With a change in the seasons, once again mother-nature reminded us all just who is in charge. The sky darkened as huge cumulonimbus clouds gathered above the mountains. The wind died and we all held our breath in anticipation. Out of the blackness a deafening thunderclap lit up the sky. The lightning and thunder raged on over the mountains. Morning broke with that all too familiar smell of a veld fire. The storm the night before had set the grasslands on top of the mountains on fire. It was not until first light that we could determine the extent of the fire. We gathered the fire fighting equipment, assembled the teams and headed deep into the mountains.
As we reached the plateau we were greeted by an incredible sight. A troop of baboons were spread out along the face of the fire and grabbed all the insects as they fled from the flames. A feeding frenzy ensued as other animals rushed to the scene. Rock kestrels, fork-tailed drongos and fiscal shrikes hawked insects out of the air above the baboons. Black-headed herons stood in the second row for insects that managed to escape the baboons.
Chacma baboons Papio cynocephalus ursinus are large, gregarious primates found in all habitats in southern Africa except for true deserts. Adaptable and cunning with a well organized social structure allow them to forage in most habitats on the landscape. Sexual dimorphism is greatly exaggerated among the species as males (32kg) are almost double the size of females (15.4kg). They utilize all edible plants within their range especially grasses as well as invertebrates, retiles, birds, small mammals and even young antelope. The distribution of baboons is limited by adequate water and secure sleeping sites in the form of cliff faces or tall trees
Fire is crucial for maintaining diversity and ecosystem health in grasslands. The system is also driven by frost and grazing. Fire removes dead and moribund material, allowing for new shot growth, and prevents brush encroachment by woody plants. Grasslands have the second highest plant diversity after the Fynbos. Our major river catchments are also found in this biome adding to its overall importance and need for formal conservation. Grasslands are under extreme pressure in South Africa from commercial afforestation, livestock production and urbanisation. Samara is fortunate to have some magnificent representation of this biome on the property and we continue to ensure the natural state is maintained through correct management practices.
