Latest News - May 2020
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Welcome to the merry month of May! Well, maybe not so merry this year. We cannot write an editorial without mentioning the coronavirus epidemic, but because we are all being bombarded with news every minute of the day (much of it confusing and contradictory), there is no point in rehashing it again here. Most of the world has been in a lockdown (some places more stringent than others) for the last month, but at least now there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
In South Africa, April and May are fantastic months of the year, from a weather point of view. Right in the middle of fall (we refer to this season as “autumn”), the air temperature ranges from cool to fairly warm, there is seldom any rain, and the trees and grasses are busy metamorphosizing through a kaleidoscope of colors from green to rusty reds and browns. It is probably the best time of the year to tour the country, and it has been a huge pity that we have been forced to postpone the trips that were scheduled to run in these two months. |
The first snows of the season have arrived early this year, and there have already been two heavy falls, mainly in the Drakensberg Mountains. Snow is uncommon enough to make everyone in South Africa excited when it happens, but because of the lockdown it has been impossible to get out there to enjoy it. Oh well, for now we will just have to make do with looking at the pictures …
Because we cannot get out into the countryside to see the real thing, we have been posting a series of video clips on our Facebook page featuring various adventure activities and scenic locations, as well as a number of unusual wildlife encounters. Navigate to our page (https://www.facebook.com/closeencountersadventures/) and click on the “Videos” section to have a look. We publish a new video every Monday and Thursday at 2pm (Pacific Daylight Time), and we will continue to do this for the next few months at least.
That’s it for now. Stay safe, and follow all of the guidelines to avoid becoming infected with the coronavirus (and more importantly, to avoid infecting others). This too shall pass – it might pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass! As we gradually emerge from the current crisis, it will be time to get used to a “new normal” and hopefully, a world that is better than it was before.
Because we cannot get out into the countryside to see the real thing, we have been posting a series of video clips on our Facebook page featuring various adventure activities and scenic locations, as well as a number of unusual wildlife encounters. Navigate to our page (https://www.facebook.com/closeencountersadventures/) and click on the “Videos” section to have a look. We publish a new video every Monday and Thursday at 2pm (Pacific Daylight Time), and we will continue to do this for the next few months at least.
That’s it for now. Stay safe, and follow all of the guidelines to avoid becoming infected with the coronavirus (and more importantly, to avoid infecting others). This too shall pass – it might pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass! As we gradually emerge from the current crisis, it will be time to get used to a “new normal” and hopefully, a world that is better than it was before.
Upcoming tours
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South African Coastal Jewel
One of the longest, and certainly one of the most varied, tours offered by Close Encounters is the Coastal Jewel Tour. After spending two nights in Johannesburg, guests will be transported to Walkers River Camp for five days of exciting game viewing in the magnificent Timbavati Private Game Reserve. Then it's back to Jozi to catch a short flight to George, in the heart of the Garden Route on the southern Cape coast, to explore the lush forests and spectacular scenery of this beautiful corner of the country. A quick trip to see the Cango Caves and the Meerkats in Oudtshoorn is followed by a visit to Gansbaai to cage dive with Great White Sharks, and then it's on to Cape Town to end off the tour with four nights in a city that has been voted one of the most desirable tourist destinations on earth. Click here to see the detailed itinerary. |
Focus on conservation
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Rhinos: some good news at last!
Numbers of African black rhinos in the wild have risen by several hundred, a rare boost in the conservation of a species driven to near extinction by poaching. Black rhinos are still in grave danger, but the small increase – an annual rate of 2.5% over six years - has swollen the population from 4,845 in 2012 to an estimated 5,630 in 2018, giving hope that efforts put into saving the species are paying off. The painstaking attempts to save the black rhino have included moving some individuals from established groups to new locations, increasing the species’ range and ensuring viable breeding populations, as well as protecting them through stronger law enforcement efforts. Numbers of all of the three subspecies of black rhino are now improving. |
Significant historical events
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The Rinderpest Panzootic
Early in February 1896, large numbers of cattle and game were reported to be dying from an obscure disease on both sides of the Zambesi River. Later identified as the Rinderpest (German for “cattle plague”), it was thought to have been introduced to North Africa in 1889 from Arabia or India, probably by the Italian army, after which it began to spread towards the south. On March 3 1896 it reached Bulawayo in Rhodesia, and from there the plague was rapidly conveyed southwards by means of transport oxen. By April it had crossed the Limpopo into northern South Africa, where the cattle population was quickly decimated. |
As soon as it appeared the authorities made every effort to confine the infection locally, but in spite of the most strenuous precautions, by October of that year the disease had spread to both the Orange Free State and parts of the Cape Colony. A final determined attempt to check the extension of the scourge further southward was then made at the Orange River, by erecting a barbed-wire fence which was about a thousand miles long. This did delay the invasion of the disease into the Cape for a while, but on March 24 1897 an outbreak unexpectedly occurred south of the line.
Realizing the impossibility of preventing the spread of the disease by means of the measures already adopted, the authorities resorted to prophylactic methods. Robert Koch pioneered an immunizing vaccine by using the bile of animals that had died from the disease, and by the end of 1898 millions of cattle had been successfully inoculated and saved. Koch was awarded a Nobel Prize for his work in 1905.
During this virulent panzootic, the Rinderpest caused ruin and devastation over extensive stretches of the country, destroying not only the majority of domestic bovines along its route, but also considerable numbers of indigenous antelope. It is estimated that nearly 3 million head of cattle succumbed to it in South Africa alone.
On May 25 2011, the Rinderpest was declared as the second disease to have been completely eradicated from the earth (the first was Smallpox, in 1980).
Realizing the impossibility of preventing the spread of the disease by means of the measures already adopted, the authorities resorted to prophylactic methods. Robert Koch pioneered an immunizing vaccine by using the bile of animals that had died from the disease, and by the end of 1898 millions of cattle had been successfully inoculated and saved. Koch was awarded a Nobel Prize for his work in 1905.
During this virulent panzootic, the Rinderpest caused ruin and devastation over extensive stretches of the country, destroying not only the majority of domestic bovines along its route, but also considerable numbers of indigenous antelope. It is estimated that nearly 3 million head of cattle succumbed to it in South Africa alone.
On May 25 2011, the Rinderpest was declared as the second disease to have been completely eradicated from the earth (the first was Smallpox, in 1980).
Folklore & legends
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Mermaids in the Karoo?
The Karoo is a dry semi-desert region situated in the Western Province of South Africa. According to legend, many of the rock pools found in the area are home to beautiful dark-haired mermaids, said to be manifestations of sinister water spirits. Many Karoo residents have reported seeing mysterious women with blue eyes, pink cheeks and fish-tails, lounging beside deep mountain pools. They simply sit and comb their long, death-black hair, before disappearing and leaving the observers to question their sanity. San rock paintings located in the area depict mermaid-like creatures (see picture), suggesting that they have been around for thousands of years. |
Sceptics argue that the San paintings are instead images depicting a ritual that a Shaman would conduct to ask for relief from a drought. They say that the so-called mermaids are actually swallows, birds that have long been associated with rain.
Others contend that the Karoo mermaids are simply a variant on a Western myth that has infiltrated African culture to protect children from drowning. The mermaid has always been a warning - especially to sailors - to forgo temptation. Stories of mermaids drowning young children in deep, bottomless ponds were designed to ensure that the youngsters would resist temptation and stay away from dangerous waters.
But many experts point out that the San people were known for directly depicting what they saw - not interpretive rituals. The mermaids in the paintings were also often shown to be holding something, convincing many that they had arms. not wings, and therefore implying that these were real creatures encountered and recorded by the San people.
Are the Karoo mermaids just another myth like so many of the others that surround the ancient continent of Africa? Or could there be something to the stories of beautiful fish-tailed women haunting this arid region?
Others contend that the Karoo mermaids are simply a variant on a Western myth that has infiltrated African culture to protect children from drowning. The mermaid has always been a warning - especially to sailors - to forgo temptation. Stories of mermaids drowning young children in deep, bottomless ponds were designed to ensure that the youngsters would resist temptation and stay away from dangerous waters.
But many experts point out that the San people were known for directly depicting what they saw - not interpretive rituals. The mermaids in the paintings were also often shown to be holding something, convincing many that they had arms. not wings, and therefore implying that these were real creatures encountered and recorded by the San people.
Are the Karoo mermaids just another myth like so many of the others that surround the ancient continent of Africa? Or could there be something to the stories of beautiful fish-tailed women haunting this arid region?
Creature corner
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The Roan is a savanna antelope that occupies much of sub-Saharan Africa, although its range is limited to non-forested areas. In South Africa, it occurs naturally only in the northern and north-eastern parts of the country, including in the greater Kruger National Park area. It is one of the largest antelopes – only the Eland and the Kudu exceed it in weight.
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Feather feature
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Common Name: Lanner Falcon
Binomial Name: Falco biarmicus Status: Common resident Red List Status: Least Concern The Lanner Falcon is a medium-sized bird of prey that breeds in Africa, southeast Europe and just into Asia. It prefers open habitat and is mainly resident, but some birds disperse more widely after the breeding season. Large for a falcon, it preys mainly on birds and bats. |
Did you know?
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South Africa is the world's largest platinum producer, producing more than twice as much as every other country on Earth combined (70% of the total world output). Other top producers include Russia (15%), Zimbabwe (7%), Canada (4%) and the USA (2%).
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Words of wisdom
"It's really beautiful. It feels like God visits everywhere else, but lives in Africa."
Will Smith (American actor and musician)
Will Smith (American actor and musician)