Member's Tips on do's and dont's of spotting

[Sonel]

[Polentswa]

I am always lucky when I read the signs or take the trouble to. How often have I just stopped (gut feeling) switch off and LISTEN to the 06h30 Bush news being read by Mr Monkey (They have their uses after all ) and Mrs Francolin is great for announcing a leopard on the move ... if I am lucky it all goes silent and then unsighted 100-150 metres in the awesome rasping cough of a leopard territory calling . I listen very carefully now as he will call again and that is where it is key to locate exactly which direction he is moving and then quickly start and move to a suitable point SWITCH OFF THE ENGINE and wait ...in 90% 0f times in about 5 mins your cat will appear at the car or hopefully in front and will be relaxed as your car has been silent for a few mins...One early morning I picked up the huge spoor of a male leopard in the soft sand on the S119 Gardenia Hide loop off the S25 along the Mtambane spruit ....FRESH Fresh!!! I slowly proceeded ..Nothing Doubled back and the squirrels and francolin were going beserk in the trees above the reeds ..Francolin in trees ..He must have been right below and flushed them!! Saw nothing ..For the next 5 mornings while camping at Berg en Dal I was there before sunrise and found spoor most mornings ..I never gave up ...Morning 6 Lovely fresh Spoor Francolin excited ..No cars ..went 50 metres ahead and parked ..4 mins approx. he came into the road and sat down 30 metres in front of me ..A big boy!! I had anticipated this so before I switched off I turned sideways so I didn't have to shoot through a windscreen This also allowed me to observe the space behind me in case he decided to give me the slip..READ the signs



So much more rewarding than looking for 200 cars parked all over the place at Lower Sabie ..Do the quieter roads like the S119

[Polentswa]

With regards to wild dogs, I think they move their dens quite often. Last year before our trip I had been keeping an eye on the sightings groups and saw there was a den on one of the Pretoriuskop loop roads, but they moved just days before we got there. Twice now we've seen the EWT's truck tracking wild dog on the S114. We never saw them but they must be in the area.

Correct the EWT truck would be looking for the Afsaal Pack ..I flew with Dr Gus Mills from Skukuza Airport with an Aerial on the wing and we found all 5 packs of the South Bulge in about 2 hours up..All visuals .. Wild Dogs have about 3-5 regular dens in their large territories and rotate a bit but have their favorites like the Skukuza Pack with the Renoster Koppies Monument den

[Richprins]

Interesting, Peter!

[nan]

[Flutterby]

Great that you finally found the leopard....your patience was rewarded!

[Richprins]

How to speak like a game ranger
By reading this article you will be able to recognise the animal you’re after.


While moseying through the Kruger National Park in the back of an open safari vehicle, the radios suddenly break the surrounding solitude: “Ngala yi famba yi ya ka qivi“. Your heart races as the game ranger accelerates into the bush… but you’re lost. You know that you’re after “ngala”, but you have no idea what it is. The curiosity is unbearable, and you’re too shy to pluck up the courage to ask.

Don’t worry, by reading this article you will be able to recognise the animal you’re after. It turns out that rangers tend to use a bit of safari slang (part Shangaan part isiZulu), but here is a list of Shangaan words you are likely to hear:

Ngala: Male lion
Mkhumbi: White rhino
Xinkankanka: Cheetah
Mpfuvu: Hippo
Yingwe: Leopard
Mahlolwa: Wild dog
Nyama ya swi vandanza: Predator’s kill
Ngwenya: Crocodile
Ndlopfu: Elephant
Nyathi: Buffalo
Qivi: Drinking hole
Koti: Vulture
Wansati: Female
Nhutlwa: Giraffe
Mhisi: Hyena
Famba: Animal moving


http://lowvelder.co.za/283829/how-to-sp ... me-ranger/

[nan]

I had recognized only one... in several drives : Ngala

[Flutterby]

You're giving all their secrets away!

[stefan9]

To add to Rich's list.

Mammals
Aardvark = xiwabana
African Wild Cat = xikatsi
Baboon =mfenhe
Buffalo = nyarhi/nyathi
Bushbaby = nwana kahina
Bushbuck = mbavala
Caracal = nandzana
Cheetah =xikakaka
Civet = mfungwe
Duiker = mhunti
Eland(even tho not seen here) = mhofu
Elephant = ndlopfu
Genet = nsimba
Giraffe = nhutlwa
Hippo = pfuvu
Honey Badger = xinzele
Hyaena = mhisi
Impala = mhala
Jackal(blacked back) = mangawana
Jackal(side striped) = mhungubya
Kudu = nhongo
Lion = ngala
Leopard = yingwe
Mongoose(white tailed) = tlholodwa
Mongoose(dwarf) = matsikitsorho
Mongoose(banded) = nkala
Mongoose(slender) = mangovo
Nyala = nyala
Pangolin = qwarhi
Porcupine = jelwana
Reedbuck = nhlangu
Rhino(Black) = mhelembe
Rhino(White) = mkhumbi
Scrub Hare = mpfundla
Scrub Hare Baby =
Serval =
Squirrel = macindana
Steenbok = xipene
Vervet monkey=nkawu
Warthog = honci
Waterbuck = pivha
Wild Dog = mahlolwa
Wildebeest = hongonyi
Zebra =mangwa

Other Terms Used
Male = nuna/madoda
Female = nsati/mfasi
Cub = n’wana/mapipana
Predator's Kill = nyama ya swi vandanza
Dead animal found/not from predator = ku ngari hi xivandzana
Animal laying down = etlela hansi/lala phasi
Animal moving = famba famba /jika jika
You snooze you lose(from Rex) = walala wa sala
Waterhole = qivi
Dam = damu

Reptiles
Crocodile = ngwenya
Monitor Lizard(rock) = ngwahle
Monitor Lizard(water) = ngwehle
Terrapin = xigamba
Tortoise(leopard) = futsu

SNAKES
Black Mamba = mamba
Blind Snake = rikhurhi
Cobras = mfezi
Puff Adder =mbuyuya
Pythons =nhlarhu

BIRDS
Buzzard = ngama
Duck = dada
Eagles = ngama
Goose = dada
Ostrich = yinca
Owls = xikhovha
Pigeon = ngwamba
Spoonbill = ngumba
Storks = ngumba
Vulture = koti
Woodpecker = gogoswana

http://blog.wildearth.tv/2008/06/shangaan.html