SafariKZN Bush Knowledge
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Guides & rangers have a wealth of knowledge which they are always willing to share on safari. If you are in the back of a game viewing vehicle or on foot listen carefully. We have put together some of the ‘stories’ that have been shared with us.
Buffalo Thorn Tree
(Ziziphus mucronata)
Buffalo’s do back into the tree when defending themselves against lions, knowing the lions cannot attack through the heavily thorned branches. When a Zulu dies relatives will take a branch to the body and the deseased spirit will enter the branch and can be kept in the family home. It also reflects life. Young twigs zig-zag and this indicates that life is not always straight forward. The two thorns that are found at the nodes are also important as one faces backwards, representing where we have come from. The other faces forward, representing where we are going. It is also said that in a storm the tree will protect you from lightning.
Fever Tree
(Acacia xanthophloea Benth)
The fever tree got its name as settlers thought the tree carried a fever which could be caught from it. However the tree grows in swampy areas and on river banks where malaria carrying mosquitos are also found. If you look at a fever tree it will have a dead branch, known as the sacrificial limb. Any poisons or toxins that enter the tree are absorbed into a designated branch.
Tamboti Tree
(Spirostachys africana)
This tree is recognisable by its near black bark which appears in neat near rectangular patterns. It is not however a tree to be used on the campfire. When burnt toxic fumes are released and if cooked over the food will cause severe stomach upset or even death.
White Stinkwood
(Celtis africana)
The Stinkwood is said to have magical properties. The wood is mixed with crocodile fat as a charm against lightning, and many people believe that it has the power over evil and that pegs of wood driven into the ground will keep witches away.
The Big Five – Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Black Rhino, Buffalo
The term big five originates from hunters who travelled to Africa on shooting safaris. These animals were regarded as the most difficult to hunt and the most dangerous encountered on their safaris. The term is still applicable as these are still potentially the most dangerous animals to be found when visiting Africa. Note also that the true big five includes black and not white rhino.
The Little Five - Lion Ant, Leopard Tortoise, Elephant Shrew, Rhino Beetle, Buffalo Weaver
Probably equally as challenging to view as the much sought after Big 5. Created to make visitors aware of the 'little things' that are all around them.
Giraffe
(Giraffa caelopardalis)
These are the tallest animals in the world but their necks only contain seven cervical vertebrae the same amount as a human. There height means that they can browse at a height not accessible to other animals and use their eighteen inch tongue strip branches clean of leaves. Normally found in herds or ‘towers of giraffes’ they be spread up to a kilometre apart but can still have eye contact with each other.
Hippopotamus
(Hippopotamus amphibious)
Although not included in Africa’s big five and a ‘vegeatrian’ hippos are believed to be responsible for more human deaths than any other animal. They may look timid but they are unpredictable especially when with young or you are between them and water. In the water they are easily capable of upturning a boat and anyone caught in there hugely powerful jaws could easily be severed in two!
White Rhinoceros
(Ceratotherium simum)
The prehistoric looking white rhino is the larger of the two rhinoceros found in KwaZulu Natal. They are not however white in colour but are grey. They only became 'white rhino' through early English speaking settlers mistranslating the Dutch name given to them. 'wyd rhino', meaning wide, describing the animals mouth which is ideally suited grazing grass.
Hamerkop
(Scopus umbretta)
The hamerkop is an unusual looking bird always found in and around water. It constructs huge nests, normally in the fork of a tree overhanging water, as big as 1.5m in width and strong enough to hold a man. When fishing the bird moves its feet creating ripples in the water. Zulu's believe this is the bird looking into the future. It is also known as the lightning bird as anyone who robbed the birds nest would be struck by lightning.