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WILDLIFE SAFARIS AT PHINDA, SOUTH AFRICA
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Phinda’s seven distinct habitats
are home to an incredible diversity of South African wildlife:- Abundant wildlife populations,
including the Big Five
- Threatened African wildlife species
such as rhino and cheetah
- Over 380 bird species –
three endemic to the region
- Rare Sand Forest contains numerous
rare and endemic species
- Highly endangered sea turtles
breed on the beaches nearby (Nov-Jan)
- Home to Southern
Africa’s only member of the cactus family
- Exposed
fossil sites reveal former seabed
- Dynamic model in wise
land management and profitable conservation
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Phinda Private Game Reserve wildlife habitats:
The unique dry Sand Forest is characterised
by newtonia, umzithi, pteliopsis and Zulu podberry trees with abundant
epiphytic orchids and Africa’s only cactus species (Rhipsalis).
Mixed bushveld savanna is dominated by acacia trees, with different
species thriving on clay or sandy soils.
Open woodland of tall marula, bushwillow and terminalia occurs on
sandy soils. Palmveld is characterised by open grassland dotted with
lala palm and waterberry thickets. Evergreen forest and thickets fringe
the Mzinene and Munyawana Rivers, with tamboti, sycamore fig and weeping
boerbean among typical trees. Groves of sulphur-barked fever trees
occur on floodplains. Seasonal marshes and pans are inundated after
heavy summer rains. Rocky hillsides are cloaked with trees such as
common wild-pear, red bushwillow and galpinia. |
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Mammals at Phinda Private Game Reserve:
Phinda Private Game Reserve is home to an incredible diversity of mammals. Predators like cheetah, leopard and lion are tracked on a daily basis and visitors stand extremely good chances of seeing them. The territorial white rhino favour waterholes and wallows. Herds of elephant and buffalo move throughout the reserve and are easily spotted.
Impressive nyala antelope feed alongside impala and warthog. Nocturnal aardvark, bushpig and greater bushbaby may be encountered on exciting
night game-drives. Mountain reedbuck dwell on rocky slopes, while
common reedbuck favour palmveld and wetlands. Tonga red squirrel are
restricted to Sand Forest where tiny suni and red duiker are most
abundant. The extraordinary four-toed elephant-shrew forages among leaf-litter in forest and thickets. |
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Birds at Phinda Private Game Reserve:
An impressive 378 species are recorded.
Rudd’s apalis, Neergaard’s sunbird and pink-throated
twinspot are endemic to the Maputaland region. Lemon-breasted canary,
southern banded snake-eagle and grey waxbill are characteristic
of the coastal plain. Among resident birds in the Sand Forest are Narina trogon, African
broadbill and square-tailed drongo. Trumpeter hornbill, white-eared
barbet and golden-rumped tinkerbird gather at ripe figs. Crested
guineafowl, purple-crested turaco and gorgeous bushshrike are among
species which favour woodland and thickets. African finfoot, African
purple swamphen (gallinule), white-backed night-heron and malachite
kingfisher are resident on the Mzinene River. Mocking cliff-chat,
red-winged starling and cinnamon-breasted bunting favour rocky
outcrops. Great concentrations of waterfowl assemble seasonally
at the Nibela Peninsula of nearby Lake St Lucia. |
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Other African wildlife:
More than 80 species of butterfly have been
recorded with mamba swordtail, forest king charaxes and gold-banded
forester (opposite) among the more impressive. Marshlands beat to the sound
of calling frogs after summer downpours with Argus reed-frog, red-legged
kassina and sharp-nosed grass-frog among the 37 recorded species.
Dazzling rainbow skink and giant plated lizard live among boulders
where African rock python find refuge. Nile crocodile inhabit the
Mzinene River and some waterholes. Phinda’s close proximity
to the Indian Ocean offers guests the opportunity to explore an
underwater kaleidoscope that rivals Australia’s Great Barrier
Reef. Over 1000 species of fish are found in these subtropical waters
and you may glide past moray eel, leatherback and loggerhead turtles
and huge whale sharks. |
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| For exciting wildlife sightings, visit CC Africa's entertaining
and informative wildlife website www.wildwatch.com. |
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