Johannesburg: Modderfontein Reserve is now open to the public

The Modderfontein Reserve, the biggest private open space in Gauteng, has been opened to the public on 20 Sept 2012 to picnic, cycle, bird-watch and enjoy the game of the reserve. The Modderfontein Reserve, which is located in Modderfontein in Johannesburg, is operated by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) on a day-to-day basis. The land it is situated on belongs to chemicals group AECI and forms part of its 2 400ha Modderfontein landholding. Various fauna and flora studies are currently being conducted to record animal and plant species in the reserve and a monitoring system is being implemented which will allow the EWT team to record changes at fixed points throughout the reserve over time. Mammals on the site include small buck such as steenbok, as well as black-backed-jackals. A bat survey has already been carried out and studies on the bats are ongoing. Fish eagles and long-crested eagles are among the bird life in the Modderfontein Reserve.
The community will have access to the Modderfontein Reserve at a cost of R30 per adult and R15 for children and pensioners.

View Larger Map

Wild animals killed 86 people in Mozambique in 2011

The Government of Mozambique has announced some data regarding wildlife-human related incidents in 2011. According to Government spokesperson Alberto Nkutumula, at least 86 people were killed by animals in Mozambique in 2011 and another 60 people were injured by wild animals during the same period. Most incidents were caused by crocodiles, which killed 47 people in Mozambique, followed by elephants (20 people) and hippos (13 people).

Mozambican wildlife authorities culled a total of 336 animals in 2011 to counter the problem (250 crocodiles, 46 elephants, 17 hippos, 13 buffalos, 4 lions, 3 snakes, 2 hyenas & 1 leopard).

The areas worst affected in 2011 are the Zambezi River basin and the central province of Sofala.

Rwanda to import lions & rhinos from South Africa

The East African country of Rwanda will reintroduce lions and rhinos into its Akagera National Park, a 1,200km² park in eastern Rwanda bordering Tanzania. The Rwanda Tourist Board started fencing the National Park, home of Rwanda's last rhino, earlier this year and is planning to finish the work by February 2012.


View Larger Map

Rwanda's tourism director Rica Rwigamba told news agency AFP that the animals will be imported from South Africa, but didn't mention how many of them will be imported, when the game will be reintroduced into the park and from where in South Africa the animals are going to come from.
Rwanda's main tourist attraction are the highly endangered mountain gorillas, which are concentrated in the Virunga massif in the country's north.

Lonely Planet: Time Traveller online game

Lonely Planet is launching an online game today in which participants test their travvy-savvy by following in the footsteps of co-founders Tony & Maureen Wheeler.

Starting in 1973 each travel question answered correctly will bring you closer to the present day. There are great prizes to be won along the way including a trip through Southeast Asia with Intrepid Travel (UK residents only...).