Signs of summer on a South African safari

Whether it’s the shrill of the cicadas or the first Barn swallow gliding in the sky, there are various ways to know that summer is arriving in South Africa. On safari, our Lion Sands Game Reserve and Marataba field guide teams have a few signs of their own that they watch out for.

Their first is the summer storms originating from the big dark clouds that roll in from the east and bring the smell of petrichor - that wonderful earthy scent of rain hitting dry soil. This is soon followed by the first signs of an impala lamb struggling to its feet. After a gestation period of around six months, the impala lambing season usually coincides with these lush rains that bring in even lusher vegetation. Our field guides like to have a bit of fun and are quite competitive as to who will predict the exact day of birthing!

Another one of our favourite signs of summer is the Woodland kingfisher (Halcyon senegalensis). This striking blue-backed kingfisher with a red and black bill has a piercing call – a ‘chip-cherrrrrrr’ - we like to call this the sound of summer. This intra-African migrant is generally found around the equator and starts appearing in the Lowveld during late October and November as the days truly warm up. We do get to enjoy this incredible sound up until March-April before they head back to their other preferred central African regions for the winter. The species enjoys a variety of woodland habitats with a fondness for trees such as the Senegalia (knobthorn) and Vachellia (previously known as acacias). This kingfisher is a favourite for bird watchers and photographers.

These are just some of the moments we look for in nature, that indicate summer has arrived. Bring on the warmer days!

Words: Francois Fourie | Images: Francois Fourie, Hugh Morris, JJ Engelbrecht