AFRICAN BUSH TRAINING

  Learn more at https://abt-edu.com Katydids are identified by their long antennae that can grow up to two to three times the length of their body and is covered with sensory receptors to help find their way in the dark. They are notorious for their plant like appearance and for their ability to blend in with vegetation. The katydid gets its name from the way the male and female songs sound.   They create sounds by rubbing a scraper on one forewing against another forewing.   It has hearing organs located inside a slit on its front legs.   Male song organs are located on their front wings and females chirp in response to the males song that sounds like “katy did, Katy didn’t.”   The song is usually used for courtship during the late summer. Katydids have adapted and come up with ways to hide from their predators.   They have excellent camouflage capabilities and are able to pose like leaves and mimic other insects.   Their predators are bats, birds...

  Learn more at https://abt-edu.com AVERAGE LIFE SPAN IN THE WILD: 25 years No animal has a more distinctive coat than the zebra. Each animal's stripes are as unique as fingerprints—no two are exactly alike—although each of the three species has its own general pattern. Zebras are social animals that spend time in herds. They graze together, primarily on grass, and even groom one another. Plains zebras are the most common species. They live in small family groups consisting of a male (stallion), several females, and their young. These units may combine with others to form awe-inspiring herds thousands of head strong, but family members will remain close within the herd. Zebras must be constantly wary of lions and hyenas. A herd has many eyes alert to danger. If an animal is attacked, its family will come to its defense, circling the wounded zebra and attempting to drive off predators. Plains Zebra are much less numerous than they once were, because of human activities suc...

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com Scorpions stridulate by rubbing their chelicerae (mouthparts) together to produce a hissing sound. In some cases, they may drag the telson (sting) over the body segments (tergites) to produce a sudden scraping sound in an attempt to frighten off a predator. This is a medium sized scorpion of around 9 cm with the tail extended.   It is black in colour, but often with a muddy appearance. It sometimes has lighter coloured legs and a lighter tipped tail. It is common across its range, occurring under rocks often at high altitudes in areas like the Drakensberg.The sting of this species may cause pain but is not medically important. Contact us at info@africanbushtraining.com

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com The nyala is mainly active in the early morning and the late afternoon. It generally browses during the day and during the night in the rainy season. As a herbivore, the nyala feeds upon foliage, fruits and grasses, with sufficient fresh water. As a shy animal, it prefers water holes rather than open spaces. The nyala does not show signs of territoriality, and individuals areas can overlap each others. They are very cautious creatures. Old males live alone, but single sex or mixed family groups of up to 10 individuals can be found. These inhabit thickets within dense and dry savanna woodlands. The main predators of the nyala are lion, leopard and, while baboons and raptorial birds hunt for the juveniles. Mating peaks during spring and autumn. Males and females are sexually mature at 18 and 11–12 months of age respectively, though they are socially immature until five years old. After a gestational period of seven months, a single calf is born. Cont...

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com They are short stocky snakes that occur in a variety of colours, from sandy brown, grey, bright yellow & black in some parts of its range. As South Africa’s most widely-spread, venomous snake, the Puff Adder occurs in a large range of habitat, from coastal bush, grassland, fynbos habitat. The Puff Adder along withe the Mozambique Spitting Cobra account for the majority of serious snake bites South Africa. The Puff Adder is a snake with excellent camouflage, and it prefers to sit and wait for opportunity when it comes to feeding. These snakes may remain in an ambush position for several weeks, waiting for a potential meal to pass by. They have a powerful cytotoxic venom which can lead to extreme pain, severe swelling, and blistering of the skin. Anti-venom: Polyvalent anti-venom is used in the effective treatment of bites. The name ‘puff adder’ stems from the snake’s habit of inflating itself and hissing when threatened. The noise produced is a ...

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com It mainly eats insects, gleaning prey from the leaves and trunks of trees, often flying to the ground to feed on ants or some fallen fruit. The following food items have been recorded in its diet: Invertebrates Formicidae (ants) Coleoptera (beetles) Lepidoptera (caterpillars) Fruit Both sexes construct the nest, which is a tidy cup made almost entirely of  Acacia  tree bark, collected from trunks and branches about 50-90 metres from the nesting site and lined with grass and rootlets. It is usually bound with spider web to a fork in the main stem of a plant, or occasionally onto a horizontal branch. Most of the construction work is done in the early morning, and it is usually complete after about 4-6 days. Egg-laying season is from August-january, peaking from October-November. It lays 2-3 eggs, which are incubated by both sexes for about 15-17 days.The chicks are fed and brooded by both parents, leaving the est at about 18-20 ...

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com Colophospermum mopane, commonly called mopane,mopani,balsam tree,butterfly tree,or turpentine tree, is a tree in the legume family (Fabaceae), that grows in the far   very hot northern parts of southern Africa. The tree only occurs in Africa and is the only species in genus Colophospermum. Its distinctive butterfly-shaped (bifoliate) leaf and thin seed pod make it easy to identify. In terms of human use it is, together with camel thorn and leadwood, one of the three regionally important firewood trees. Mopane wood is one of southern Africa's heaviest and is difficult to work because of its hardness.However, this also makes it termite resistant. For this reason it has long been used for building houses and fences, as railway sleepers and as pit props. The termite-resistance and rich, reddish colouring also make it popular for flooring. Outside Africa, mopane is gaining popularity as a heavy, decorative wood, its uses including aquarium ornaments, ...

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com As of 2019, this family contained over 600 described genera and over 6000 described species,making it the largest family of spiders at 13% of all species. –Wikipedia Jumping spiders have some of the best vision among arthropods and use it in courtship, hunting, and navigation. Although they normally move unobtrusively and fairly slowly, most species are capable of very agile jumps, notably when hunting, but sometimes in response to sudden threats or crossing long gaps. Both their book lungs and tracheal system are well-developed, and they use both systems (bimodal breathing). Jumping spiders are generally recognized by their eye pattern. All jumping spiders have four pairs of eyes, with the anterior median pair being particularly large. Although jumping spiders are generally carnivorous, many species have been known to include nectar in their diets. Jumping spiders conduct complex, visual courtship displays using both movements and physical bodily ...

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com Their lazy nature makes them an easy catch, as they spend most of their time clinging to thorny bush trees. Adults feed on foliage (especially of Vachellia, Senegalia trees and Dichrostachys species) as well as nectar. Larvae are free-living root-feeders. Sternocera orissa displays sexual reproduction. Adult females are generally bigger than their male counterparts. Females lay eggs (during mid-December to late January) in bark crevices, and larvae tunnel into wood and plant stems. At times, eggs are laid into the soils or dropped onto the ground. Females have a single reproductive cycle annually. Adults are relatively short-lived, whereas the immature stages can take as long as 35 years to complete their development. Giant jewel beetles tend to be social and often semi-gregarious, occurring in small communities. No direct predators are known for Sternocera orissa. However, resource competition (i.e. for nectar and pollen) is common; since Vachellia ...

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com These “flat frogs” live in natural water-bodies, but you might see them in your garden pond. They also don’t mind living in the local sewerage works. At the end of the rainy season, they bury themselves under wet mud, where they hibernate until the next rains. Common platannas feed in the water on any living creatures they can overpower. Their prey includes frogs and tadpoles (including their own kind), insects and other invertebrates (mosquito larvae are consumed by young frogs), small fish, young birds and mice that fall into the water. They even feed on carrion in the water. In the 1930s, it was discovered that a female common platanna would spawn if injected with the urine of a pregnant woman (the hormone chorionic gonadotropin being the active ingredient). In the 1940s and ‘50s, this was the only available pregnancy test and many hospitals around the world kept and bred platannas so that they could perform such tests. Contact us at info@africa...

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com The African dusky flycatcher is 13 cm long and weighs around 11 g. Its upperparts are plain brown, with the only facial marking being an indistinct narrow eye-ring. The chin is plain pale grey, and the rest of the underparts are grey-brown with indistinct streaks. The short, straight, laterally flattened bill is black, the legs and feet are grey, and the eyes are brown. The sexes are similar, but the juvenile is spotted with buff above, and is whitish spotted with brown below. The African dusky flycatcher has soft, high-pitched "tzeeet" and tsirit calls. The African dusky flycatcher builds a cup-shaped nest in a tree cavity a few metres above the ground, and lays two or three green eggs. The hole in the tree is normally reused in the next breeding season. This species is monogamous, mating for life. The African dusky flycatcher is usually seen singly or in pairs. It forages from an open perch for insects typically taking its prey in a s...

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com The greatest threat to spiders is habitat loss, although some spider species are also threatened by the pet trade. Most species are carnivorous, either trapping flies and other insects in their webs, or hunting them down. They can’t swallow their food as is, though—spiders inject their prey with digestive fluids, then suck out the liquefied remains. Though not all spiders build webs, every species produces silk. They use the strong, flexible protein fiber for many different purposes: to climb (think Spider Man), to tether themselves for safety in case of a fall, to create egg sacs, to wrap up prey, to make nests, and more. Most spider species have eight eyes, though some have six. Despite all of those eyes, though, many don’t see very well. A notable exception is the jumping spider, which can see more colors than humans can. Using filters that sit in front of cells in their eyes, the day-hunting jumping spider can see in the red spectrum, green s...

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com ©Ludique Swart Vervets living near areas inhabited by people can become pests, stealing food and other items and raiding crops. This leads to a heavy annual slaughter by poison, traps, and guns. In recent years, vervet monkeys have been considered a valuable research animal, making live trapping prevalent as well. The have a life span up to 30 years. The males are slightly larger than the females and are easily recognized by their turquoise blue scrota. They form complex but stable social groups (also called troops) of 10 to 50 individuals mainly consist of adult females and their immature offspring. Males move freely in and out of these groups. Within the troop, each adult female is the center of a small family network. Females who have reached puberty generally stay in the troop. Females typically have few mates in their lifetime, whereas some males have numerous mates. Breeding is seasonal. After a gestation period of approximately 140 days, a s...

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com A very small snake that averages around 20 cm in length. The Thread Snakes resemble worms and it can be difficult to distinguish the head from the tail. They are burrowing snakes with a cylindrical body and the eye is minute. They feed on invertebrates, especially termites and their eggs. The Thread Snakes spend most of their lives underground but may come to the surface after heavy rains. They are sometimes found under rocks and logs and old termite mounds.  The Thread Snakes are tricky to tell apart and multiple species occur in Southern Africa. They can also be confused with the venomous Stiletto Snake. Thread Snakes are completely harmless. The Female lays three to six elongated eggs, joined like a string of sausages, in summer. They are eaten by other snakes, birds, small carnivorous mammals (e.g. mongooses) and scorpions. Contact us at info@africanbushtraining.com

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com It is found in Southern Africa and is one of the least colorful turaco's, many of which are as colorful as parrots. The Grey Go-Away is named for its call and it is a very social bird, often living in groups of up to 30 birds. It has a preference for open thornbush country, often near water. The grey go-away bird subsists on leaves, fruit, flowers, buds and the occasional small invertebrates. It feeds on a wide variety of trees, but is particularly fond of acacia trees, Mopane trees, Jackalberry trees and cultivated fruit such as guavas. Grey Go-away-bird is gregarious and moves in groups of up to 20 birds very busy and hopping into trees. Nest is a loose platform made with sticks and twigs of about 20 to 24 cm in diameter, situated at 3 to 20 metres above the ground. Both sexes build the nest, often hidden among dense foliage but not necessarily. Female lays 1 to 4 eggs, usually 3, white or pale blue, and slightly glossy. Incubation lasts about ...

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com 7 Days full-time Follow in the daily footsteps of 'real' game rangers as they look after and protect one of Southern Africa's prime wilderness areas... During this course students will become part of our professional wildlife management team sharing in the daily tasks and duties; learning what it takes to effectively manage a game reserve... STUDENT FEE: R 8 700:00 INCLUDED: Meals, Accommodation, Study Material, Shirt, Cap & Certificate COURSE CONTENTS: Management Practices, Wilderness Protection (Anti-poaching), Field Ranger Training, Game Ranching/Breeding, Wildlife Research/Monitoring, Conservation Action Planning, Road Maintenance, Reserve Fences, Alien Plant Control, Game Capture, And much more... Contact us at info@africanbushtraining

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com The impala lily is known in Africa and southern Africa as a source of fish poison and arrow poison. The poison is prepared from latex in the bark and fleshy parts of the trunk, but it is always used in combination with other poisons. Leaves and flowers are poisonous to goats and cattle, but the plants are sometimes heavily browsed and are not considered to be of much toxicological significance. Despite the toxicity, it is used in medicinal applications and in magic potions. Their striking forms and beautiful flowers borne in masses over a long period make them excellent garden and container plants. Impala Lily flowers mainly in July, but will also bloom as late as mid-September in places where it is cultivated. Flower size is about ± 5 cm across. Contact us at info@africanbushtraining.com

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com This species vary greatly in shape, size and colour. They range from 2.5 to 15 mm, and are some of the most often seen ants due to their size and often bright in colouring. They often nest in a variety of sites ranging from holes in wood to the roots of plants, twigs of trees and shrubs, between rocks or in the soil. They can also be seen during the day however, they are most active at night. They are unable to sting, but they do possess strong mandibles which can bite. In self-defense these ants are also able to spray acid from their abdomens to deter predators. They feed on dead and lives insects, household waste and are attracted by sweet food. They rarely enter houses and the ant’s life cycle passes through egg, larva, pupa and adult phases. Castes: Ant colonies consist of various castes which perform different functions in the colony. Reproductives - The reproductive males and females have the task of reproducing. Depending on the ...

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com Greater kudus have both benefited and suffered from interaction with humans. Humans are turning much of the kudu's natural habitat into farmland, restricting their home ranges. Humans have also destroyed woodland cover, which they use for their habitat. However, wells and irrigation set up by humans has also allowed the greater kudu to occupy territory that would have been too devoid of water for them previously. The greater kudu are also a target for poachers for meat and horns. The horns of greater kudus are commonly used to make Shofars, a Jewish ritual horn blown at Rosh Hashanah. The traditional sport of Kudu dung-spitting (Bokdrol Spoeg in Afrikaans) is practiced in the South African Afrikaner community. The winner is the contestant who is able to spit one of the antelope’s small, hard dung pellets the furthest – with the distance measured to where it comes to rest.  An annual world championship was launched in 1994, with contests held ...

Learn more at https://abt-edu.com Black Mamba (Dendroaspis polylepis) - © Johan Marais Classification: VERY DANGEROUS This is by far the largest venomous snake in Africa with a maximum length of 4.5 m (specimens over 3.8 m are rare). Despite its reputation it is a shy, elusive snake that is quick to escape but will not hesitate to strike repeatedly if cornered. It is active during the day, often basking near a hole in an anthill or large rock crevice where it quickly disappears into if disturbed. When threatened it will gape exposing the black inner lining of the mouth and it may form a narrow hood. The venom of this snake is potently neurotoxic and may cause difficulty with breathing within half an hour. Symptoms include a numbness of the lips, slurred speech, ptosis and progressive weakness. Antivenom is effective but often required in large quantities (10 – 15 vials). They get their name not from their skin color, which tends to be olive to gray, but rather from the blue-bla...