Going out into the bush is not just about seeing the “big stuff”, there is so much more to see and experience. All too often we forget to slow down and take a look around.

Yesterday I decided to use the first hour of my game drive to show my guests various plants, tracks, signs and any small creatures I could find. Some of the things I taught them were how to make a toothbrush out of a Gwarry bush, how to catch fish with the bark of the cork bush, how to identify impala dung and how to tell if it was a male or female.

What really stood out was a column of Matabele ants that had just raided a termite colony and where returning to their own colony with their jaws loaded with bundles of termites. These ants are ruthless and will decimate a termite colony feeding on the termites who, once their colony’s defenses are breached, are defenseless against the mighty Matabele ants.

So remember, there is more to the bush than the famous “Big 5”…

Ryan Roodt
04/07/2012