Seasoned southern African safari-goers are always in search of new ways to appreciate nature. If you’ve filled your twitching list and already ticked off the big Five during your trips to Africa, it’s time for something different.
Frogging is a novel way to spend some time during your travels around southern Africa. Finding frogs takes some skill. They are one of Earth’s most endangered species and you’ll be surprised at how many interesting varieties there are.
As night falls over the bushveld, and you take the first sip of your sundowner, you are sure to hear the beginnings of a mounting nightly cacophony. Frogs are most vocal at night and their voices can carry for miles. Most of us picture the common garden variety of amphibian when we think about what’s behind this evening song, but that’s far from the truth.
There are 6 277 species of frogs worldwide, each with their own unique tones and inflections. When you give it some thought, it’s wonderfully opportunistic going in search of these small bushveld inhabitants to find out what all the fuss is about.
A-Frogging role in nature
About a third of frog species are close to extinction. Their survival is threatened by pesticides, urbanization, pollution, climate change and invasive species. When you go frogging, you’ll learn about their important role in nature and find out what you can do to help the frogs in your area.
The plight of the world’s frogs is just as important environmentally as that of larger animals
Frogs are important bio-indicators, which give us a good indication of the state of our environment. The fact that they are disappearing, is not good news for us. Frogs help to keep insect populations under control and are also an important food source for birds, reptiles and some mammals.
Frogs come in all shapes, many sizes and some magnificent colors
Besides their ecological prominence, frogs are interesting creatures. They come in a huge variety of shapes, sizes and colors.
Take the Tinker Reed Frog for instance. This tiny bright yellow creature is just 3mm long, with a voice that belies its diminutive size. The call of this frog is unmistakable, featuring two loud and rapid staccato taps. This is just one of the species you’ll discover when you go frogging during your southern African safari.
As you stand out in the bush in the dead of night, listening, your ears will become accustomed to distinguishing one call from another. This is largely thanks to the company of an experienced batrachologist, which is the fancy name for an amphibian enthusiast.
Frogging expeditions are available at a wide range of destinations including Sabi Sabi Game Reserve in Mpumalanga, St Francis Bay in the Eastern Cape and Amakhosi Lodge in KwaZulu-Natal.
Let us know if you would like to try a spot of frogging on your southern African safari and we’ll make all the arrangements for you.
