bushtrail.co.za

Welcome to our site

This is the home of our Bush Trail. This, is where we share parts of our every day life - of living and working in the African bush, with you. It would be better if you could see it for your self, however, we'll make use of this site to keep you informed of the seasonal changes, creatures we see and tracks we find. A true bush trail is unplanned. We go for a walk in the bush, try to keep the noise level down, listen and look carefully. Everyday or night brings something new, there is always a part of creation we can enjoy and marvel at and we realise, we are blessed to live in Africa. We are South Africans by birth, but nature lover's by heart and no matter where we travel, we cannot get enough of the diverse ecosystems in our world. Bushtrail is all about the trails we take through the bush, and by we, I mean mostly the bush walks we take as a family (that being Joshua - the son, Jennie the wife and Pieter the husband) but it also includes friends, family and guests who visit us.

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We are working towards achieving a dream - where conservation is practiced wholeheartedly and where tourism works for Conservation. AfricaSafari.Travel is a means for us to make that a reality.

Blog Spot

Dodge the Dung!

December 15, 2011

I’m driving on the game reserve, slowly looking at the bright new colours of the leaves in the bush, hoping to catch a glimpse of a bird. I take my time, the road is gravel and we’re not in a rush anyway – Pieter and Joshua are on the back and all of a sudden I hear “Dodge the Dung!”

I look at the road and swerve – missing the elephant dung by an inch or two. Not very responsible for a nature conservationist! Alas, I had been too busy admiring the environment, rather than concentrating on where I was driving! Thus the blog about dodging the dung!

After good rains in South Africa (end October/November), the dung beetles arrive in full force – collecting fresh dung as food and/or as nurseries!

You’ll find a variety of dung beetles hard at work rolling dung balls – if you are driving and watching where you drive you’ll see them on the road – both tar and gravel, if you’re on a game path – you’ll see them along the path and if you are staying on a game reserve – then they’ll be wherever there is a fresh pile of dung!

Dung beetles play an important role in the ecosystem – cleaning up animal waste and converting it into a ball that sustains their life!

Dung beetles are of the Family Scarabaeidae. This family of beetles are easily recognised by their antennae, which have an apical club of 3-7 flat, expanded, moveable plates that can open out fanwise.

Unlike their cousins (the Chafer’s), Dung beetles are all highly beneficial to their environment! My son welcomes these busy creatures each season when his chore of “poop-scooping” is taken away by the dung beetles. They don’t seem to mind using doggy-doo either, as long as it’s dung, it gets rolled up in ball and rolled away!