When most people start planning a safari in Tanzania, the Serengeti National Park with it’s massive concentration of wildlife and the world famous wildebeest migration that occurs every year between the Serengeti and the Masai Mara in Kenya usually first comes to mind.

Others may then think of the Selous Game Reserve, which covers an area that is larger than Switzerland and is said to be home to about 50 000 African elephants, 110 000 buffalo, almost 4000 lion, 1300 Wild dogs!

Both are wonderful places and are justifiably world famous as safari holiday destinations. But what if you want to go a little off the beaten track, how many of you have heard of the Ruaha National Park in Tanzania?

About Ruaha Park

Even though the Ruaha Park is Tanzania’s 2nd largest (10,300 sq km / 3,980 sq miles) it is still relatively unknown.

Located in Central Tanzania,Ruaha has a good network of game-viewing roads it gets it’s name from the Great Ruaha River that runs along it’s eastern boundary and is the only perennial river in the National Park.

Diverse Wildlife
Due to it’s unique location in that it straddles the acacia savannah of East Africa and the miombo woodland belt of Southern Africa, you get a huge diversity of animal species that includes all of the true Big Five animals of Lion, Leopard, Buffalo, Black Rhino and Elephant. Along the Great Ruaha river, you will find many Hippos and crocodiles. Other predators include Cheetah, Serval, African Wildcat, Caracal, Side-striped and Black-Backed Jackal, Bat Eared Fox, Hunting Dog, Spotted Hyaena and the Striped Hyaena. There are loads of Antelope species including Roan Antelope, Lichtenstein Hartebeeste, Bohor Reedbuck, Bushbuck, Eland, Kudu, Sable Antelope Grants Gazelle and Oribi. Primates include the Vervet Monkey, Blue Monkey, Yellow Baboon, Greater Galago or thick-tailed bushbaby and the Lesser Bushbaby. Other favourites include the Masai Giraffe or Maasai Giraffe, also known as the Kilimanjaro Giraffe, Warthog, Bushpig, Porcupine, Honey Badge (Ratel) and many species of Mongoose.

Birding Paradise
Ruaha National Park is also a birder’s paradise with a recorded 526 species! Highlights include: Ostrich, over 50 birds of prey including African Fish Eagle, Verreaux’s Eagle, Bateleur, African Hawk Eagle, Shikra or Little Banded Goshawk, Black Kite and the impressive looking Bat Hawk. There are 6 species of vulture and six true owls including the Verraux’s Eagle Owl, African Scops Owl and the tiny Pearlspotted Owlet. Along the river you will find the African Jacana, many species of Kingfisher including the beautiful Malachite Kingfisher and all the Ducks, Geese, Cormorants and Darters you could ever hope for. Endemic species include the Yellow-Collared Lovebird and Ashy Starling.

How to Visit Ruaha Tanzania

Even though Ruaha may be off the beaten track, getting there is not as hard as you may think as there are scheduled and charter flights from Dar es Salaam, Selous, Serengeti, Arusha, Iringa and Mbeya. For those who want to drive in there is all year road access through Iringa from Dar es Salaam (about 10 hours) via Mikumi or from Arusha via Dodoma.

Best Time to Visit

There is no best time, it just depends on what you most want to see. To see the larger predators and mammals, the dry season makes game spotting much easier with less thick foliage and the fact that most species will stay near to water sources (mid-May-December). If birding is your main interest as well as the beautiful lush scenery and wildflowers, the wet season is ideal (January-April).

Accommodation at Ruaha Park

There are a number of accommodation options to suit most budgets and tastes including, tented camps, self-catering bandas and two campsites. Private lodges include the ruaha river lodge and Ruaha Hilltop lodge and the Jongomero Camp.

Luxury Safaris to Ruaha National Park

Luxury-Safaris.co.uk is a UK based specialist for Tanzania and Kenya Safari Holidays. Included in their list of safari packages is their Southern Tanzania Explorer that not only takes you to Ruaha where you will stay at the Jongomero Camp, but also to Selous Game reserve staying at the Selous Safari Camp.

The site features safari itineraries that take in some of East Africa’s best known game reserves, luxury tented camps and safari lodges. All the safari holidays offered on the site are fully ATOL and ABTA protected.

Luxury-safaris’ most popular safari itinerary is the Cheetah Safari, which takes in Aberdares, Samburu, Lake Naivasha and Nakuru and the world famous Masai Mara. All the accommodation on this safari is of a 5 star standard with the accommodation in the Samburu and Masai Mara game reserves in luxury tents. Price for this 7 day safari itinerary start from as little as £1,329 per person.

In addition to the “pre packaged” safari itineraries, Luxury-Safaris also offer a fully tailor made service for those looking for something a little unusual, exclusive or off the beaten track. This service is designed to be completely bespoke in its approach and offers accommodation in some of Kenya, Tanzania and South Africa’s most exclusive safari properties.

For more information check out their site: Luxury-Safaris.co.uk

Main Photo of the Lion: Taken by Tom Graham

I have often had people write to me asking for advice on planning their Botswana Safari, most of whom list most or all of the locations below as places they would like to visit:

Okavango Delta
There is the world famous Okavango Delta that on it’s own makes an amazing safari destination, packed full of game including Red lechwe, Sitatunga and the Pel’s fishing owl and just to the north Duba Plains is famous for its confrontations between lions and large herds of buffalo. The Okovango Delta has and excellent range of safari camps that are accessed by light aircraft from Maun which is easily reached from Johannesburg in South Africa. The Okovango also offers you the unique opportunity to go on traditional walking or vehicle safaris as well as being poled along in a mokoro or dug-out canoe in the beautiful channels of clear deep blue water.

Kalahari Desert
Then there is the vast Kalahari Desert a stunningly beautiful yet harsh bush country that is home to probably the most famous animals on TV and a firm favourite with children: meerkats as well as Gemsbok, black-maned lions and the fabled San Bushmen who call this seemingly inhospitable place their home.

This part of Botswana is also where you find the incredible Makgadikgadi Pans, the salty remains of a giant pre-historic lake. Here amongst the surrounding grasslands and waterholes, you find large amounts of wildlife including a massive zebra migration that is for me every bit as impressive as the more famous wildebeest version in the Masai Mara in Kenya.

Chobe National Park Botswana
Located in the very northeast corner of Botswana, only a short 90 minute drive from the Victoria Falls. Chobe is probably most well known for its large herds of African Elephants. The Park has four very distinct eco systems, Serondela (north east) with its lush plains and dense forests in the Chobe River area, the Savuti Marsh in the west, the Linyanti Swamps in the north-west and the hot dry hinterland in between. The Savuti area has particularly strong populations of predators and annual zebra migration makes an excellent place to go on a Safari Holiday.

Gemsbok National Park
Sometimes mistakenly called the Kalahari Gemsbok National Park, which is in South Africa. The Kalahari Gemsbok National Park (South Africa) and Gemsbok National Park (Botswana) have been joined to form the giant Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park of over 3,6 million ha. A rugged wildlife sanctuary with 3 rest camps & abundance of game, It is definitly one of Africa’s great parks.

Wait, there is more…
… much, much more. Whilst there is no doubting that Botswana is one of the best Safari destinations in Africa, especially as a luxury safari destination, but because it is so vast and diverse, it can mean that some people choose to do too much in the short time that they have available.

My advice is unless you have a lot of time on your hands you should not try and see everything as you may find that you spend more time travelling from one location to the next than actually enjoying your holiday. All the areas described above are beautiful in their own right and each a holiday destination in their own right. Take time to explore one or two area that most interests you and you’ll discover far more than if you just whiz through them all.

For more information take a look at a company like Wildlife & Wilderness that offer luxury, bespoke Botswana safari holidays, enabling you to choose your personal trip to ensure you thoroughly enjoy your holiday.

Safari Binoculars for Women?

What are women’s binoculars I hear you ask? Well if you were expecting to find ones that have some sort of special eyepiece, or magical lenses that only work for women, I am sorry to disappoint you. Technically speaking there is no difference between “normal” binoculars and womens binoculars. The difference is in the styling, because most binoculars have a rather masculine look to them, a few optical companies have decided to design their binoculars with a softer more feminine look to them.

Nikon SHE Safari Monarch 10×36 Binoculars

These are not only great looking and stylish women’s safari binoculars, but the binocular is based on the excellent Nikon Monarch 10×36 DCF binoculars.

Nikon Sport Optics and SHE Outdoor Apparel combined to design a pair of binoculars specially for a woman. The mid-sized 10×36 Safari binoculars offer women the best of both worlds – trademark Nikon optical performance and attractive SHE styling.

These mid-size binoculars make ideal travelling companions: Not only are they lightweight, waterproof, fogproof and comes with a protective rubber-armored coating, the powerful 10x magnification means I highly recommend them as ideal safari binoculars.

Features
They are fully fog and waterproof and come with Fully Multi-coated Lenses that Increase light transmission with multiple anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces. The quality Bak-4 roof prisms have phase correction coatings that is not only expensive to produce but enhance resolution and contrast of the image.

As well as the binocular, you get a great looking and excellent quality leather and canvas shoulder bag in a bush friendly khaki colour with chocolate brown trim. The bag has multifunctional pockets and a built-in optics case with plenty of room to store your binoculars and more, making it perfect for travel or day trips.

More information & Where to Buy
Read the Safari Guide review of the Nikon SHE Safari Monarch 10×36 Womens Binoculars

One of the biggest draws to choosing a superzoom camera like the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 when going on safari is the ability they have to take video as well as still images. This is not only convenient but also cheaper as you only have to buy one piece of equipment and this also helps to save the all important space in your suitcase. But just how good is the quality of video that they produce and can they match a dedicated hand held video camera?

Example Movies made with the FZ100

Below are a few example videos taken with the Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100, the first one of the female Blackbird, Blue Tit and House Sparrow enjoying themselves in a bird bath was made by Panasonic themselves with the FZ100 and has been optimized (reduced in size) for viewing on the web.

The next video of the two models was taken at the Panasonic press conference held in Stockholm, Sweden where the public was first given the opportunity to play with a pre-production model of the FZ100 megazoom camera.

Once you press play, be sure to change the setting from 360p to 1080p HD on the video player to get the best quality. You must also remember that to upload these videos to You-tube and play on the web, their quality would have to have been reduced, but I think that you will still agree it is still pretty impressive.

Using the FZ100 with high macro zoom

The video below is a good example of the fact that you can also use the Macro function in movie mode. With the DMC-FZ100, you can get as close as 1 cm to your subject. When the focus switch on the lens barrel is set to AF-Macro, or when the iA (Intelligent Auto) Mode is selected, the Macro Mode will be activated automatically. This is ideal for taking dynamic, intricate close-ups of flowers and insects, or for rendering artwork and handicrafts in spectacular detail and rich expression.

Again, once you press play, be sure to change the setting from 360p to 1080p HD on the video player to get the best quality.

Price and where to buy:

I often use Amazon as a guide to price as they usually have what I want and usually available at the lowest price:

Further Reading:

• Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ100 Review
• Best Superzoom Cameras 2010

Some people go on Safari thinking that Africa’s weather is hot and so a good jacket is not that necessary. Not true, winters can be very, very cold in many safari locations and even in summer it can be pretty cold on an early morning game drive, on night drives or even in the evenings sitting around the boma enjoying your evening meal.

I have owned a number of safari and bush jackets in my time, some very good and some not. In this article I will go through some of the features that I find useful and point you in the direction where you can find your ideal safari jacket.

Origins
The style of jacket similar to that of the main image in this article was made popular by around the beginning of the 20th century by the early European adventurers who came to Africa.

Safari & Travel Jacket
You must remember that a true safari jacket or bush jacket is a garment designed for the purpose of going on safari in the African bush and therefore function and comfort are far more important than style. But also remember that before you get to to the bush, you will also be doing quite a bit of travelling. To save on luggage space it makes sense to use the same jacket for travel, so make sure that it is comfortable and at least a little stylish!

Colour
As with most of you safari clothing, stay away from bright or shiny colours. On safari you want to blend in as much with your surroundings as possible. So stick to green, brown, beige and khaki Jackets.

Also try not to pick a jacket with camouflage colouring. I know that it seems ideal and makes popular urban wear in the west, but in Africa only the military wear camouflage and indeed in some African countries you can be arrested for wearing it.

Materials
Many Jackets will be made from a materials that are waterproof, but make a noise as you rub against it. This is perfectly fine for camping in a wet environment, but if you are trying to sneak up to skittish animals like an antelope, the noise made by your clothing can often frighten them away. Cotton drill type materials work the best and if you need your jacket to be waterproof, look out for ones that have a waxy type covering.

Pockets
Pockets to me are really important and cannot be underestimated! Look out for ones that will make it easy for you to carry your camera, binoculars or guide books.

Buy Safari & Bush Jackets

Below are a few examples of ideal jackets to travel with and take on safari.

	Joe Browns Forces Bush Jacket Stylish as well as hardy, this bush jacket from Joe Browns has retro military styling and is a great laid-back jacket that’ll stick by you through thick and thin. Loads of large pockets ideal for storing binoculars, a compact digital camera or safari guide book. The outer is made from 100% Cotton, the lining: 65% Polyester, 35% Cotton. Note the Shirt and T-shirt are solde separately. Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Amazon.com
	Mens Workwear Safari Jacket Made from 100% cotton canvas, the Workwear Safari Jacket has 2 bellowed hand warmer pockets, front placket with stud fastening, 2 chest pockets with stud fastenings and Studded cuffs to sleeves. Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Amazon.com
	Mens Jack Pyke Hunter Jacket Waterproof – Breathable – Noiseless. The ideal safari jacket. Outer shell: 100% Polyester brushed tricot with laminated membrane. Lining: 100% Polyester brushed mesh & taffeta. Details: Full length double opening zip, Concealed hood in pocket, 2 lower front bellow pockets with cartridge holders, 2 hand-warmer pockets 1 internal chest pocket, Fold-down waterproof seat flap, Elasticated weather shrouds on wrist, Available in olive green or english oak. Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Amazon.com
	Safari Gilet / Safari Vest As an alternative to a long sleeve Jacket, ideal for wearing in warmer weather is a safari gillet or vest. Good ones like the Result Adventure Safari Gilet pictured on the left come with many pockets an are ideal for photographers or indeed anyone on safari as the pockets can be use to store your binoculars, guide books or anything else. Buy on Amazon.co.uk Buy on Amazon.com

Safari Wear
For more, take a look at this section of the safari guide on Safari Clothing and Advice, it includes Men’s and Women’s Safari Wear.

Do I Need Waterproof Binoculars for Safaris?

The MOST important thing is that you do have a pair of binoculars for your safari, it is the single most important piece of equipment that you can take with you and will transform your experience.

Ok now that we have established that we are going on safari with a pair of binoculars, which pair of binoculars is the next question? I have written a guide to choosing binoculars for safaris, which goes over all the important features you should look out for. One of them is waterproofing, which I will go into more detail here:

Whilst having a pair of waterproof binoculars on safari is not absolutely essential, it is preferable. We all hope that it does not rain on your holiday, but if it does, you should be prepared. Whilst it is true that spotting some types of game is harder in the rain and depending on how hard the rain is you may not even go out on game drive. But on the other hand I have also had some of my best experiences in the rain.

A particular example was sitting for hours watching a cheetah sheltering from the rain under a tree. Sure everyone and everything got wet, but hey it is only water and everyone on the game drive had a magical experience watching one of the most elusive creatures in the bush.

Dry and Sandy Environments

It is not only wet and humid conditions where water and fog-proofing can help: in an extremely dry and dusty climate, like on safari the O-ring seal used to make your binoculars waterproof will also prevent dust and tiny debris from entering the unit.

The Waterproof Fogproof Binocular

Many binoculars are either waterproof, fogproof or both where as some manufacturers call their optics weather protected or even weather proof. But what exactly does it all mean and just what do they do to make a pair of binoculars waterproof and fogproof?

Waterproofing

Waterproof binoculars are sealed internally using O-rings to prevent moisture as well as dust and other small debris from entering the inside of the unit.

Fogproofing

Fogproofing means that the optical barres are filled with nitrogen or argon gas to prevent internal fogging caused when subjecting the optic to temperature extremes, especially in high humidity. Fogproofing is sometimes referred to as nitrogen-purging. This term is probably more descriptive of the actual process; O2 (oxygen) is purged from the barrels and replaced with an inert gas (usually nitrogen) which doesn’t condense.

A pair of binoculars or can be waterproof without being fogproof. What this means is that the binoculars are sealed, but the oxygen inside the barrels haven’t been purged and replaced with an inert gas. But if an optical instrument is fogproof, it has to be waterproof (sealed) as well.

Today even fairly inexpensive binoculars are both waterproof and fogproof. Just look out for manufacturers that claim that their optics are “weather protected” or “water protected” this usually means that they are not 100% water or fog proof, If you are paying for it, make sure that they are 100% waterproof.

Water Repellent Lens Coatings

Another feature to look out for and one that is often found on high end optics are special lens coatings that are actually water repellent or sometimes known as “hydrophobic coatings”. These water and dirt repelling properties, not only repel water, but they are have more resistance to abrasions and make it much easier to remove your fingerprints and dirt particles from the lenses. Lenses treated with the hydrophobic coating allow water to just roll off them.

Popular Waterproof Binoculars for Safari

If the idea of working with primates in Africa then this program,where you will join a pioneering rehabilitation center in South Africa to help conserve the Vervet monkey, could be what you are looking for:

The Vervet Monkey Foundation is currently home to more than 700 monkeys, most of which are Vervet’s and they are in much need of volunteers who not only want to work with animals, but have a love for them as well. You should be willing to become completely involved in the care and rehabilitation of these wonderful primates.

The Vervet Monkey Foundation is located near Tzaneen in the Limpopo province at the foot of the Wolkberg mountains and is only an hour and a half drive from the Kruger National Park, so during your visit you can also explore one of the most beautiful regions of South Africa. During your stay as a volunteer, you will be living in a tent village. It is a bush camp so be prepared for a truly outdoor experience! Although your accommodation is fairly basic the living and sleeping conditions are pretty comfortable as the village is equipped with a sink, fridge, showers with hot and cold water and eco-toilets.

As a volunteer, you can join for a minimum of two weeks but can stay much longer and will be fully trained in all aspects of animal care needed for this project. Not only will you learn about these primates, you will also experience the fascinating flora and fauna of South Africa and enjoy life in a traditional African bush camp.

Those volunteers who are interested in furthering their studies on Vervet monkeys are also very welcome to do so: Back in 2006 the Vervet Monkey Foundation became a full member of the Pan African Sanctuaries Alliance (PASA) and they have a purpose built sick bay area for the monkeys which may also appeal to Vet nurses / students.

More Details & Enquiry Form >> Vervet Monkey Volunteer Program

More on Volunteering Wildlife Work in Africa and Volunteering in South Africa

Photo Credit: Arno & Louise

Of all African kingfishers the most beautiful is the brilliantly-coloured and aptly named Malachite Kingfisher (Alcedo cristata). This tiny, agile bird is widely distributed throughout southern Africa on streams, lakes and even small pools where it stands out like a small blue jewel in the surrounding vegetation.

You wil often see many species of kingfisher including the Malachite bobbing their head up and down and side to side, I have heard this is to judge the depth of potential prey under the surface of the water as the light behaves differently as it penetrates the denser medium.

The bill is black in young Malachite Kingfisher’s and reddish orange in adults and their legs are bright red. There is only a small amount of sexual dimorphism (Sexes are similar), but juveniles are a duller version of the adult. Their call is a short shrill ’seek’, whilst the breeding song is a chuckling li-cha-cha-chui-chui.

Nesting & Breeding
The Malachite Kingfisher breeds from August to November and nests in burrows which it excavates in the vertical bank of a stream or river. The tunnel, often up to a meter in length, may also be used for two or more consecutive seasons, and opens up into a chamber where the glossy white eggs are laid.

The litter of fish-bones and insect remains found on the foor of the chamber were once believed to constitute the kingfisher’s nest and the British museum was preppaired to pay the handsome reward of £100 for an intact specimen! Actually these birds do not build nests but lay their eggs on the bare earth. Te debris which surrounds them is merely the regurgitated remains of indigestible food. Most birds remove faeces from the nest; however, in the case of burrow-nesting species this is not so easily done and represents a waste of precious energy in a bird that must work hard to find its food. The kingfisher’s chicks cope with this by defecating in particular spots in the burrow so that the nest is not itself fouled but, by the time they are od enough to emerge from the tunnel, it is – needless to say – evil-smelling!

Feeding
To feed, it perches close to the water, often on a reed stem, from which it will dive for small fish, tadpoles, beetles and other insects. On the wing it is a glorious sight, moving with lightning rapidity, darting off when disturbed over the water surface.

Large items of food are beaten on a branch or rail to either stun or kill the victim, whilst small fish and insects are swallowed immediately. A fish is usually lifted and carried by its middle, but its position is changed, sometimes by tossing it into the air, before it is swallowed head downwards.

Back to Birds of Africa main page

Beat About The Bush: Birds	Beat About The Bush: Mammals	Beat About The Bush
Highly Recommended The Beat about the Bush Birds Book delves into the fascinating lives of birds – discussing in detail their myriad forms, survival strategies, breeding and feeding behaviours, movements, migrations and vocalisations. The result is a comprehensive reference work in a style that appeals to novices, birders, twitchers, tourists, bush enthusiast and field guides alike	Highly Recommended Sitting between basic mammal guides and extensive academic texts, this resource answers everyday questions about mammals in the African bush in an understandable fashion that will appeal to safari tourists, bush enthusiasts, and professional safari guides. With verything from how an elephant’s trunk works to why the blue whale is not a fish, it is a must-have for anyone wanting to know about the mammals of Africa.	More comprehensive than a field guide yet more accessible than an academic text, this authoritative reference answers fundamental questions about mammals and birds in the African bush such as How does an elephant’s trunk work? Is the cheetah really the fastest animal? and Why do some bird species sit on animals? Photographs, charts, and tables accompany the question-and-answer format, making this all-in-one guide user-friendly for both wildlife enthusiasts and professionals.
Buy from Amazon.co.uk
Buy from Amazon.com

Photo Credit: Arno & Louise

It is still not to late to go on safari in South Africa during the World Cup
You can be on a small group safari in the Kruger National Park in South Africa with your own safari guide and chef AND never miss a game as you can watch all the World Cup soccer (football) action on our private satellite TV!

This South African safari and tour operator specialises in small group and private wildlife experiences in the the world famous Kruger National Park and what is more they are one of the few specialist Kruger operators that will not be increasing their normal rates during the world cup period and because there are a few places left, you can now get up to a 40% discount.

All safaris are full board (includes all accommodation, meals, professional guiding in open-sided game viewing vehicles and all conservation and entrance fees in the Kruger National Park. They do not use tents your accommodation will comprise of en-suite serviced lodges with air-conditioning.

Safari activities include 2 game drives per day and an optional bush walk with an armed ranger.

Satellite television (all matches shown) will be made available so you wont miss a game while you are out in the bush.

Available Cheap Safari Deals

Please Note: The available dates are listed below, but The safari operator has informed us that they only have limited spaces left on their safari itineraries in the Kruger National Park during the soccer world cup in June and July 2010 and they are going fast:

6 Day Safari (5-nights)
Dates: Anytime between 28 June and 9 July 2010 – 40% discount on their standard rate
More Information & Make An Enquiry

4 Day Safari (3-nights)
Dates: Anytime between 28 June and 9 July 2010 – 40% discount.
More Information & Make An Enquiry

3 Day Safari (2-nights)
Dates: Anytime between 21st June and 23 June 2010 – 40% discount.
More Information & Make An Enquiry

Dates Not Available?

If the exact dates that you are looking for are not available, take a look at all the World Cup Safaris on offer.

Safaris Include:

• Private en-suite accommodation
• All meals and refreshments with meals (refreshments: SA wine, beer and bottled water)
• All entrance and conservation fees
• All guiding courtesy your own safari guide
• All game viewing activities in our private open safari vehicle
• All itineraries are conducted inside the Kruger National Park
• Road transportation from Johannesburg or Nelspruit return.

The Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) is a splendid creature, its imposing appearance and challenging call symbolic of the African wetlands. Not that it is confined to the wilderness: indeed it sometimes makes it home close to large cities.

African Fish Eagles are a common sight on many African lakes and Dams, including one of my favourite places, Lake Kariba in Zimbabwe where I took the photo used in this article.

The expressive term ‘raptor’ fits this bird well for it swoops down to pluck fish from the water with its fierce talons. They like almost all raptors have excellent eyesight and they can detect movement near the surface of the water indicating prey from distances of up to 200m or more. I recall once on a windy day, marvelling as a Fish eagle swept down again and again in a magnificent stoop to snatch fish carried along by the wash. Several times, as I sat watching, my attention was caught by a cormorant that had followed a fish towards the shore, but, on surfacing, the bird suddenly made off into the lake as fast as it could go. Next moment, the eagle flashed down and seized the fish but the cororant was obviously taking no chances that the indisputably superior bird might suddenly decide on a change in diet.

This is not the Fish Eagle’s only way of hunting. They will occasionally plunge dive and in the dry season, when when the fish are crowded together in shallower water, it may alight and hunt on foot, and will make a meal of any stranded fish it may chance upon. Chicks in the nest are another delicacy. A few years ago, at Rondevlei Bird sanctuary near Cape Town, a Fish Eagle took up its perch each day on a water tower overlooking a heronry. Its patience was never rewarded for the birds were only nest buildling, but so sinister was its vigilant presence that it inhibited laying and the whole colony was abandoned for that season.

It is likely, however that this particular eagle was a youngster, for immature birds prefer to feed off nestlings and carrion rather than take the risks of hunting in water. A great many inexperienced Fish Eagles do not survive their attempts to emulate the adults’ hunting methods. This species either flies at great speed along the water and snatches fish from near the surface, or – more dangerous – dives to capture its vistum. If it does not succeed on its first try, it will dive again, each time becoming more water-logged. Younger and less proficient birds often find themselves too wet and weak from repeated efforts to lift themselves from the water and occasionally drown or are snapped up by cruising crocodiles.

Some Fish Eagles will harass and bully herons, storks, pelicans, kingfishers and osprey into disgorging their prey. I have seen this happen only twice myself, and each time – unfortunately for the eagle – it had chosen the biggest South African heron – the Goliath. The heron crouched down with its dagger-like beak thrust upwards and the eagle, after one or two abortive stoops, gave up and went in search of an easier meal.

For more information: African Birds

Sasol Birds of Southern Africa	Newman’s Birds of Southern Africa	Collins Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa
Highly Recommended Features an advanced technique for improved field identification, and an extensive taxonomy featuring corrected misidentifications and recorded species splits that have occured since the previous edition. Uupdated names based on recommendations of the International Ornithological Committee and name hyphenations. The guide features distribution maps that feature dual shading to show relative abundance of a species in the region, as well as crosses to indicate occurances of vagrants.	Highly Recommended The eighth edition of this popular Southern African birding book has been updated to incorporate the information obtained since the previous edition relating to the birds of the region. The user-friendly design makes it ideal for use in the field, with aids such as colour-coding of major bird groups, running heads at the top of each page to indicate which family of birds is being described, large page numbers for easy reference and large accurate paintings which reflect the bird as it is seen in the field.	The Collins Field Guide to the Birds of East Africa, is an excellent book if you are visiting any of the countries in this this spectacular birding region, including Kenya and Tanzania. Review: ‘This is by far the best available guide to the birds in this region, but has one major drawback – virtually no migrants from Eurasia are illustrated.’
Buy on Amazon.co.uk	Buy on Amazon.co.uk	Buy on Amazon.co.uk
Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.com	Buy on Amazon.com

As its many common names ‘Lily-trotter’, ‘Lotus Birds’, ‘Jesus Birds’ indicate, the African Jacana (Actophilornis africana) is highly specialised for life on floating vegetation, and despite its extraordinarily long toes it has a certain grace. The large splayed feet which effectively distribute the bird’s weight over a wide area are excellently adapted to running over a yielding mass of water-plants. The Jacana is a tropical bird whose distribution is limited by the availability of suitable waterplants. This is also reflected in the Jacanas genus name of Actophilornis which means “shore-loving bird”.

African Jacanas are good divers and strong flyers. They squawk during flight and carry a pitch that resembles a loud, mournful, whining sound. The bright blue shiny covering on top of the bill and up the forehead is known as a frontal shield.

One Leg
It is quite common to see a Jacana (and other water birds) standing on one leg, with the other tucked up under their body. Most people would assume that they are just resting one leg, but it is actually thought, as it most often happens on colder days that they are keeping the uncovered leg warm.

Their essential dependence on water vegetation is reflected in its nesting habits. On some sheltered backwater, using a platform of emergent vegetation as a base, it builds a small floating nest by drawing plants together. Chicks hatched on this precarious structure must, perforce, be precocious to survive and immediately take to water and walk freely on the vegetation. However when in danger or moving greater distances and the chicks are still young, the male African Jacana will carry a few under each wing to get the chicks to safety. This only happens until they are about 2-3 weeks old and by then only one chick can be carried at a time.

Breeding
Polygamy is not uncommon among birds but polyandry is rare indeed. By its very nature it can only take place in areas where food is abundant and the jacana, living as it does in the tropical mashlands of southern Africa, is ideally placed for this activity. Here the female takes her mates one at a time and then leaves them to incubate and rear the nestlings while she flies off to find her next suitor and breed again. The fathers apear to adapt well to this apparent reversal of the traditional male/female roles and have been known to carry the chicks under their wings to safety when a predator is about.

Snakes, otters, water mongooses and many other birds will all eat the African Jacana’s eggs. Since African Jacana’s eggs and young chicks are often preyed upon, the survival of this species is largely dependent on the mother’s ability to lay several clutches of eggs in one season and that is probably why it has evolved for the male to stay back and look after the eggs and chicks, whilst the female goes off to find another mate.

The female African Jacana defends a large territory which contain the smaller nesting territories of the males. It is also not uncommon for the female to kill the chicks produced by other females when she takes over a new territory (Infanticide).

The eggs are distinctive, being remarkably glossy, pear -shaped and profusely marked with lines and scrolls of black on a yellowish ground.

Food
The African Jacana eats insects and other invertebrates picked from the floating vegetation or the water’s surface, they will also flip over lilly-pads to get at larvae underneath. They will also forage along the shoreline and I have seen them digging in elephant dung for insects.

Jacana Family
The jacanas are a group of waders in the family Jacanidae, which are identifiable by their huge feet and claws which enable them to walk on floating vegetation in the shallow lakes that are their preferred habitat. They are found worldwide within the tropical zone.

For more information: African Birds

Beat About The Bush: Birds	Beat About The Bush: Mammals	Beat About The Bush
Highly Recommended The Beat about the Bush Birds Book delves into the fascinating lives of birds – discussing in detail their myriad forms, survival strategies, breeding and feeding behaviours, movements, migrations and vocalisations. The result is a comprehensive reference work in a style that appeals to novices, birders, twitchers, tourists, bush enthusiast and field guides alike	Highly Recommended Sitting between basic mammal guides and extensive academic texts, this resource answers everyday questions about mammals in the African bush in an understandable fashion that will appeal to safari tourists, bush enthusiasts, and professional safari guides. With verything from how an elephant’s trunk works to why the blue whale is not a fish, it is a must-have for anyone wanting to know about the mammals of Africa.	More comprehensive than a field guide yet more accessible than an academic text, this authoritative reference answers fundamental questions about mammals and birds in the African bush such as How does an elephant’s trunk work? Is the cheetah really the fastest animal? and Why do some bird species sit on animals? Photographs, charts, and tables accompany the question-and-answer format, making this all-in-one guide user-friendly for both wildlife enthusiasts and professionals.
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References: Beat About The Bush Birds book By Trevor Carnaby
Photo Credit: Mister-E

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More Information
Best Binoculars for Safari Holidays
Digital SLR vs Compact SuperZoom Cameras for Safaris