Mokala National Park is home to a varied spectrum of birds, situated in the transition zone between the Kalahari and Karoo biomes. Birds that can be spotted are the Kalahari species, black-chested prinia and its Karoo equivalent, rufous-eared warbler, as well as the melodious lark. The rocky hillocks that characterise the park attract species such as the freckled nightjar (vocal at night), the short-toed rock thrush, and the cinnamon-breasted bunting.
“Where Endangered Species Roam”… Mokala is SANParks’ newest park. Nestled in the hills, Mokala’s landscape boasts a variety of koppieveld (hills) and large open plains.
Sometimes, the smallest beaches hold the most significant pieces of our hearts.
We wandered just beyond Camps Bay, chasing nothing but curiosity, and found a quiet little cove—untouched, unbothered, unbelievably beautiful. It was a hidden gem where the sea lay still like glass and the breeze spoke in whispers. The weather was perfect, the ocean calm, and the world slowed down just for us.
It wasn’t just a beach day—it was a memory wrapped in sunlight and sea air. Cosy, quiet, and deeply romantic. Enjoy a piece of the magic we found.
Bearded Vulture
Throughout their range, Bearded Vultures, or Lammergeiers as they are sometimes known, are associated with high mountain ranges, among them the Himalayas (where they have been observed at altitudes of 7,900 metres above sea-level), the European Alps (from where the last birds disappeared in the 1880s but to which they are now being reintro-
duced) and the various African highlands – from those in Ethiopia, where they are common, to the Maluti Mountains and the Drakensberg in southern Africa, where they are much scarcer.
The Maloti Drakensberg region is a treasure trove of some of the most outstanding rock art found anywhere in the world. The unique style of the paintings is instantly recognisable by children and adults alike, and San’s techniques to achieve this visual distinctiveness are genuinely remarkable. Even if you have seen examples of some of this rock art in museums or photographs, nothing can quite prepare you for the wonder and excitement of seeing the real thing close-up.
Hippopotamus in Cape Town and it’s not an April Fool’s joke. We found this Big Boy happy in his safe little pond away from the crowds and the noisy City Life. Hippopotamus (Hippopotamus amphibious). Its name comes from the ancient Greek for “river horse”
From majestic raptors to exquisite little thrushes and pipits, the Maloti Drakensberg is home to over 350 bird species —some found nowhere else in the world. This spectacular mountain region and its dramatic escarpment contain a myriad of microhabitats – from high-altitude alpine sites to grassy ridges and forested rivers in the foothills
– giving rise to a great diversity of birdlife. There is a growing network of experienced local bird guides at many key sites who can assist you in finding them.
The Cape Vulture has one of the most limited distributions of any Old World vulture species, being restricted to southern Africa and predominantly South Africa and Lesotho (Mundy et al. 1992). The regional population is divided into three primary ‘nodes’, one each in the north-east (Limpopo, Mpumalanga, North West and Gauteng provinces), south-east (mainly in Lesotho and the KwaZulu-Natal and Eastern Cape provinces, extending marginally into adjacent parts of Free State Province and Swaziland) and south-west (Western Cape Province) of the region.
During spring and summer, the austere, grandiose beauty is enhanced by nearly 2000 wildflower species, groves of proteas, and patches of lush Indigenous forest that reach from the Royal Natal National Park in the north and beyond Sani Pass in the south. Under the wings of Ezemvelo KwaZulu-Natal Wildlife, this region—now the uKhahlamba World Heritage Park—has been protected for future generations. It is a heritage people from other parts of the world can only dream of.
This awe-inspiring scenery is characteristic of the Drakensberg, and in many places, it is still in the state an ingenious creator might have spawned it in. Poets have not yet discovered the Berg and its praises have yet to be sung. Still, more and more disciples recognise the therapeutic value of its solitary silence, only rarely interrupted by rolling thunder or spoilt by development.
According to the African Raptor Centre, there are estimated to be 100 breeding pairs and 320 birds remaining in the wild in the southern hemisphere. This makes it one of the most threatened vultures in South Africa. The decline in numbers has been caused by less food availability due to the expansion of human settlements, electrocution by overhead power lines, collisions with wind turbines, and farmers poisoning bait to kill Jackals. Bearded vulture body parts are also used for ceremonial and traditional medicine purposes.