Latest News - October 2020
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Greetings from South Africa! Although it is officially springtime in the southern hemisphere, the country is still being hammered by a number of cold fronts coming in from the Atlantic, and once again snow has covered many of the mountains along the southern and eastern seaboard. The good news is that these fronts have also produced a lot of rain, and the dams and reservoirs in the Western Cape are overflowing for the first time in four years, bringing to an end the drought and the water restrictions that have plagued the mother city (Cape Town) for so long.
The USA is not without its own weather problems at the moment. Wildfires continue to ravage the states along the west coast, with California, Oregon and Washington all experiencing record-breaking burned areas (about 4 million acres in total). Nearly a million people have been displaced, thousands of houses have been destroyed, and some 30 people have lost their lives. Experts are warning that this scenario is only likely to get worse in the future, unless something is done about the gradual warming of the earth caused by climate change. |
But right now the news in the States is being dominated by the COVID-19 pandemic, with more than half of the states once again experiencing a surge in new cases. This can easily be seen in the graphs that we have been publishing on our Facebook page every Sunday – the USA is averaging nearly 50,000 new cases and about 1,000 deaths per day at the present time. A new study published recently is predicting that a total of about 360,000 persons will die before the end of the year, unless there is a drastic change in the behavior of the American public. The fact that the president and the first lady have both now tested positive just might be the precipitating factor to enact this change, although some pundits appear to have their doubts. No matter what you think of the president and his politics, he is still a human being, and we at Close Encounters wish him, his wife, and all of the others that have been infected a full and speedy recovery.
South Africa has now removed almost all of the restrictions that have been in place for the last six months, and is once more allowing international flights from most countries to land at the airports. It is very strange to see and hear jet aircraft flying overhead after such a long period of silence! Unfortunately, the USA, the UK, and a few other European countries are still on the “red” list, but this will probably change soon, certainly before the end of the year. It looks like Close Encounters will be back to full operations as planned in 2021.
There is one month to go before the election in the USA, and everyone in the world is watching with bated breath to see what will happen. The election process is a bit of a circus at the best of times, but this year is particularly entertaining. Who will win? Will there be a peaceful transition of power? Will Trump have to be hauled out of the White House by force? We can only wait and see. You in the States do have a say in the outcome, so use your constitutional rights and get out there and vote. You cannot sit back and moan about the results if you don’t!
October is going to be an interesting month. In the meantime, follow all of the coronavirus protocols and stay safe, and we will talk to you again in a months’ time. Ciao for now!
Mike Leicester
Editor
South Africa has now removed almost all of the restrictions that have been in place for the last six months, and is once more allowing international flights from most countries to land at the airports. It is very strange to see and hear jet aircraft flying overhead after such a long period of silence! Unfortunately, the USA, the UK, and a few other European countries are still on the “red” list, but this will probably change soon, certainly before the end of the year. It looks like Close Encounters will be back to full operations as planned in 2021.
There is one month to go before the election in the USA, and everyone in the world is watching with bated breath to see what will happen. The election process is a bit of a circus at the best of times, but this year is particularly entertaining. Who will win? Will there be a peaceful transition of power? Will Trump have to be hauled out of the White House by force? We can only wait and see. You in the States do have a say in the outcome, so use your constitutional rights and get out there and vote. You cannot sit back and moan about the results if you don’t!
October is going to be an interesting month. In the meantime, follow all of the coronavirus protocols and stay safe, and we will talk to you again in a months’ time. Ciao for now!
Mike Leicester
Editor
Upcoming tours
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Ride The Dragon
Did you know that, in addition to the "standard" wildlife, scenic and adventure trips offered by Close Encounters, you can also enjoy an amazing self-drive adventure tour through the rugged Drakensberg Mountains of South Africa and Lesotho? No off-road driving experience is required, and everything that you will need is supplied as part of the package - vehicles, fuel, accommodation, all meals and drinks (excluding alcohol), all entry fees, adventure activities and sightseeing expenses, as well as four nights at an exclusive private game lodge in the Timbavati. Throughout the trip you will be accompanied by an experienced national tourist guide and off-road driving instructor, and all of the vehicles will be in constant communication with each other via crystal-clear VHF radios, ensuring your safety and enhancing your experience with detailed information about the history, culture and attractions of the region. Click here to see the detailed itinerary. |
Focus on conservation
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Pandemic drives heightened environmental awareness
A recent BCG survey of more than 3,000 people across eight countries, including South Africa, has found that in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, people are more concerned about addressing environmental challenges and are more committed to changing their own behavior to advance sustainability. Some 70% of the survey participants said that they were more aware now than before Covid-19 that human activity threatens the climate and the degradation of the environment which, in turn, threatens humans. And 75% of respondents said that environmental issues are as concerning as - or more concerning than - health issues. |
The survey also found that people want to see aggressive action on the environmental front. More than two-thirds of respondents think that economic recovery plans should make environmental issues a priority. The crisis is driving change at the individual level, too, with 40% reporting that they intend to adopt more sustainable behavior in the future. Among the top actions people are doing more consistently are reducing household energy consumption, increasing recycling and composting, and buying locally produced goods.
“The increased commitment to sustainability has major implications for companies and governments as 87% of respondents felt companies should integrate environmental concerns into their products, services and operations to a greater extent than they have in the past,” says Hans Kuipers, MD and partner, BCG Johannesburg.
When placing the spotlight on the South African numbers, 93% of respondents think private companies should integrate environmental considerations into their products or services more than they have done before. Additionally, 77% somewhat or strongly agree that companies likely to benefit from public aid or grants should take on extra environmental responsibilities and commitments.
“People’s intentions to adopt more sustainable behaviors has certainly been accelerated during the pandemic. And, the commitment to sustainability is even more pronounced among younger people who have greater conviction that individual action can make a difference in addressing environmental action and who expect environmental concerns to be front and center in recovery plans,” concludes Kuipers.
“The increased commitment to sustainability has major implications for companies and governments as 87% of respondents felt companies should integrate environmental concerns into their products, services and operations to a greater extent than they have in the past,” says Hans Kuipers, MD and partner, BCG Johannesburg.
When placing the spotlight on the South African numbers, 93% of respondents think private companies should integrate environmental considerations into their products or services more than they have done before. Additionally, 77% somewhat or strongly agree that companies likely to benefit from public aid or grants should take on extra environmental responsibilities and commitments.
“People’s intentions to adopt more sustainable behaviors has certainly been accelerated during the pandemic. And, the commitment to sustainability is even more pronounced among younger people who have greater conviction that individual action can make a difference in addressing environmental action and who expect environmental concerns to be front and center in recovery plans,” concludes Kuipers.
Shoreline snippets
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Ghost crabs
Some of the best-known inhabitants of the sandy beaches of KwaZulu-Natal are the ghost crabs. These crabs can be identified by their box-shaped carapace, one enlarged nipper and prominent stalked eyes. The two most common species are the Pink Ghost Crab and the Horn-eyed Ghost Crab. Ghost crabs are social animals that live in burrows in the upper intertidal zone, emerging at dusk to feed. Pink Ghost Crabs are scavengers, feeding mostly on carrion, while Horn-eyed Ghost Crabs favor live animals, such as bluebottles and hatchling Loggerhead and Leatherback Turtles. As much as 12 percent of the hatchlings from a single clutch of turtle eggs can be taken as they emerge from their nests and make their way to the sea. |
The crabs, in turn, make tasty morsels for birds of prey, such as the Palm-nut Vulture, and also for humans. In Maputoland, ghost crabs are harvested as an additional source of food, and recreational anglers also collect them as bait. To ensure the sustainable harvesting of ghost crabs, individuals are allowed to take only 15 crabs per day, and the crabs must be collected by hand without the aid of nets of traps.
Folklore & legends
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Thulamela
The Thulamela Stone Citadel is located in the northern part of the Kruger National Park. It was occupied from 1250 to 1700 AD, but evidence of primitive humans dates back a lot earlier than this period. The San people lived in the area as much as 100,000 years ago, and some 2,000 years ago, the first Nguni-speaking people, looking for more grazing land for their cattle, migrated south into the area, displacing the San. Evidence that the Thulamela civilization was one of the main trading posts in the region still exists in the form of glass beads, Chinese porcelain, imported cloth, ivory bracelets, gold, bronze and other jewelry. |
When excavating the site, archaeologists discovered the tombs of an African king and queen who had ruled here during the 16th century. The named the woman Queen Losha, because she was buried with her hands placed under her cheeks, a position of great respect known as "losha", and they named the man King Ingwe, meaning "leopard", because on the day his grave was found, a leopard was waiting as the excavating team returned to their vehicle.
The royal enclosure at Thulamela originally accommodated at least a thousand people. Beyond the walled citadel, the hillsides are dotted with collapsed walls and signs of dwellings which indicate that up to 2,000 people may have lived here. There are also signs of lively trading; the people of Thulamela were skilled goldsmiths, and they traded gold for glass beads and corn with early explorers coming into the area from Mozambique.
The royal enclosure at Thulamela originally accommodated at least a thousand people. Beyond the walled citadel, the hillsides are dotted with collapsed walls and signs of dwellings which indicate that up to 2,000 people may have lived here. There are also signs of lively trading; the people of Thulamela were skilled goldsmiths, and they traded gold for glass beads and corn with early explorers coming into the area from Mozambique.
Creature corner
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The Bat-eared Fox is commonly distributed throughout much of South Africa. Although it is related to the true fox family, it is predominantly an insectivore that uses its large ears to locate its prey, usually termites. They are nocturnal only in the summer and diurnal during the winter.
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Feather feature
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Common Name: African Hoopoe
Binomial Name: Upupa africana Status: Common resident Red List Status: Least Concern The African Hoopoe has a long, decurved bill, with cinnamon, black and white plumage and a long crest which raises when the bird is alarmed. They are commonly found throughout subequatorial Africa, where they inhabit broadleaf forests and savannah. They feed on insects and their larvae, which are foraged for by inserting their beaks into the ground. |
Did you know?
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Contrary to popular belief, “South Africa” is not a geographic location; it is the actual name of a country situated on the southern tip of the African continent. It has a land area of 1.22 million square kilometers (470,693 square miles), which makes it about eight times smaller than the USA. It is the 7th largest country in Africa, and the 24th largest in the world. South Africa has a population of about 57 million people.
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Words of wisdom
"There is something about safari life that makes you forget all your sorrows and feel as if you had drunk half a bottle of champagne - bubbling over with heartfelt gratitude for being alive."
Baroness Karen Christenze von Blixen-Finecke (Karen Blixen), from her book "Out of Africa"
Baroness Karen Christenze von Blixen-Finecke (Karen Blixen), from her book "Out of Africa"