Hi there, my website contains a wealth of information on arachnids in southern Africa. It also contains details of many different events in and around South Africa. If you have an urge to find out more about spiders or scorpions then this is the place to be. I have courses endorsed by the Field Guide association held at quality venues in southern Africa. For the more adventurous I have Wild weekends away to a Big 5 game where we will teach you tracking and do all those things to get you up close to nature and the animals that abound. In partnership with SA Adventure I have an expedition to the Ritchersveld Transfronter Park in search of the spiders and scorpions that inhabit this unique place. Also check out the events section for lectures, presentations and walks in your area. You'll also find me on Skype, Facebook and on Getaway Magazines Blog. Last but no least, if you would like to know when I will be in your area please ask. I often work in far away places without cellphone or internet connections. Please be patient I will answer your emails. 

I'm a big believer in getting out there and meeting these animals face to face in the field, getting up close and getting to know them at close quarters. If you would like a outing in your area let me know. Where there is a will there is always a way.

Next course in Gauteng is the 25th august. Click here to download the course brochure  

Getaway Blog

1 Day Spider and Scorpion Courses 

• Presentation.
• Identification.
• Workbooks.
• Walking in a big 5 area.
• Medical importance and venomosity.
• Scorpion handling.
• Lunch.
• All transport within the reserve.

 

Contact Jonathan Leeming for more information: 
Tel 082 338-4381 
Email  This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it  

Why do Scorpions Flouresce under Ultra Violet Light?  

A short video that explores why scorpions flouresce under ultra violet light.

Video interview by David Braun (with additional video of glowing scorpion courtesy of Paul Marek)

Entabeni Wild Weekend

So you have done the big 5 reserve thing. Driving around looking at animals from the confines of the vehicle. If you are like me I bet you’ve sat there wanting to get off! Check out the animal tracks, have a look at that flower, swim in a mountain stream, explore a rocky outcrop, walk along a cliff to marvel at the view, find those frogs making that sound, scratch around for spiders and scorpions, track rhino on foot, night walks, sit quietly and envelope yourself in the sounds of Africa. Well now you can...

The principle behind this wildlife experience is get up close and personal with all aspects of nature in an fun and practical way. We’ll teach you the basics of tracking and track one of the big 5 on foot. We’ll travel by game vehicle, stopping off to walk, explore and experience. Want to go looking for elephants? No problem! Want to check out some hippo on foot? No problem! Want to go frogging at night? No problem! We’ll create our own wildlife experience with the opportunities that come our way.

Entabeni Private Game Reserve is 23,000 hectares of big 5 Waterberg bushveld. Home to an amazing diversity of plants and animals. It’s the perfect playground for exploring nature intimately and hands on. Add  to the mix wildlife specialists, a stunning bush camp, and the freedom to do whatever we want and you get a very special weekend to remember.

This is a unique and exciting opportunity to spend time with wildlife specialists, learn about nature and spend time walking, learning how to track animals. All you need is a sleeping bag, pillow, walking shoes, a sense of adventure and a yearning to learn about nature.

Event dates are the following:

• 27th to 29th April 2012

Jonathan Leeming, author of Scorpions of Southern Africa, Scorpions of Sabi Sands, Medically Important Spiders and co-author of The Bushveld - A Comprehensive Guide to the Waterberg, spent some time at Samara recently “scratching around” in search of scorpions and spiders.  With more than 25 years experience Jonathan has made it his life’s work to educate people about what most of us would shudder and think of as creepy crawlies.
 
He is busy putting together a manual about the local spiders and scorpions so that our rangers will be far more knowledgeable about these interesting and often misunderstood creatures.
 
Even more exciting he found a beautiful large baboon spider (Harpacteri sp.) on the hill behind Karoo Lodge, which he took photos of. He has been chatting to the Baboon spider specialists in Southern Africa (who are very excited!) and they tell him that it is a new and undescribed species!  Fantastic news! The next thing is to collect a specimen or two to deposit into our National Collection of Arachnids which is held at the Plant Protection Research Institute – Biosystematics Division. From there it will be worked on and formally described as a new species .

Scorpions of Sabi Sands Training Manual

4 years in the writing, my long awaited Scorpions of Sabi Sands training manual is printed and available now! 172 pages, over 120 photos, this milestone in scorpion appreciation and conservation contains never before published information on the scorpions that inhabit the Sabi Sands. Practical and easy to read, this training manual will appeal to the nature enthusiast, field guide and lodge. Sponsored by EcoTraining, this manual contains the following:

• Introduction to Scorpions.
• Invertebrate Ecotourism.
• Venomosity.
• What to do in case of scorpion envenomation.
• Photoguide to all scorpions in the Sabi Sands.
• Handling Scorpions.
• Photographic key.
• Quick habitat guide.
• Finding scorpions.
• Common names.

Each species account contains the following:

• Specimen photo.
• Identification characteristics.
• Description.
• Males and Females.
• Habitat.
• Guest Interaction.
• Handling.
• Venom.
• Notes.

The following scorpion species are covered:

• Jones' Burrowing Scorpion (Cheloctonus jonesii)
• Tree Creeping Scorpion (Opistacanthus asper)
• Rock Creeping Scorpion (Opistacanthus leavipes)
• Shiny Burrowing Scorpion (Opistophthalmus glabrifrons)
• Three Lined Hottentotta (Hottentotta trilineatus)
• Transvaal Thick-tailed Scorpion (Parabuthus transvaalicus)
• Mozambican Thick-tailed Scorpion (Parabuthus mossambicensis)
• Carinated Bark Scorpion (Uroplectes carinatus)
• Olive Bark Scorpion (Uroplectes olivaceus)
• Two Lined Bark Scorpion (Uroplectes vittatus)

Cost is R285 per copy excluding postage. To order your copy contact Jonathan on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Venmous Creatures - the Inside Story

A short video on how venomous scorpions really are. Many people think that all scorpions are highly venomous. This is certainly not the case. The following video illustrates how venomous scorpions actually are through practical examples.

Note that no scorpions were harmed during the making of this video. I wish I could say the same for my villing volunteers! Just want to say thanks to all that volunteered. I said I'd make you famous!