Latest News - November 2020
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Greetings from South Africa, on what is supposed to be a warm spring day. But the weather gods have been fickle, and much of the country is shivering through some unseasonal cold and rainy weather, with snow falling once again on the high peaks of the Drakensberg Mountains and Lesotho. And this just after a heat wave last week! Oh well, we mustn’t complain – there isn’t much we can do about it, after all.
There is less than two days to go before American citizens go out and make their mark in what could turn out to be the most important election in decades. Looking at it from the outside, it would appear that the presidential race is not so much a choice between two individuals, but rather a case of deciding to be either for Donald J. Trump or against him. No matter what your feelings are, make sure that you vote, and play your part in deciding where America will end up for the next four years. It is even possible that this election will determine the destiny of the USA for many more years to come … |
The Coronavirus pandemic has played a pivotal role in the election race, as well it should. As much as the current administration has downplayed the threat, the facts cannot be ignored. At the present time, the USA is well into a third and devastating wave of the epidemic, with positivity rates that have gone through the roof, record numbers of new cases per day, overwhelming hospital admittances, and a death toll which is creeping ever higher. No matter who wins the election, this problem must be urgently addressed, or else the USA could face a medical crisis on an apocalyptic scale.
The rest of the world will continue to monitor events in the USA with much interest, some with gleeful intent, but most with a wish for the best possible outcomes. The size and power of American state, its people and its economy will affect all of us, no matter where we live on this small planet we call home. We are trusting YOU to make sure that things don’t go horribly wrong!
It has now been 12 months since we produced our first newsletter, and we hope that you have enjoyed reading our little missives as much as we have enjoyed writing them! We also, at the same time, revamped our Facebook page, which since then has almost tripled its number of followers, receiving hundreds of thousands of views in the process. Many thanks to everyone that has clicked on the Like buttons, and please be assured that we read and pay attention to all of your comments. Tell your friends about us!
Until next month, we say ciao for now. Good luck with the elections!
Mike Leicester
Editor
The rest of the world will continue to monitor events in the USA with much interest, some with gleeful intent, but most with a wish for the best possible outcomes. The size and power of American state, its people and its economy will affect all of us, no matter where we live on this small planet we call home. We are trusting YOU to make sure that things don’t go horribly wrong!
It has now been 12 months since we produced our first newsletter, and we hope that you have enjoyed reading our little missives as much as we have enjoyed writing them! We also, at the same time, revamped our Facebook page, which since then has almost tripled its number of followers, receiving hundreds of thousands of views in the process. Many thanks to everyone that has clicked on the Like buttons, and please be assured that we read and pay attention to all of your comments. Tell your friends about us!
Until next month, we say ciao for now. Good luck with the elections!
Mike Leicester
Editor
IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT
As part of our commitment to ensuring that our guests have increased flexibility and security during these uncertain times, Close Encounters has elected to freeze all price increases for the next year, and all of our standard tours during 2021 will be offered at exactly the same rates as listed for 2020. In addition, we have also added special provisions to our cancellation terms and conditions relating to the coronavirus pandemic, which will allow any guest unable to travel because of imposed restrictions the option of a full refund or a postponement of their tour to a future date.
Upcoming tours
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South African Soul
July 18 - August 1 2021 (14 nights) Only 6 spots open! The trip starts off with a tour to Soweto, then moves on to the incredible Walkers River Camp in the Timbavati, where the group will spend 5 nights at this game viewing paradise. This is followed by 3 days of fun and adventure on the Panorama Route, a stopover in Dullstroom, and then 3 more days among the spectacular sandstone cliffs, caves and buttresses of Clarens and the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. Grab this opportunity to get one of the spots before they are all taken. You will not be disappointed! Click here to get more information. |
Focus on conservation
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Mystery elephant deaths in Botswana caused by cyanobacteria
Toxins made by microscopic algae in water caused the previously unexplained deaths of hundreds of elephants in Botswana, wildlife officials say. Botswana is home to a third of Africa’s declining elephant population. The alarm was raised when elephant carcasses were spotted in the country’s Okavango Delta between May and June. Officials say a total of 330 elephants are now known to have died from ingesting cyanobacteria. |
The toxic bacteria can occur naturally in standing water and sometimes grow into large blooms known as blue-green algae. The findings follow months of tests in specialist laboratories in South Africa, Canada, Zimbabwe and the USA. Many of the dead elephants were found near watering holes, but until now the wildlife authorities had doubted that the bacteria were to blame, because the blooms appear on the edges of ponds and elephants tend to drink from the middle.
“Our latest tests have detected cyanobacterial neurotoxins to be the cause of deaths. These are bacteria found in water,” the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Principal Veterinary Officer Mmadi Reuben told a press conference on Monday. The deaths “stopped towards the end of June 2020, coinciding with the drying of water pans”, AFP quotes him as saying.
Reports in June noted that tusks had not been removed. Poaching has been ruled out as cause of death, as has anthrax poisoning, according to senior wildlife department official Cyril Taolo. But questions still remain about the deaths, Mr. Reuben told reporters. ”We have many questions still to be answered such as why the elephants only and why that area only. We have a number of hypotheses we are investigating.”
Hundreds of carcasses were spotted with the help of aerial surveys earlier this year. Dr. Niall McCann, of the UK-based charity National Park Rescue, previously told the BBC that local conservationists first alerted the government in early May, after they undertook a flight over the delta. ”They spotted 169 in a three-hour flight,” he said. “To be able to see and count that many in a three-hour flight was extraordinary."
“Our latest tests have detected cyanobacterial neurotoxins to be the cause of deaths. These are bacteria found in water,” the Department of Wildlife and National Parks Principal Veterinary Officer Mmadi Reuben told a press conference on Monday. The deaths “stopped towards the end of June 2020, coinciding with the drying of water pans”, AFP quotes him as saying.
Reports in June noted that tusks had not been removed. Poaching has been ruled out as cause of death, as has anthrax poisoning, according to senior wildlife department official Cyril Taolo. But questions still remain about the deaths, Mr. Reuben told reporters. ”We have many questions still to be answered such as why the elephants only and why that area only. We have a number of hypotheses we are investigating.”
Hundreds of carcasses were spotted with the help of aerial surveys earlier this year. Dr. Niall McCann, of the UK-based charity National Park Rescue, previously told the BBC that local conservationists first alerted the government in early May, after they undertook a flight over the delta. ”They spotted 169 in a three-hour flight,” he said. “To be able to see and count that many in a three-hour flight was extraordinary."
Shoreline snippets
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The West Coast Fossil Park
While the West Coast National Park protects the wonderful biodiversity of Saldanha Bay’s islands and the Langebaan Lagoon, another park aims to preserve some of the richest fossil deposits in South Africa. The West Coast Fossil Park, situated just inland from the towns of Langebaan and Saldanha, is internationally known for its remarkably well-preserved vertebrate fossils dating from the late Miocene and early Pliocene epochs, around five million years ago. |
These fossil deposits were discovered during phosphate mining operations. When the mine closed down, the site became a major research focus for paleontologists. The Langebaan fossil deposits are particularly diverse, with more than 230 vertebrate and invertebrate taxa described to date, including giant bears, sabre-toothed cats, giant sharks, double-tusked elephants, three-toed horses and short-necked giraffes. These animals coexisted for thousands of years along the lower reaches of the Berg River, which is thought to have discharged some distance to the south of its present mouth at Velddrif.
Folklore & legends
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Adam's Calendar
Adam’s Calendar is said to be the oldest man-made structure on earth, predating both Stonehenge in England and the pyramids of Egypt by tens of thousands of years. Located in Mpumalanga, South Africa, it is a standing stone circle about 30 meters (100 feet) in diameter, and has been estimated to be at least 75,000 years old. Various astronomical alignments have been identified at the site, and it is possibly the only example of a completely functional, mostly intact megalithic stone calendar in the world. The location was first discovered in 2003 by South African pilot Johan Heine, when he was on route to find an aircraft which had crashed on the edge of a cliff. Johan noticed an arrangement of large stones sticking out of the ground next to the crash site. He walked over to the monoliths and realized that they were aligned to the cardinal points - north, south, east and west – as well as to the equinoxes and solstices. After months of measurement and observations, Johan identified the site as an ancient stone calendar. |
The structure still works perfectly as a calendar at the present time, following the shadow of the setting sun cast by the taller central monolith onto a flat stone beside it. This remarkable construction was originally a large stone circle resembling Stonehenge, in the center of which were two upright carved stones. Its original shape is still clearly visible from satellite images. The stones are all dolomite, weighing up to 5 tons each, and were transported to the site from distant locations.
The origins of the calendar, and the identity of the people that built it, remain shrouded in mystery. There are a number of theories, some very controversial, but it is probable that Adam’s Calendar will never be fully explained.
The origins of the calendar, and the identity of the people that built it, remain shrouded in mystery. There are a number of theories, some very controversial, but it is probable that Adam’s Calendar will never be fully explained.
Creature corner
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The Aardvark (Afrikaans for "earth pig" or "ground pig") is a medium-sized, burrowing, nocturnal mammal native to Africa. It is the only living species of the order Tubulidentata, although other prehistoric species and genera of this order are also known. Unlike other insectivores, it has a long pig-like snout, which it uses to sniff out food. It roams over most of the southern two-thirds of the African continent, avoiding areas that are mainly rocky. The Aardvark subsists exclusively on ants and termites, which it will dig out of their mounds using its sharp claws and powerful legs. It also digs to create burrows in which to live and rear its young. It has a "Least Concern" rating from the IUCN, although numbers appear to be decreasing, most probably because of illegal hunting for the bush meat trade. A sighting of this animal at a game lodge is a highly-prized event, and is a fairly rare occurrence.
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Feather feature
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Common Name: Southern White-faced Scops Owl
Binomial Name: Ptilopsis granti Status: Common resident Red List Status: Least Concern Owls in this family all have facial discs which act as "satellite dishes”, amplifying and channeling sound directly to their ears. This enables them to hear the slightest sound produced by potential prey. They hunt mainly by remaining completely still, and then swooping down onto their victims once they have been identified. These owls are often seen around grassland fires, opportunistically waiting for a meal to be flushed out. Their diet consists mainly of rodents such as mice, but they will also eat insects, small reptiles and birds. |
Did you know?
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The Cradle of Humankind is a paleoanthropological site located north-west of Johannesburg, South Africa. Declared a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1999, the site currently occupies 47,000 hectares (180 square miles) and contains a complex of limestone caves. It is the world's richest hominin site, and is home to about 40% of the world's human ancestor fossils. Both genetic research and the fossil record prove that all modern humans can trace their origins back to southern and eastern Africa.
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Words of wisdom
"Africa is our center of gravity, our cultural and spiritual mother and father, our beating heart, no matter where we live on the face of this earth." - John Henrik Clarke
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