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The Bushveld (from Afrikaans: bosveld, Afrikaans: bos 'bush' and Afrikaans: ) is a sub-tropical woodland ecoregion of Southern Africa. It encompasses most of Limpopo Province and a small part of the North West Province of South Africa, the Central and North-East Districts of Botswana and the Matabeleland South and part of the Matabeleland North provinces of Zimbabwe. Kruger National Park in South Africa has a number of 'Bushveld' camps.

The elevation of this region varies from 750 to 1,400 m and the annual rainfall ranges from 350 mm in the west to 600 mm in parts of the northeast. There are four significant mountain ranges in this region: the Magaliesberg which runs from Rustenburg in the west to Bronkhorstspruit in the east and forms the southern border of the Bushveld; the Drakensberg escarpment that forms the eastern border of the Bushveld and runs from Tzaneen in the north to Belfast in the south; the Waterberg range that is in the middle of the Bushveld and the Soutpansberg range just north of Louis Trichardt. The latter is the northernmost mountain range in South Africa.

As implied by the region's name, the Bushveld's grassy plains are dotted by dense clusters of trees and tall shrubs. The grasses found here are generally tall and turn brown or pale in winter, which is the dry season throughout most of Southern Africa. The undisturbed portions of this habitat, such as much of the Waterberg Biosphere, are home to many large mammal species including white rhino, black rhino, giraffe, blue wildebeest, kudu, impala and a variety of additional antelope species and other game.

The Bushveld is one of the most mineral-rich regions of the world. This is due to the Bushveld igneous complex, an extremely rich saucer-shaped geological formation that stretches over more than 50,000 square kilometers. This formation contains most of the world's reserves of minerals such as andalusite, chromium, fluorspar, platinum and vanadium. The complex includes the Merensky Reef, which is the world's biggest source of platinum as well as platinum-group metals.

As most of the region tends to be dry, the Bushveld is mostly beef cattle and game farming country, with only a few drought-resistant crops such as sorghum and millet being farmed, usually under irrigation.

The term Middleveld is sometimes used to describe land lying between an altitude of 600m and 1200m and has been synonymous with the term Bushveld.

Towns and cities in the region include:

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The Bushveld (from Afrikaans: bosveld, Afrikaans: bos 'bush' and Afrikaans: ) is a sub-tropical woodland ecoregion of Southern Africa. It encompasses most of Limpopo Province and a small part of the North West Province of South Africa, the Central and North-East Districts of Botswana and the Matabeleland South and part of the Matabeleland North provinces of Zimbabwe.

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The day ends with typical African colour

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Nature is full of weird and wonderful designs but perhaps one of the hardest done by in terms of aesthetics is the unfortunate bushveld rain frog (Breviceps adspersus). The tourism industry has rather cruelly decided on an 'Ugly 5' (warthog, blue wildebeest, spotted hyena, marabou stork and lappet-faced vulture), but the bushveld rain frog is undoubtedly a glaring omission!

Despite looks that only a mother could love, it sports an impressive array of adaptations that are unique to this family.

Here are two great examples of these adaptions:
Stick like glue
One of the most unusual aspects of this charismatic hopper is its odd mating behaviour. In ecology, a lot of emphasis is put on an organism's ecological niche, i.e. what it does specifically in comparison to other similar organisms. This is a great way to alleviate competition. For most people, when asked about the mating rituals of frogs, we all think about frogspawn - the gelatinous lumps of eggs floating in ponds; but if every species did this, there would be so much competition for space and food for the tadpoles that not all would survive.

Even before we discuss the bushveld rain frog's novel approach to this problem, we need to go back to the beginning, where fertilisation takes place. The act of copulation in frogs is known as amplexus, where the male grasps the female and the two engage in release of sperm and eggs in a process of external fertilisation. This remains the same in bushveld rain frogs, but due to their somewhat rotund appearance, clasping is not always possible!

They have therefore come up with a novel way to deal with this potentially embarrassing problem known as 'adhesion'. As the name implies, the male literally glues himself to the back of the female with secretions from their skin. This innovative approach ensures that he does slip off and allow another male the opportunity to share the spoils! So strong is this connection, that should someone try to separate them, their skin would literally tear!

When the time comes to disengage, the female releases a solvent from the pores on her back that removes the adhesive effect and the frogs can go their separate way.

Rather than deposit the eggs in water like most frogs, the amplectant pair burrow into the soil and lay the eggs in a small chamber. There is thus no true tadpole stage, as the young develop within the safety of their jelly cocoon, without the need for water, ultimately metamorphosing into tiny froglets before emerging from their nest to venture off into the big wide world.
A frog-shaped balloon
This world, though, is full of danger. Frogs are a favourite snack for a variety of other animals, but due to their burrowing habits bushveld rain frogs are not designed for speed - and therefore cannot make a swift escape! They have stumpy legs and a globose body that allows them only to comically waddle as opposed to hopping to safety. Their first defence is simple camouflage, utilising cryptic colouration to blend into the environment.

However, if this is unsuccessful, they have a rather unique (and amusing) plan B: rain frogs are able to blow themselves up to about double their original size in order to intimidate a predator and seem much larger. This has led to the Afrikaans name ' blassop ', meaning 'to puff up'.

This adaptation among all others is perhaps their most noticeable. If anyone has ever seen a puffed up rain frog, they will know what I mean here. Envision a large frog-shaped balloon with little legs dangling from the corners and you are close to the overall effect. Add this extreme bloating to their comical down-turned mouth and flattened face and you'll have something bordering on the hilarious!

Despite their wacky appearance, rain frogs are an integral part of the environment, playing a major role in controlling insect populations and their numbers act as an environmental indicator (as with all frogs, their ability to 'breathe' through their skin renders them susceptible to pollutants and toxins). These and other adaptations make them a welcome addition to any game drive and the environment!

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Impressive: The bushveld rain frog's unique survival adaptations - Africa Geographic

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Nature is full of weird and wonderful designs but perhaps one of the hardest done by in terms of aesthetics is the unfortunate bushveld rain frog (Breviceps adspersus). The tourism industry has rather cruelly decided on an 'Ugly 5' (warthog, blue wildebeest, spotted hyena, marabou stork and lappet-faced vulture), but the bushveld rain frog is undoubtedly a glaring omission!

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Johannesburg to Kruger Map - Kruger National Park Travel Information...

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A detailed Johannesburg to Kruger National Park route map. To reach Kruger Park by road from Johannesburg, follow N4 to Nelspruit. Follow signage directions

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By John Misachi on September 21 2018 in World Facts

Animals in Kruger National Park, South Africa.

From the Big Five to the charismatic penguins, South Africa is home to a variety of wildlife. It has approximately 300 species of mammals and 850 species of birds. The bushveld and savanna regions of South Africa are homes to large numbers of wildlife. Kruger National Park hosts some of the known mammals like elephants, buffalos, rhinos, and cats. The country is also home to some of the lesser known animals like the tsessebe and suni. Here are some of the animals native to South Africa.

10. Tsessebe

The tsessebe is a subspecies of Africa antelope and closely related to topi. Apart from South Africa, tsessebe is also found in Angola, Botswana, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Zambia, and Swaziland. It is the fastest antelope in Africa and can attain a speed of up to 90 km/h. The adult tsessebe is 150-230 cm long. The male weighs 137 kg while the female weighs 120 kg. In males, the horns can be as long as 40 cm and are mainly used in defending a territory and for mate attraction. Their bodies are covered by chestnut brown coat while the tail tuft and front faces are black. The tsessebe can live up to a maximum of 15 years and mainly graze on grassland and open plains.

9. Rhino

Rhinos are large, stocky animals commonly known for their short legs and two horns on their muzzle with the longer horn sitting at the front of the nose. South Africa is home to over 80% of the world's rhino population. The two species found in the country are the white and black rhinos. The rhinos are contained in protected areas such as Kruger National Park. Two of the four subspecies of black rhinos found in South Africa are the South-central and South-western species. White rhinos are the second largest mammals after elephants while black rhinos are relatively smaller than their relatives. The major threat to the South African rhinos is extensive poaching.

8. Cape buffalo

The Cape buffalo, also known as the African buffalo, is a subspecies of buffalo commonly found in Eastern and Southern Africa. The buffalo is unpredictable and highly dangerous to humans with several deaths reported around their habitat. It is a large bovine with a shoulder height ranging from 3.3-5.6 feet. The head-to-body length can be as long as 1.2 feet. A mature buffalo weighs 1,100-2,200 pounds. It has a black or brown coat. Some females have a reddish coat. Cape buffalo's main predator is the lion. A single buffalo can only be brought down by several lions.

7. Puff adder

The puff adder is a venomous viper species common throughout Africa except in the Sahara Desert and rainforest region. The snake is responsible for most of the snake-bite deaths in Africa owing to its wide distribution and the aggressiveness. The puff adder averages 39.3 inches in length and weighs over 13.2 pounds. Males are large and have longer tails than the female. Their color patterns vary. The color ranges from yellow to orange, to light brown, to reddish brown. The puff adder relies on camouflage for protection. Although they are terrestrial, they can swim as well. They prey on birds, lizards, and mammals.

6. Cheetah

Cheetahs belong to the cat family and are found mainly in East, North, and Southern Africa. It has been listed as Vulnerable by the IUCN due to the substantial decline in its range. The cheetah is the fastest land animal and can attain a speed of 70 mph. It has a slender body and a deep chest with the body covered by a spotted coat. The head is small and rounded and the legs are also small. The tail is long and spotted. Cheetahs can be as long as 28-35 inches at the shoulder and can weigh 46-156 pounds. Cheetahs are mainly active during the day with hunting as the main activity.

5. Giraffe

The giraffe is the world's tallest terrestrial animal. Its distinguishing feature is the extremely long neck and legs and the distinctive coat patterns. Giraffe's range extends from Chad to South Africa and is usually found in Savannah and woodland regions. It feeds on fruits, leaves, and flowers. An adult giraffe is 14.1-18.7 feet tall and weighs approximately 2,628 pounds. Despite the long legs and neck, it has a small body. A horn-like structure known as ossicones. The ossicones are necessary for thermoregulation and also used as a combat between the males.

4. Gemsbok

The gemsbok, also known as South African oryx, is a species of antelope that inhabits the arid areas of Southern Africa. It is depicted on the coat of arm of Namibia where its current population is approximately 370,000. The gemsbok has a light-brownish gray coat with patches towards the bottom of the rump. The tail is long and black in color. It has a blackish stripe that extends from the chin to the lower part of the neck. An adult antelope stands at 3.9 feet at the shoulder while the body length varies from 75 to 94 inches. It has long horns that are about 33 inches. Gemsboks are grazers but also browse during the dry season.

3. Elephant

Elephants are among the largest terrestrial animals in the world. Impressive in stature and size, they can grow up to 11 feet and weigh 3.5-6.5 tons. In South Africa, elephants can be found in several of the protected areas including Kruger National Park, Addo Elephant Park, and Knysna Elephant Park where visitors are allowed to take pictures with them. They have several distinctive features including the long trunk (proboscis) that is used for both breathing and grasping objects. The tusks are used for protection and a tool for digging. The large ear flaps are used to regulate the body temperature. Elephants are purely herbivorous and prefer to stay near water.

2. Lion

Lions are one of the Big Five animals. They are the largest members of the feline family and mainly inhabit the woodlands, savannah, and grasslands across Africa. Lions are one of Africa's apex predators with no other animals preying on them. Of all the big cats, lions are the only ones that live together in groups. A group consists of 15-30 members with the females hunting for food and the males protecting the pride. The males have prominent manes that grow around the neck, shoulder, and covers part of the head. Lions hunt in groups with its prey consisting mainly of mammals.

1. Greater kudu bull

The greater kudu bull is an antelope species commonly found in woodlands across eastern and southern Africa. Despite the wide range, the antelopes are sparsely populated in some of the areas due to habitat loss and poaching. The greater kudu has a narrow body, long legs, and a brownish gray to reddish brown coat. It has 4-12 white stripes along the torso with the head darker in color than the rest of the body. The bulls (male) are larger than the cows (female) with the males having large manes that run along their throat.

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South African Animals - Animals Native to South Africa

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By John Misachi on September 21 2018 in World Facts From the Big Five to the charismatic penguins, South Africa is home to a variety of wildlife. It has approximately 300 species of mammals and 850 species of birds. The bushveld and savanna regions of South Africa are homes to large numbers of wildlife.