Snake handling course

Hi all,

Johan Marais author of the book a complete guide to snakes of Southern Africa will be holding another venomous snake handling course at the St Lucia crocodile center on the 9th September.

Any one interested in attending the course or would like to find out more information please contact Johan atjohan@reptileventures.com 

Regards

Zululand Rhino Reserve

Zululand Rhino Reserve



The Zululand Rhino Reserve is a 23 000ha Big 5 reserve on the Western side of the N2 between the towns of Hluhluwe and Mkuze.



There are 3 water ways that wind their way through the reserve; the Msunduze River, Sekane River and Manyoni River. Traditionally the Msunduze Valley has always been suitable for wildlife and traditional Zulu (Nguni) cattle. It was a seasonal grazing area and traditional hunting area of the Zulu clans that lived away from the valley. Lack of water and disease (Malaria and Nagana (sleeping sickness)) precluded habituation. After the First World War the area was subdivided into small (uneconomical) ranching and cropping units. Gradually these were developed, boreholes drilled and later were amalgamated into larger cattle ranching units, and then into game ranches. The reserve comprises of 17 different landowners who dropped their fences to create the ZRR. Each landowner is a shareholder in the company which is managed by a central body.

The land owners are each responsible for their own property but the ZRR management team is responsible for the wildlife, habitat management, security, boundary fence maintenance and business component of the company. In 2005 the ZRR became the second Game Reserve to become part of the WWF / EKZNW Black Rhino Expansion Project with the release of a founder population of Black Rhino, and by 2006 the first calf had been born. In April of 2009 everyone’s efforts were finally rewarded when the reserve was officially proclaimed a Protected Area, it is classed as a Nature Reserve - the highest status within the KZN Biodiversity Stewardship Programme. The Black Rhino (Diceros bicornis minor) is just one of the many reasons why the ZRR was able to acquire this conservation status. Other species of significant importance in the reserve include Wild Dog (Lycaon pictus), Leopard (Panthera pardus) Brown Hyena (Hyaena brunnea), Suni (Neotragus moschatus), Lappetfaced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotos), White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus), Whiteheaded Vulture (Trigonoceps occipitalis), Bateleur (Terathopius ecaudatus), Rock Python (Python sebae natalensis), Kudu Lilly (Pachypodium saundersii), Climbing Onion (Bowiea volubilis), Huernia histrix, to name a few. In the near future the ZRR will be starting projects to supplement some of the current animal species populations of Cheetah, Hippo, Bushbuck, Brown and Spotted Hyena.

There are a number of lodges within the ZRR that offer Game Drives and Walking Safaris. Guests can expect to see a large diversity of Fauna and Flora with over 450 birds, 70 mammals and almost 200 species of trees and shrubs occurring in the area. With prices that range from R670 to R1695 there is something to suit everyone’s budget.



Zululand Walking Safaris is the only company that offers guiding walking safaris to guests that are not staying in the Zululand Rhino Reserve and we pride ourselves in being able to offer guests a very unique African experience. Walking Safaris or Trails are between 2 hours and a few days long, with guests using all 5 of their senses to really experience the African Bush.

By: Ivor van Rooyen