White-Breasted Cormorant/ Witborsduiker (Phalacrocorax lucidus)
These large fishermen birds have a distinct white chest an under parts with black wings and a long, sharp bill used for fishing. Their habitats are marine and inland waters, usually seen in large dams and pans. These cormorants are usually silent except for when they are in breeding colonies when they will grunt and squeal. They are a locally common resident in the area. These birds mainly feed on fish, but also frogs, crustaceans and molluscs.

Leopard/ Luiperd (Panthera pardus)
This strong, muscular cat is a true master of disguise. Its coat is covered in spots forming rosettes, which camouflages it well in numerous habitat types. An adult Cape leopard weighs around 30 - 40 kg, half that of its northern cousins. It is the apex predator in the Western Cape Its diet includes a wide range of prey, from fish and mice to large antelope. Leopards are very adaptable animals and can be found in a wide range of habitats. Cape Leopards are found in the Mountainous regions of the province These secretive, nocturnal cats are very rarely seen, and having the opportunity to spot one in the wild is a rare privilege.

Bird of the month: Little Grebe/ Kleindobbertjie (Tachybaptus ruficollis)
This bird is also known as a dabchick. These grebes are slightly smaller than the black necked grebe and have a light rufous colour on the under parts, with black upper parts and a dark rufous coloured neck with black on top of the head. Their habitat is slightly more diverse than the rest of the grebes, ranging from dams, lakes, slowly flowing streams and rarely on the marine coast. They are very noisy birds, with a distinctive whinnying trill. Little grebes are a common resident in the area. Their main food source is small aquatic animals, mainly frogs, tadpoles and anthropods.

Animal of the month: African Elephant (Loxodonta africana)
The African elephant is enormous and unmistakable. Its nose and upper lip is elongated into a fantastically muscular and mobile trunk. Most adults have two large tusks, which are very large modified incisor teeth. The large, flat ears are coincidently roughly the shape of the African continent and act as radiators cooling the elephant on hot days. They have a gestation period of 22 months. Historically, elephants roamed a wide range of habitats. Today, however, their habitats are severely constrained by human encroachment. None the less, their populations are very secure and the number of elephants on the African continent is constantly on the increase. Elephant populations in fenced areas increase on average by 6,7% per year. These animals move surprisingly silently for their size. The sight of an elephant noiselessly moving through the early morning mist can be described as nothing more than ghostly.

Great Crested Grebe (Podiceps Cristatus)
These graceful water birds are unmistakable, having a dark double crest and a rufous ruff around the sides of the head. They mostly occur in large openings of fresh water and rarely in sheltered coastal- embayments. Their calls vary from growling and snarling to a barking “rah-rah-rah”. These birds are a locally common resident. Their diet includes fish, molluscs, insects and water plants.

Special sightings:
Being witness to a lion hunt is a rare and special sighting few are privileged enough to see. It’s all about being in the right place at the right time. On the 3rd of June 2008, some of our guests were lucky enough to see a lioness stalk and kill a rock hyrax (Procavia capensis).

Our Baby Rhino is growing up!

Pic of Aquila's baby Rhino

Did you know?
Bats are the only flying mammals in the world

Who stepped here?

Mystery Footprint

The Water mongoose/ Kommetjiesgatmuishond (Atilax paludinosus)

Animal of the month: Lion/ Leeu (Panthera leo)
The lion is the largest of the African cats and often referred to as “the king of the African bush”. Males have a thick mane, which the females lack. Lions are very adaptable animals and can be found in a wide range of habitats. Being opportunistic hunters, their diet may include anything from termites to young elephants, although they favour medium to large sized antelope species.

A pride of lions is truly a magnificent site in the wild. Prides consist of a sisterhood of closely related females as well as up to 6 male lions, which are not related to the females. The males in the pride are the pride owners. Vicious fights break out when new comers challenge pride owners. Africa would not be the same without the roar of the lion booming through the night air.

Picture of a male lion