South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.

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Durban Keeper
Posts: 39
Joined: August 29th, 2011, 11:26 pm

South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.

Post by Durban Keeper »

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!
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There are some nice hiking trails in the area, one of which led up to this small cave.
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Sandstone formations on the cave walls
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My first snake species for the trip was an Egg Eater.

Dasypeltis scabra - Rhombic Egg Eater
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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
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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.
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There is a viewpoint from within the nearby Valley of Desolation of the entire town.
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Valley of Desolation.
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I was pleased to find my first ever cape cobra.

Naja nivea - Cape Cobra
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Here are some of the other things I found in the area.

Lygodactylus capensis - Cape Dwarf Gecko
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Pachydactylus maculates - Spotted Thick Toed Gecko
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Chondrodactylus bibronii - Bibron's Gecko
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Pachydactylus capensis - Cape Thick Toed Gecko
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Trachylepis sulcata sulcata - Western Rock Skink
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Pseudocordylus microlepidotus fasciatus - Karoo Crag Lizard
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Agama atra - Southern Rock Agama
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Stigmochelys pardalis - Leopard Tortiose
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Vandijkophrynus gariepensis - Karoo Toad
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Karoo:
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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.
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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
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Karusasaurus polyzonus - Karoo Girdled Lizard
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Pachydactylus geitje - Ocellated Thick-toed Gecko
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Psammophylax rhombeatus - Rhombic Skaapsteker
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Leptotyphlops nigricans - Black Thread Snake
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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
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We made our way down to Cape Town for a few days.
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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.

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Pseudocordylus microlepidotus - Cape Crag Lizard
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Cordylus niger - Black Girdled Lizard
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Bradypodion pumilum - Cape Dwarf Chameleon
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These cute guys also call the mountain home.

Procavia capensis - Rock Hyrax
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We also made a stop at Boulder Beach near Simons Town to see the African Penguins.

Spheniscus demersus - African Penguin
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Afrogecko porphyreus - Marbled Leaf-toed Gecko.
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A very special moment of the trip was finally getting to see these guys:

Ouroborus cataphractus - Armadillo Girdled Lizard
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Pachydactylus mariquensis - Marico Thick-toed Gecko
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Goggia lineata - Striped Dwarf Leaf-toed Gecko
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Hyperolius m. verrucosus - Painted Reed Frog
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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:
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Eastern Cape near Grahamstown:

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Some other reptiles that turned up near Grahamstown:

Acontias orientalis - Eastern Leggless Skink
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Lycophidion capense - Cape Wolf Snake
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Cordylus cordylus - Cape Girdled Lizrad
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And so out road trip came to an end.
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Thanks for looking.

Dean
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Martti Niskanen
Posts: 363
Joined: June 11th, 2010, 11:19 am
Location: Helsinki, Finland

Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.

Post by Martti Niskanen »

Nice! Great shots of the Ouroborus cataphractus. And the Psammophylax is gorgeuous.
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Berkeley Boone
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Joined: June 8th, 2010, 4:02 am

Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.

Post by Berkeley Boone »

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
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chrish
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Location: San Antonio, TX
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Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.

Post by chrish »

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.
NACairns
Posts: 372
Joined: December 30th, 2013, 7:27 am

Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.

Post by NACairns »

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
Durban Keeper
Posts: 39
Joined: August 29th, 2011, 11:26 pm

Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.

Post by Durban Keeper »

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.
Kfen
Posts: 413
Joined: June 17th, 2010, 5:51 am
Location: CT

Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.

Post by Kfen »

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.
Durban Keeper
Posts: 39
Joined: August 29th, 2011, 11:26 pm

Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.

Post by Durban Keeper »

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.
KEAC
Posts: 39
Joined: September 27th, 2010, 3:51 pm

Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.

Post by KEAC »

Martti Niskanen wrote:Nice! Great shots of the Ouroborus cataphractus. And the Psammophylax is gorgeuous.
Ditto! Love that Ouroborus behavior. How common is that Psammophylax sp.? Quite a looker indeed.
I'm gearing up for a S.A. trip, my first, so I will have to pick your brain a little later.
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John Martin
Posts: 515
Joined: June 9th, 2010, 10:57 pm
Location: North end of Lake Okeechobee, Florida

Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.

Post by John Martin »

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 :P .
Also, I think your Painted Reed Frog has morphed into a Striped Dwarf Leaf-toed Gecko ;) . Again, fantastic post!!
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Nick Evans
Posts: 71
Joined: February 6th, 2014, 9:21 am

Re: South Africa 2015. Freestate, Eastern & Western Cape.

Post by Nick Evans »

WOW Dean! Incredible post, pics and finds! Thanks for sharing photos of our beautiful country and it's fauna :thumb:
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