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I received an email last week from the Tourism Council that required my input re damage done to Viva Safaris in November 2020 by the virus. I answered very simply as follows : Number of tourists who took a Viva Safaris tour : November 2019  : 496 November 2020 : 8  ...

I am always amazed at the amount of small wildlife that is present in our camps. Very often the curious tourist will find something special to enrich his wildlife experience over and above the seemingly crazy quest to tick off all Big Five. We have contracted Tolli vd Berg to...

At long last the rains have fallen ! This year the rains have been extremely late and the grazers have struggled. Before the rains, there was exceptional game viewing around the water points and our lucky tourists have seen numerous kills this month. The grass has rapidly turned...

We are regularly requested by prospective tourists to advise the best time to visit Kruger Park. There is no simple answer. Each season has its own attractions. The greatest concentrations of game are found towards the end of the dry season months. It is impossible to predict...

The number of trees destroyed by elephants in late Winter is alarming. With their need for moisture, elephants do a lot of damage in debarking trees ( mainly Marulas ) or knocking trees over to get to the succulent roots. Once elephants ring-bark a Marula tree, the cambium layer...

The Sable Antelope, Hippotragus Niger, is a stunningly beautiful animal. Both sexes are blessed with magnificent recurved horns and I rate the adult Sable bull as the most majestic antelope in all of Africa. They are uncommon but recently Viva Safaris guests have had some luck in...

The Cut-Throat Finch, Amadina Fasciata, is aptly named and the male is easily recognised via the bright red band under the throat. As with most birds, the female is less colourful and lacks the red band.   Cut-throat finches are found throughout the northern and eastern...

The Saddle-billed Stork,  Ephippiorhynchus Senegalensis, is a striking bird. Not only is it the tallest stork in the world but it also has attractive pied plumage. It has a black and red banded bill with a prominent yellow saddle at the base of the bill. Interestingly, the male...

By now it is common knowledge that some of the private Nature Reserves around Kruger have decided to dehorn all their rhino. Such drastic action is explained as “better a dehorned rhino than no rhino at all”. I have serious reservations but accept that the action was done with...

The African Mourning Dove, Streptopelia Decipiens, is well known in wildlife reserves in Botswana and East Africa. For many years, it was known as the Angola Mourning Dove. It is easily recognised by its diagnostic red skin around a yellow eye.   In South Africa, it is...