23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - SOUTHERN WHITE CROWNED SHRIKE (Eurocephalus angustimens)

 The southern white-crowned shrike (Eurocephalus anguitimens) is a species of bird in the

family Laniidae. It is found in Angola, Botswana, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forests and dry savannah.

The southern white-crowned shrike grows to a length of about 24 cm (9 in). The sexes are alike; in the adult bird the crown and forehead are white, and the mask is black and extends above and below the eye to the side of the neck. The nape and upper parts are ashy-brown and the wings and tail are dark brown. The underparts are off-white, the upper breast being tinged with buff. The lower belly and vent areas are ashy-brown. The beak is black, the eyes brown and the legs dark brown. Juveniles are similar to adult birds but the crown is slightly mottled and barred and grey rather than white. The chin and throat are white but the remaining parts of the underparts are tinged with ashy brown.

Like the closely related northern white-crowned shrike, this species is highly sociable and will form small, tightly-knit groups of usually three to six individuals, but occasionally up to twenty outside the breeding season. They are not in general aggressive birds but will attack predators such as birds of prey. When foraging, they sometimes associate with Tockus hornbills, feeding on the insects they disturb as they walk around. Members of the group engage in cooperative breeding, join together in building a brooding nest, take turns in sitting on the eggs, and assist in the feeding of nestlings.

The southern white-crowned shrike has a very wide range and is described as being very common in places, though rare in others. No particular threats have been recognised and the population seems stable. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has assessed its conservation status as being of "least concern".

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - WHITE BACKED VULTURE (Gyps africanus)

The white-backed vulture (Gyps africanus) is an Old World vulture in the family Accipitridae, which also includes eagles, kites, buzzards and hawks. It is the most common vulture species in the continent of Africa.

The white-backed vulture is a typical vulture, with only down feathers on the head and neck, very broad wings and short tail feathers. It has a white neck ruff. The adult's whitish back contrasts with the otherwise dark plumage. Juveniles are largely dark. This is a medium-sized vulture; its body mass is 4.2 to 7.2 kg (9.3–15.9 lb), it is 78 to 98 cm (31 to 39 in) long and has a 1.96 to 2.25 m (6 ft 5 in to 7 ft 5 in) wingspan.

The white-backed vulture occurs from Senegal, Gambia and Mali in the west, throughout the Sahel region to Ethiopia and Somalia in the east, through East Africa into Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Namibia and South Africa in the south. It is the most widespread and common vulture in Africa with an estimated range of 24,300,000 km2 (9,400,000 sq mi), but has undergone rapid population declines in recent years.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - SOUTH AFRICAN SHELDUCK (MALE) (Tadorna cana)

The South African shelduck or Cape shelduck (Tadorna cana) is a species of shelduck, a group of large goose-like birds in the bird family Anatidae, which includes the swans, geese and ducks. This is a common species native to southern Africa.

This is a 64 cm (25 in) long bird which breeds mainly in Namibia and South Africa. In the austral winter, many birds move north-east from the breeding range to favoured moulting grounds, where sizable concentrations occur.This species is mainly associated with lakes and rivers in fairly open country, breeding in disused mammal holes, usually those of the aardvark. Pairs tend to be very nomadic when not in breeding season. 

Adult South African shelducks have ruddy bodies and wings strikingly marked with black, white and green. The male has a grey head, and the female has a white face and black crown, nape and neck sides. . In flight they can be hard to distinguish from Egyptian geese. Juveniles are duller in appearance. Young females lack the white on the head, excluding white eye circles. The colour on the females head is highly variable, with the extent of white increasing with age, and can become almost fully white-headed. Males make a deep honk or hoogh call while the female tends to produce a louder, sharper hark.

South African shelduck is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies.

In common with the other orange-plumaged shelducks like ruddy shelduck, it is popular in zoos and duck collections; hybrids with these other species in captivity are frequent and are problematic to identify.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - SOUTH AFRICAN SHELDUCK (FEMALE) (Tadorna cana)

The South African shelduck or Cape shelduck (Tadorna cana) is a species of shelduck, a group of large goose-like birds in the bird family Anatidae, which includes the swans, geese and ducks. This is a common species native to southern Africa.

This is a 64 cm (25 in) long bird which breeds mainly in Namibia and South Africa. In the austral winter, many birds move north-east from the breeding range to favoured moulting grounds, where sizable concentrations occur.

This species is mainly associated with lakes and rivers in fairly open country, breeding in disused mammal holes, usually those of the aardvark. Pairs tend to be very nomadic when not in breeding season.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - SICKLE BEARING LEAF KATYDID (Phaneroptera sparsa)

Phaneroptera sparsa (Sickle-bearing Leaf Katydid) is a widely distributed African and Middle Eastern bush cricket species, often found in tree canopies or bushes. Known for its herbivorous diet and green coloration, it is a common species with a "Least Concern" status. They are known for distinct calling songs that form duets with females. 

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - SOUTH AFRICAN RED BILLED QUELEA (FEMALE) (Quelea quelea ssp. lathamii)

The red-billed quelea (/ˈkwiːliə/; Quelea quelea), also known as the red-billed weaver or red-billed dioch, is a small, seasonally nomadic, sparrow-like bird of the weaver family, Ploceidae, native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is approximately 12 cm (4.7 in) long and weighs 15 to 26 g (0.53 to 0.92 oz).

It was named by Linnaeus in 1758, who considered it a bunting, but Ludwig7 Reichenbach assigned it in 1850 to the new genus Quelea. Three subspecies are recognised, with Q. q. quelea occurring roughly from Senegal to Chad, Q. q. aethiopica from Sudan to Somalia and Tanzania, and Q. q. lathamii from Gabon to Mozambique and South Africa. Non-breeding birds have light underparts, striped brown upper parts, yellow-edged flight feathers and a reddish bill. Breeding females attain a yellowish bill. Breeding males have a black (or rarely white) facial mask, surrounded by a purplish, pinkish, rusty or yellowish wash on the head and breast. The species avoids forests, deserts and colder areas such as those at high altitude and in southern South Africa. It constructs oval roofed nests woven from strips of grass hanging from thorny branches, sugar cane or reeds. It breeds in very large colonies

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - ORANGE WINGED DROPWING DRAGONFLY (MALE) (Trithemis kirbyi),

Trithemis kirbyi, also known as the Kirby's dropwing, orange-winged dropwing, or scarlet rock glider is a species of dragonfly in the family Libellulidae.

It is found in Algeria, Angola, Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Chad, Comoros, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ivory Coast, Egypt, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Western Sahara, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and possibly Burundi. It is also present in southern Europe, the Arabian Peninsula, the Indian Ocean Islands and South Asia to India.

Since 2003 this African tropical dragonfly has been colonizing Europe helped by a widespread increase in temperatures. It is now breeding successfully in Spain, Portugal and France.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - FAMILIAR CHAT (Oenanthe familiaris)

The familiar chat (Oenanthe familiaris) is a small passerine bird of the Old World flycatcher family Muscicapidae. It is a common resident breeder in Africa south of the Sahara in rocky and mountainous habitat and around human habitation.

The Afrikaans name for this species "spekvreter" means "fat-eater", and comes 8from the fact that it developed the habit of feeding on the lard used to grease wagon axles by the voortrekkers.

The familiar chat is monogamous. It breeds between December and March in most of west Africa, but between March and May in Nigeria and mainly between October and November in South Africa. It builds a thick cup-shaped nest of plant material lined with hair, wool and feathers. The nest is usually placed in a hole in the ground, but rock faces and buildings are also used. This species will use nest boxes or a disused sociable weaver nest. The clutch is 2-4 greenish-blue eggs decorated with reddish-brown speckling. The eggs hatch after 13–15 days. The nestlings are fed by both parents and fledge after 13–15 days. Usually only a single brood is raised each year.

The familiar chat is typically seen sitting on a rock, or hopping on bare patches of soil. It has a habit of flicking its wings once or twice every time it moves. It is seen in small family groups of up to five birds, and is invariably tame and approachable. It eats insects, fruit, animal fat and household or farmyard scraps.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - THREE BANDED PLOVER (Charadrias tricollaris)

The three-banded plover, or three-banded sandplover (Thinornis tricollaris), is a small wader. This plover is resident and generally sedentary in much of East Africa, southern Africa and Madagascar. It occurs mainly on inland rivers, pools, lakes and pans, frequenting their exposed shores. This species is often seen as single individuals, but it will form small flocks. It hunts by sight for insects, worms and other invertebrates. Three-banded plovers have a sharp whistled weeet-weet call. Its larger and darker-plumaged sister species, Forbes's plover, replaces it in West Africa and in the moist tropics. The two species have largely allopatric breeding ranges. Both species present a distinctively elongated profile, due to their proportionally long tail and wings. 

In flight, showing the white front and white side of the tail and rump. The long wings feature a thin white bar above, and a dark smudge over the primary coverts below.

The adult three-banded plover is 18 cm in length. It has long wings and a very long tail, and therefore looks different from most other small plovers in flight, the exception being the closely related Forbes's plover.

The adult three-banded plover has medium brown upperparts, and the underparts are white except for the two black breast bands, separated by a white band, which give this species its common and scientific names. The head is strikingly patterned, with a black crown, white supercilia extending from the white forehead to meet on the back of the neck, and a grey face becoming brown on the neck. The orbital ring is orange-red, and the base of the otherwise black bill is rosy red in colour.

The Malagasy subspecies C. t. bifrontatus has a grey band between the bill and the white forehead, and the sides of the head are grey. A genetic study reported genetic differentiation between Madagascar and the mainland population. The sexes are similar with respect to plumage and size. Juveniles of the nominate and Malagasy subspecies also resemble the adults, although the forehead is brownish for a short time, and the wing coverts show buff fringes. This species is distinguished from the larger and darker Forbes's plover in that the latter has a brown forehead and lacks a white wingbar.

Its nest is a bare scrape on shingle. Egg laying occurs from March to June in the tropics, but mainly (over 70%) from July to October (i.e. late winter to early spring) in southern Africa.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - EASTERN PARADISE WHYDAH (Vidua paradisaea)

The Eastern Paradise Whydah (Vidua paradisaea) is a small, sparrow-like finch found in East African savannas, known for its extreme breeding plumage and brood parasitism. Males develop 36cm-long black tail feathers—three times their body length—to attract mates and mimic the calls of their host species, the Green-winged Pytilia.

Key Facts about the Eastern Paradise Whydah

Breeding Appearance: During breeding season, males boast a black head/back, a bright yellow nape, a rusty-chestnut breast, and long, broad, black tail feathers.

22-3-2026 ATLANTIC OCEAN, OFF PORTUGAL - AZOREAN GULL (Larus michahellis ssp. atlantis)

The Azorean gull, specifically the Yellow-legged Gull subspecies Larus michahellis atlantis, is the only seagull that breeds in the Azores. It is often called the Atlantic gull, characterized by smaller, darker plumage compared to Mediterranean counterparts. These seagulls are 54–64 cm long, live up to 32 years, and nest in colonies from March to May. 

Key Facts About the Azorean Gull (Larus michahellis atlantis)

Breeding & Population: Around 4,000 pairs breed in the Azores, nesting on the ground in coastal areas using seaweed, twigs, and feathers. 

Appearance: They are generally smaller and darker than Mediterranean L. m. michahellis. Key features include yellow legs, a grey back, and a white head in the autumn. 

Diet: They are opportunistic, feeding on fish, crabs, invertebrates, reptiles, small mammals, and waste. 

Unique Characteristics: They have been known to exhibit, or be, the ancestral stock of other gull species and have a distinct genetic divide from mainland Morocco populations. 

Behavior: They are known to be vocal, intelligent, and can act aggressively in securing food. 

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - COMMON OSTRICH (MALE) (Struthio camelus)

The common ostrich (Struthio camelus) is the world's largest and heaviest bird, standing up to 9 feet tall and weighing up to 320 pounds. Found in African savannas, they are flightless but can run at speeds over 40 mph (70 km/h), using powerful two-toed legs for defense. They lay the largest eggs, which can weigh up to 3 pounds. 

Here are the key facts about the common ostrich:

Size and Speed: Ostriches are the fastest-running birds, capable of reaching speeds of 43–45 mph ( km/h) and sprinting up to 16 feet in a single stride. They weigh between 200 and 320 pounds (90-145 kg) and stand 6–9 feet tall.

Physical Characteristics: They have massive, powerful legs, long necks, and the largest eyes of any land animal—roughly 2 inches in diameter. They are the only birds with two toes, designed for running and kicking. Males have black and white feathers, while females are brown.

Diet: As omnivores, they consume plants, roots, seeds, insects, and small reptiles. They often swallow pebbles and sand to help grind food in their gizzard.

Lifespan: In the wild, they typically live to be about 30-40 years old, while in captivity, they can live up to 50 years.

Predators and Defense: While adult ostriches can defend themselves against lions, hyenas, and leopards with a powerful kick, they are most vulnerable to predators when young.

Common Misconceptions: Ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand; they lay their heads flat on the ground to blend in with the landscape when threatened.

Unique Features: They use their wings (which are useless for flight) as rudders to change direction while running and for shade. 

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - COMMON OSTRICH (FEMALE) (Struthio camelus)

The common ostrich (Struthio camelus) is the world's largest and heaviest bird, standing up to 9 feet tall and weighing up to 320 pounds. Found in African savannas, they are flightless but can run at speeds over 40 mph (70 km/h), using powerful two-toed legs for defense. They lay the largest eggs, which can weigh up to 3 pounds. 

Here are the key facts about the common ostrich:

Size and Speed: Ostriches are the fastest-running birds, capable of reaching speeds of 43–45 mph ( km/h) and sprinting up to 16 feet in a single stride. They weigh between 200 and 320 pounds (90-145 kg) and stand 6–9 feet tall.

Physical Characteristics: They have massive, powerful legs, long necks, and the largest eyes of any land animal—roughly 2 inches in diameter. They are the only birds with two toes, designed for running and kicking. Males have black and white feathers, while females are brown.

Diet: As omnivores, they consume plants, roots, seeds, insects, and small reptiles. They often swallow pebbles and sand to help grind food in their gizzard.

Lifespan: In the wild, they typically live to be about 30-40 years old, while in captivity, they can live up to 50 years.

Predators and Defense: While adult ostriches can defend themselves against lions, hyenas, and leopards with a powerful kick, they are most vulnerable to predators when young.

Common Misconceptions: Ostriches do not bury their heads in the sand; they lay their heads flat on the ground to blend in with the landscape when threatened.

Unique Features: They use their wings (which are useless for flight) as rudders to change direction while running and for shade. 

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - BURCHELL'S STARLING (Lamprotornis australis)

Burchell's starling (Lamprotornis australis) or Burchell's glossy-starling is a species of starling in the family Sturnidae. The monogamous and presumably sedentary species is native to dry and mesic woodlands and savannah of southern Africa. The name of this bird commemorates the English naturalist William John Burchell.

This species is found in Angola, Botswana, Eswatini, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. It is absent from miombo woodland, but is present in westerly gusu woodlands.

In the Kalahari they associate with camelthorn trees and also feed on their flowers. Their food includes flowers, fruit and small animals. They breed during the summer months.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - BLACKSMITH LAPWING (Vanellus armatus)

The Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus) is a bold, black-and-white, medium-sized bird (28–31 cm, ~114–213g) commonly found near wetlands in Eastern and Southern Africa. Known for its metallic “tink-tink” call, this highly territorial bird often nests on the ground, defending eggs from predators, including Nile monitors and lions. 

Key Facts About the Blacksmith Lapwing:

Appearance & Behavior: Characterized by a distinctive gray, black, and white plumage, white crown, and red eyes. They are often seen in pairs and act aggressively to defend nests or chicks, often diving at predators. 

Habitat: Strongly tied to wetlands, lakeshores, rivers, and flooded grasslands, though they often frequent artificial water sources.  

Diet: Feeds on invertebrates, including mollusks, crustaceans, worms, and various insects. 

Breeding & Eggs: They are monogamous and nest on the ground, with females typically laying 3 to 4 greenish-brown eggs that are highly camouflaged. 

Gestation & Development: Incubation lasts for 24 to 28 days by both parents. The chicks are precocial (active shortly after hatching) and remain with their parents for about 40 days before becoming independent. 

Predators: Eggs and chicks are threatened by raptors, snakes, and monitors. Adults are known to aggressively drive off larger animals like buffalo and lions that threaten their nesting sites, say Facebook posts and Oiseaux.net. 

Name Origin: The common name derives from their loud, rhythmic alarm call, which sounds exactly like a blacksmith striking an anvil.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - BITTER APPLE (Solanum campylacanthum)

Solanum campylacanthum is a species of flowering plant in the nightshade family Solanaceae.

The species is very common and is widespread in grasslands, savannas, and woodlands. It can be found in eastern, central and southern Africa.

The fruit of this species are poisonous but they have been used in traditional medicine.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - AFRICAN SAVANNA ELEPHANT (Loxodonta Africana)

 The African savanna elephant (Loxodonta africana) is the world's largest land animal, standing 10–13 feet tall and weighing up to 13,000 lbs. Found in sub-Saharan savanna and woodland habitats, they are social matriarchal mammals known for their large ears and versatile trunks. They are endangered, primarily threatened by habitat loss and poaching.

Size and Appearance: They are the largest living land animals, with males (bulls) reaching up to 13 feet in height and weighing 6,000kg (approx. 13,000 lbs). They have large, Africa-shaped ears that help them radiate heat.

Habitat and Range: They live across varied habitats in sub-Saharan Africa, including open savannas, woodlands, and deserts. Key countries include Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Kenya, and South Africa.

Diet and Eating Habits: They are herbivores, consuming up to 350 pounds of vegetation daily—including grass, leaves, and bark.

Trunks and Tusks: Their trunks have about 150,000 muscle units, used for breathing, smelling, drinking, and grasping objects. Both males and females have tusks, which are actually elongated teeth, used for digging and defense.

Social Structure and Life Span: They live in matriarchal herds led by the eldest female. They can live 60–70 years in the wild.

Conservation Status: Listed as Endangered (EN) by the IUCN, their populations are declining, partly due to poaching for the ivory trade.Predators: Adult African savanna elephants have no natural predators other than humans.

Dietary Needs: They require vast amounts of food, needing around 350 pounds of vegetation daily, which they forage for throughout the day.

Why are their ears so big? Their large ears are used to radiate excess heat, helping them stay cool in the intense African sun.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - KORI BUSTARD (Ardeotis kori)

The kori bustard (Ardeotis kori) is the largest flying bird native to Africa. It is a member of the bustard family, which all belong to the order Otidiformes and are restricted in distribution to the Old World. It is one of the four species (ranging from Africa to India to Australia) in the large-bodied genus Ardeotis. The male kori bustard may be the heaviest living animal capable of flight.

This species, like most bustards, is a ground-dwelling bird and an opportunistic omnivore. Male kori bustards, which can be more than twice as heavy as the female, attempt to breed with as many females as possible and take no part in the raising of the young. The nest is a shallow hollow in the earth, often disguised by nearby obstructive objects such as trees.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, S AFRICA - SOUTHERN WHITE RHINOCEROS (Ceratotherium simum simum)

The white rhinoceros, also known as the white rhino or square-lipped rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), is the largest extant species of rhinoceros and the most social of all rhino species, characterized by its wide mouth adapted for grazing. The species includes two subspecies with dramatically different conservation outlooks: the southern white rhinoceros, with an estimated 17,464 individuals in the wild as of the end of 2023, and the northern white rhinoceros. The northern subspecies is critically endangered and on the brink of extinction; its last known male, Sudan, died in March 2018, leaving behind only a very small number of females in captivity. Both subspecies have faced significant threats, primarily from poaching for their horns and habitat loss, which contribute to the species' overall conservation status of Near Threatened. White rhinoceros can run up to 40 mph (64 km/h) for very short bursts. They can maintain speeds of around 30–31 mph (48–50 km/h) for a good amount of time, and they have good stamina.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, S AFRICA - SPOTTED EAGLE OWL (Bubo africanus)

The spotted eagle-owl (Bubo africanus), also known as the African spotted eagle-owl and the African eagle-owl, is a medium-sized species of owl, one of the smallest of the eagle owls. Its length is 45 cm (18 in) and its weight is from 454 to 907 grams (1.0 to 2.0 lb). It has a 100 to 140 cm (39 to 55 in) wingspan. The facial disk is off-white to pale ochre and the eyes are yellow. It has prominent ear-tufts, and the upper body is dusky brown, the lower parts off-white with brown bars. Prior to 1999 the spotted eagle-owl was considered conspecific with the greyish eagle-owl, but now it is classed as a separate species.

Spotted eagle-owls are the most common species of owl found in Southern Africa. They have a healthy population in most parts of the region. They are often referred to as urban owls and will live in close proximity to human habitation. They occur throughout Sub-Saharan Africa and the Arabian Peninsula. They can also be found in thorn savanna and in suburban gardens, such as the outskirts of Harare, Zimbabwe.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - SOUTHEAST AFRICAN CHEETAH (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus)

The Southeast African cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) is the nominate cheetah subspecies native to East and Southern Africa. The Southern African cheetah lives mainly in the lowland areas and deserts of the Kalahari, the savannahs of Okavango Delta, and the grasslands of the Transvaal region in South Africa. In Namibia, cheetahs are mostly found in farmlands. In India, four cheetahs of the subspecies are living in Kuno National Park in Madhya Pradesh after having been introduced there.

The cheetah is a medium-sized cat. An adult male cheetah's total size can measure from 168 to 213 cm (66 to 84 in) and 162 to 200 cm (64 to 79 in) for females. Adult cheetahs are 70 to 90 cm (28 to 35 in) tall at the shoulder. Males are slightly taller than females and have slightly bigger heads with wider incisors and longer mandibles.  

The Southeast African cheetah usually lives on grasslands, savannahs, scrub forests, and arid environments such as deserts and semidesert steppes. These cheetahs can be found in open fields, where they chase and hunt herbivorous mammals such as antelopes at a very high speed. In South Africa, the cheetah also prefers woodlands (in Kruger National Park), shrublands, high mountains, mountainous grasslands, and montane areas where favorable prey are mostly available.

The Southeast African cheetah is currently the most common subspecies and was widespread everywhere in southern to central Africa, ranging from South Africa to the southern Democratic Republic of the Congo (Katanga Province) and southern Tanzania. Its range is now greatly reduced, where it occurs in an area of 1,223,388 km2 (472,353 sq mi), 22% of its original range.

23-2-2026 RHULANI LODGE, MADIKWE - ELEGANT GRASSHOPPER (Zonocerus elegans)

The elegant grasshopper (Zonocerus elegans) is a brightly colored, toxic, and often sluggish insect found in sub-Saharan Africa and Madagascar. Known for its bold yellow, black, and orange coloring, it feeds on poisonous plants to deter predators, often causing significant damage to crops like cassava.

Key Characteristics and Biology

Appearance: Striking coloration with bright orange eyes, yellow bands, and a black body. 

Size: Adults are 3 to 5 cm long, with females usually larger than males.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - SOUTHERN AFRICAN GIRAFFE (Giraffa giraffa ssp. giraffa)

 The South African giraffe or Cape giraffe (Giraffa giraffa or Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa) is a species or subspecies of giraffe found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Eswatini and Mozambique. It has rounded or blotched spots, some with star-like extensions on a light tan background, running down to the hooves.

In 2016, the population was estimated at 31,500 individuals in the wild.

The IUCN currently recognizes only one species of giraffe with nine subspecies.The Cape giraffe, along with the whole species, were first known by the binomen Camelopardalis giraffa as described by German naturalist Johann Christian Daniel von Schreber in his publication Die Säugethiere in Abbildungen nach der Natur mit Beschreibungen (The Mammals Illustrated from Nature with Descriptions) during his travel in the Cape of Good Hope in 1784. Dutch naturalist Pieter Boddaert also described it under the binomial name Giraffa giraffa whilst also identifying the nominate specimen of said species under the ternary name Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa in 1785.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - RED BILLED OXPECKER (Buphagus erythrorhynchus)

The red-billed oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorynchus) is a passerine bird in the oxpecker family, Buphagidae. It is native to the eastern savannah of sub-Saharan Africa, from the Central African Republic east to South Sudan and south to northern and eastern South Africa. It is more widespread than the yellow-billed oxpecker in Southern Africa, where their ranges overlap.

The red-billed oxpecker is a native of the savanna of sub-Saharan Africa. It ranges across Ethiopia and Somalia through Kenya, Tanzania, Malawi, and Zambia to southern Africa, Botswana, Zimbabwe, southern Mozambique, and north-eastern South Africa.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - LILAC BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus)

The lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus) is an African bird of the roller family, Coraciidae. It is widely distributed in Southern and Eastern Africa, and is a vagrant to the southern Arabian Peninsula. It prefers open woodland and savanna, and it is for the most part absent from treeless places. Usually found alone or in pairs, it perches at the tops of trees, poles or other high vantage points from where it can spot insects, amphibians and small birds moving about on the ground. 

Nesting takes place in a natural hole in a tree where a clutch of 2–4 eggs are laid, and incubated by both parents, who are extremely aggressive in defence of their nest, taking on raptors and other birds. During the breeding season the male will rise to a fair height (69 to 144 metres), descending in swoops and dives, while uttering harsh, discordant cries. The sexes do not differ in coloration, and juveniles lack the long tail streamers of adults. This species is unofficially considered the national bird of Kenya. Alternative names for the lilac-breasted roller include the fork-tailed roller, lilac-throated roller (also used for a subspecies of purple roller), Mosilikatze's roller, and troupand.