River vegetation

Diversity in the vegetation by the river is in your face. City people visiting may find all they wish or more than they bargained for. Animals and birds please the kids, but peace by the water is enough for many.

People vaguely remember that the place removes the ring of stress from the ears, the twitch from the body and the Angst from the soul. Animals and birds are not so plentiful as the plants, but will show themselves occasionally. There is nothing on offer until bush observation mode kicks in. Then there is much to experience.

Of course, there may be fish in the stream. The frogs and crabs, not so often seen, should be there somewhere as well. Don’t forget the insects and the spiders. Not all friendly, but making up the diversity that sustains life, our lives too.

Funny ones, the insects: the longest insect body length found in southern Africa is over 20 cm, belonging to a stick insect, member of the Phasmatodea.

The heaviest one? Some central African fruit beetles reach a mass of 75 grams. The wingspan of some tropical moths is 28 cm. There are thousands of them, right here, hidden behind the leaves or not seen because the photo lacks detail.

Many people forget to visit regularly enough for their dose of bush silence therapy. Simply become quiet and receptive. Explore what is around by the riverside on the day and what hovers in the border areas of consciousness may also be revealed. One doesnt have to become intimate with too much here before serenity will put out an inclusive arm (Holm, 2008).