23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - WOOD SANDPIPER (Tringa glareola)

The wood sandpiper (Tringa glareola) is a small wader belonging to the sandpiper family Scolopacidae. A Eurasian species, it is the smallest of the shanks, a genus of mid-sized, long-legged waders that largely inhabit freshwater and wetland environments, as opposed to the maritime or coastal habitats of other, similar species.

The wood sandpiper resembles a longer-legged, more delicate form of the aforementioned green sandpiper (T. ochropus), or a solitary sandpiper (T. solitaria), albeit with a shorter, finer bill, brown back and longer yellowish legs. The wood sandpiper differs from the green by having a smaller, less contrasting white rump-patch, while the solitary sandpiper has no rump-patch, at all. However, the wood sandpiper is not closely related to these two species; its closest relative is the common redshank (T. totanus), with which it shares a sister relationship with the marsh sandpiper (T. stagnatilis). These three species are a group of smallish shanks with red or yellowish legs, displaying a breeding plumage of subdued, light-brown above (with some darker mottling), and a pattern of somewhat smaller, diffuse, brownish spots on the breast and neck.

The wood sandpiper breeds in subarctic wetlands, from the Scottish Highlands in the west, east across Eurasia and the Palearctic. They will migrate to Africa, South Asia (particularly India) and Australia. Vagrant birds have been seen as far into the Pacific as the Hawaiian Islands. In Micronesia, it is a regular visitor to Palau and the Mariana Islands, where flocks of up to 32 birds have been reported; it is observed and recorded on Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, approximately once each decade. The wood sandpiper is also encountered in the Western Pacific region of East Asia and some Western Pacific islands between mid-October and mid-May. A slight westward-expansion saw the establishment of a small resident breeding population in Scotland, beginning in the 1950s. This species is usually found in and around freshwater habitats during migration and wintering.

Mature wood sandpipers moult all of their primary feathers between August and December, whilst juvenile birds shed a varying number of outer primaries between December and April, much closer to their departure from Africa. Immature birds are also much more flexible than older birds regarding the timing (and rate) of their moult and refueling. Adults and immatures which accumulate fuel loads of c.50% of their lean body mass can potentially cross distances of 2397–4490 km in one non-stop flight.

The wood sandpiper nests primarily on the ground, or will re-use an abandoned tree nest of another bird species, such as the fieldfare (Turdus pilaris). Four pale-green eggs are laid between March and May. These are incubated by both sexes beginning with the last egg. They hatch after 22 to 23 days. They are initially cared for by both parents but the female normally departs after a few days. The young can feed themselves. The young fledge when aged around 30 days.

They forage for invertebrates by probing their bills in shallow water or into wet mud, such as lakeshores or riverbanks, and mainly eat aquatic insects, crustaceans, arthropods, various worms, and other small prey.

The wood sandpiper is one of the species to which the Agreement on the Conservation of African-Eurasian Migratory Waterbirds (AEWA) applies. With an apparently stable, healthy global population, it is considered a Species of Least Concern, as per the IUCN.

23-2-2026 RHULANI LODGE MADIKWE, SOUTH AFRICA - MOCKING CLIFF CHAT (Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris)

The mocking cliff chat, mocking chat or cliff chat, (Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris) is a species of chat in the family Muscicapidae which occurs in rocky habitats in much of eastern Sub-Saharan Africa. It is the only species placed in the genus Thamnolaea.

The mocking cliff chat is a large chat with distinctive colouration. The male has a glossy black with a chestnut belly, vent, and rump and white shoulder patches. The shoulder patches vary in size geographically. The female is dark grey with a chestnut lower breast, belly, and vent. The mocking cliff chat has a length of 19–21 cm and weigh 41–51g.

A loud fluty melodious warbling song which often contains many rapid-fire phrases mimicking other species, with some harsher phrases interspersed.

The mocking cliff chat occurs in a neat band from central Ethiopia in the north through east Africa into Zimbabwe, south-eastern Botswana, southern Mozambique and eastern South Africa as far as the far east of Western Cape province. Mostly resident but in the south of its range tends to move to lower altitudes in the winter months. It inhabits rocky and boulder strewn areas, well-wooded rocky ravines, cliffs, gullies, boulder-strewn hillsides and watercourses in valley bottoms with scattered rocks.

The mocking cliff chat is mainly insectivorous but also eats fruit and feeds on the nectar of aloes, such as the Krantz aloe, Aloe arborescens. Its chief foraging technique is to pounce on food on the ground from a perch but it will also glean food from branches and foliage. They habitually wag their tails, slowly raising it over their backs and fanning it out.

Both sexes build the nest, taking about a week to construct an open cup built over a foundation of twigs, leaves, roots and feathers and lined with the hair of mammals. They often use the nests of striped swallows frequently evicting the swallows while they are still using the nest. The nest is usually positioned below a rock overhang, bridge, culvert or in a cave and it may sometimes be placed in a hole in a wall or in a cavity in agricultural machinery. In southern Africa the eggs are laid from August–December, with a peak during September–November. The normal clutch size is 2-4 eggs, which the female incubates for about 14–16 days. Both parents feed the chicks which fledge at about three weeks old.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - COMMON WARTHOG (Phacochoerus Africus)

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.

Common warthogs are not territorial, but instead occupy a home range. Common warthogs live in groups called sounders. Females live in sounders with their young and with other females. Females tend to stay in their natal groups, while males leave, but stay within the home range. Subadult males associate in bachelor groups, but males live alone when they become adults. Adult males only join sounders with estrous females. Warthogs have two facial glands: the tusk gland and the sebaceous gland. Common warthogs of both sexes begin to mark around six to seven months old. Males tend to mark more than females. They mark sleeping and feeding areas and waterholes. Common warthogs use tusk marking for courtship, for antagonistic behaviors, and to establish status.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - BANDED LEGGED GOLDEN ORBWEAVER SPIDER (Trichonephila senegalensis)

Trichonephila senegalensis is a species of spider in the family Araneidae. It is an African endemic commonly known as the banded-legged golden orb-web spider.

T. senegalensis is found from West Africa to Ethiopia.

The subspecies Trichonephila senegalensis annulata is widespread throughout Africa. In South Africa, it is commonly found throughout the country in all nine provinces and occurs in more than 10 protected areas.

In South Africa, the species inhabits altitudes ranging from 16 to 1,864 m above sea level and has been sampled from all biomes except the Desert and Succulent Karoo biomes. Trichonephila senegalensis builds large (1-1.5 m in diameter) orb webs with a yellowish golden viscid spiral.

Trichonephila senegalensis annulata is listed as Least Concern by the South African National Biodiversity Institute due to its wide geographical range. The species is protected in more than 20 protected areas.

The species is known from both sexes.

23-2-2026 MADIKWE GAME RESERVE, SOUTH AFRICA - EASTERN LITTLE BEE-EATER ( Merops pusillus ssp. meridionalis)

The Eastern Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus meridionalis) is a subspecies of the Little Bee-eater, recognized as the smallest African bee-eater species. These birds are renowned for their vibrant, colorful plumage and their specialized hunting techniques, often seen in sub-Saharan Africa. 

Physical Description

Size: They are very small, reaching a length of only 15–17 cm and weighing 11–18 grams. 

Appearance: They are predominantly green on their upper parts with a bright yellow throat, a distinct thin black collar (gorget), and a rich cinnamon/buff-orange belly. They have a black eye-stripe and a small blue stripe above the eye. 

Meridionalis Subspecies: This subspecies is characterized by having a thin, short blue supercilium (eyebrow) and a very narrow bluish-white line above the black gorget. 

Sexes: Males and females are alike in appearance.

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

The African bush elephant (Loxodonta africana), also known as the African savanna elephant, is a species of elephant native to sub-Saharan Africa. It is one of three extant elephant species and, along with the African forest elephant, one of two extant species of African elephant. It is the largest living terrestrial animal, with fully grown bulls reaching an average shoulder height of 3.04–3.36 metres (10.0–11.0 ft) and a body mass of 5.2–6.9 tonnes (5.7–7.6 short tons); the largest recorded specimen had a shoulder height of 3.96 metres (13.0 ft) and an estimated body mass of 10.4 tonnes (11.5 short tons). 

The African bush elephant is characterised by its long prehensile trunk with two finger-like processes; a convex back; large ears which help reduce body heat; and sturdy tusks that are noticeably curved. The skin is grey with scanty hairs, and bending cracks which support thermoregulation by retaining water.

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.