Nature right on your doorstep

Hi Margie,

I thought you (and Tongaat ) may be interested to know we came across a Black Backed Jackal while riding in the cane at Shongweni yesterday afternoon.  It was around 5:15pm and heavily overcast with a bit of mist on the hill tops.  We were contouring along the North Western Section of the cane close to the Western Boundary.  The identification was unmistakable (I have seen lots of them in the Drakensberg) and we got to within 10 meters of it.  It was standing still on our path in front of us.  It did not seem too concerned about our presence (animal do not recognise cyclists as human beings) and slowly slinked off into the cane as we got closer.

It was great to find wildlife so close to civilisation but farmers on adjoining smallholdings may not be too happy.

Best regards

Mervyn Gans