Winter Below And Spring Above

Speaking of game drives, a heavy rainy season has an impact that cannot be underestimated. From a guest’s perspective, you are treated to the most wonderfully lush and spectacular landscape. The Sabi Sand really does respond well to rain. From Chitwa Chitwa’s point of view, things look a bit different. The going gets tougher when roads are wet and the odd tree is uprooted. But the team does a phenomenal job of navigating the terrain and maintaining the roads.

Fast forward to the present day and things look a little different. The view over the dam is just as beautiful, and the coffee hits as well as it did on that April morning. Though spring is officially here, you feel it more than you see it. There are signs of it in the trees, but the grass below still looks dry and wintry. The best way to describe it is that the Sabi Sand seems to be in a state of winter below and spring above.

Now that you have a good idea of what a rainy-season game drive looks like, the contrast with early spring will be more striking. For starters, dry roads are simpler to navigate, and thinner vegetation makes it easier to see into the bush. Which is a plus if you’re out here looking for that leopard you’ve never seen in person.

If you’re lucky enough to be out there right now, I have two questions. First, why are you reading this blog instead of getting a cocktail at the bar? Second, have you noticed why this blog is titled the way it is yet?

The trees have already started to sprout thousands of tiny green leaves, while the grass is still dry and waiting for the first generous rainfall of the new season. I say generous because we’ve already had pockets of rain, but not quite enough for the grass to turn green. So why does it seem like the trees are early to the summer party?

There’s a name for it: pre-rain green-up. Researchers studying satellite images and rainfall records across southern tropical Africa actually found that trees coming into leaf ahead of the rains was a widespread pattern. The reason behind the striking contrast is that grass depends more on moisture near the surface. And that’s a simple little “now you know” behind why spring is in the air and not on the ground.

I know seeing is believing and although I am not there today, I asked the team to capture a contrasting photo to the one above. You’ll notice a couple of things off the bat. First, a full dam and healthy body of water surrounded by lush green grass. Second, the slight colour contrast that signals autumn on the far bank. If you zoom in far enough you’ll also see one of those great coffees I mentioned earlier.

The trees are turning green while the grass is still dry. One reason is the simple fact that trees have much deeper roots. I know, it doesn’t take a biologist. But did you know that some trees can also draw on water stored in their trunks? They don’t all have to wait for the next downpour to start putting out leaves.

I know your eyes have already skipped ahead to look at the contrasting photo below. Though not captured by the same photographer, the contrast is clear. The dam isn’t as full and the grass isn’t as green, but have you noticed the trees yet? That fresh growth is what we mean by pre-rain green-up.

I’ll admit, I’d rather be checking those leaves from the deck with a coffee than asking the team for photographs. But for now, I’ll leave you with a word of unsolicited advice. The contrast is best experienced in person. And yes, I mean the trees but also actually visiting in more than one season.