“The season’s change is upon us …”
The season’s change is upon us. It was a glorious winter in the bushveld region of Phalaborwa where temperatures dropped a little lower than normal this year, offering a welcome respite from the summer highs. The knob thorn trees are the first to betray spring’s arrival and the first signs of their creamy yellow flowers in August mark the end of the dry season. Giraffes in particular relish this time of the year as the knob thorn forms part of its staple diet and resultantly are believed to be its mammal pollinator. This is a unique relationship as no other large mammals are known to pollinate plants.
A spring-time contemporary of the knob thorn is the sjambok pod, also known as the long-tail cassia which, after living an austere existence in winter, push a profusion of bright yellow flowers on long stalks clustered at the end of a branch forming spectacular sprays of colour.
Phalaborwa is the heart of the mopani-veld; the mopani tree making up approximately 80% of all tree species found in the region. Mopani trees hold onto their leaves during the winter months turning yellow to burnt orange to brick red as winter progresses painting an arresting kaleidoscope of colour on Kruger’s canvas. They provide an important food source to herbivores during leaner times as their leaves, when growing, contain12-15% protein and when dry maintain up to 40% or their original protein levels.
We can expect the migratory birds to return soon (more of them in another article) and the rains, when they fall in November, will settle a dusty October and fill the dams, pans and other water holes. The Kruger is waking up. It’s time to head east.
