White Butterflies

The White Butterfly Migration

Family:  Pieridae

Average Size:  5cm wingspan

Identification:  Wings are white or yellow, with irregular black or brown borders.

Distribution:  The brown-veined White (Belenois aurota) and Meadow White (Pontia helice) are widespread. The remaining 13 species occurring in the region are restricted to the eastern or north-eastern parts of Southern Africa.

Behaviour: The Brown-veined White sets out on mass summer migrations in a north-easterly direction in southern Africa. Males of most species have a fast flight. Females fly more slowly looking for food plants on which to lay eggs.

Early stages:  Eggs are yellow or red and are laid singly. The caterpillars are variable in colour, most are green, often with yellow stripes; they have stiff hairs along the sides of the body and around the head. The caterpillar moults in five separate growth stages over a period of four weeks. The chrysalis is either brown or green, with a blunt spine at the top and on each side of the chrysalis; attached by the tail end in an upright position. Adults emerge after two weeks

Food:  Commonly plants in the caper family.

Notes:  Spines on the chrysalis mimic spines on the host plant, which provides camouflage.

Drakensberg fly fishing catches

 

The latest catches at Wits End Dam were 2 Natal Yellowfish caught on 12/01/2014 by Gary Frances from Ballito on a Kanberg Nymph # 12. The dam was first stocked with a small  number of adult breeding fish in  2006 under the  supervision of the KZN conservation services and are thriving in the dam. In the summer months the breeding size  fish migrate upstream to spawn on the gravel beds in the approaches to the dam.        

Drakensberg Rock art

This excellent panel is from Antong's shelter in the Monks Cowl area of the uKhahlamba National park a World Heritage site. It is a good days walk to visit the shelter and the paintings are well preserved and of good quality.

Drakensberg Boys Choir concerts

The World renowned Drakensberg Boys choir are neighbors to Wits End Mountain Resort their auditorium being a short walk from the resort. Visitors to the Central Drakensberg should not miss an opportunity of hearing them sing. They hold 2 music festivals each year, at the end of April and their Carol Festival in early December, and when not on tour, weekly concerts on Wednesday afternoons.

2014 Concert Dates:

March: 12, 19, 26

April: 09, 16, 23, 30

May: 14, 21, 28

June: 04, 11, 18

July: 23, 30

August: 06, 13, 20, 27

September: 03, 10, 17

October: 08, 15, 22, 29

November: 05, 12, 19

December: 03

Tickets are R120 per adult, R100 per pensioner and R80 per child.

Music in the mountains festival: 01 – 04 May

Christmas in the Berg festival: 05 – 07 December

Please note that dates are subject to change.

For more info regarding the above events please contact the school 036 - 468 1012

Central Drakensberg activities.

The Central Drakensberg offers a good selection of leisure activities to catering for all tastes. Weekly activities include the following:-

Champagne Valley Walking Club -
Tuesday 11 March
Starting Point:

Meet at THOKOZISA at 7:00 and take cars to Spionkop Nature Reserve.

THE WALK : Arriving at the Reserve, we will take ¾ hour for Game Viewing before proceeding to the Bird Sanctuary for a 2 hour walk through this interesting terrain- spectacular views of Spionkop across the Dam. Will stop for picnic or Braai - bring own Braai equipment. (Fishing is an option) Bring cash or Wildlife cards.

Every Day -
Helicopter flights. Phone Westline Aviation 083 6527493
Drakensberg Ballooning offers scenic flights over the Drakensberg 082 802 7527 or 082 548 9910
Bird of prey show - daily at 10.30am except Fridays and Mondays. Phone Falcon Ridge 082 7746398
Canopy tour - Every day  036 468 1981
Glass hive bees. Every day at Scrumpy Jack's  036 468 1308
Champagne adventure centre. Team building and adventures- Zip line, King swing, Tree climb, Kloofing, Paintball, abseilling, 074 1033613
4 Rivers Rafting- Rafting, Zip line, Quad bikes. 083 785 1693
Horse Riding- Dragon Peaks 036 4681031
                    - uShaka horse trails  072 6642992, 072 312 2659, 036 468 1136
Spa's- Tranquility day Spa - 072 264 6398
         -The Spa at Champagne Sports 072 611 1767

Drakensberg canopy tour

Drakensberg Canopy Tour.

For those who are not familiar with the canopy tour concept a canopy tour is basically a steel rope slide high up in the trees between platforms created in the Rock face and treetops. Essentially one is put in a harness which is then clipped onto a steel rope and you then jump into open space and slide along the rope to the next platform and then repeat the exercise from platform to platform. Besides the adrenalin rush one can also see the forest from a different prospective, high up in the trees. It is a great experience and the one in the Central Drakensberg is the longest in the country taking about 3 hours to complete. The emphasis is on the natural experience and the guides have been well trained and guide you through the various flora and fauna you will encounter. For those who are scared of heights , fear not, as the experience is extremely safe, with back up systems to meet all eventualities and well trained competent guides. For bookings phone 036 4681981 or 083 6615691. For accommodation bookings in the area try Wits End Mountain Resort on 036 4681133 or 0824490502 or http://www.witsend.co.za/
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Fly fishing at Wits End

The Wits End dam situated in the Champagne Valley Central Drakensberg is private dam for the exclusive use of guests staying at our self catering chalets and is therefore not heavily fished. It is probably the only dedicated fly fishing dam of reasonable size in the area. We are in the process of dedicating our dam to Natal Yellow fish our breeding stock having been introduced some 8

years ago and all indications are that they are breeding well. Only fly fishing is permitted and is free to guests on a catch and release basis.
Recent catches:-
12/12/2012- Chris Mc Farlane- 5 good fish.
12/12/2012- Chad Jameson- 5 good fish
12/12/2012- Kyle Jamerson- 1 big yellow fish and 3 good size ones.
19/12/2012- Sabories- 4 Yellow Fish- Large Fly- Many rises
20/05/2013-Chris Black. 1 nice Yellow Fish.


 For further details refer to http://www.witsend.co.za/