#WildlifeWednesday Why my passion for Humans and Wildlife coexisting? My Grandfather!

July 24, 2024 Flyga Twiga

As many know, I was raised by my Maternal Grandparents. My Grandfather spent part of his youth on a Farm in rural Southwest Virginia. In order to help me sleep, my Grandaddy told me “Big Black Bear” stories.

Each story was about how a Big Black Bear would have some sort of interaction with humans. Each encounter would be resolved without anyone, bear or human, getting hurt. Peacefully co-existing.

Sometimes the Farmer would find the Big Black Bear in his orchard. When the parents went to town, the Bear would get in the house. The children would hide, watching the Bear eating their food. One of my favorites was coming upon a Bear, on our way to go fishing.

I was raised believing there was a way to live with Wildlife. Now, my business is dedicated to African Wildlife Conservation through Safari Adventures.

I think my Grandaddy would be proud.

Big Black Bear Stories © Flyga Twiga™ LLC
Commissioned Artist: Kazakhstani Korean Tanya Kim

#TravelTuesday New for 2024 - South Africa Family Safari

March 12, 2024 Flyga Twiga

South Africa Family Safari

Highlights:

· Introducing one of the most exciting new Safari experiences in South Africa, the Kapama Kruger Homestead, offering a truly Private Family Safari. The Homestead, an exclusive use Lodge, is a family-style Homestead with 3 Ensuite Bedrooms. Includes:

-         Private Game Drive Vehicle, with a Guide and Assistant Guide
-         Private Chef
-         Assigned Concierge

· Jock Safari Lodge Wilderness Walk allowing children over the age of 12 to participate.

· Private Robben Island Tour with Christo Brand, a former prison guard, who was responsible for guarding Nelson Mandela. Christo and Mandela developed a close friendship over the course of many years. He is the co-author of his book, Doing Life with Mandela: My Prisoner, My Friend (2014).

Discover Africa Together!

#WildlifeWednesday Thank you EcoTraining for the Awesome New Flyer Design!

November 2, 2022 Flyga Twiga

Click here to find out more about the “Safari behind the Safari”

#MemorialDay In Honor of Memorial Day, Flyga Twiga™ Offers a Military History Safari

May 29, 2022 Flyga Twiga

Deeply Rich In Military History, This Bespoke South African Safari Offers The Perfect Blend Of Wildlife Adventures, Exploring Military History & World Changing Battles, While Experiencing The Modern, Vibrant Western Cape Of South Africa.

#TravelTuesday 5 Must Ask Safari Questions Post Covid19

January 18, 2022 Flyga Twiga

As our world prepares to travel again, a lot has changed in the Travel Industry. Here are 5 Must Ask Questions for your Safari Designer, to prepare you for the best, post Covid19 African Safari Experience.

Please feel free to use these same questions for all your travels. I think they apply to most Luxury Destinations, worldwide.

1) Have you lived or worked in (or even been to!) Africa?

A lot of excellent, knowledgeable industry experts were let go during the Pandemic. A disturbing shift saw their replacement by inexperienced staff. While “Junior Consultants’” low pay may help a company’s financial bottomline, the loss of Senior Travel Staff my mean the difference between a calamity ridden Safari, or the Wildlife Experience of a Lifetime.

You want an African Expert to help you design your Safari.

2) Why are you an Expert in the field of African Safari Planning?

This is a bit different than the above question. Flyga Twiga has been honored to have many people, who live and work in Africa, seeking our Safari services. With trusted, in-country partners, keeping up-to-date on industry changes, and personally living, working, & traveling extensively in East and Southern Africa - all create truly Expert Advice.

3) How long have you specialized in African Safaris?

A little known “Insider Secret” is many Big Box “Luxury” Travel Firms will move successful Sales Staff around. One week a staff member may be working on Cruises, then the next on African Safaris. I love a good Salesman. I also know specializations mean knowledge of travel specifics which may make or break a Safari Experience.

Ellie & Babies, Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda © Flyga Twiga™ LLC

4) Where are you headquartered?

Where the company is headquartered regulates business and banking laws. Your due diligence starts with knowing not only who, but also where, the professional accountability will be held. Consider this question an insurance policy – hoping for the best, while being prepared.

5) How long have you worked with your Destination Management Company (DMC)?

DMCs are our trusted, in-country partners. The DMC is the person(s) for whom your bespoke Safari Planner is vouching. They are telling you they know and rely on the DMC’s qualifications and professionalism. Why is this so important? I still get shutters thinking about the “Luxury Travel Expert”, who asked last year, on a Professional Luxury Travel Forum, if anyone had a DMC in Ethiopia. She was planning on sending clients to not only a place she had never been, but also with people she had never worked with.

You need to have faith that the people sending you on Safari, know and trust the people in charge of your Safari Experience.

As the questions suggest, you are really conducting an interview with the person you are entrusting with your African Safari safety and experience. These questions should assist in your traveling with confidence and the freedom to enjoy the amazing African Wildlife. Because our mission is for you to have a…

Happy Day! Safe Safari!

Two Brother Gorillas, Nyakagezi Group MGNP © Flyga Twiga™ LLC

#TravelTuesday Top 3 Safari Questions to Answer Before Your Bespoke African Safari Consultation

September 14, 2021 Flyga Twiga

New Friends in Kenya © Flyga Twiga™ LLC.jpg

The Reason for the Consultation

Flyga Twiga™, as a Personal Safari Service and Consultancy, does not have pre-designed “packages”. Rather, the whole reason for the founding of Flyga Twiga is to give you the Safari Experience YOU want. Not what someone else “thinks” you want or should have.

So, prior to your first Personal Safari Consultation, please ask your self the following 3 Questions:

Ellies & Kili, Amboseli Kenya © Flyga Twiga™ LLC

1) Who is going on the Safari?

A couple, a family, a multi-generational family, friends, business associates… For example, while many Game Lodges and Safaris welcome young children, some restrict ages.

2) When do you want to go?

There are High Seasons and Low Seasons in East and Southern Africa. And most definitely benefits to each.

3) What is your “Dream Safari Experience”?

Each Safari should be as unique as your Dreams.

Perhaps you have your heart set on the great Mountain Gorillas. Or learning how to be a Safari Guide, on EcoTraining, is the adventure of a lifetime you seek. The unique Maasai Culture has fascinated you. Let’s make those dreams a reality.

Mgahinga Gorilla National Park © Flyga Twiga™ LLC

There a lot more fun and involved questions we will go over when we begin planning our bespoke Safari. These are just the exciting starting point…

Until we talk, please take a look at our suggested Safaris here.

Asante Sana & Happy Day! Safe Safari!

#WildlifeWednesday Dung Beetles - Natures Clean Up Crew

July 15, 2020 Flyga Twiga

Dung Beetle Elephant Sanctuary Hartbeespoort Dam SA ©Flyga Twiga™ LLC

Michael English
Cape Town, South Africa

The Lords of Dung

Growing up in the Bush in Zimbabwe, I spent my holidays out in the bush in places like Mana Pools National Park. This is one of the few parks in the world where you can walk in Big Five Country - unguided. My father and uncle were both Game Rangers and we’d often take our morning walk out in the park among the wildlife.

I thought nothing of following the faint lily pad impressions of Elephants. Partly the thrill was hoping to spot these gentle giants; but more importantly I was looking for great piles of Elephant Dung. Hey, get your mind out the gutter! I was looking for the Elephant Dung as that was where I’d find my quarry - Beetles. I was fascinated by the large black Dung Beetles. I loved them almost as much as my beloved Tok Tokkie Beetles, which are known for their knocking tap dancing.

Dung Beetles Makuleke Camp Ecotraining SA ©Flyga Twiga™ LLC

What are Dung Beetles?

You may have seen a member of the Dung Beetle family without realising it. There are thousands of species of Dung Beetles belonging to the group Scarabaeidae. They make up 10% of all Beetle species on Earth, with over 30,000 species and 780 of these occur in South Africa alone.

The Beetles range in size from 0,08 inches to over 6 inches in length. Most are black but they also come in a range of fabulous colours. Many people associate the Dung Beetle with a large black beetle rolling balls of dung away to bury as food for their larvae. But, this is only one type of Dung Beetle.

Dung Beetles are reputed to be the strongest insects in the world, able to pull/push up to 1,141 times their body weight. This is the equivalent of an average person pulling six double-decker buses -full of people.

Hard at Work Dung Beetles EcoTraining SA ©Flyga Twiga™ LLC

Types of Dung Beetle

Dung Beetles can be broken down into four distinct groups based on their behaviour – the stayers, burrowers, the rollers and the thieves. The word Endocoprids describes Dung Beetles, who lay their eggs in a fresh pile of dung and stay there.

The next type is called Paracoprids. These Beetles dig down below a pile of dung and create a burrow with their food source (the dung) above.

Telecoprids are the most famous of the Dung Beetles, who roll balls of dung away and bury them elsewhere.

The final type of Dung Beetles is the and Kleptocoprids who, as the name suggests, have group case of Kleptomania. By strength and guile these Beetle steal the balls from the hardworking Telecoprids.

Dung Beetles Pushing and Rolling Elephant Sanctuary SA ©Flyga Twiga™ LLC

The Role of Dung Beetles in Ecosystems

Dung Beetles occur on every continent on Earth except Antarctica (there is not enough dung found there). The Beetles play a vital role in the ecosystems of the World. Dung Beetles along with vultures, scavengers, termites, and other insects form a vital part of nature’s clean-up crew.

They bury the dung and lay their eggs in it. This in turn, becomes a food source for their larvae when they hatch. If you imagine the amount of dung produced by the great herds of the plains of East Africa, you will see how important they are.

By burying the dung these enterprising Scarabs remove the food source for flies, helping to keep the flies under control. And thus, curbing the spread of infectious diseases.

The Dung Beetles generally bury the dung along with the larvae. This takes the waste underground, In the Earth, nutrients are recycled in the soil, helping to fertilise the savannahs, rejuvenating the vital food source for all the grazers.

Dung Beetles Beginning Work EcoTraining SA ©Flyga Twiga™ LLC

Sacred Scarabs

Scarab Beetles were sacred to the ancient Egyptians as a symbol of rebirth and regeneration. It is reputed that this was inspired by the Telecorprids (Dung Deetles who form balls of dung and roll these away to bury with their larvae). This habit was linked in ancient Egypt to the deity Khepri – the god of the rising sun.

The ancient Egyptians believed that the beetles did not have females so the males had to form a ball of to create the egg into which they injected their semen and thereby reproduce. Due to this belief, the Scarab became a symbol for rebirth, resurrection and transformation - even the symbol for life itself. Rather a great honour for the Lords of Poo! They became linked with funeral rites and regeneration and their significance lasted through many Egyptian Dynasties.

Being linked with the Sun is not the only celestial link that Dung Beetles have. Scientists have long known that Dung Beetles use the symmetrical pattern of polarized light from around the Sun to help them navigate. The canny beetles always choose the straightest and most direct route to their burrow as they must fight off competition from other Dung Beetles.

Scientists have also discovered that the species scarabaeus satyrus in South Africa, can in fact navigate by the stars using light from the Milky Way. This is the first instance of this known in nature – Dung Beetles navigating by the stars!

Dung Beetles Beginning Work Closeup EcoTraining SA ©Flyga Twiga™ LLC

Dung Beetles in African Folklore

The southern African tribe of the Batonka have a traditional tale about the Dung Beetle. It is said that in the days of the First Man and First Woman the Dung Beetle and the Butterfly were best friends. When the first man and woman came walking in the evening, they always complimented how beautiful butterfly was. The Dung Beetle was jealous and sad. He said to Butterfly “why do they always look at you and never comment on me?”

“They only admire strength and beauty. You have little beauty but perhaps you should become the strongest of the insects” said the Butterfly.

So Dung Beetle went off and spent years doing many challenges to become strong. One day he came home and while visiting with Butterfly, the first man and woman came by. Dung Beetle rolled a huge ball of Elephant Dung many times his size and pushed it along the ground. The first man and woman were very impressed and exclaimed over him instead of the Butterfly.

That is why to this day Dung Beetles roll balls of dung and push them around.

(A summary from When Lion Could Fly: And Other Tales from Africa; by Nick Greaves and Rod Clement)

So next time you are on Safari in Africa, why not escape the confines of the Safari vehicle and go on a bush walk? You can set off in search of the Lords of Dung yourself. Its always interesting to see how skilfully they can sculpt a sphere of poop!

Dung Beetle Elephant Sanctuary SA ©Flyga Twiga™ LLC

#TravelTuesday May 8th Republic of South Africa Goes to the Polls to Decide Its Future

May 7, 2019 Flyga Twiga

Blue Cranes in South Africa ©Flyga Twiga™ LLC Spotted April 2019, Stellenbosch, SA.

Tomorrow, May 8th, the Republic of South Africa (RSA) goes to the Polls. While I have been involved in Politics (& Africa) long enough to know no one day of voting completely determines the future of a country, May 8th is pretty daggone significant for the RSA.

Please join with me in sending good thoughts and prayers to the Citizens of the Republic of South Africa. Just like the Rare & Vulnerable Blue Crane, RSA’s National Bird, they choose their own path going down this road.