Spring has sprung once more!
IT'S THE PERFECT TIME TO BE IN THE KLASERIE!
The bush may be tinder-dry and the daytime temperatures may be rising, but that doesn't stop spring from making its arrival known! There are signs of new growth everywhere we go at the moment, from the gradual appearance of fresh buds on trees and shrubs to the flowering of blossoms on our shambok pods and other deciduous trees.
The most noticeable signs of the seasonal transition come from above in the form of the arrival of some of our early summer migrant bird species. The Wahlberg's eagles are back and are already nesting, and will soon be joined by the European bee-eaters and an array of swallows and swifts who migrate south from mainland Europe to enjoy the warmer climes.
Some of our antelope species already have young at heel, with waterbuck and duiker in particular showing off their babies. The impalas all have big bellies with just a matter of weeks to go before the arrival of the first lambs of the season and the zebras are heavy with foal.
Everywhere we go on our game drives there's a sense of expectation in the air but the reality is that there's still some time to go until the anticipated arrival of the rainy season and the first big storms that will properly wet the ground and trigger the first rush of green.
While we are still having the odd cold front passing through (and this has been the coldest winter on record for a considerable time) the mercury is steadily rising each day, and the nights are becoming warmer and more pleasant, without the need for lots of layers and thermal undies!
It's still a good idea to bring a jacket for early morning drives and for when the sun goes down and don't forget your swimsuit as the pool is becoming more and more inviting as the daytime temperatures pass the 30 deg C mark!
Game viewing at this time of the year is spectacular, especially around water, which is in very short supply right now. A lot of the pans and waterholes are virtually dry and the larger dams are getting low. Thankfully we have our little waterhole in front of the pool deck that's pumped regularly to provide wildlife with a permanent source of water and it regularly attracts a wide variety of game, from warthogs to elephant and everything in between.
Now's the perfect time to be planning a spring break or start thinking about the Christmas holidays, so feel free to get in touch and chat to us about your plans! We're hoping to see you soon!
