Locals named the mountain after the central pillar of a rondavel, the ntsika, which must be strong, straight and true to maintain the home's structure. But it's impossible to talk about Ntsikeni without simultaneously mentioning Daluxolo 'Dalu' Ngcobo. He is as much the ntsika of this landscape as the mountain tall, strong and key to keeping the roof on in a storm.
Ntsikeni is about as remote as one can be in South Africa. It took a full day from Johannesburg, smoothly dropping from the Highveld down to Howick on the N3, negotiating potholes to Creighton, then forestry roads to the reserve gate, followed by a wild 12-kilometre African massage in the twin cab. But the landscape will take your breath away, the stonechats and longclaws and buzzards and cranes and vultures will encourage you onward, and you will be greeted at the lodge with a deep belly laugh and a story or three from Dalu on your arrival.
The lodge itself is basic, but also spectacular. It has all a birder needs: a hot shower, fully equipped kitchen and braai, comfortable beds, a heavenly view and easy access to the best birding. And that birding I have never seen so many cranes, both Grey Crowned and Wattled. We studied Cape Vultures from above and marvelled at the rusty-fronted, Dali-esque Bearded Vultures patrolling the cliffs. We cursed Denham's Bustards that refused to pose for photographs, and we greeted Jackal Buzzards with familiarity while they eyed us with suspicion.
Bu hikaye African Birdlife dergisinin July/August 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Bu hikaye African Birdlife dergisinin July/August 2023 sayısından alınmıştır.
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Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
EXPLORING NEW HORIZONS
Keith Barnes, co-author of the new Field Guide to Birds of Greater Southern Africa, chats about the long-neglected birding regions just north of the Kunene and Zambezi, getting back to watching birds and the vulture that changed his life.
footloose IN FYNBOS
The Walker Bay Diversity Trail is a leisurely hike with a multitude of flowers, feathers and flavours along the way.
Living forwards
How photographing birds helps me face adversity
CAPE crusade
The Cape Bird Club/City of Cape Town Birding Big Year Challenge
water & WINGS
WATER IS LIFE. As wildlife photographer Greg du Toit knows better than most.
winter wanderer
as summer becomes a memory in the south, the skies are a little quieter as the migrants have returned to the warming north. But one bird endemic to the southern African region takes its own little winter journey.
when perfect isn't enough
Egg signatures and forgeries in the cuckoo-drongo arms race
Southern SIGHTINGS
The late summer period naturally started quietening down after the midsummer excitement, but there were still some classy rarities on offer for birders all over the subregion. As always, none of the records included here have been adjudicated by any of the subregion's Rarities Committees.
flood impact on wetland birds
One of the features of a warming planet is increasingly erratic rainfall; years of drought followed by devastating floods. Fortunately, many waterbirds are pre-adapted to cope with such extremes, especially in southern Africa where they have evolved to exploit episodic rainfall events in semi-arid and arid regions. But how do waterbirds respond to floods in areas where rainfall - and access to water - is more predictable? Peter Ryan explores the consequences of recent floods on the birds of the Western Cape's Olifants River valley.
a star is born
It’s every producer’s dream to plan a wildlife television series and pick the right characters before filming.
