wings and scales

"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly." - Proverb

Have you ever wished you were someone or something else when times get tough? That you can grow wings and fly away? Now and again I fantasize about turning into a hippo in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park in KwaZulu Natal and spending my days lazing about, sleeping and eating!

While it is impossible for humans to physically change so dramatically–a weekend getaway in the bush can only take us so far!–I am consoled by knowing that I am privileged to experience all the wonders of nature in the world that surrounds me. When guiding and spending time on safaris in the bush at Makatana Bay Lodge in KZN, I am in a world where I continually discover and learn more. I am fascinated with those little creatures that have figured out how to escape one reality to begin a new one.

Trust us to find all these baby chameleons in the month of Love! Teeny, tiny, Flap-necked Chameleons (Chamaeleo dilepis), the size of a child's thumb are all over the Western Shores and around Makakatana at the moment.

We have had some fabulous sightings of them while out on our night drives. Chameleons are mostly found throughout Africa and Madagascar, but they are not limited to these locations. For someone who has never seen a baby chameleon before, it is easy to mistakenly assume that they are dwarf chameleons. The Setaro's dwarf chameleons (Bardypodion setaroi) are endemic to the area but are more prevalent on the Eastern Shores of the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.

When we talk about endangered and protected species more often than not we think of rhinos, elephants and pangolins, but one of our most important creatures – vital to every part of all the ecosystems on planet earth, gets overlooked. Pollinators – insects and animals that move pollen from one flower to another and pollinate (impregnate) the flowers so they can produce fruit and seeds.

When the rain has come at Makakatana Bay Lodge and the veld is full of flowers one might be surprised at the activity of small magical creatures in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park. Thousands of insects are abuzz but the most gorgeous ones, that everyone loves will be showing off their striking colours - Butterflies