we love these gentle giants, it is of vital importance to maintain healthy social structures within elephant populations. Let us enjoy and respect the magnificence of African elephants and work to build a world where they can live in peace and freedom.

To learn more on safety tips when encountering elephants, you can read https://blog.tracks4africa.co.za/how-to-be-safe-around-elephants/

And for vital information on code of conduct, refer to https://www.sanparks.org/parks/kruger/useful-information/vital-information

Not just a floating balloon of hot air – Interesting facts about hot air ballooning.

Not just a floating balloon of hot air – Interesting facts about hot air ballooning.

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  • The first passengers to go on a hot air balloon flight in 1783 were a rooster, duck and a sheep. All three passengers made it back to the ground unharmed.
  • The real reason for the champagne toast celebration after going on a hot air balloon flight. We might tell you it is to celebrate your safe flight and amazing experience but there is more to this tradition. In France the farmers were not too happy with hot air balloons landing on their farms, therefore, pilots started to take champagne with them on the flight to give to the farmer’s whose farms they landed on as a peace offering.
  • The Pilots cant steer the balloon they can move it up and down but as far as steering goes the direction the balloon goes depends on mother nature.
  • A hot air balloon consists of three parts: an envelope, basket (made from woven wicker or rattan) and burner system which creates an open flame by burning a mix of liquid propane and air.
  • The envelope of most balloons is made from nylon. Due to the fact that the melting point of nylon is approximately 230 degrees Celsius. The temperature inside the balloon usually stays below 120 degrees Celsius.
Things you may not know about Zebras.

Things you may not know about Zebras.

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Weight: 250kg -300kg

Lifespan: Around 25 years

Gestation: +- 1-year giving birth to a single foal

Diet: A herbivore feeding on Mostly grass, occasionally leaves and twigs

Zebra Species 

There are three species of Zebra, the Plains zebra (Equus quagga), Mountain zebra (Equus zebra), and Grévy’s zebra (Equus grevyi). The Grevy’s zebra is the rarest of the three and is found only in Kenya and Ethiopia. While the Plains and Moutain Zebras are found across Southern Africa. In the Pilanesberg National Park, we have the Plains zebra.  

A Zebras Stripes 

Each zebra has a unique stripe pattern (no two are the same) just like human fingerprints. The stripe pattern can therefore be used to identify individuals.

In the Pilanesberg National Park, we have the Plains Zebra (also known as a Burchell’s Zebra) which can be identified by the light-colored stripe known as the shadow stripe between the black and white stripes, other types of zebra do not have a shadow stripe.

We often get asked if Zebras are black with white stripes or white with black stripes. At the end of the day, the underlying skin of a zebra under its coat is actually black.

The function of zebras stripes has been discussed among biologists since at least the 19th century and research is constantly being done. One of the more recent Hypotheses that makes a lot of sense is that the stripes help to detour biting flies. Horseflies, in particular, spread diseases such as African horse sickness, equine influenza, equine infectious anemia, and trypanosomiasis all of which could be deadly. In 1930 biologist R. Harris did research that found that flies were less likely to land on black-and-white striped surfaces than uniformly colored ones. A more recent study in 2014 found a correlation between the amount of striping and the presence of horse and tsetse flies.

Social structure 

Zebras live in family groups of one stallion, his harem of females, and their young. A group of Zebras can be called a herd but is more commonly known as a dazzle.

Males that don’t have a harem of their own can be found in bachelor groups or out on their own.  Different herds will often come together during activities such as grazing and drinking water but will split up again. 

Male Zebras can have serious fights when they will kick and bite each other. Sometimes causing serious injury to areas such as the neck, hind legs, and ears. They will even sometimes lose their tails during a fight when their opponent bites, so when you see a zebra missing its tail chances are it is a male.  

A foal is born after more or less a 12 month gestation period. When a female is going to give birth she will separate herself from the herd, once the foal is born this gives them a chance to bond and learn each other’s scent and stripe pattern.

The foal will be able to get up and run within an hour of being born which is very important so that it can run from danger.

A foal is born with lighter stripes (more brown than black) which then go darker over time. 

Predators 

Zebras are preyed upon by leopards, cheetah, hyenas, and lions. Zebra can run at around 65 km an hour making them faster than most predators, they also have a very nasty kick which they often use to defend themselves.

At night members of the herd will take turns keeping watch for any danger. If they spot something they will make a loud snorting sound which warns all the other members of the herd that there is danger. This snorting sound also lets the predator know that they have lost their element of surprise as they have been spotted. 

Did you know?

Did you know?

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A male lion’s mane is not only for attracting females, but it also helps to protect their neck and head from injury during a fight. 

Lionesses are the primary hunters of the pride but the males do assist especially when hunting large prey such as Buffalo and Giraffe. After a successful hunt, the males will generally eat first. 

The males protect both the pride and the pride’s territory, often doing patrols and marking territory.  They do what they can to protect the pride from competing prides and other predators. 

The best way to recognize a Waterbuck is by the white ring on the rump. They are the only antelope to have this marking. It is a “follow me” sign as it is highlighted making it easier for them to follow each other as they flee from danger. 

Waterbuck are very water-dependent hence the name “Waterbuck”. They are found close to a water source and will drink often during the day.

Elephants are very social animals with a matriarchal system. This means that females live in herds where the oldest female is the one to lead the herd and make all the decisions. If something happens to her then the next oldest female will take over this role. 

Older males will meet up with a herd to breed and then leave again, they don’t spend long periods of time with the females anymore. You will find them either alone or in small bachelor groups. 

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Did you know?

Did you know?

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Though hippos move easily through the water, they can’t actually swim but rather submerge themselves and walk on the floor.

They can’t breathe underwater but can hold their breath for around 5 minutes.

Their eyes, nostrils, and ears are all high on a Hippo’s head which enables them to keep their bodies submerged but still be able to see what is going on around them.

Cheetahs are not social cats they don’t go around in a pride as lions do. Instead, cheetahs are either solitary or one would find a female with her most recent cubs. Males (usually brothers) form coalitions which gives them the upper hand against other males.

Cheetah are daytime cats doing most of their movement and hunting during daylight hours and resting at night.

With their small eyes, rhinos have very poor eyesight and are only able to see at close range. Their sense of smell and hearing are very good making up for the bad eyesight.

White rhinos have large square mouths which are adapted to graze on grass.

White rhinos can live to be 35-40 years old. They have a gestation of approximately 16 months, and mothers give birth to one calf every 2-3 years.

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