Photography by Ian Cross

Sightings

The sighting of two fluffy white balls of feathers, Pels Fishing Owl chicks, was made by enthusiastic birders who were thrilled to see them!! Xakanaxa Camp has been very lucky in having such regular sightings of these very shy birds!

A lot of lion sightings were made this past month, as well as sightings of cheetah and leopard with Impala kills and a group of six wild dog, one with a collar on. A lot of large elephant herds were also often seen in the area. Unusual or less regular sightings in March were a Honey Badger walking along the road in front of lion, a small herd of Tsessebe, a wild cat up a tree, a python crossing the road and a Black mamba eating a glossy starling.
Interesting facts about the Mopane worm

During the summer months the Mopane worm is a popular African delicacy to collect. The worm, which subsists on leaves, is a much sought-after delicacy wherever this tree occurs and an important source of protean to local people!

With the onset of winter, the caterpillar develops into a larva and drops to the ground. The larva digs into the ground at the base of the tree to a depth of about 15cm, where it pupates and emerges as an adult Mopane moth during the summer. Soon after mating, the eggs are layed on the Mopane leaves. The eggs take about three weeks to hatch, by which time the adults have died. The caterpillar is spiny, hairless, about 7cm long and brightly coloured with red, yellow and black. The worms emerge in their thousands and are eaten raw, dried or fried. When they are collected their heads are squeezed off and discarded. Should a caterpillar be confronted with a reduced supply of nourishment, it will migrate in search of another source. This can lead to mass migrations and columns can stretch over a distance of 5km!!

The Mopane bee or better known as the Mopane fly is another insect often associated with the Mopane tree. These tiny, black, social bees are stingless. The often fly into peoples eyes and mouths trying to target the moisture and can be extremely irritating! Their nests are difficult to locate and are usually found by a small waxy tube (4mm-1.5cm) protruding from a hollow tree trunk. These tiny creatures produce a very dark and strong honey, which is often collected by the San and other African tribes!!