balancing act
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11 ISSUE 2 2014
I LOVE GAME-VIEWING in winter. The lack of rain in parks in Mpumalanga and Limpopo, for example, means bushes and trees are a lot sparser. Animals can’t hide as well as they do in long grass, and so they’re easier to spot. Winter days can be nippy, but they are most often sunny and bright, which provides the best light for photography. Bush walks and horse-back or elephantback safaris are great in winter, too, as temperatures are moderate and visibility is excellent. But bear in mind that most animals do wait for a little warmth before they venture out on winter mornings – predawn sightings are not guaranteed (though not impossible, of course).
Craig Beaton, a veteran of the bush who trains game guides, says that you’re almost guaranteed to spot wildlife around dams and waterholes because water is scarce in winter. “Come at about 9am or after 4pm and you’ll definitely see something – plains game at the very least,” he says. Game ranger Tosha van Niekerk says that game, especially plains game, tend to move to slightly higher ground in winter, especially at night, purely because it’s warmer. So find out which areas this would cover in the park or reserve of your choice. “Where there is game, there will be predators,” he says, “so keep an eye out.” Other factors will also affect game movement. Although Kruger game tend to
travel south in winter to look for new food sources, for example, fire may also affect their travel patterns, so a fire in the south may keep them away. It’s best to ask a ranger or someone at a smaller camp what environmental factors could be affecting animal movements. Rain, wind and heat (animals will seek water) will also play a role.
Set up your sightings
Around mid-morning, expect to see zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, impala and kudu congregating at waterholes. Predator sightings are rare during morning hours – big cats, wild dogs and hyena become active during late afternoon, in preparation for night-time hunting.