Since I moved to the bush, my gratitude towards small things has changed dramatically. When you live in the city, you may enjoy the rain and appreciate that the dust has been cleared from the air, however, it makes traffic jams all the more crazy and you slowly age from frustration in the front seat of your car. At least that seems to be my predicament.

However, when you live out in the bush, you’re more likely to sing and dance in the rain. Its life giving. It brings about change that broadens the grin across your face.

The rain and the heat characterise the Lowveld summer. In the last two weeks of October, we have received a surprising amount of rain.

After the first evening of rain, I remember waking up to the sun peeking through my bedroom curtains, and like a little girl on Christmas morning, surprised at what my eyes were seeing. An immediate change. The dull, drab colours of winter were speckled with small luminous green shoots, pushing their way to the surface.

Over the next week, we received more rain and the bush started to transform before our eyes. It was pure magic.

The main reason for the beautiful green shoots, is nitrogen. After it rains, the soil has access to a lot more water, and when plants take in that water, they are also taking in nitrogen in the organic matter in the soil. The fresh fallen rains help flush the roots systems allowing them to take up fresh nitrogen from the rain as well as tap into the nitrogen already present in the soil. Ultimately, nitrogen is thus responsible for growth and helps things become green.

Roadways are met with lush green carpets and trees start to bloom, but these are not the only signs of summer.

Summer’s signs make themselves present from earlier than what we think. There are many things that define this magical season, migratory birds, insects and reptiles, wildflowers and new life. Here are a few of my favourite things to look forward to as summer approaches.

Migratory birds

As a birder myself, this is one of the most exciting times of the year for me. Migratory birds start to make their way to our neck of the woods for the summer.

The first to arrive is the Wahlberg’s Eagle. This intra-African breeding migrant generally arrives around August-September returning to their nests, year after year for the breeding season. This monogamous pair are easily identified by their characteristic “Quee-quee-quee” call and thin ruler-like tails in flight.

Species that are heard and not often seen are the cuckoos. One in particular that everyone knows particularly well is the Red-chested cuckoo, affectionately known here in South Africa as the “Piet-my-vrou”. The persistent and monotonous “tik-tak-toe” echoes through the bush from October to February... often heard after the rains.

The European Roller is a welcome splash of colour to the bush. This particular non-breeding migrant breeds in Europe, Middle East and Asia, venturing back to South Africa for the summer, generally around November. These birds can be seen perching in dead branches foraging for food in grassy clearing.

I’m not sure about anyone else, but for me the return of the Woodland Kingfisher has long since outdone the other migratory species for me.

Flashes of electric blue panelling of the wings and back of the Kingfisher can be seen darting between the trees during game drive. Its bright colours and flashy red upper mandible are not the only things that attract the attention of safari “goers”. Its call is something to behold. The sharp and loud “Kri... trrrrrrrrrr” is the epitome of summer. You will often see the monogamous pair set out through the trees and perch to perform a display, called “wing spreading”. Their bright blue wings on display while the trilled echoes of their duet bring the bush alive.

Small Treasures

Many times, we are so consumed with the large magnificent creatures, wallowing in the mud pools or parading through lush green grasses that we seldom notice the small treasure beneath our feet.

The blooming of the wildflowers adds a spectacular pop of fun colour to the bush. Pretty to photograph and lovely to look at. A few we can expect to seeing flowering this summer - Wild Hibiscus, Wild Foxglove, River Crinums with the sweet pink striped buds and much more.

A favourite for both guests and guides, entertaining us for what seems like hours on end, are Dung beetles. Every summer I wait in anticipation for the bush to come alive. Each dung pile you come across pulsates with life as these dung piles become the workplace of these fascinating creatures, bustling for a piece of fresh dung.

These dung beetles are superbly designed for their lifestyle. They have a beautiful metallic sheen and are very robust. Stout front legs, which are serrated, aid them in cutting through compacted dung. Their head is used for the digging, raking, and scrapping together of dung followed by patting into a ball.

For guides an insight into an animal’s diet through dung is interesting as is - it has the ability to tell you so much, now imagine the sheer joy when we get to watch dung beetles fight over it!!

There is one family that is responsible for the rolling of dung and they are the “telecoprids”.

Exceptionally strong and entertaining to watch, these fascinating creatures are not to be missed on safari!

Baby Boom

Summer is all about new life. Whether it be in the form of flowers, grass, or the flow of rivers. Births are a sure sign of hope for the future. A new generation coming to life. Impala nurseries become the attraction of the morning, new wildebeest calves gallivant around the open areas, warthog piglets charge around, and life seems peachy. It is a spectacular treat to witness this change in the environment.

So, if your heart has always been set on a particular season in the bush, give some thought to venturing out during the change of a season.

The in-between process of the prominent seasons really are a special time of formation, regeneration, and life. Like now, each process is special in its own right in creating the big, beautiful, bright picture of summer.