Reptiles and Amphibians in the eMalangeni Peat Swamp Forest

Here are a few of the reptiles and amphibians that one could encounter in the eMalangeni Peat swamp forest. I will be adding to this list as from time to time when I have taken identified more species as well as when I take or acquire more photos.

The flap-necked chameleon, Chamaeleo dilepis 

known as unwabu in Zulu is a lizard belonging to the family Chamaeleonidae which apart from being found in the eMalangeni Peat Swamp Forest has a very wide distribution, occurring throughout much of sub-Saharan Africa from as far north as Ethiopia and Somalia to a western extreme of Cameroon, and as far south as northern and eastern South Africa. It inhabits coastal forest, moist or dry savannah, woodland and bushy grasslands, and may also venture into rural and suburban areas.

Unwabu the flap-necked chameleon, Chamaeleo dilepis in the eMalangeni Peat swamp forest at Kosi Bay

Chamaeleo dilepis is a large green chameleon a pale stripe on the lower flanks reaching a total length of 35 cm that is difficult to not recognize. 

The Flap-Necked Chameleon feeds on Insects, particularly grasshoppers and beetles, in return they are commonly preyed on by snakes such as the Boomslang (Dispholidus typus) and the Southern Twig Snake (Thelotornis capensis).

It is easy to tell the males from the females in the Flap-Neck Chameleon, the males having a broadness at the base of their tails and also a spur growing out from the back of each hind foot.

Unwabu reproduces by means of 10-40 eggs that are laid in a hole dug into the soil that take 10–12 months to hatch. 

Nile Crocodile, Crocodylus niloticus 

which grows to a length of 16 meters, and a weight of up to 500 kilograms, is the largest reptile to be encountered in the emalangeni Peat Swamp Forest where it is to be found on the shores of lake aManzimnyama as well as in the aManzimnyama river and its side streams that flow through  and drain the forest into the Lake.

Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus

The Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus which is known locally in the Zulu language as Ingwenya is widely distributed throughout sub-Saharan Africa, occurring mostly in the central, eastern, and southern regions of the continent, and lives in different types of aquatic environments such as lakes, rivers, swamps, and marshlands.

Greater Leaf-folding Frog, Afrixalus fornasinii

belonging  to the frog family Hyperoliidae are relatively large, conspicuous frogs which are easily distinguished from the sympatric dwarf Afrixalus species, both morphologically and by its loud, distinctive call.

Greater Leaf-folding Frog, Afrixalus fornasinii belonging  to the frog family Hyperoliidae in the eMalangeni peat swamp forest Kosi Bay.

The Greater Leaf-folding Frog which occurs in the eMalangeni Peat Swamp Forest has a wide distribution that extends from the coast of southern Somalia southward through East Africa to Malawi, Mozambique and eastern Zimbabwe into South Africa where it occurs along the coast of KwaZulu-Natal as far south as Port Edward. 

 fornasinii is locally abundant, it also occurs in a number of coastal and lowland reserves such as those at Mkuze, False Bay, St Lucia and Mtunzini. 

this frog gets its name because of its habit of  longitudinally folding leaves up to 1 m above the water into which between 30 and 80 white eggs are deposited in which take about five days to hatch when they fall into the water. The tadpoles that are carnivorous appear to specialize on mosquito larvae they metamorphose about three months later hatching.

During the breeding season, Afrixalus fornasinii inhabits more-or-less stagnant water bodies containing large stands of saw grass Afrixalus Afrixalus and bulrushes Typha Afrixalus. 

In winter they have been found sheltering in the leaf axils of arum lilies, Zantedeschia aethiopica  and Strelitzia nicholai, often a considerable distance from their breeding sites.

Southern Tree Agamas, commonly known as Blue-headed lizards, Acanthocercus atricollis

The Blue-headed lizards apart from being found in the eMalangeni Peat Swamp Forest has a very large range in Africa being found in the following countries, Eritrea, Somalia, Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, Uganda, D.R.C., Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Malawi, Mozambique, Zimbabwe, Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Swaziland and South Africa.

This magnificent lizard is called the black-necked agama (Acanthocercus atricollis) when its most striking feature is the bright blue head of the male

When breeding, the males are colourful and their vividly blue heads are most striking. Non-breeding males and females are considerably less conspicuous although their more understated scaly markings still render them handsome reptiles.

Blue-headed lizards that are ambush foragers are active during the day when they catch and eat mostly insects, particularly ants, as well as beetles and grasshoppers, at night they sleep in tree hollows or under loose bark. Agamas are unusual in that Most lizards do not eat ants because they are too acidic. 

Eastern Hinged Back Tortoise, Kinixys zombensis, ufudu, Glattrand-Gelenkschildkröte

I was most amazed to find this tortoise pictured below wandering around feeding in the eMalangeni forest, I had never thought of tortoises as being forest dwellers.

Eastern Hinged Back Tortoise, Kinixys zombensis

Hinged Back Tortoises are famous and unique due to the ability to close the back part of the shell over their hind limbs, likely as protection from big cats and other powerful predators. Most species are considered at least threatened and several are very endangered. They are a significant food source in most of their range, some people using trained dogs to locate them. There is also pressure from over-collection for the pet trade and habitat loss.

They do not hibernate, but possibly aestivate or just rest in hot, dry weather.

The head and limbs are generally typical of a tortoise- elephant-like limbs with slightly flattened fore-limbs- but are longer and more slender. The limbs and shell shape give them a distinctive 'walking downhill' look. No visible toes, but five toenails on each limb. The tail has a nail-like claw on the tip. The limb coloration is usually fairly solid, ranging from tan to nearly black.

Eastern Hinged Back Tortoise, Kinixys zombensis

Eastern Hinged Back Tortoise is an omnivore, with a very varied diet consisting mainly of vegetables, twigs, roots, leaves, fruits, earthworms, snails, tadpoles and other small invertebrates.

The African striped skink (Trachylepis striata), commonly called the striped skink, is a species of lizard in the skink family (Scincidae).

The Gaboon Adder Bitis gabonica

This post is not complete I will continue in the morning

Michael Hickman

19.05.21

please visit my websites 

www.ecoman.co.za 

www.hlem.co.za 

as well as my other blogs at

http://luthulienvironment.blogspot.com/ 

http://ecomandurban.blogspot.com/

http://ecoman.co.za/projects/emalangeni.html

https://www.hlem.co.za/emalangeni.html

 

Colourful Birds of the eMalangeni Forest

Here are some the most colourful of the birds to be found in the eMalangeni Forest and forest margins that we will endeavor to show you when you book to be taken on an eco-excursion through the Forest and explore the surrounds.

I had no option other that to place this photo of a  Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus first because it is the bird that I have on my Ecoman company logo.

The White-eared Barbet  leucotis is more often seen than heard as it chatters away like a parrot up in the trees.  

The Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus can be found most days at eMalangeni on the forest margins hawking insects in particular dragon flies often near to the nesting site.

The Gorgeous Bush-shrike  Telophorus quadricolor is another of the forest birds that are more often heard than seen but if one has some patience these birds will appear as if by magic out of the undergrowth.

The Burchell's Coucal Centropus burchellii may not be as colourful as some of the other forest birds  at eMalangeni but it is a character in its own right that can be heard calling the rain in the early spring. 

It would not be summer without the distinctive call of the Diderick Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius that lays her eggs in the nest of in particular the Spectacled and Dark Backed Weavers in the emalangeni Forest.

The Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius is another well known South African bird that is heard far more than it is seen.

The African Finfoot Podica senegalensis is a shy and seldom seen water bird that can be seen in the eMalangeni Swamp Forest.

Crested Guineafowl Guttera edouardi lives in the forest but tends to nest on the forest margins in very well hidden nests.

The White-crested Helmet-shrike Prionops plumatus conspicuously moved that the forest in noisy family parties.

The Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus can not be overlooked when they are around because they move around in large noisy groups. they are one of the main agents of dispersion of the seed of the Kosi Bay cycad Encephalartos ferox very often dropping them under the Water berry trees Syzygium cordatum where they roost after eating them.

The Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator also moves around in large noisy groups and also is a major distributer of the seed of the Kosi Bay cycad at eMalangeni.

The African Jacana Actophilornis africanus can be found where ever there is floating vegetation in the river streams that flow through the eMalangeni swamp forest and on the edges of Lake Amanzimnyama

The Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata can be found along the Amanzimnyama river and the streams that flow through the eMalangeni swamp or peat forest is it is scientifically referred to.

The Fiery-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus pectoralis can be found sleeping in the leaf litter on the eMalangeni forest floor for those who have good eyesight and an measure of luck.

The Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus that announces its presence with a load and distinctive call while sitting high up in the forest trees at eMalangeni.

African Wood-owl Strix woodfordii are to be found in the eMalangeni Swamp Forest

The fruit eating African Green-pigeon Treron calvus will be found in groups where ever wild fig trees are fruiting in the forest.

The Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola will usually be found near to water hawking insects on the wing.

The Red-capped Robin-chat Cossypha natalensis is a familiar and common garden bird in many gardens which is mostly still know as the Natal Robin.

eMalangeni is home to this magnificent insect eating Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus

No forest along the KwaZulu-Natal coast would be complete without this colourful little Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris.

The Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea is often found in the deep shade of the forest hawking insects or drinking nectar from the forest Strelitzia, Strelitzia nicholai.

African Purple Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis a beautiful but very aggressive bird that skulks in rank reeds and waterside vegetation.

The Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus is a fruit and insect member of the barbet tribe found living in the eMalangeni swamp forest.

The Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus is very similar in habits to the red-fronted tinkerbird.

The spectacularly beautiful insect eating Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina is one of the gems of our indigenous swamp forest at eMalangeni.

Livingstone's Turaco  Tauraco livingstonii is another of the rare gems to be found in the eMalangeni swamp forest.

The Purple-crested Turaco Gallirex porphyreolophus has become a common and tame garden bird in urban gardens along the KwaZulu-Natal coast.

 No collection of bird photographs of birds of the eMalangeni swamp forest would be complete without the icon bird of the forest the Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angiogenesis also known as the vulturine fish eagle being presented. this large bird of prey is most unusual as it has a particular relationship to the Kosi Bay Palm Raphia australis the oil rich fruits of which represent a large portion of its diet

I thank a very long time friend Mark Tittley the senior youth pastor of Encounter Youth the youth ministry of Every Nation Rosebank in Johannesburg, South Africa for all of the excellent photographs he has allowed me to use for this posting without them it would not have been possible at this moment in time.

Guided excursions

Please join us on one of our many guided excursions conducted in Zulu, English or German into the eMalangeni Forest, Kosi Bay area, Tembe Elephant Park the home of the world largest elephants and other surrounding natural areas.

Please visit one of my websites for my contact details.

Michael Hickman

18.04.21

Please visit my websites at

www.ecoman.co.za

www.hlem.co.za

as well as my other blogs at

http://luthulienvironment.blogspot.com/ 

http://ecomandurban.blogspot.com/

http://ecoman.co.za/projects/emalangeni.html

https://www.hlem.co.za/emalangeni.html

Parinari capensis locally known as umbulwa

Parinari capensis subsp. incohata locally known as umbulwa Maputaland Dwarf Mobola is a very interesting plant being a geoxylic suffrutice plant in the family Chrysobalanaceae. Umbulwa a low growing shrub above the ground are found in large numbers in the grasslands that surround the eMalangeni forest, which plays an important part in the diets of the local people

Parinari capensis subsp. incohata locally known as umbulwa

Simon Ngubane who grew up at eMalangeni told me Parinari capensis subsp. incohata is known by the local people as umbulwa, the fruit is known as ibulwa and the plural is amabulwa. 

Inside the fruit which I have eaten is a single large seed or nut that is also eaten. A tasty sauce similar to sauces made from peanuts is made by the people of eMalangeni. The fruit which is like a pear to eat is yellowish when ripe. 

Distribution  

Parinari capensis subsp. incohata is found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe Mozambique, Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Habitat

Parinari capensis subsp. incohata grow on the edges of vleis, on sandy especially seasonally waterlogged oligotrophic soils and on Kalahari sands where trees are absent. Parinari capensis subsp. incohata can form large patches where they are not grazed by cattle on secondary grassland following destruction of woodland by fire, cultivation etc.

Typical habitat where Parinari capensis subsp. incohata grows note the more visible silver Vernonia natalensis plants.

 Description

 Parinari capensis subsp. incohata umbulwa is a geoxylic suffrutex having a substantial part of the plant growing under the ground, develops branches leaves flowers and fruit above the ground an adaptation to fire-prone habitats. umbulwa have been considered therefore as forming immortal underground forests of great age.

The woody stems are produced annually from leaf axils at the base of old stems usually grow up to 30cm tall, but very rarely to 1 metre,   The stems usually dying back to the base at the end of the growing season, though occasionally growing on into the following year The leaves are elliptical with a white underside. 

Umbulwa has small white flowers with a hairy sand-coloured calyx, which are produced from September to October.

The ellipsoidal edible fruit is up to 3cm x 2cm being a yellowish colour when ripe.

Ethnobotanical Uses

The fruit and seed are harvested from the wild for local consumption.

Immature ellipsoidal  slightly flattened edible fruit of  Parinari capensis subsp. incohata

The fruit is eaten raw or cooked the sweet outer flesh which has a strong, characteristic flavour is eaten although somewhat dry and astringent. 

The fruit is often buried in sand for some time before being considered fit to eat

The fruit can also be dried and eaten as a soft cake

The juice of the fruit can be drunk fresh, or concentrated to the consistency of a gruel

The fruit is  used for making beer

The crushed kernels are eaten as a relish or are used to make a tasty sauce

The plant is used for anti-malaria purposes.

The Maputaland Wooded Grassland

The Maputaland Wooded Grassland also known as Maputaland, is a vegetation unit (CB2) of the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt Biome  and is limited to the Maputaland Centre of Endemism that is found along the coastal plain of northern KwaZulu-Natal and southern Mozambique.

According to the  ‘woody grasslands of Maputaland’ and ‘the underground forests of Africa’  are characterized by the many geoxylic (often rhizomatous) suffrutices that occur there. Geoxylic suffrutices, often referred to as ‘underground’ or ‘stunted’ trees, are dwarf woody plants with annual or short-lived woody shoots sprouting from massive or extensive woody, perennial, underground axes . Common examples of geoxylic suffrutices that occur in the woody grasslands of Maputaland are Ancylobotrys petersiana, Diospyros galpinii, Elephantorrhiza elephantine, Eugenia albanensis, Eugenia. capensis, Maytenus nemorosa, Pachystigma venosum, Parinari capensis subsp. incohata and Salacia krausii. 

Maputaland Wooded Grassland is also rich in plant species that are endemic to the Maputaland-Pondoland-Albany hotspot, one of the eight most important biodiversity regions in Africa. A biodiversity hotspot is a region of significant biological richness and a high level of endemism which is threatened with destruction.

Associations

I noticed large numbers of the attractive grassland plant Vernonia natalensis belonging to the daisy plant family Asteraceae growing in association with Parinari capensis subsp. incohata a eMalangeni.

The flower of Vernonia natalensis growing in typical Parinari capensis habitat at eMalangeni 

Guided excursions

Please join us on one of our many guided excursions conducted in Zulu, English or German into the eMalangeni Forest, Kosi Bay area, Tembe Elephant Park the home of the world largest elephants and other surrounding natural areas. Please visit one of my websites for my contact details.

Michael Hickman

18.04.21

Please visit my websites at

www.ecoman.co.za

www.hlem.co.za

as well as my other blogs at

http://luthulienvironment.blogspot.com/ 

http://ecomandurban.blogspot.com/

http://ecoman.co.za/projects/emalangeni.html

https://www.hlem.co.za/emalangeni.html

Zulu Beer Umqombothi at eMalangeni Forest Bush Camp

 
No visit to KwaZulu-Natal and in particular eMalangeni at Kosi Bay is complete without the ceremonial passing around of a clay ukhamba filled with umqombothi the traditional fermented drink.

Traditional ukhamba filled with umqombothi ready for drinking

Umqombothi Zulu beer which is very rich in vitamin B is a traditional alcoholic beverage drunk by the local people of this area, which is brewed mostly by the women over a three day period.

Umqombothi is a refreshing, nutritious drink with a unique sour taste that plays a very important and central role in social events, such as feasts, weddings and other traditional occasions and in particular when someone contacts their ancestors, the amadlozi, or just for the joy of drinking it. 

Brewing Umqombothi was traditionally done in a large ukhamba clay  pot however today it is mostly brewed in large plastic drums in particular where it is to serve many. 

Umqombothi is brewed following traditional customs which vary slightly between regions, where the recipe has been passed down through the generations. 

The ingredients used to brew umqombothi 

The ingredients used are ummbila maize, amabele sorghum, unyawothi pearly millet, umthombo wombila crushed maize malt and umthombo wamabele crushed sorghum malt. depending on the ratio used the maize malt provides a lighter-toned beer with a mellower flavour. The sorghum malt provides a darker beer. In the past unyawothi pearly millet was traditionally  used in place of the maize and is in some instances it still used or blended with the maize.

Crushed sorghum malt umthombo wamabele is used in the making of umqombothi at eMalangeni

This is the general method used to brew umqombothi which may differ slightly from area to area and from person to person brewing it.

The ingredients are mixed in a cast-iron pot and boiling water is added. The mixture is stirred and left overnight until the mixture starts fermenting and bubbles appear and a sour odour can be detected.

A small portion of this mash or wort is removed and put to one side. The remaining mash is cooked over a fire until a crusty sediment forms. This product is known as isidudu and can be eaten as a porridge. When making beer, the isidudu is left to cool for a day.

After the mixture has cooled, it is poured into a large clay pot known as Ukhamba or a plastic drum. The wort that was set aside is added to the vat as well as sorghum malt. The brew is stirred with a traditional stirring spoon called an iphini. The ukhamba is put in a warm place and is covered with a lid called imbenge and the ukhamba is then covered with a blanket to retain heat and is left overnight to allow time for fermentation. A plastic drum can also be used. 

Imbenge is the cover used to prevent dirt and insects falling into the ukhamba

The traditional method of testing to see if the brew is ready is to light a match close to the ukhamba, if the match blows out quickly, the brew is ready, if the match remains lit, the brew is not ready. This is because the fermenting mash produces large amounts of carbon dioxide, which does not allow for combustion of the match.

When the brew is ready, the fermented mash is filtered through a traditional grass strainer known as ivovo into a large put known as gogogo, to remove the spent grains known as izinzipho. this highly nutritious spent grains izinzipho is not wasted but is fed to chickens and goats. Some of  The  izinzipho left over from the brewing is kept for use in the  next batch of umqombothi to speed up the fermentation process. 

Ivovo is the beer strainer made of grass that is used to strainer the umqombothi before drinking

The grass strainers are only made by elderly people, using a centuries-old technique. It is a complicated and time consuming technique that takes great patience to learn and pass along to others. Younger generations are not always willing to learn this art, meaning that it is in danger of dying out, which could contribute to a loss of knowledge in brewing beer the traditional way.

The longer umqombothi is  fermented the higher the alcohol content will be, however it will not go much higher than 5% with time but  will go off if you keep it too long. Five days is normally the maximum time.

The first portion of the newly brewed umqombothi is poured onto the ground out of respect for the amadlozi or ancestors before drinking takes place.

The elder men the head of the home will often sit on their own isiQgiki soMnumzana traditional headrest and stool that no one else would ever sit on while drinking their umqombothi. 

isiQgiki soMnumzana

Please bear in mind that it is considered rude to drink umqombothi while standing up.

Here is one traditional recipe for brewing your own great tasting umqombothi at home using ingredients readily available from the local stores and in other parts of the country.

Here are the ingredients for a small serving

1 kg malt (umthombo wombila)

1kg malt (umthombo wamabele)

1 kg mielie meal

Boiling water

umthombo wamabele from King Korn

Here is the method

Day 1

Combine the mielie meal and umthombo wombila into a clean 5lt bucket.

Add boiling water and mix with a wooden spoon to form a loose paste and leave to cool.

Add 1 kg (umthombo wamabele) and mix using clean hands.

Cover and leave overnight.

Day 2

Make a fire.

Half fill a large pot with water and bring to boil.

Gradually add the mixture and cook to a porridge consistency and leave to cool.

Add 3 kg umthombo wamabele and leave overnight.

For extra fermentation add 1 Ijuba (or any other ready made sorghum beer) and do not mix and leave overnight.

Day 3

Using a beer strainer ivovo strain the beer into a clean bucket.

Serve the beverage from earthenware pot (ukhamba)

Or use equal amounts of maize meal and course sorghum following the method described above.

Using more maize malt will produce a lighter-coloured beer with a mellow flavour while using more sorghum will produce a stronger-tasting, darker beer.

Guided excursions

Please join us on one of our many guided excursions conducted in Zulu, English or German into the eMalangeni Forest, Kosi Bay area, Tembe Elephant Park the home of the world largest elephants and other surrounding natural areas. Please visit one of my websites for my contact details.

Michael Hickman

15.04.21

Please visit my websites at

www.ecoman.co.za

www.hlem.co.za

as well as my other blogs at

http://luthulienvironment.blogspot.com/ 

http://ecomandurban.blogspot.com/

http://ecoman.co.za/projects/emalangeni.html

https://www.hlem.co.za/emalangeni.html