Living and working in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

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Nick Evans
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Joined: February 6th, 2014, 9:21 am

Living and working in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Africa

Post by Nick Evans »

Over the past month and a bit I've been lucky enough to work and live in Zululand, Northern Natal. I've been guiding and doing a few other random things, but mostly looking for snakes! It's such an amazing part of the world, with so much to see and such a high level of diversity. I've had some great luck during that time, and found many reptile species that I hadn't found before. It wasn't just reptile sightings that have been great!

Eastern Purple-Glossed Snake (Amblyodipsas microphthalma microphthalma)

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Common Purple-glossed Snake (Amblyodipsas polylepis polylepis)

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Jan's Shovel-snout (Prosymna janii)

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East African Shovel-snout (Prosymna stuhlmannii)

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Transvaal Quill-snouted Snake (Xenocalamus transvaalensis)

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Variegated Slug-eater (Duberria variegate)

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Common Wolf Snake (Lycophidion capense)

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Rhombic Egg-eater (Dasypeltis scabra)

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Herald Snake (Crotaphopeltis hotamboeia)

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Schlegel's Blind Snake (Megatyphlops schlegelii)

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Eastern Natal Green Snake (Philothamnus natalensis natalensis)

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Southern African Python (Python natalensis)

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Forest Cobra (Naja melanoleuca)

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Snouted Cobra (Naja annulifera)

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Mozambique Spitting Cobra (Naja mossambica)

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Vine Snake (Thelotornis capensis)

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Puff Adder (Bitis arietans)

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Van Dam's Dwarf Worm Lizard (Zygaspis vandami)

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Eastern Sand Skink (Trachylepis depressa)

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Rock Monitor (Varanus albigularis)

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Transvaal Girdled Lizard (Cordylus vittifer)

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Flap-necked Chameleon (Chamaeleo dilepis)

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Eastern Hinged-back Tortoise (Kinixys zombensis)

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Nile Crocodile (Crocodylus niloticus)

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African Bullfrog (Pyxicephalus edulis)

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Red-legged Kassina (Kassina maculata)

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Bubbling Kassina (Kassina senegalensis)

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Mozambique Rain Frog (Breviceps mossambicus)

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Bronze Caco (Cacosternum nanum)

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Broad-banded Grass Frog (Ptychadena mossambica)

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Mottled Shovel-nosed Frog (Hemisus marmoratus)

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I do snake removals in and around the area of Hluhluwe. I've had some pretty adventurous ones so far!

I got a call to remove a Forest Cobra that was in a hollow tree. It was tricky enough to get it out, but I soon painfully discovered the tree was occupied by a swarm of bees! Luckily a staff member at the lodge had a bee suit, but only the top half! It was a lot of fun...

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Another call for a Forest Cobra high up a tree...

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And a female Boomslang, also up a tree!

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Game viewing isn't half bad either....

Black Rhino on the Eastern Shores of Isimangaliso Wetland Park

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Boat rides on the St.Lucia estuary allow you to get close to hippos, crocs, and birds.

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Yellow Weaver

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Egyptian Geese and Wooly-necked Storks

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White Rhino in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi

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Wild Dogs

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Elephants in Tembe Elephant Park

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Nyala's at Mkhuze Game Reserve

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Warthog family

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Hippo at Muzi Pan just outside of Mkhuze

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Ndumo Game Reserve...

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Pelicans at Ndumo

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If anyone's keen on visiting the area give me a shout!
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Chaitanya
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Re: Living and working in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Afri

Post by Chaitanya »

beautiful pics. and nice place to herping.
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Paul Freed
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Re: Living and working in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Afri

Post by Paul Freed »

Fantastic photos, Nick! That Amblyodipsas polylepis is a dead ringer for an Atractaspis. The Zygaspis vandami is an amazing find, I'm extremely jealous, and the Breviceps is such a fun species (did you get to see any males riding on the females?). Even the non-herp animals you saw are spectacular, the white rhino mother with her young was a great shot and the close up of the wild dog was outstanding. Thanks for sharing your observations and I'm looking forward to more of your posts.
-Paul
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Soopaman
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Re: Living and working in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Afri

Post by Soopaman »

Great post! You saw a lot of cool stuff. I really like the boomsland (wish you'd gotten some more pics!) and the puff adder. That rhombic egg eater might be my favorite though. The matte scales and elliptical eyes are really cool!
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The Real Snake Man
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Re: Living and working in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Afri

Post by The Real Snake Man »

As drool seeps forth from my mouth while my eyes remain glued to the snakes and other critters you have here posted, the only thing I can say is: :thumb: 20 times over.

-Gene
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Rothdigga
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Re: Living and working in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Afri

Post by Rothdigga »

Yeah Nick! How how come everytime I'm out there visiting I only get about 10% of this stuff? I guess I need to come out for more than 3-4 days this year...and probably not in October. Great stuff, wild dogs are killer in addition to all the amazing herps. That Vine Snake pic is so good.
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Nick Evans
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Joined: February 6th, 2014, 9:21 am

Re: Living and working in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Afri

Post by Nick Evans »

Thanks for all the compliments! Appreciate it!

Paul- I didn't see any Breviceps mating. I only saw one! It's been fairly dry up until recently, so most of the frogs were encountered on one rainy night.

Jason-Yes come for a little longer! January or February!
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TravisK
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Re: Living and working in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Afri

Post by TravisK »

Very Nice.

The worm lizard and blind snake were freaking awesome!
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SurfinHerp
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Re: Living and working in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Afri

Post by SurfinHerp »

Amazing Nick!!

8-) :mrgreen: 8-)


Stay safe during those venomous snake removals!


Jeff
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Nick Evans
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Joined: February 6th, 2014, 9:21 am

Re: Living and working in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Afri

Post by Nick Evans »

Thanks guys!

TravisK-Yeah they are cool. I especially love the Worm Lizards. They are horrible to photograph but really interesting animals.
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Mike VanValen
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Re: Living and working in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Afri

Post by Mike VanValen »

I'll get there, someday. Until then I have Nick Evans posts to keep me dreaming. :beer:
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Rich in Reptiles
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Re: Living and working in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Afri

Post by Rich in Reptiles »

I always enjoy your posts here on FHF! A field herper in (half) a bee suit- that's too funny :lol:.
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Nick Evans
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Joined: February 6th, 2014, 9:21 am

Re: Living and working in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Afri

Post by Nick Evans »

Thanks guys :thumb:

I liked the bee suit, thought it looked very cool ;) :lol:
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Roki
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Re: Living and working in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Afri

Post by Roki »

Cool post and great photography. The bee suit shot is pretty comical. The things we do to pull off what we do. Seems like a great time down there.
Cheers
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Nick Evans
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Joined: February 6th, 2014, 9:21 am

Re: Living and working in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Afri

Post by Nick Evans »

Thanks very much Roki!
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