Visiting Ngwenya during production of 50/50 Documentary - December 2003

Ngwenya Lodge is nestled on the banks of the Crocodile River adjacent to the Kruger National Park, Mpumalanga. Besides having the exciting opportunity of watching the Big Five and other animals drinking and grazing on the banks of the river from your veranda, this lodge has set the standard for bat eco-tourism in South Africa.

The 50/50 documentary on bats was arranged by Nigel Fernsby (GNoR BIG Chairman) & dr. Brian Whiting (director of Winchester Marketing and a director of the share block company at Ngwenya Lodge). With their comprehensive knowledge about bats as well as other fauna & flora in the area, they provided an interesting and educational experience for everybody, including curious guests, especially children.

Some of the bat species photographed, captured and identified were:

• Sundevall's leaf-nosed bats, Hipposideros caffer
• Mauritian tomb bats, Taphozous mauritianus
• Banana Bats, Neoromicia nanus
• Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bats, Epomophorus wahlbergi
• Angolan free-tailed bats, Tadarida condylura
• Little Free-tailed bats, Tadarida pumila

Click on pictures below to view larger image size.

Large Bat House housing thousands of Angolan Free Tailed Bats	Filming of 50/50  documentary in progress	Store room occupied by Sundevall's Leaf Nosed bats & babies
Mauritian tomb bat mother with baby under wing	Nigel carefully opening Banana Bat roost in banana leaf	Banana Bat
Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bats under thatch	Wahlberg's epauletted fruit bat roosting in Natal Mahogany tree	Orphaned baby free tailed bat
First Bat House in SA at Komatipoort	Angolan Free Tailed bat. Photo: courtesy Brian Whiting	Sundevall's leaf-nosed bat. Photo: courtesy Brian Whiting