Lots of action in the insect world in the Drakesberg. While looking at flowers we noticed that nearly every Haplocarpha scaposa had beetles, sometimes a dozen or more, heads down, munching at pollen and nectar. The few flowers without beetles showed signs of their ravages. These beetles are scarabs, related to dung beetles and the […]
The high spot was finding a new bird for the Cavern list. Not so easy with such a well-watched place thronged for some years now by keen birders. The “first” was a Black-crowned Night Heron perched right out in the open in the gums overlooking the lower pond. It’s actually one of the most widespread
This is the time of year when swifts and swallows are most busy. As a generalisation, swifts fly high and faster, swallows lower, slower, and are more manoeuvrable. This is very obvious at The Cavern. First thing in the morning – first light on sunny days – both the White-rumped Swifts and Greater Striped Swallows
The Cavern est un réseau de vacances qui vous offre un logement dans le Drakensberg. Il est situé dans la Province du Kwa Zulu Natal. Tirant son nom de la « caverne des cannibales », le réseau est situé sur les 3000 hectares d’une réserve de montagnes privée limitrophe au Parc National de l’Amphithéâtre du
Dear Friends It has been a busy few months. The July school holidays were great fun with plenty of hiking alongside terrific friends and families that had joined us in this special place in the hills. We then held our annual Christmas in July weekend and we all waited in anticipation as the cold front
It’s a quiet time of year for birds. The aloes are still flowering, but the main flush is past. Gurney’s Sugarbirds were still present, but no longer jousting over prime spots. But every change sees something happening. The trees and bushes that produce small fruits do so most abundantly now. There’s a very good reason.
South Africa’s Drakensberg range – the spectacular ‘Dragon Mountains’ – are a vertical rush of towering cliffs, flat-topped peaks and high-level walking trails Words and photography by Laurence Mitchell The landscape is unexpectedly green, a folded blanket of lush slopes that extend to vertiginous cliffs in the west. Pockets of dense woodland lie in the
What has been achieved is remarkable and gives us great hope for the future. While there will always be worries and niggles, we can forget these for a short while when we do something really valuable. On Saturday we made a huge contribution and difference by taking time and ultimately investing in our children. A
It’s Aloe time, and this year the Aloe arborescens around the balcony are better than ever. This has to be the place to see Gurney’s Sugarbird in their dozens, some of them at arm’s length, and singing a lovely rippling song. Lots of aerial dogfights, one wonders why in the midst of plenty. Just as
Dear Friends April is a great month with holidays galore and then we move into marvellous May which is probably the best weather month in the whole of KZN. It is the month when the summer rains slow down (although we still need a bit more moisture before the winter) and the aloes come into
