The most common butterfly at the Cavern is the Garden Acraea. It is small, mostly dull orange with a few black spots, and with conspicuously transparent fore-wings. It flutters weakly around its favourite plant, Kiggelaria africana (Wild Peach tree). This is where it lays its eggs, so the caterpillars have the right food. Nearly every […]
About 2000 eland roam the Drakensberg and its foothills. Roam is the correct word, which is why we don’t see them at The Cavern every day. Summer tends to be spent grazing in the higher berg while the grass is at its most edible. Individuals congregate in breeding herds, maybe 50-strong. In winter the herds
Birds sing to advertise. Males do most singing, to announce that they hold a territory. The song warns other males to keep away, while enticing females to come closer. The song itself also identifies the species of the singer: it does not do to fraternise too closely with the wrong species. Because the song is
Drakensberg birding during the winter months can be a wonderful affair. A host of endemics are quite common in certain areas. If one does some careful research there are some fantastic hotspots with Drakensberg accommodation close by. A wise choice for accommodation in the Drakensberg would be The Cavern Resort & Spa – they host
Snakes are not confined to the tropical lowlands and are actually quite common in the Berg. They are often seen at The Cavern, causing something between fascination and alarm among visitors. Nearly all are harmless. Most frequent, especially in the garden, is the Natal Green Snake. It is pure bright green. It sometimes zooms across
Whilst staying at accommodation in the Drakensberg you are normally blissfully unaware of the nocturnal animals roaming the veld and indigenous Drakensberg forests. The Cavern is an ideal place in the Drakensberg to get to meet some of our nocturnal friends. Recently we have placed some cameras in our Fern Forest. Despite having been living
The bird list for the Drakensberg and its surrounding nature reserve is an impressive one, boasting many endemic species – those having a very restricted distribution. A variety of habitats in close proximity to the Drakensberg reserve offer birdwatchers a chance to find species that have previously eluded them. It does not matter whether you
One of my self-imposed tasks at the Cavern is to help keep the garden at the little school in good order. It’s a great pre-primary and primary school with over 50 pupils, many of whom are sponsored by the wonderful Cavern guests. I have created a garden with a winding path, crawl-through drum and a
It’s that time of year again when I realise that the Yellow-billed Kites have gone off on their holiday up north and I have not recorded their date of departure. One is aware that they have gone but cannot remember when you last saw one; they are such an integral part of any local journey
<– Continued from Drakensberg Birdlist Status codes B = Breeding resident – present all year; known or presumed to breed. P = Palaearctic migrant – non-breeding summer visitor; breeds during the northern summer in Europe and Asia: typically present November-March. T = Tropical migrant – breeding summer visitor; winters in tropical Africa: typically present September-April.
