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.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - AFRICAN HOOPOE (Upupa epops ssp. africana)

The African Hoopoe (Upupa africana) is a striking, medium-sized bird known for its cinnamon-colored body, black-and-white zebra-striped wings, long, downcurved bill, and a prominent crest. Found across sub-Saharan Africa in woodlands and savannas, they are distinct from European hoopoes due to their deeper color, lack of white in their crest, and sedentary nature. 

22-2-2026 RHULANI LODGE, SOUTH AFRICA - BUSHVELD FAMILIAR CHAT (Oenanthe familiaris ssp. hellmayri)

The Familiar Chat (Oenanthe familiaris), commonly found in the bushveld and rocky areas of sub-Saharan Africa, is a small (14–15 cm) grey-brown bird known for its fearless, curious behavior and signature habit of flicking its wings while perched on fences, rocks, or buildings. These sociable birds are often seen in pairs or family groups, foraging on the ground for insects and sometimes insects, fruit, or farmyard scraps. 

Appearance: They are dumpy, short-tailed birds with dull grey-brown upperparts, warm rufous-brown ear coverts, and a distinct rufous rump and outer tail feathers that are noticeable in flight. 

Habit/Behavior: Exceptionally tame and often called "spekvreter" (fat-eater) in Afrikaans, they used to eat fat from wagon axles, a behavior that shifted to eating lard, butter, or meat scraps around farmhouses. 

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - SOUTHERN WARTHOG (Phacochoerus africanus ssp. sundevallii)

The common warthog (Phacochoerus africanus) is a wild member of the pig family (Suidae) found in grassland, savanna, and woodland in sub-Saharan Africa. In the past, it was commonly treated as a subspecies of P. aethiopicus, but today that scientific name is restricted to the desert warthog of northern Kenya, Somalia, and eastern Ethiopia.

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - SABOTA LARK (Calendulauda sabota)

The sabota lark (Calendulauda sabota) is a species of lark in the family Alaudidae. It is found in southern Africa in its natural habitats of dry savannah, moist savannah, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland. It is generally sedentary but local movements occur in drier regions. The species name is derived from sebotha or sebothé, the Tswana generic name for a lark.

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - RUFOUS NAPED LARK (Mirafra africana)

 The rufous-naped lark (Corypha africana) or rufous-naped bush lark is a widespread and conspicuous species of lark in the lightly wooded grasslands, open savannas and farmlands of the Afrotropics. Males attract attention to themselves by a bold and often repeated wing-fluttering display from a prominent perch, which is accompanied by a melodious and far-carrying whistled phrase. This rudimentary display has been proposed as the precursor to the wing-clapping displays of other bush lark species. 

They have consistently rufous outer wings and a short erectile crest, but the remaining plumage hues and markings are individually and geographically variable. It has a straight lower, and longish, curved upper mandible.

21-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, S AFRICA - BURCHELL'S ZEBRA (Equus quagga ssp. burchellii)

(Equus quagga burchellii) is a southern subspecies of the plains zebra. It is named after the British explorer and naturalist William John Burchell. Common names include bontequagga, Damaraland zebra, and Zululand zebra (Gray, 1824).[1] Burchell's zebra is the only subspecies of zebra which may be legally farmed for human consumption.

Like most plains zebras, females and males are about the same size, standing 1.1 to 1.4 metres (3 ft 7 in to 4 ft 7 in) at the shoulder. They weigh between 230 and 320 kilograms (500 and 700 lb). Year-round reproduction observed in this subspecies in Etosha National Park, Namibia, concludes synchronization of a time budget between males and females, possibly explaining the lack of sexual dimorphism.  

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - GRAYFOOT CHACMA BABOON (Papio ursinus ssp. griseipes)

The Grayfoot Chacma Baboon ( Papio ursinus griseipes ) is a subspecies of the Chacma baboon (Papio ursinus) distinguished by its grayish hands and feet and a golden-colored coat, rather than the black limbs of the typical chacma baboon. This subspecies has a more golden fur and is generally smaller and heavier than typical black-footed chacmas. They are omnivorous primates found in Southern Africa, inhabiting diverse environments from deserts to forests. 

They are found in Southern Africa, extending from South Africa northward into Zambia and Mozambique.

Grayfoot chacma baboons have also been observed to hybridize with Kinda baboons (Papio kindae) in the Kafue River valley. 

Key Characteristics

Coloration: Grayish fur on the hands and feet, and a more golden coat than typical chacmas.

Size: Smaller and lighter than the black-footed (ursinus) subspecies.

Habitat: Occupy various habitats including coastal, mountainous, woodland, savannah, and semi-desert regions.

Diet: Omnivorous, consuming fruits, nuts, seeds, insects, small animals, and even shellfish on the coast.

Behavior: Terrestrial and diurnal, spending their days foraging on the ground and in trees. 

Ecological Role

As omnivores, they play a role in seed dispersal and soil aeration.

They are part of the food web as both predators and prey. 

22-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - BLACK THROATED CANARY (Crithagra atrogularis)

The black-throated canary (Crithagra atrogularis), also known as the black-throated seedeater, is a species of finch in the family Fringillidae.

It is found frequently in Angola, Botswana, Burundi, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Gabon, Kenya, Lesotho, Namibia, Rwanda, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Its natural habitats are subtropical or tropical dry forest, dry savanna, and subtropical or tropical dry shrubland.

22-2-2026 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.