Rare find for intrepid adventurers
“We are really excited to have found such a unique frog, so close to home. Since starting our group, we’ve seen so many amazing places and animals in and around Newcastle,”
A local adventure team have made an awesome discovery.
While hiking on the farm Moorfield, just outside Newcastle, members of Storm Adventures found a Spotted Burrowing Frog, a threatened species on the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) red list.
This is a first for this area.
Discovering the frog occurred when six Storm Adventures members were busy with a free-running activity called river parkour, and noticed rains approaching.
With bad weather closing, the group headed back to camp and noticed the rare frog.
And while the discovery of the Burrowing Frog is a significant contribution to South African nature records, it is the tip of the iceberg for these dynamic explorers.
“We are really excited to have found such a unique frog, so close to home. Since starting our group, we’ve seen so many amazing places and animals in and around Newcastle,” said member, Bo Gilbert.
Storm Adventures conducts many trips around KwaZulu-Natal, and with members boasting different skill sets, have found many weird and wonderful creatures in the region.
“Near Vulintaba Country Estate, we have discovered a deadly species of scorpion.”
All in all, members of the Storm Adventures team have documented over 100 species of bird, about 10 snakes and more.
This is not the only pursuit interesting the members.
“We like to do extreme activities like white water rafting and abseiling. We like to make our own trails and go river-hopping, camping and leave geocaches,” added Bernard van Kampen.
With the motto ‘life as it was meant to be’, the team takes inspiration from nature and revels in the fresh feeling of the great outdoors, noticing the beauty in its surroundings.
Their intention is to begin nature and adventure trips in the near future.
“You don’t need to be really fit. We have two first aiders and two others are going for guide courses soon.”
With the youngest member 16 years old and the eldest 23, Storm Adventures wishes to inspire other young Newcastillians to get out more.
“It gets busy as a city, so you need to enjoy the unusual. A change is as good as a holiday.”
If the exploits of the outdoors appeals, visit them on Facebook
“It’s amazing to see just how much wildlife we have in Newcastle. Beauty is all around us, we just have to look.”
