One of the famous Big 5, leopards are one of the highlights of a game viewing safari in South Africa. Unfortunately, they’re also one of the most elusive cats in the Animal Kingdom and thus, the hardest to see. Here are 10 things you may not know about leopards.
1. They can see 7 times better in the dark than humans
Like most animals, the pupil of a leopard’s eye constricts or dilates according to the amount of light that enters the eyes. Because of their adapted retinas, leopards can see seven times better in the dark than humans, making them exceptional nocturnal hunters.
2. Their tail is almost as long as their body
Leopards make use of their very long tails for a variety of different functions such as expressing their mood, as a form of communication and for enhanced movement. Their prehensile-like tails act like an additional limb, allowing leopards to increase their balance when climbing and giving more ability to turn sharply when chasing prey, like a rudder.
3. They are the most widely distributed cat in Africa
Although difficult to spot on safari, leopard numbers are said to be higher than any other big cat species in Africa. Leopards can be found in a variety of habitats ranging from desert to equatorial forests, high mountains to coastal regions, although they prefers woodlands or grasslands. Leopards have also been spotted on the outskirts of large cities like Harare, Johannesburg and Nairobi. They are found throughout sub-Saharan Africa, as well as in Russia, China, India, Sri Lanka and in Southwest Asia.
4. They are solitary creatures
Leopards are solitary animals, preferring to live alone for most of their lives. Exceptions to this rule include when a mother rears her cubs, when males and females mate and when males come into contact with rivals, as seen above.
5. They will eat almost anything
A leopard’s prey options are surprisingly wide and can include antelopes, baboons, rodents, carrion, fish, reptiles, birds, hares, hyraxes, warthogs, monkeys and porcupines. Leopards often drags the killed prey into trees to prevent it from being stolen by lions and hyenas. Leopards often drag carcasses up into trees away from other predators. They can carry up to 3 times their body weight.
6. They are born with blue eyes
Leopard cubs are born blind and their eyes only open after a few days – bright blue in colour. Their mother usually hides them in a secret den for the first few weeks of life. The cubs are also born without a clearly spotted coat, the iconic spots only begin to develop after a few days.
7. They mate for a really long time
Leopards and lions have very similar mating rituals which, on average, has them mating every 15 minutes for up to 5 days. This means that they can mate more than 250 times and there is good reason behind this. Unlike humans, female leopards require a stimulus to start ovulation. The non-stop affair stimulates the female to ovulate and as the mating ritual continues she will produce eggs.
8. Pound for pound, the strongest cats in the Animal Kingdom
Pound for pound, leopards are the strongest cats in Africa. Even though they are the smallest of the ‘big cats’ They are so strong, they have the ability to hoist a carcass of up to 50kg into a tree.
9. Black leopards exist
Not to be confused with panthers, there are also black leopards that can be found in Africa. Black leopards have a rosette pattern on their fur while black panthers are completely black. The difference in colour is not indicative of a separate sub-species, but rather dominance of the dark-coloured pigment melanin in the skin (basically the opposite of albinism).
10. They are expert navigators
Leopards have astonishing navigation powers and an incredibly strong homing device. Their ability to orientate themselves, makes it very tricky to relocate these animals, as they often will return to the same areas.
For more information about where to see leopards on safari, please don’t hesitate to contact our reservations team for a quote to stay at Kings Camp in the Timbavati. We look forward to welcoming you to the Lowveld of South Africa.
Image credits:
Field guide, Neil Coetzer
Cathan Moore
Vicky Reed
There are a number of ways to arrive at your next Timbavati safari. Whether you’re looking to drive to the Timbavati, fly in to the charming Hoedspruit Airport, or charter your own private plane, we’ve outlined a small guide for getting to Kings Camp. Take a look at the best options for getting to Kings Camp below. Continue reading “Getting to Kings Camp”
Gearing up for your next, or first, Timbavati safari? Packing for safari can be tricky, and in the excitement of the moment the most obvious items can be forgotten. One way to ensure your experience of a lifetime runs smoothly is to make sure you’re well prepared for the ever-changing African bush. To help ensure you’ve got everything you need, we’ve highlighted a few essentials to add to your safari packing list.
Light, comfortable clothing
With temperatures reaching 40°C in the warmer months, light clothing is essential. Thin fabrics and loose-fitting garments are great for keeping your body cool and the sun off your skin.
Warm jacket, scarf and gloves
Setting out on a crisp, early morning game drive with the sun rising over the Timbavati veld, you can’t help but feel invigorated. One way to ensure that invigorated feeling doesn’t turn into a shiver is to make sure you pack appropriately. The winter months between April and September are known to be cold in the mornings and evenings, and quite warm during the day. Since the weather can change so drastically, layering is the best method to ensure you’ve covered all bases. Pack a thick jackets that can be discarded once the sun has risen. For more on what to expect climate-wise at Kings Camp, take a look at our Timbavati Weather Guide.
Sun protection
An essential on any safari packing list, sun protection is an item many people forget. The African sun can be fierce, and is often a lot stronger than expected. A sunscreen of factor 50+ is recommended, as well as a wide brimmed hat and UV protected sunglasses.
Camera
Many moments on your Timbavati safari will be difficult to forget, and being able to bring those memories home to share with friends and family make them even more special. Amateur and professional photographers alike get lost behind their lenses when exploring the diverse and exquisite natural beauty of the bush. Don’t forget to pack your charger and an extra memory card – you’ll be taking more photos than you expect!
Binoculars
Whether you’re a keen birder or not, having a pair of binoculars is a helpful addition to your safari kit. Get them out on a game drive and get a closer look at that lion lying across the riverbed.
Insect repellent
While the Kruger National Park area is not a high-risk malaria region, mosquitos are known to visit guests in the evenings. A good bug repellent can keep these pesky insects at bay. All rooms at Kings Camp are fitted with mosquito nets, and all game drives offer repellent to guests, but if you’re travelling to other destinations it’s recommended to bring your own to be on the safe side.
The guides and trackers at Kings Camp and their expert knowledge of the fauna and flora are the perfect accent to any safari. Learn about the intricacies of the African bush first hand, and create memories that will last long after your Timbavati safari is over. For more information, or to book your Kruger Park safari at Kings Camp, contact us today.
Words and photos by Tracey Bruton (except for scops owl in tree photo: Neil Coetzer & common diadem photo: Thomas Botha)
One of the most amazing techniques for survival in the wild is camouflage. Animals have the ability to mimic plants, ground cover, or even other animals in order to hide or hunt.
Camouflage is a colouration or pattern that helps an animal blend in with its surroundings. Animals use various types of camouflage to hide themselves from predators, as well as for predators to hide themselves from potential prey!
There are several different types of camouflage, including concealing colouration, disruptive colouration, disguise, mimicry and counter-shading. Some creatures use more than one type.
We will also look at aposematic colouration, which is not a form of camouflage, but is also a tactic to avoid being eaten.
Concealing colouration
This type is when the colour of the animal matches the colour of the background, as in the ground colour or vegetation that it finds itself. This is the most common form of camouflage. When mottled, it is also known as ‘cryptic colouration’. Examples of these are lions, many antelope species and chameleons.
Lions are examples of fixed camouflage. Their tawny coats help them to blend in to the colours of their savanna habitat. Chameleons have active camouflage- they are able to alter their colouration at will based on where they are (as well as for other reasons, such as mood or stress). Some animals have a seasonal camouflage, which allows the animal to match to its environment at the time, such as the Arctic fox changing from its summer brown colour to its winter white colour to match the winter snow in their habitat.
The tawny colour of lions help them to blend in to the yellow grass of their savanna habitat. Notice that from the back the black markings behind the ears are very distinctive. This is what the rest of the pride including cubs see, and is what is known as a ‘follow me’ sign. This is one of the ways the pride keeps together while on a hunt or walking through long grass.You can see how beautifully camouflaged these lions are from a distanceNotice how conspicuous the dark mane of male lions are compared to the previous image of the females. This is one of the reasons why the females do most of the hunting – the males have less success being less agile and more conspicuous, but they also spend a lot of time patrolling their territory and protecting their pride
Chameleons are able to change the colour of their bodies. They do this for several reasons, the first to hide from predators and to be concealed in order to creep closer to insect prey. They also change colour according to mood, temperature and other environmental conditions, and to communicate with and display to other chameleons.
They are able to change colours quickly by sending cues by their eyes on their environment. Pigments are mixed within special skin cells called chromatophores, and the distribution of different pigment granules results in the specific colour needed.
Brighter colours are used when interacting with other chameleons, they turn lighter in hot conditions to reflect more heat, and darker when they are cold or angry.
Chameleons are masters of concealment. This flap-necked chameleon has taken on the exact colour of the bush it is in to avoid predation and to get close to prey.During the day on safari, you may find a chameleon crossing the road. It will change to the colour of the substrate, but this camouflage will be assisted by a slow, shaky movement and a rigid body and raised tail, to make itself look like a leaf blowing in the wind. Quick movement will attract predators!This chameleon has changed colour to match to the gravel surface, now looking more like a dead twig!This common duiker uses concealing camouflage to hide in its environment. In addition, it also freezes to hide its position when alarmed, and then suddenly darts away and disappears into the undergrowth. This is where it got its name from – ‘duiker’, meaning ‘diver’ in the Afrikaans language!I came across this tiny steenbok calf on game drive one morning, and it froze in this spot next to us until we drove away. Young antelope rely on their camouflage, as well as the technique of freezing when in danger. Predators react to movement, so if the prey holds its nerve and stays still, it might be overlooked. They dart away in a flash if this does not workHow perfectly does this rock hyrax blend in to its rocky habitat!This caracal has managed to catch a Natal spurfowl, which it does aided with its tawny coat camouflaged well against the yellow grass and brown soil of its habitat. First it creeps closer to its prey which it picks up with incredible hearing and sight, and then can launch itself 4-5m into the air to catch birds that fly up in fright, such as this ground-living spurfowl.Many young antelope are lighter in colour to the dark coloured adults, such as this blue wildebeest calf. This helps it blend into the soil and grass during the long periods it rests at this age. Most antelopes keep their youngsters hidden for a period after birth, which could be from 1-2 days to a few weeks in length. These calves hide in long grass or lush undergrowth, camouflaged and keeping as still as possible to avoid unwanted detection.Spotted hyenas are born black, and slowly become lighter and reveal their spots with age. Their dark colour helps them to hide in the shadows of their underground dens, where they sit just inside the entrance for long periods of time while their mother is out hunting and scavenging. The disused termite mounds that they use as dens have narrow tunnels which the hyena cubs scurry into at the first sign of danger.Newborn African wild dog puppies hide at the entrance to their den, also a disused and excavated termite mound. Darker colours and markings set closer together compared to the adults help them to be well camouflaged in the shadows.This black-backed jackal pup is a lighter colour than its parents to camouflage it against the light sand.Ostrich chicks which are far more vulnerable to predation than the adults, have concealing colouration but also mottling patterns of the plumage – which is called cryptic colouration.While this male African paradise flycatcher has vivid breeding colours, his nest is very well camouflaged, so his eggs and chicks can avoid predation. In addition to small twigs, the birds make use of spiderwebs to further help with nest camouflage. Many birds eggs themselves are also cryptically camouflaged, especially the nests of ground-living birds that do not use nests.Ground-living spiders such as this golden starburst baboon spider are well camouflaged to their environment, using cryptic camouflage. Note the silk-lined burrow to the right of this large female.The African scops owl is cryptically coloured to help it to blend into its environment, especially when sleeping during the day. Its mottled plumage imitates the bark of a tree, and its ear tufts are raised, making it look like a broken branch.How beautifully does the African scops owl camouflage against the bark of this tree! (Photo credit: Neil Coetzer)
Counter- shading
Counter-shading is a type of concealing colouration used by animals with a darker upper half, and a lighter lower half. This makes the animal appear more one-dimensional and flatter against the background, but also conceals the animal when viewed from above or below. The darker back matches the dark ground when viewed from above, and the lighter belly will match the lighter sky when viewed from below.
The best examples of this is impala, many snakes, fish and water birds. Other examples in other parts of the world include penguins, sharks and whales.
The impala is a common example of counter-shading colouration. Their upper backs are tawny-brown, their sides are cream, and their bellies are white. This dorsoventral change in contrast breaks up the three dimensional form of the impala, helping it to blend into its environmentThis young spotted bush snake shows counter-shading in its dark upper side and light belly, as well as concealing camouflage using green to match to its tree habitat, and disruptive camouflage using spots. When aerial predators such as a bush shrike views the snake from above, its dark upper is camouflaged well against the shaded green depths of trees and bushes. Viewed from below by predators such as bigger snakes, their light underside camouflages them against the brighter sky. *Note: Spotted bush snakes are harmless to humans, but there are many green coloured snakes that are venomous. Only handle a snake if you are 100% sure of its identity
With fish, when viewed by aerial predators from above, their dark shading on the upper half of their body makes them almost invisible against the dark, shady depths, whereas a lighter lower body also renders them less visible to predators approaching from below, against the lighter sky.
From above, these juvenile Mozambique tilapia are well camouflaged against the sand. If they remain still, they are all but invisible to predators such as herons and storksYoung Mozambique tilapia showing counter-shading and banding
Disruptive colouration
In addition to background matching colouration, many animals also have distinctive designs on their bodies to help to conceal them. Spots, stripes or other patterns break up the outline of its body so blending the animal into its environment. The shape of the animal is broken up so that it is almost invisible until it moves!
Most mammals only see in black and white, so disruptive camouflage is really successful for many prey animals and predators.
Examples of disruptive colouration are leopard, cheetah, kudu, zebra, and many ground- living birds and reptiles.
Animals that live in groups use different camouflage tactics to those that live alone.
Zebra, which form herds, have very unique black and white stripes. These stripes are not meant to camouflage them into the environment, but rather to confuse the predator and create a dazzle of stripes – thus their collective name! When a herd of zebra is disturbed by a predator, they clump together and run as a group, and with their stripes creating a confusing black and white mass, it is difficult for the predator to pick one target. This is especially true for zebra foals, which stay close to their mother’s sides for the first year of their lives. They also have very long legs from a young age, which of course allows them to keep up with the herd when running from danger, but also camouflages the foal against his mother as both their bellies are at the same height!
The much-loved zebra, with its black and white stripes, doesn’t seem to camouflage well into its environment like most other animals in the bush do. However this is a method of camouflage and avoiding predation. The stripes firstly break up the animals body outline. Remember that most mammalian predators are colourblind. The stripes mimic the other vertical lines in the bush such as grass, branches and trees. When threatened and running away from a predator, zebras move together as a herd, which at speed looks like a blur of black and white. This makes it difficult for a predator to single out one target.From birth, a zebra foal has long, gangly legs. This is so it can keep up with the herd soon after birth, but also for camouflage. When standing next to its mother, their legs are the same length, so the little one is well hidden from predators.
Leopards are masters of camouflage. They mostly live in areas where there are patches of light and shadow. Having a solid colour, they would really stand out, but their rosetted coat breaks up their body outline, making them less obvious. Their camouflage is to hide their presence from enemies (such as lions, hyenas and other leopards), but also to hide them from prey. Being solitary hunters, leopards have to sneak up to within about 10m (32ft) of their prey before they pounce. Being a highly adaptive cat living in many different habitats from outskirts of cities to forests, leopards are able to blend in to almost any habitat.
Can you see it? The rosetted coat pattern of the leopard is the perfect disruptive camouflage to help it almost disappear into its habitat, whether on the ground or high in a tree.Even sitting on a rock, the spotted coat breaks up the outline of the body, making the leopard very difficult to make out.Can you find the leopard now?!Look in the middle of the photo to see a few leopard spots!Leopard cubs have spots that are close together giving them a mottled appearance, therefore helping them to camouflage in dark areas such as this cave, where they stay hidden while mom is away hunting.This photo is in black and white to show what a prey animal would see. Now you can see how difficult it would be to detect a leopard in the grass. This young leopard is resting, but when hunting, a leopard would crouch down hiding most of its body, especially those large dark rosettes at the back, and even flatten its ears down.The spotted coats of this female cheetah and her three youngsters allow them to blend well into their environment and be almost invisible to prey or enemies.The brown and grey concealing colouration in this female kudu is further aided by white vertical stripes on her side. These further break up her outline, and mimic the vertical lines of grass, as well as streaks of sunlight in her thick bush habitat.This southern tree agama lizard’s colour and patterning matches the bark of the tree. Agamas are able to change their body colour much like chameleons, but the range of colour is not great. Males turn brightly coloured during the breeding season – most noticeably a bright blue head – but can turn quickly back into camouflage colours when under threat.Another Southern tree agama, perfectly camouflaged on a leadwood tree.Nightjars are nocturnal birds that display disruptive colouration with variegated colouring. On night safaris you often come across nightjars sitting in the road hawking insects, however during the day when they rest they choose a location on the ground with a background that makes them almost invisible. There is even research to suggest that each individual bird chooses a specific substrate to suit its own unique colour patterns.A red crested korhaan blending well into the undergrowth with its mottled plumage.A pair of double-banded sandgrouse – the male has the black and white facial bands. These ground birds characteristically crouch low to the ground when disturbed, using excellent disruptive camouflage on their backs to avoid detection. If feeling immediately threatened they will both explosively take off and fly for some distance.Most waterbirds and ground birds match their environment very well to avoid detection. This water thicknee blends in well with the dry grass and sand of its riverbank habitat
Disguise
Disguise and mimicry are very similar, however with disguise, the animal copies a non-living thing such as a leaf or twig, and with mimicry, it copies another living animal. The animal disguises itself in form and in colour to look like an object within its environment.
Adult crocodiles do not have many enemies, but they are well camouflaged in order to swim close to prey in the water or on the waters edge. Their olive green-coloured body and its design can make the crocodile look like a log in the water, especially when swimming through vegetation. Their body is designed to hardly make any ripples, and the eyes and nostrils are on top of the head, leaving the rest of the body underwater to avoid detection.This stick mantid perfectly resembles a small twig in its environment, which would help it to be overlooked by predators.This praying mantis has colours that resemble a living leaf or small branch. This would tell you that the two mantids pictured here and above have slightly different habitats to mimic two different parts of the environment. This mantid probably lives in trees, and the one above on the ground among dead twigs and leaf litter.Can you see the snake? The vine snake (or twig snake) is disguised to look like a branch and uses this camouflage to avoid detection by predators and to ambush its prey.A close up of the head of the vine snake showing the beautiful colouration. This snake has also puffed its neck up to make itself appear larger, in order to scare enemies away. Note that the vine snake is highly venomous to humans, but is quite placid in nature.Katydids have evolved so that they look just like broad tree leaves, even showing the leaf veins, and rock from side to side to mimic wind.
Mimicry
Mimicry is the tactic of an animal copying another animal in form and/or colour. It may not seem like a form of camouflage, but it is still a way to avoid detection or to avoid being eaten by fooling the predator!
Some creatures pretend that they are dangerous by mimicking the look of a venomous, poisonous or dangerous animal. An example is the common diadem butterfly, which is not poisonous, that looks very similar to the African monarch butterfly, which is poisonous. This is known as Batesian mimicry.
When two unrelated species that are both poisonous, venomous, distasteful or dangerous mimic each other, this is called Müllerian mimicry. This tactic is meant to reinforce the message of danger to predators. Examples of this are Acrea butterflies, bees, wasps and some frogs and snakes.
The African monarch butterfly has aposematic colouring to warn predators that it is poisonous. The caterpillar stage feeds on milkweed plants that are toxic and if injested, can kill small birds. Predators have learnt to associate these bright colours with danger.The female common diadem is a non-poisonous butterfly, but it brilliantly mimics the African monarch butterfly so that it confuses predators to think that it too, is poisonous. (Photo credit: Thomas Botha)The group of butterflies called the ‘reds’ or Acraea display Müllerian mimicry. They all have red-orange wings with black spots to advertise that they are all poisonous. Their toxicity is due to the poisonous plants that they eat.The garden Acrea, also red with black spots.
Some birds, invertebrates, fish and reptiles have developed an ‘eye spot’. This is an eye-like marking where this spot on the body resembles false eyes of the creature, or even eyes of a bigger, more ferocious creature, in order to make a predator think twice before attacking it. The false eye may draw the predators attention away from more vulnerable body parts, or appear as an inedible or dangerous animal. Eyespots may also play a role in communication within that species or courtship, as in the eyespots on a male peacocks display feathers.
This pearl-spotted owlet is a hunter, but due to its tiny stature, also has many enemies of its own. Apart of its disruptive colouration camouflage, it also has eye spots on the back of its head (see below).Predators are reluctant to attack a prey animal when they think they have been seen. The false eyes on the back of the pearl-spotted owlets head make it look like it is always facing forward.This mopane moth has two sets of false eyes on its fore- and rear wings. These eye spots will draw a predators attention away from the vital head area.The beautiful eye spots of the cream-striped owl moth. This striking design makes the moth look like a much larger, scarier animal such as an owl, and the predator may ignore it.There is a theory that cheetah cubs are born with the same black and white markings of the honey badger (see inset) in order to imitate the more ferocious creature. Mortality of cheetah cubs is extremely high, so with this mimicry and aposematic colouration, a predator looking at a cheetah cub might think twice before attacking it.
Aposematic colouration
Aposematic colouration is the advertising by an animal to a predator that it is not worth attacking. This may be due to toxins, venom, a foul taste or smell, sharp spines or an aggressive nature. The warning signal is either with bright colours, or black and white patterns.
Most of the creatures that are brightly coloured are invertebrates, and the group of creatures that mostly eat them are birds. Both of these groups see in vivid colour. Mammals, however, do not see in colour, therefore that is why you do not see brightly coloured antelope walking around in the savanna, but rather many vividly coloured invertebrates, as well as many birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish.
Rather than hiding themselves, some animals use bright warning colouration to signal to would-be predators that they are poisonous or contain venom. The idea is to be seen in order to be avoided.
Invertebrates mostly display aposematic colouration using black with red, orange or yellow to display during the day when it is light. A few examples of these are many butterflies, bees, some grasshoppers and frogs.
Elegant grasshoppers use bright aposematic colouration as a warning they they are poisonous if eaten. They get their toxins from the plants that they eat, and can contain a number of different poisons. They also exude a toxic fluid out of pores in their abdomen if harassed, which makes them taste horrible, also a deterrent against predators.The bright colouration of this carpenter moth caterpillar warns predators of its poisons.This female banded-legged golden orb-web spider has beautiful red, orange, yellow and black colouration, which looks like another example of aposematic colouration, but in fact it is not! Orb-web spiders do possess venom in order to subdue prey caught in their web (however are completely harmless to humans) but their bright colours have a different function. The colours in fact help to lure diurnal insect prey into their webs. The insects mistake the brightly coloured spiders for flowers, and especially the yellow colour for pollen, including the golden threads of the web.The African monarch butterfly is poisonous. The larval caterpillar feeds on noxious plants which creates toxins in the body from the caterpillar, through the pupal stage to the adult. The butterfly displays this to would-be predators with its glaring orange, black and white colouration.The well-known yellow and black striped colouration of many bees, wasps and bumble bees is a good example of aposematic colouration, but also of Müllerian mimicry, warning predators as a group of their painful stings.
At night, bright colours cannot be seen, and the most visual warning colouration (especially to animals that are colourblind anyway) is black and white. Examples are honey badgers, civets, polecats and porcupines. The former creatures have noxious fluids that they can spray in defence, and porcupines have dangerous sharp quills.
The contrasting black and white coat of a honey badger is a nocturnal danger signal. This is a warning to enemies that they are dangerous (they possess strong jaws, sharp teeth and long sharp claws) and in addition they can spray a noxious scent in the direction of anything that harasses it.The Viverridae family that African civets belong to all have well-developed anal glands used for scent marking, and the secretion is very pungent. These also use this as a chemical defence against predators, and warn predators against this with their black and white colouration.
In all natural areas around the world, you will see all sorts of variations and combinations on the basic elements of camouflage. Often, these adaptations are more effective than a more aggressive approach using teeth, claws or beaks. After all, being completely overlooked by a predator is better than having to put up a fight!
Covering over 60,000 hectares of diverse and breath-taking landscape, the Timbavati Game Reserve is veritable Noah’s Ark protecting some of Africa’s most iconic species. Home to healthy elephant populations, resident lion, leopard, buffalo and even endangered rhino, the Timbavati is a destination where you can see all of the Big 5 as well as numerous other animals that might appear on your check list.
Take a look at our Timbavati weather guide for an idea of what to expect when planning your next trip.
Thinking about a destination bush wedding in South Africa?
Romantic accommodation, a remote wilderness location and our dedicated team at your service are just a few of the reasons you should choose Kings Camp as your dream destination for a Timbavati wedding venue. Continue reading “Plan a Bush Wedding in the Timbavati”
Your South Africa Gratuity Guide
Like anything to do with money, perspectives on tipping are shaped by many factors including your experiences and where you come from. We’ve put together some helpful tips to help you navigate gratuity while on holiday in South Africa.
Guidelines for tipping in South Africa
South Africa is a country where tipping is the social norm. The general rule is to start at 10%. – however, you are not obliged to tip if you are unhappy with the service you receive.
Tipping in restaurants in South Africa
Most restaurants in South Africa do not add a service charge to bills – but double check especially if you are a large group. We would recommend leaving a 10-20% tip, depending on how good your experience is.
Car guards and petrol attendants
For first-timers to South Africa, car guards may be a novel surprise for you. Car guards are self-appointed, informal people who usually wear a reflective vest and help people navigate parking. A R5 to R20 tip is the norm if you are driving your own vehicle while in South Africa.
Petrol attendants are another uniquely South African. Service station staff will fill your car with petrol, offer to clean your windscreen and check your oil and water.
Parking and petrol station attendants can be given whatever small change you have available – R5 to R20 is customary. This is always appreciated by service station staff, even though it may seem a small amount.
Tipping at Kings Camp
Tipping at Kings Camp is never something that is expected, but is always greatly appreciated by our staff. Firstly, tips are much appreciated but totally discretionary.
Our guideline that we give when asked is as follows:
You can tip in any currency. If it is dollars we can just exchange locally, you can also tip with a credit card if you don’t want to have cash on you.
The amount that you tip goes directly into the staff’s accounts and there are no deductions at all.
We have a general staff ”pool” which includes all staff members, the ones you will meet, such as the front office and service staff but also the ones ”behind the scenes” like chefs and people who make the gardens look pretty.
There really isn’t a guideline amount for this and it is just whatever you can afford. This amount is shared equally between all of the staff members.
Your guide and tracker you may tip separately as they are not included in the ‘pool’. We don’t have any formal guidelines but to give you an average amount it would be around R250-300 per day, per room for a guide and about R150-200 per day, per room for a tracker.
Again though, whatever you can afford.
For further information you might require about travelling in South Africa, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with our friendly reservations team at Kings Camp via email at [email protected] or by calling +27 (0)13 751 1621 / +27 (0)82 675 6539.
If you’d prefer to fill in our online booking form, you can find it here. We look forward to welcoming you to Kings Camp in the future.
Words and images: Tracey Bruton
Leopard photo: Neil Coetzer
December 2019
Africa is home to a huge diversity of wildlife species, and equally diverse and fascinating are the terms (collective nouns) used for species or groups of animals, and even some plants. Each collective noun describes the shape, form or character of the animal, in an interesting and often humorous way!
Some of these are more familiar, such as a herd, pack, flock or pride, but many are lesser known and fantastically descriptive. Get familiar with these collective nouns and impress all those around you while on your next safari!
A tower or journey of giraffe
These words perfectly describe a herd of tall leggy giraffes as they stand gazing down on you, or stride gracefully across the savanna.
A pride of lions
Lions are majestic and regal, and are revered in many cultures. Male lions are symbols of kingly power and might, where females represent the Great Mother and protection.
An obstinacy of buffalo
This is the perfect word to describe a group of these grumpy-looking bulky stubborn beasts. Whenever I come across a herd of buffalo, I feel all their eyes on me as they chew the cud and stare, with an expression on their faces like I owe them money!
A business of mongoose
Perhaps this refers to the fact that they really get down to business when it comes to eating! Mongoose are small carnivores that feed on insects, arachnids, reptiles, birds, rodents, eggs and sometimes carrion. On safari at Kings Camp you may be able to see the dwarf mongoose, banded mongoose (both social species) as well as the solitary slender mongoose or nocturnal white-tailed mongoose.
A barrel of monkeys
This alludes to the playful and amusing behaviour of these primates! The best place to watch the antics of the vervet monkey is at Kings Camp lodge itself, where a family of monkeys lives safely within the confines of the lodge, relatively safe from predators, especially high up in trees at night where they sleep.
A sounder of warthog
If you have ever been close to a warthog, you would have heard the gnashing of tusks against each other as they eat, or the grunts as they keep in contact with each other. Perhaps you may have also heard the deafening squeal of a warthog in distress as it is being attacked by a predator.
A memory of elephant
Elephants are said to have an extraordinary good memory and intelligence. The matriarch of the herd is able to remember where to find good food and water in the past.
A dazzle of zebra
Zebra are one of the most striking animals in the African bush, and always capture the attention of visitors. There is a variety of functions of the stripes, including confusing a predator by motion dazzle – a group of zebra standing or moving close together may appear as one mass of flickering stripes, making it more difficult for a predator to pick out a target.
A cackle of hyena
Hyenas have a wide range of vocalisations. Scientists have identified as many as 14 sounds that communicates specific information to the rest of the clan. The hysterical giggling sounds of the spotted hyena are used to convey frustration, excitement or fear.
A mustering of storks
‘Mustering’ refers to the assemblage of troops before a battle, and seeing a group of storks clustered together with their long beaks and long legs may look like an army of soldiers with swords!
A leap of leopards
Leopards are expert climbers, and you may be lucky enough of safari to witness how a leopard expertly and gracefully leaps up into a tree to escape from pesky hyenas or other enemies.
A dance of leadwoods
Leadwood trees, with their often leafless lower lateral branches (functioning to store toxins), light grey crocodile-skin bark and a beautiful gnarled appearance when older, look like they came straight out of a children’s storybook.
A stillness of baobab
Baobabs grow to enormous sizes, and some have been carbon dated to 3000 years old! These massive trees dot the bushveld in places like sentries, and standing under one, one really feels a sense of awe and wonder.
An implausibility of wildebeest
The origin of this term is not known. Perhaps for the person who created this term it was impossible to believe the sheer numbers of wildebeest herds in the Great Migration?
A confusion of guinea fowl
The charismatic helmeted guinea fowl, with their blue and red facial skin and black and white spotty feathers appear to be pretty crazy and confused a lot of the time, chasing each other around and following a leader that is forever changing. They prefer to run along the ground when disturbed and only take off explosively and noisily at the last moment.
A bloat of hippo
Lazing in the water during the day and at times basking on the river bank like beached whales, these hefty animals earn this term for sure.
A coalition of cheetah
Adult cheetahs may be found alone or in all male groups called coalitions. These are most likely two or three litter mates that have stayed together to defend a territory against other males.
A kettle, venue or wake of vultures
Vultures have a large number of collective nouns, which vary according to their behaviour! Vultures circling overhead, riding thermals as they search for carcasses are called ‘kettles’. When they are seen descending to the ground to a carcass they are called a ‘wake’, and perched in a tree they are called a ‘committee’ or ‘venue’.
A fling of oxpeckers
Perhaps this pertains to the fact that oxpeckers fly up noisily at any disturbance, creating an early warning system to the host animals they sit on and feed off of, such as buffalo.
A scurry of squirrels
When one sees squirrels on safari you most often see them scuttling across the road and up a tree, and then into a hole (called a dray) or up to a fork in the tree to peer down at the disturbance. They are very territorial and will fight to the death to defend their area.
A convocation of eagles
A convocation is a group of people formally assembled for a special purpose, which is a lovely name for a group of eagles as these birds always look so formal wearing what looks like dark coats and serious expressions!
A cast of hawks
This term may have originated from the ‘casting’ – or releasing to fly from the fist – of a captive hawk. Wild hawks flying in large numbers are called a kettle.
A gaggle of geese
This term comes from the Old Norse ‘gagl’ relating to the noisy chatter of geese. Flying geese are called a skein, a team or a wedge, and when flying close together are called a plump.
Here are a few more collective nouns for animals you may find on safari:
A prickle of porcupine
A pandemonium of parrots
An army of ants
A quiver of cobras
A cloud of grasshoppers
A lounge of lizards
A hedge of herons
A parliament of owls
A flamboyance of flamingoes
A creep of tortoises
A bask of crocodiles
A scourge of mosquitos
An armoury of aardvarks
A gulp of cormorants
A raft of ducks
A bevy of quail
A charm of finches
A congregation of plovers
A deceit of lapwings
A descent of woodpeckers
A dole of doves
A host of sparrows
A murmuration of starlings
