Explore the fauna of Melville Koppies
Melville Koppies offer Sunday morning outings throughout October and November
“We’ll be back,” was a comment from a recent visitor to one of Melville Koppies Nature Reserve and Heritage Site’s Sunday open mornings.
Before lockdown, visitors had a choice of doing a 8km hike through the reserve or a more leisurely 4.5km guided walk. Now you have the freedom to roam the Koppies in your family group, or with groups of friends, along its many paths at your own pace, stopping, listening and seeing when you want.
Pretend you’re David Attenborough – scan the grasslands for the domed mounds of earth, the homes of the snouted termite. These unassuming mounds hide an intricate story of cooperation.
Locked down in their mound during the day, worker termites head out at night, cut grass and bring it back inside for the baby termites. Soldier termites defend the colony from attack while one queen termite (with the help of a number of kings) churns out eggs on a daily basis for decades.
Young termites escape the lockdown after a summer thunderstorm as flying ants, the lucky ones find a mate and live to create another mound.
The unlucky ones come to a squishy end, often under your foot in your house or as a tasty morsel in a bird’s gullet.
Listen out for the raucous ‘kek, kek, kek, kaa, kaa, kaa’ of the helmeted guineafowl and if you’re lucky you’ll see them.
Get down on your haunches on the dusty paths and see if you can spot signs of their dust baths – shallow depressions in the footpaths with their tell-tale footprint.
Look where you’re walking and adjacent to the path. If you’re really lucky you’ll spot one of the very shy tortoises that trundle across the grassland. For more details see www.mk.org.za
Due to the pandemic, the usual calendar of guided tours and hikes is temporarily suspended. Instead they are offering Sunday morning outings. Arrive from 8am and be out by 11.30am.
Pre-bookings and payment are essential. Cost is R80 for adults and R40 for learners.
Email names and cellphone numbers of your group to wendavid@mweb.co.za or phone 011 482 4797 for more details.
