Insects

"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.

Spring and summer months in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park bring on the rumbling warning signs of thunderstorms that begin to roll through the beautiful hills and plains of KwaZulu Natal. The excitement levels rise around Makakatana Bay Lodge as we know the rain is coming and with it the increase of new wildlife. The Burchell’s Coucal, commonly known as the Rainbird, is the first warn of the rain on its way, while the frogs gather and prepare for reuniting in orchestral celebration and the veld waits for its boost to explode with colour as the flowers and grasses thrive with newfound vigour.

For those who have a thing for stats….keep reading to get to our 10 year rainfall records!

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.