With its striking plumage and spectacular crown of feathers, the African hoopoe is an unmistakable sighting.
'Hoop-hoop-hoop’. A few seconds of silence. And again ‘hoop-hoop-hoop’.
This is the characteristic call of the African hoopoe that I grew up within a suburban garden in Gauteng. As my birding interest grew, I discovered they occur almost throughout South Africa. Though slightly more common in the mesic woodlands and savannas in the eastern part of the country, African hoopoes are also well adapted to the drier western parts, provided there are a few scattered trees in which to nest and roost.
This story is from the Spring 2017 edition of Wild Magazine.
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This story is from the Spring 2017 edition of Wild Magazine.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
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Seeds of success
A champion at the indigenous nursery at Skukuza, Meurel Baloyi is on a mission to make all the rest camp gardens in Kruger water-wise.
Six of the best
|Ai-|Ais/Richtersveld Transfrontier Park guarantees visitors a solid serving of adventure, often with a dash of adrenalin on the side. The rugged mountain desert now boasts even more outdoor activities.
Marvellous meerkats of Mata-Mata
Brace yourself to be welcomed suricate-style the next time you pitch camp at this ever-popular spot in Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park.
Who's who?
Even regular park-goers struggle to distinguish a rhebok from a reedbuck. The differences are subtle but significant.
Friends of the fluffball
White-fronted plovers breed in summer – the same time many people take their seaside holiday. A significant decline in their numbers means life is hardly ‘a day at the beach’ for these birds
Festive Karoo
On a Christmas holiday in the Karoo, a keen birder and his family soak up the heat in four Wild Card parks. Their reward included special sightings, endless views and a wilderness feeling.
Love struck
A leopard mating ritual is a rare and thrilling sight. Even more extraordinary to witness an amorous affair involving three members of this elusive Big Five species in Kruger.
Challenge the clock
For centuries Table Mountain National Park has inspired exploration, from hardcore climbing to gentle walks. Now runners and hikers can set a record or push boundaries for a personal best on an epic adventure to the top of 13 peaks.
Loud and clear
Woodland kingfishers are common in most rest camps in the Kruger National Park. Enjoy their evocative call during the summer months.
BEACH MODELS
Rocky shores and sandy beaches are where you’ll find the African black oystercatcher. Summer is breeding season, so look out for nest scrapes close to rocks and kelp.
