African Cats Hit the Silver Screen Thanks to Disney

Filmed by two BBC directors, Disney’s latest film, African Cats, brings the heart of the nature-centric continent to the silver screen. Taking its cue from tours resembling the Kruger National Park safari, this adventure is as endearing as its fluffy cub compatriots.   

Based on a true story, Kenya’s African Cats are as remarkable as they appear in documentary. The film captures the famed qualities of love, determination and strength in Mara, an adorable cub who makes every effort to grow up with her mother’s power and insight. Not the only downy star to capture the hearts of the audience, Disney’s African Cats absorbs the poignant nature of the lives of several lions and cheetahs. Their fight for survival in the Savannah plains is narrated by Sir Patrick Stewart, who perfectly punctuates the inspiring lives of these kings of the Savannah.

A huggable Disney film, the fluffy cub protagonists have even caught the attention of Kate Middleton and Prince William, who attended the Disney African cats movie premiere in London. The screening of the movie was used to raise donations for William’s Tusk Trust conservation charity.

Beautiful in its conception, African cats is sure to lure tourists on 3 day Kruger Park safaris. Going on their very own journey through the wild, tourists and locals will be able to gain a new appreciation for the Big 5 and all that they contribute to African culture. 

10 Of The Rarest Birds In The World

For some, bird watching and birding safaris are an incredible experience; waiting patiently for that elusive spotting of a sometimes rare and wonderful creature. Birds have a certain allure and grace that mesmerizes us and some of the rarest birds are some of the most beautiful and intriguing. Here are 10 of the rarest birds in the world which unfortunately are also becoming endangered. 


1. The Asian crested ibis

The Asian crested ibis, originally from Eastern Russia, Japan and China, has its remaining population in the Chinese region of Shaanxi. The Asian crested ibis prefers wetlands where it is free to feed.

2. The Brazilian Merganser

The Brazilian Merganser belongs to the merganser duck family and is considered one of the rarest waterfowl birds on earth. There is only around 250 of them left and the last locations recorded were in Brazil and some parts of Argentina.

3. The Christmas Island Frigatebird

This bird is endemic to the Christmas Island in Australia and is one of the rarest birds around. These rare birds nest in very high forest trees.

4. The Forest Owlet

The Forest Owlet, one of the world’s rarest birds is found in India and were thought to be extinct until recently rediscovered in 1997 in various forests in India.

5. The Great Indian Bustard

This rare bird has some features similar to the ostrich. It is found in India and some regions of Pakistan.

6. The Honduran Emerald

This has become one of the rarest birds in the world due to habitat loss. It is part of the Hummingbird family and is mostly found in Honduran.

7. Kakapo

Kakapo’s name is derived from the Maori word meaning night parrot. It is one of the rare birds that made the 10 rarest birds in the world list and is flightless and nocturnal.

8. The Marvellous Spatuletail

The Marvellous Spatuletail is one of the most unique looking birds on our list and is also part of our Hummingbird family. They are endemic to Peru.

9. Palila

This critically endangered bird and one of the world’s rarest birds can only be found in Hawaii, particularly on the slopes of Mauna Kea.

10. The Scaly-Sided Merganser

This is the last bird on the rarest birds list and can be found in parts of Russia and China. This bird is also unfortunately listed as endangered.

These are magnificent birds that birding enthusiast would want to see around for years to come. Environmental steps have been taken to ensure the sustainability of these birds.  There are many other diverse and interesting species of birds that can be found across the world. Safaris near Johannesburg offer amazing bird viewing and although most of the birds fetured cannot be found there, many other additions can be discovered.   




     

Great Bird Watching Gadgets for this Festive Season

For those of you fortunate enough to be spending this festive season bird watching at one of South Africa’s pristine nature reserves, there are some fantastic technologies available that will deliver the best bird watching experience. The Barska Point N’ View binocular camera is a gadget that integrates the technology of binoculars and digital cameras into one device that enables bird watchers to capture what they see through their binoculars.

Impressively, The Barska Point N’ View binoculars houses a powerful 8x32mm binocular and 8 mega pixel digital camera, with 8x fixed optical zoom and 4x digital zoom, meaning that birdwatchers can take high quality photos or videos of birdlife from a far distance.  The bird watching pictures or videos can be instantly played back on the flip up 1.5 LCD colour display screen, meaning that birdwatchers can quickly and easily relive their experience from their favourite bird watching Kruger Park Safaris.

The internals of the binocular camera also boast impressive specifications. The digital camera features a CMOS image sensor delivering 8 mega pixel images. Video and images can be stored on a removable SD card (up to 16MB) giving bird watchers the option of storing their bird sightings for later viewing, without being limited by storage space. The perfect location to try out these bird watching binoculars is at one of the 3 or 4 day Kruger Park Safaris, where tailored bird watching tours are offered. With its close proximity to Johannesburg it offers the perfect quick getaway. With over 900 species of birds in the park, of which 177 are endemic to the park, bird watchers are guaranteed an unforgettable experience.

“Cat Whisperer” Imitates Wildlife Animal Behaviour

Kevin Richardson is a student of animal behaviour and he converses with them in their own mannerisms, much like any other animal psychologist. What makes Kevin’s job a little more interesting is the animals that he converses with and the behaviours that he imitates. Kevin spends his time consoling wildlife and studying their behaviour in order to understand our furry friends. You may see him in game reserves around Johannesburg while you are enjoying leisurely birding safaris under the South African sun, but don’t be alarmed when you see him bathing in the sun next to one of the largest predators in the world.

Starting from a very young age, it was apparent from his behaviour growing up that Kevin was destined to work with animals. He kept toads, and rescued multiple birds and nursed them back to health throughout his time as a youth. At the age of 16 he embarked on his animal career path in studying their behaviour but it wasn’t without its hiccups. 2 years into a zoologist degree, he withdrew and decided to go down the behaviourist and physiological aspects of care and qualified with majors and distinctions in both. His first time working with animals was with 2 young cubs, Tau and Napoleon, and from that moment on his talents with understanding the behaviour of the wild animals and his ability to work closely with them earned him a spot at a local lion park.

Richardson understands the dangers of his job, but his mission to understand the behaviour of cats in South Africa is for the purpose of preservation of the great cats. His efforts are to ensure that person’s visiting South Africa for generations to come can enjoy trips such as Kruger Park camping safaris and see these great cats for years to come. He has produced documentaries about the felines such as, White Lion and Dangerous Companions. One thing is certain, is that this student of animal behaviour has made an international stir and continues to build awareness of animal conservation in Africa. 

Comfortable Camping Safaris

When it comes to African safaris there can be no more authentic experience than that of camping safaris. Sleeping under canvas, breathing in the African air, gazing out of the tent opening at the starry night sky and hearing Africa’s wild animals calling to each other through the dark is a magical experience. The Kruger National Park is one of the top game parks in the world and the ideal place to experience a camping safari in Africa.

An Introduction to Bird Safaris

Whether you are a keen ornithologist or an amateur birding enthusiast, if you have an interest in our feathered friends then you will enjoy a bird safari. If you are wondering what this entails or are looking for more information on what to expect during a birding safari then carry on reading and find out what your birding experience will be like.

Hosted in the Kruger National Park, these safaris will open your eyes to more than just the renowned Big Five that are the focus of so many Johannesburg safaris. The park is home to over 500 different species and as there are no fences between it and the neighbouring reserves, the birds fly freely so you can spot a great many varieties when on safari.

Experience an African Safari from Johannesburg

If you really want to experience that which South Africa has to offer, you should combine an African safari trip with a visit to Johannesburg to put this diverse country into perspective. Johannesburg has been called the New York City of Africa due to its towering buildings, buzzing city life and multinational people and businesses. It also offers a host of attractions, many of which reflect the country’s turbulent political history. And it’s just a short distance from the Kruger National Park – the best place to experience a South African safari.