Sun Destinations

Every season holds its own special magic in the African bushveld, September sees the arrival of Spring – the season of change, rebirth and renewal in the wild. While the parched bushveld still wears its dusty golden browns, the land waits with a bated breath for the first drops of rains to arrive. The first signs of Spring begin to blossom already. Delicate wildflowers and pops of colour begin to signal the arrival of the changes to come.

Flowers in the wild

The impala lily, also known as the Sabi star, is one of the most striking flowers in the African bushveld. It’s bright pink and white flower stand out in stark contrast the golden browns of the dry bush, especially after the dry winter season! Beauty carries a warning in the wild. While exceptionally pretty, the impala lily is extremely toxic. It contains a watery latex that is extremely toxic and has been known to kill domestic animals when consumed. Somehow, wildlife know not to eat it. Smart creatures.

It is known for being to survive through the harshest of dry seasons because of its water-storing trunk.  Pretty flowers that state “Don’t eat me’ and a trunk that ensures it withstands drought. This plant is built for survival.
Bushmen in Namibia extract this latex and use it to poison the tips of their arrows for hunting. Other cultures are known to use it for medicinal purposes. If used correctly, they use it to treat snake bites and scorpion stings as well as in treatment of cardiac arrest.

It gets its nickname the Sabi star because it is native to the Sabi region.

Kudu Lilies are another poisonous but pretty flower. In the past, the sap was also used as effective poison for hunting arrows. It is a fascinating succulent shrub with branches armed with spikes. The flowers can appear in an array of colours fromstunning white flowers, often tinged with a pinkish or purplish hue. Red and pale yellow are the most popular coloured flowers spotted around Chacma Bush Camp.

In traditional medicines, these beautiful plants were used to treat bacterial infections and certain cancers.

Have you ever spotted one of these bright flowers at any of our camps?

Shambok Pod tree

The pretty yellow flowers of the long tail cassia have been spotted flowering before the arrival of the rains.
The Long-tail Cassia is also known as the Shambok Pod. Growing in diverse terrain ranging from open woodlands, along watercourses, slopes and in the vicinity of termite mounds, it is an adaptable tree.

It is easily identified by its exceptionally long tail like seedpods and the vibrantly bright, yellow, poppy-like flowers. It name “Shambok pod’ is derived by these long, tough pods that resemble a shambok- a traditional whip made from animal hide in South Africa.Just like the whip, the pods are long, slender and supple. A perfectly apt name for this tree.

Traditionally the roots are used to treat bilharzias, blackwater fever, toothache and severe abdominal pain. Headaches are cured by inhaling the smoke from burning twigs.

Russet bush willow

Another tree signalling the start of spring before the arrival of the rains is the russet bush willow. Growing on flat slopes, in rocky woodlands, it flourishes on sandy or loamy soil.

Right now, it can be seen flowering small creamy white to yellowish, sweet-scented flowers that will later in summer bear a fruit. While the fruit cocoons toxic seeds, the other parts of the tree are incredible useful to animals and humans alike. It is eaten by many herbivores/browsers including kudu, giraffe, elephant, steenbok, impala and nyala. While the flowers attract many insects, including butterflies and wasps. Which brings birds to feast as well as them finding suitable for habitation. The gum produced in the stem is eaten by lesser bushbaby and even though the fruits can be poisonous, the monkeys don’t seem to suffer from any illness after consuming them.

It has many, many uses for humans too. The wood is strong, hard and termite-and-borer proof. This makes it ideal for using as fence posts and furniture.
It’s straight branches are favoured for making knobkerries – walking sticks in times of peace and as weapons in the past. The pods can be brewed into a delicious tea (here is a link to the trick of making bush willow tea yourself)
An infusion of the roots can be made into a blend to treat stomach problems. While the bark is used for heartburn and heart diseases.

Nature provides, as always.

Wisteria lane in the wild

Tree wisteria is one of the most spectacular and beautiful blooms in the bush. It mimics the purple flowers of the Jacaranda tree (an invasive but beautiful species brought from Australia) that create gorgeous archways of colour in Johannesburg and Pretoria. Thriving in full, bright sun, Tree Wisteria are perfectly suited for the native bushveld from which they come. Monkeys, gemsbok, giraffe and the grey duiker, all feast upon the pods and leaves. The wood is hardy and makes excellent furniture. The straight growing stems are very hard, termite resistant and used for fencing posts.

In traditional medicine, the roots are used to treat stomach problems and the inner bark is used for stomach cramps.

Knob thorn Acacias

An utterly unmistakable tree to identify because of the notable knobs that cover the tree is the Knob thorn Acacia. Covered mostly when it is young to protect it from browsers munching it. As it matures it will lose its knobs.
The leaves are another giveaway in identifying the tree. The leaves are larger than most acacias and joined together almost in a butterfly shape. The flowers occur in early September. It is one of the first signs of the change season in the dry landscape of the African bushveld after winter. It attracts everything from sunbirds to bumble bees, ants to giraffes.

It is known for elephants to sometimes feed on the bark for its natural healing properties in fighting tooth decay. Unfortunately, sometimes when stripping the bark, they ring-bark the tree which causes it to die.

What do you call an elephant dentist?

A plaquey-derm

Watch this video on the magical medicinal plants of the knob thorn acacia.

Traditionally, there are many attributes given to the knob thorn tree. It is said to treat everything to rheumatism to sexual performance.

It creates a healthy ecosystem because of its nitrogen inducing so is very good for the soil and other plants to grow beneath it.

Spring feels like a celebration. Having made it through the dry and crisp winter. The parched earth awaits the first drops of rain to fall, rapidly and dramatically transforming the golden savannah into dense, lush foliage.

Each season has a magic of its own in the wild. Which is your favourite?

For a detailed guide to all the seasons in the Southern African wilderness – read our blog post here.

Alternatively get in touch directly with our dedicated and passionate reservations team here.

Your dream safari awaits.