Life in the wild is dependant on water. Without water, the bush becomes a barren, dry land. Water sustains all life. So much of the wilderness is intricately interconnected. The cycles of life move with the seasons.
Before clocks, cellphones and calendars told us the time, day and month, the bushmen and indigenous people would read the earth as a living calendar. Looking to the skies, the animals and the calls of birds that foretold the changes to come.
As with all folktales and stories shared from elder to child gathered around a fire, animals played an important role as messengers, carrying wisdom and warning . With research and ecological study, we can now begin to bridge and understand the ancestral wisdom that lay behind these ancient tales.
In the wild, everything is connected. The rains are at the heart of it.
When the first rains arrive, the entire landscape transforms into a vivid, green and luscious wonderland where life abounds. Spring is the season of new beginnings and new life. Birthing seasons for many species occurs alongside the rains. When foliage becomes denser, babies are easier to hide and therefore given the best chance of survival. Luscious, watered plants hold more nutrients and animals become stronger while feeding mothers get the nutrients they need to feed their young.
The rains transform the bush. A lush wonderland at Nambu Camp
The sky turns moody as it darkens. The air is thick with tension and the crackle of electricity signalling the rains that will soon come. The parched earth waits with a bated breath, thirsty for the first drops of rain to fall.
The Southern Ground Hornbill
Its call can be mistaken for the whoofing roars of a lion, the Southern ground Hornbill gets its nickname ‘Thunderbird’ from the sound of these deep and rhythmic calls. They are said to be the bringers of rain and thunder. So much so that some cultures believe if you leave a single feather of the ground hornbill in a river, a flood will soon follow.
Their breeding season occurs at the height of rainy season. It is when they will most often be heading calling their deep bellowed call across the bushveld.
One of Africa’s birding Big 6, the Southern Ground hornbill. This fascinating ground-dwelling bird is is the largest hornbill species in the world,weighing about 3.5–4 kg and measuring between 90 and 110 cm in height. They are easily recognised by their black plumage and vivid red throat and face.
Would you be able to tell the difference between a hornbill and a lion? Listen to the call of a hornbill here.
Southern Ground Hornbill scouring the ground for tasty treats near Umkumbe Safari Lodge. Captured by Guest Paul Zimmer
Inkanyamba
A gigantic and fearsome serpent with a body so large it can create powerful and disastrous winds, Inkanyamba is a mythical serpent that is said to reside in deep bodies of water, particularly in the Howick Falls, in South Africa. Inkanyamba is closely connected to all water sources, such as rivers, lakes, and waterfalls. In Zulu and Xhosa belief, Inkanyamba is believed to be the guardian of water.
This gigantic serpent is said to control rainfall, storms, and even lightning. During the stormy summer months, when rains frequent the Northern parts of South Africa, Inkanyamba is believed to be most active. It is said that is is Inkanyamba that is responsible for severe thunderstorms. Floods are powered by his anger.
In many indigenous cultures, water holds a link between the spirit and physical realm. It is said water holds memory. It was also believed that certain sites held the spirits of ancestors so sites were sacred and it was considered important to preserve and protect them. Water is a sacred resource, it brings life to the land and these stories create a deep reverence for it.
Water, snakes and spirit
With the summer rains comes warmer weather. Snakes are seen more frequently during the summer months as they are more active. Snakes are greatly feared in Africa for their deadly nature. Snakes also tend to venture out more during the rains as it is an opportune moment for them to hunt some of their most common prey such as frogs, mice and rats. Additionally, their holes and caves may become flooded with the rains causing them to need to move in search of new shelter.
Beyond the fear, there is also deep cultural respect for snakes. In many African belief systems, snakes are seen as powerful symbols. They regarded as incarnations of ancestors, messengers between realms, or guardians of sacred knowledge. The snake wrapped around a staff, still used today as the emblem of medicine, reflects this ancient wisdom. Traditional healers have long used snake venom in medicinal practices while modern science continues to uncover its potential in treating serious illnesses like cancer.
Perhaps the legend of Inkanyamba is more than just a myth, it is a reflection of the deep reverence, mystery, and respect that Indigenous cultures hold for both water and serpent.
A puff adder spotted laying across the warm red sand on a game drive at Chacma Bush Camp
Go slow
It said by bushmen that when the leopard tortoise is seen on the move during a dry spell, it is a sign that the rains will soon come. These ancient, incredible creatures are often considered to be one of the cleverest animals in the animal kingdom. Stories about this long-living creature and its wisdom are woven through many ancient cultures. The well-known fable ‘The tortoise and the hare’ dates back to Aesops Ancient Greece, teaching the timeless lesson that slow and steady wins the race.
Leopard tortoise, one of Africa’s Small (and ancient) 5
While there is no scientific basis for the belief the leopard tortoise is the bushman rainmaker, they are far more active after the first rains. Usually coinciding with the warmer weather when as reptiles they naturally become more active. There certainly is something mystical and awe-inspiring about them. Not only does their lifespan extend beyond ours but some tribes believe they carry a superpower ability to find water, even in the most remote and driest of areas.
Leopard tortoise have a highly developed sense of smell which allows them to follow scent trails towards water and moisture. Scientists also speculate that they might be able to sense subtle vibrations in the ground or pick up on changes in humidity that aid in guiding them toward this precious life-saving resource.
Another remarkable adaptation of the leopard tortoise is their ability to store large amounts of water in its shell. Like a secret hidden water tank, it is able to reabsorb it during droughts or when water is scarce. This allows them to survive for long periods without needing to drink.
The African Giant Snail
You might’ve come across what looks like a sea shell on a walking safari with Africa on Foot Wilderness Trails or on a morning bush walk. Almost everyone double takes when they see this giant shell in the bush. It’s the shell of the African Bush Snail. They are rarely spotted but when sighted, it is usually after the first soft rains when snails find it easier to glide across the bushveld. The additional moisture helps prevents them from drying out which is key to their survival.
African giant snail spotted on a wilderness trails, 3 day walking safari
In African folklore, the snail is not necessarily associated with the rains but interestingly, with fire. The Chauke clan among there Xhosa people revered it as a totem for their people. They linked this giant land snail with the secret of making fire, learning to extract a live coal hidden in its’ shell, they were forbidden to ever eat it.
They act as gardeners of the bushveld. They act as a decomposer of dead organic matter, including plant and animal remains. They enrich the soil by churning it and adding its nutrients, thus helping to maintain soil health and nutrient cycling.
Pangolin
The shy and elusive pangolin is revered as a sacred animal in certain cultures. It is believed by some that if the blood of a pangolin is spilled onto the ground, no rain will come. During a drought, elders would have thought it was because someone killed this sacred creature.
Pangolin’s scales mimic the sound of thunder
In Kulu’s journey, a documentary following the life of a pangolin on Netflix, it shares the African folktale that the Pangolin fell from the sky during a heavy storm. With shaking scales that mimic the sound of rolling thunder before a storm, he brings thunder and rain.
As the world’s most trafficked animal, it is imperative to raise awareness about the plight of the pangolin and fight to prevent its extinction. Safaris play a vital role in conservation. By experiencing the wonders of the untamed wilderness, people are reminded of the important role that we all play in safeguarding the wild places of our world and its inhabitants.
It has never been more vital to protect the shrinking wilderness. These ancient myths and stories are not just African folklore. They are powerful ways of creating reverence. They remind us of the interconnectedness between human and the wild.
These stories speak of a time when nature was not something to conquer, but something to respect. When every creature, no matter how small or feared, had a place in the circle of life.
The wellbeing of humanity is tied to the wellbeing of nature. We can’t exist without it.
From the intricate roles each species plays in maintaining a healthy ecosystem to the profound impact every one of us has on the planet, these stories urge us to remember that we are not separate from nature, we are so very part of it.
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