After a rather busy 2014 my girlfriend & I decided an early year break was in order. We opted to do a cross country road trip, one which saw us covering a distance of over 6300 kilometres in a space of 3 weeks. Right from the start she made it quite clear that this was not to be a ‘herping trip’, but a holiday. That of course didn’t stop me from flipping and cruising every time the opportunity to do so presented itself. Here follows an account of the breathtakingly beautiful places we visited and some of the animals I was fortunate enough to encounter along the way.
Our first stop was Golden Gate National Park near Clerens in the Freestate.
This would be our home for the next few days. Now I don’t know about you, but I would choose this over going 5 star any day of the week!
There are some nice hiking trails in the area, one of which led up to this small cave.
Sandstone formations on the cave walls
My first snake species for the trip was an Egg Eater.
Dasypeltis scabra - Rhombic Egg Eater
The next find happened on only the 2nd day of our trip and turned out to be one of the best finds of my life!
After this I just felt like no matter what happened from here on out, this trip was already a success.
Lamprophis fuscus - Yellow Bellied House Snake
Our next stop was Graaf Reinette, a town in the Eastern Cape where we spent some time exploring the nearby Camdeboo National Park.
The town has one of the most impressive churches you will ever see.
There is a viewpoint from within the nearby Valley of Desolation of the entire town.
Valley of Desolation.
I was pleased to find my first ever cape cobra.
Naja nivea - Cape Cobra
Here are some of the other things I found in the area.
Lygodactylus capensis - Cape Dwarf Gecko
Pachydactylus maculates - Spotted Thick Toed Gecko
Chondrodactylus bibronii - Bibron's Gecko
Pachydactylus capensis - Cape Thick Toed Gecko
Trachylepis sulcata sulcata - Western Rock Skink
Pseudocordylus microlepidotus fasciatus - Karoo Crag Lizard
Agama atra - Southern Rock Agama
Stigmochelys pardalis - Leopard Tortiose
Vandijkophrynus gariepensis - Karoo Toad
Karoo:
We stopped over for two nights in Langebaan to spend some time in the magnificent West Coast National Park. Even though it was not flower season, the park is beautiful.
During our visit to the park the most common reptile (or animal for that matter) that we encountered was Angulate tortoises.
Chersina angulate - Angulate tortoise
Karusasaurus polyzonus - Karoo Girdled Lizard
Pachydactylus geitje - Ocellated Thick-toed Gecko
Psammophylax rhombeatus - Rhombic Skaapsteker
Leptotyphlops nigricans - Black Thread Snake
While on a hiking trail I decided to check out a derelict bird viewing hut. Upon nearing it I heard the tell-tale sound of a rat meeting it's fate & stormed inside to find a mole snake which had just caught it's prey! What a way to tick a lifer. I only managed a few poor quality shots before he disappeared out of sight to consume his meal in peace.
Pseudaspis cana - Mole Snake
We made our way down to Cape Town for a few days.
My girlfriend had mentioned back at the start of the trip that weather permitting, we should climb up Table Mountian. Unfortunately the sun decided to shine & so we did the hike. It wasn't easy, but the views made it well worth it.
Pseudocordylus microlepidotus - Cape Crag Lizard
Cordylus niger - Black Girdled Lizard
Bradypodion pumilum - Cape Dwarf Chameleon
These cute guys also call the mountain home.
Procavia capensis - Rock Hyrax
We also made a stop at Boulder Beach near Simons Town to see the African Penguins.
Spheniscus demersus - African Penguin
Afrogecko porphyreus - Marbled Leaf-toed Gecko.
A very special moment of the trip was finally getting to see these guys:
Ouroborus cataphractus - Armadillo Girdled Lizard
Pachydactylus mariquensis - Marico Thick-toed Gecko
Goggia lineata - Striped Dwarf Leaf-toed Gecko
Hyperolius m. verrucosus - Painted Reed Frog
During our trip I was lucky enough to tick a tortoise species off my life list I have always wanted to find. Not only that, but I found 2 in very different localities.
Homopus areolatus - Parrot Beaked Padloper
Western Cape near Oudshoorn:
Eastern Cape near Grahamstown:
Some other reptiles that turned up near Grahamstown:
Acontias orientalis - Eastern Leggless Skink
Lycophidion capense - Cape Wolf Snake
Cordylus cordylus - Cape Girdled Lizrad
And so out road trip came to an end.
Thanks for looking.
Dean
South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.
Moderator: Scott Waters
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- Martti Niskanen
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- Location: Helsinki, Finland
Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.
Nice! Great shots of the Ouroborus cataphractus. And the Psammophylax is gorgeuous.
- Berkeley Boone
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Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.
Holy moly those were great photos!
Loved that Psammophylax as well, and thanks for all the tortoise pictures. I wouldn't say no if you wanted to post a few more....
--Berkeley
Loved that Psammophylax as well, and thanks for all the tortoise pictures. I wouldn't say no if you wanted to post a few more....
--Berkeley
Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.
Unfortunately, you exceeded your free photobucket bandwidth so no one will see your photos until the bandwidth is reset.
I could see a few images by right clicking and choosing image properties. That mole snake encounter would have made my day, week, or even year! Amazing.
I could see a few images by right clicking and choosing image properties. That mole snake encounter would have made my day, week, or even year! Amazing.
Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.
What a spectacular post. The gecko diversity is amazing. Do you find most geckos under cover or shining at night? I agree with Chrish the mole snake must have been an outstanding encounter.
Thanks for sharing,
Nick
Thanks for sharing,
Nick
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- Joined: August 29th, 2011, 11:26 pm
Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.
Thanks everyone for your comments.
Some gecko species where found in rock cracks and some where spotted crossing the road at night. The Mole Snake encounter was truly a moment I will remember for the rest of my life.
I must apologise for the fact that the images wont show up. I'm very sorry, but the photobucket account should eventually reset & I will return to 'bump' the post. If anyone is truly interested in seeing these pics as well as other reptiles I encounter in South Africa, please just add me on Facebook by searching for Dean Boshoff.
Thanks all.
Dean.
Some gecko species where found in rock cracks and some where spotted crossing the road at night. The Mole Snake encounter was truly a moment I will remember for the rest of my life.
I must apologise for the fact that the images wont show up. I'm very sorry, but the photobucket account should eventually reset & I will return to 'bump' the post. If anyone is truly interested in seeing these pics as well as other reptiles I encounter in South Africa, please just add me on Facebook by searching for Dean Boshoff.
Thanks all.
Dean.
Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.
Please bump this post when they are available again. I right clicked a few and they look awesome. It got tedious so I will wait, but I would love to see them all. You can also upgrade your pb account.
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- Joined: August 29th, 2011, 11:26 pm
Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.
Hi guys. It seems my photobucket limit has reset. I hope you don't mind me bumping this post. Apologies for the trouble caused.
Thanks,
Dean.
Thanks,
Dean.
Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.
Ditto! Love that Ouroborus behavior. How common is that Psammophylax sp.? Quite a looker indeed.Martti Niskanen wrote:Nice! Great shots of the Ouroborus cataphractus. And the Psammophylax is gorgeuous.
I'm gearing up for a S.A. trip, my first, so I will have to pick your brain a little later.
- John Martin
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- Location: North end of Lake Okeechobee, Florida
Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.
Wow, outstanding photography! These pics really make me want to visit your part of the world, just beautiful. And, way to not turn your holiday into a herping trip, wink, wink, nudge, nudge .
Also, I think your Painted Reed Frog has morphed into a Striped Dwarf Leaf-toed Gecko . Again, fantastic post!!
Also, I think your Painted Reed Frog has morphed into a Striped Dwarf Leaf-toed Gecko . Again, fantastic post!!
- Nick Evans
- Posts: 71
- Joined: February 6th, 2014, 9:21 am
Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.
WOW Dean! Incredible post, pics and finds! Thanks for sharing photos of our beautiful country and it's fauna