Unlocking the Secrets of Swebeswebe: Adventures in Bird Ringing at Nature’s Oasis
Joseph Heymans is a good character. He is a botanist, a bird ringer (registered) co-authored a book on the flowers of the Waterberg, and one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Joseph and his team of bird ringers have been actively ringing birds on Swebeswebe for the last 16 years. During this time, […]
Regenerative Grazing
In the latter 20th century, the Waterberg region was little-known, inhabited by large predators and occasional herds of big game. However, farming led to a shift to cattle and crops, with tobacco thriving in the acidic soils. Intensive farming harmed the ecosystem, causing bush encroachment and erosion, ultimately forcing property sales and necessitating diversification. Amid […]
Free-roaming African Wild Dogs
The African wild dog, scientifically known as Lycaon pictus, is an endangered species found in sub-Saharan Africa. With a striking coat of red, black, brown, white, and yellow patches, these long-legged canines are adapted to open plains and sparse woodlands. Living in close-knit packs, they exhibit a highly social structure and are skilled hunters, primarily […]
Resurrection Plant
The pictures depict the plant’s remarkable resurrection within a matter of days when exposed to water. The resurrection plant, Myrothamnus flabellifolius, showcases a fascinating adaptation in which its leaves appear lifeless and shrunken during dry seasons, yet remarkably revive to lush green within minutes of encountering water. This property, which is retained in branches removed […]
Rock Art
The rock art at Swebeswebe provides a captivating glimpse into the artistic expression and beliefs of three distinct groups spanning thousands of years. The site showcases paintings by the San (Bushmen) ancestors, passing herders and Iron Age (Northern Sotho) farmers. This valuable site stands out among the few in the Waterberg that depict fat-tailed sheep, […]
Ringing Birds on Swebeswebe
Swebeswebe BirdLife is a recognized Birder Friendly Establishment with BirdLife South Africa. For the last 14 years a dedicated team from SAFRING and LEDET have been travelling to the Waterberg to spend a week each November capturing, collecting data, and ringing birds before re-releasing them. This data is sent to SAFRING to be inserted in […]
Chacma Baboon Research
In 2019, a fascinating primate project began at Swebeswebe, home to several of South Africa’s primate species, including chacma baboons, vervet monkeys and the lesser bushbaby. What made Swebeswebe so ideal for this study was its ever-changing climate, seasonality and long periods without rain, which can be tough for the animals. The group of baboons […]