The wonders of winter
By Jon Jon van Zyl

Often, I wake up on a winter’s morning, poke a foot out the bottom of the duvet and think, “there is no way I am climbing out of my warm, snug bed!” But more often than not, the excitement of a winter’s day in the wilderness takes over and a layer or two of warm clothing and a hot chocolate takes care of the rest. There are a few things that are different during this cold season and make it an incredibly special time of year.

 

While certainly much cooler, winter also brings vivid blue skies and predominantly clear, beautiful days. The soft morning and afternoon light last longer than in summer, which is fantastic for photography, and the warm winter colors make for lovely soft backgrounds to any subject. Some mornings, parts of Kwandwe are covered in a blanket of mist to begin with, especially the low-lying areas along the Great Fish River and its tributaries, and watching the sunrise over them is breathtaking. Until the sunlight burns off, it can provide some incredibly unique photographic opportunities and it’s almost surreal as animals suddenly come looming into view.

The cold winter air is much denser, which allows the sounds of the bush to travel further than at other times of year. The beautiful birdsong of the dawn chorus, the thrilling roars of the big cats, and the alarm calls of their vigilant prey all seem that much closer and clearer. A lion’s roar is a sound synonymous with Africa, and whilst their thunderous calls can be heard for miles under normal circumstances, it’s even further in winter! If you are lucky enough to watch them roar, the chill of winter presents a rather unique opportunity to “see” the sound being created as their breath steams with each burst of sound.

 

Temperature has a significant impact on animal’s activity periods and the cooler conditions cause a noticeable shift in these periods. There is far more activity throughout the day as opposed to summer when the midday heat tends to force everything to a standstill. Perhaps the most exciting change, however, is the chance to view nocturnal species during the day. Aardwolf, Porcupine, Bat-eared Fox and even Aardvark are just some of the nocturnal creatures that may be seen basking in the sun at their burrow entrances or out foraging during the day. Both the milder day time temperatures and the frigid night temperatures have an impact on them, as well as the activity periods of their prey such as termites.

Winter is generally time for plants to conserve energy, but not, however, for the many different aloe species. A background of golden yellows and browns only accentuates the beauty of the aloe’s vivid orange and red flowers, attracting the attention of sunbirds who, in turn, add their magnificent colours. Sunbirds are highly adapted with long, needle-like beaks that allow them access to the sweet nectar. Other species like Red-winged Starlings and Fork-tailed Drongos also take advantage of the bounty on offer and usually have orange stains on their face as proof! I try not have favourites, but there is something special about watching a malachite sunbird with its long tail feathers and distinct iridescent color sitting on the bright orange flowers.

After all the excitement of the day something is still awaiting. Winter night skies are really a sight to behold. The lack of light pollution and clear air leads to a breathtaking view of the cosmos. Some nights, the milky way is so clear no pictures will ever do it justice… hours can be spent staring up into the sky and pondering what the next day has in store.