The bushveld, at its own pace
Wild lives,
wide skies.
Meet the resident animals recorded on the farm, alongside birdlife and indigenous trees of the wider Waterberg. Sightings vary with season and conditions.
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A tall, cautious browser of woodland and thicket. Adult males carry the familiar long spiral horns; both sexes use cover and browse on leaves and shoots.
A quick, social antelope that feeds on grasses and browse. Herds use alarm calls and sudden bounding leaps when disturbed.
A boldly striped grazer that favours open grass and keeps close contact within family groups and larger herds.
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A shy antelope associated with thick bush and woodland. Males are slate-grey with spiral horns; females are reddish and striped.
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Africa’s largest antelope, with a calm, robust build. Eland browse and graze, moving between woodland and open feeding areas.
A tall browser able to reach foliage above most other herbivores. Giraffes move in loose, changing social groups.
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A sturdy grazer with a sloping back and curved horns. Wildebeest feed on grasses and often associate with other plains game.
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A secretive, mostly nocturnal pig that shelters in dense cover and forages for roots, fruit and other food.
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An open-country pig with tusks and facial warts. Warthogs graze and root for food, retreating to burrows for shelter.
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A striking antelope with a dark coat and long, swept-back horns in males. Sable use woodland and open grassland edges.
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A shy, mostly nocturnal carnivore and scavenger. It travels over large areas and may also eat small prey, insects and fruit.
A solitary, adaptable big cat with a spotted coat. Leopards are elusive and mostly active at night or in low light.
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A powerful, herd-living grazer. Buffalo depend on water and suitable grazing, and are best observed from a safe distance.
A South African antelope with a distinctive white blaze and dark face markings. Blesbok graze in open grassland.
THE LIVING WATERBERG
Birds, trees & place.
A field guide to species reported in the Koedoeskop and Waterberg region. Habitats vary from bushveld and woodland to reed beds and dams; sightings change with season, weather and location.
Birds to look for
Yellow-throated Sandgrouse
Pterocles gutturalisOften seen in open, dry country and near water at dawn or dusk.
Abdim’s Stork
Ciconia abdimiiA seasonal visitor to the region, frequently associated with summer rain.
White Stork
Ciconia ciconiaA familiar migrant that uses open farmland and grassland to forage.
Amur Falcon
Falco amurensisA long-distance migrant seen over open country, especially in the warmer months.
Brown-crowned Tchagra
Tchagra australisA secretive bush bird, more often heard than seen in dense scrub.
Grey-headed Kingfisher
Halcyon leucocephalaLook for it around wooded water edges and quiet stream corridors.
Woodland Kingfisher
Halcyon senegalensisA colourful summer visitor associated with woodland and riverine trees.
European Bee-eater
Merops apiasterA migrant that hawks insects over open ground and perches in groups.
Red-crested Korhaan
Lophotis ruficristaA ground-dwelling bird of open savanna and grassland.
Kori Bustard
Ardeotis koriOne of the heaviest flying birds; scans open grassland for food.
Secretarybird
Sagittarius serpentariusA distinctive terrestrial raptor that walks across open country while hunting.
Cape Vulture
Gyps coprotheresMay be seen soaring on thermals above the Waterberg escarpments.
Regional checklists: Kaingo Waterberg bird list and BirdLife South Africa. Other regional records include bishops, widowbirds, swamp-warblers, ducks, geese, cranes, raptors and cuckoos. Confirm exact farm sightings with the lodge.
Indigenous trees of the Waterberg
Marula
Sclerocarya birreaA beloved savanna tree with a spreading crown and seasonal fruit; an important part of local foodways and cultural heritage.
Tamboti
Spirostachys africanaA warm-bushveld woodland tree with a rounded crown and distinctive seed capsules. Its milky latex is toxic; do not burn or handle plant parts.
Wild Seringa
Burkea africanaA characteristic tree of sandy bushveld and woodland, with a broad, spreading canopy as it matures.
Common Hookthorn
Vachellia caffraA thorn tree of southern African woodland and bushveld, providing shade and habitat for wildlife.
Silver Cluster-leaf
Terminalia sericeaRecognisable by its pale, silvery foliage and layered branching, often seen on sandy soils.
Transvaal Beech
Faurea salignaA bushveld woodland tree with narrow leaves and seasonal flower spikes, often associated with rocky slopes.
Velvet Bushwillow
Combretum molleA broad-leaved tree found on slopes and in woodland, supporting insects and browsing wildlife.
Common Wild Fig
Ficus thonningiiA large evergreen fig often associated with watercourses and rocky places; its fruit feeds birds and mammals.
Transvaal Red Milkwood
Mimusops zeyheriAn evergreen indigenous tree that can form a dense crown and provide valuable shade in suitable sites.
Waterberg tree references: SANBI PlantZAfrica: Marula, SANBI species resources and DFFE Waterberg Biosphere information. These photographs show indigenous species found in the broader Waterberg region; ask the lodge about its on-farm tree inventory.
Why “Mount Marula”?
Mount Marula brings together two enduring images of the Waterberg: its rising horizons and the marula tree, valued for its shade, fruit and deep place in South African life. Together, they speak to a lodge rooted in the landscape and shaped by warm hospitality.
Bird and tree notes are regional educational references. The mammal list above reflects species supplied by Mount Marula; ask the lodge about recent sightings and tree locations.
This resident wildlife list was supplied by Mount Marula. The listed species may be seen on the farm; sightings vary and cannot be guaranteed. Hunting enquiries are handled separately and remain subject to confirmation, seasons and permits.
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