Gekco holds a bush picnic in Kyalami

About 50 picnickers off all ages watched the sunset and relaxed on the beautiful grounds overlooking the dams and Jukskei River at the Helderfontein conference centre.

The conservancy boasts more than 230 bird species and many of them can be found on the Helderfontein property which has several large dams, rocky outcrops, acacia woodlands and open grasslands offering a variety of habitats for the different animals that live in and move through the area.

Anton van Niekerk and Tyrone McKendry of the conservancy led the walk and the group identified several wild flowers, trees and grasses. They managed to spot a variety of birds and, just before sunset, witnessed an exciting territorial battle between a black-winged kite and a common (steppe) buzzard. There were also a number of water birds making use of the reeds at the edge of the dams.

After dark, some attendees grabbed their torches and went looking for frogs in the nearby pond. Thanks to the recent rains the frogs were calling loudly, making them easy to find. Getting photographs was a muddy affair, but fortunately, the children were more than happy to get dirty for a bit of nocturnal wildlife photography.

For those who felt like putting their feet up, straw bales were set up to relax and watch the sunset while enjoying some of the delicious food that everyone had brought.

In a presentation, Gekco presented its annual Green Hero Awards to Bontle ke Tlhago, a Diepsloot recycling co-operative that has been collecting recycling in the Kyalami area for the past 18 months. Also awarded were residents Luca Toet, Alex Bone and Sebastian Toet, who spend their weekends in the outdoors removing snares they find in the veld – they had rescued a duck from a snare earlier that morning.

It was a fun and informative evening for children and adults alike, and the conservancy plans to schedule similar events in future.

Calendars of the conservancy’s biodiversity were offered for sale with funds assisting Gekco’s conservation efforts. The conservancy is committed to preserving the fauna and flora in the Kyalami area and raises awareness of its importance as South Africa’s equestrian hub.

For details or notifications of future events contact info@gekco.co.za