Wildlife Tourism

Nature tourism is based on the idea that the destination and purpose of travel is nature itself.

Specialized forms of nature tourism focus on e.g. specific groups of plants or animals. Wildlife tourism is an element of many nations’ travel industry centered around observation and interaction with local animal and plant life in their natural habitats.

Wildlife photography is about capturing a split second when the light and the animal behavior come together to create an emotional image.

The beauty and also the curse of wildlife photography is that one cannot change almighty Nature. One cannot change the weather and the light, where the wild animals want to go, what they want to do, and when special things happen to them.

When that moment comes, we know we have conquered nature. Maybe this is what some people mean when they say “becoming one with Nature.” Yet one does not need to travel to these grand locations to see wildlife. If you look closer, you will see that it is all around us.

Nature is not always sunshine and rainbows. Yet if you keep looking—enduring rain and wind—miracles can happen.

“The wonderful thing about nature photography is that you are continually humbled and amazed by the delightful surprises that come from it—and horrified and disappointed when it doesn’t work as you predicted.” – Jim Brandenberg.

The Power of Nature is in Your Hands!

Animals and their habitat

The vegetation surrounding at Wag ‘n Bietjie lodge is classified as thorn bushveld, and is an open savanna of mostly trees (Camel thorn tree) and grasses.

 

Plants within these veldtipe are the plant able to survive in this semi-arid climate, a diversity of animals are also able to thrive on the drought-resistant vegetation. Some of these are the abundant Armored Ground Crickets, the spritely Springbuck and the White backed Vulture that scavenges on animal carcasses. Birds are usually the first to be seen and easily identified like: blacksmith lapwing, melodious lark, cinnamon-breasted bunting, freckled nightjar, short-toed rock thrush, pygmy falcon and northern black korhaan.

 

A fascinating diversity of animals like Buffalo, sable, giraffe, gems buck, nyala, roan and waterbuck are well adapted to survive in these semi-arid climate and are dependent on the drought-resistant vegetation.

 

Interesting geological features of the landscape are the extremely hard rock type known as dolerite, forms the capping of the koppies around Wag ‘n Bietjie lodge. These were formed by outpourings of lava during ancient times.

 

In certain disturbed (and overgrazed) areas such as farmland along the road from Kimberley to Wag ‘n Bietjie and at the mine dumps, a number of invasive plants have established themselves and are influencing the natural (indigenous)vegetation. The main culprit and largest threat to our natural vegetation is the mesquite tree ( Prosopis glandulosa).

 

The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes – Marcel Proust