Aloes are a keystone plant species at Babanango Game Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa, flowering mainly in winter (May to July) when most other plants are dormant. Their nectar-rich flowers attract sunbirds, butterflies, and hawkmoths, support the food chain, and provide habitat for reptiles and insects – while their leaves and stems are eaten by mammals ranging from vervet monkeys and porcupines to kudu, elephant, and black rhino.
What Are Aloes, and Why Do They Matter at Babanango?
While most plants lose colour and foliage in the winter months (May to July), many South African aloes go into full bloom, putting on a kaleidoscopic display of colour that contrasts beautifully against the stark winter backdrop. In KwaZulu-Natal, sites like Babanango Game Reserve provide the perfect setting for viewing a variety of aloes, but it’s not just tourists who are drawn in. A range of birdlife, insects, and wildlife are attracted to aloes, making them akin to nature’s watering holes: the perfect place to sit a while and watch wildlife in action.
How Do Aloes Benefit the Ecosystem?
The vast majority of aloes flower in winter, while some groups do flower in spring or summer. Apart from their striking beauty, aloes in South Africa perform a number of important roles that support a thriving ecosystem. In fact, these iconic succulents are considered a keystone species in many southern African ecosystems.
- Pollination: Aloes have nectar-rich flowers which are important feeding stations for birds and insects which, in turn, transfer pollen between aloe plants.
- Food Chain Support: Insect activity around the aloes provides a great feeding opportunity for birds, reptiles, and smaller mammals.
- Habitat Layering: The layered structure of aloes provides great shelter for reptiles, amphibians, insects and spiders.
- Fire Retardant: Aloes are remarkably resilient with several species regenerating after fires and using dried leaves for heat insulation. They also provide increased fire resistance, slowing down the spread of fires.
What Animals Do Aloes Attract?
As a keystone species, aloes are vital for attracting wildlife to a region, and different aloe species will attract a variety of birds and wildlife.
Bird Species
For birdwatchers looking for great South African birding sites in winter, Babanango Game Reserve is a top destination. The variety of aloe species provides excellent birding opportunities. The iridescent sunbirds, with their curved beaks, are able to access the deep nectar of aloe flowers, thereby helping with pollination. Babanango hosts several species, including the iridescent purple banded and malachite sunbirds. Gurney’s sugarbirds have also been recorded from time to time on the reserve. For regular sightings of the Amethyst, White-bellied, Southern Double-collared, or Scarlet-chested sunbirds, these are some popular aloe species you will find:
The mountain aloe (aloe marlothii), probably the most iconic and well known species in KZN, is a large, single-stemmed aloe found in rocky places and open flat country, growing up to a staggering 6m tall with densely packed orange and red flowers. From a distance and to the untrained eye, this aloe can often be mistaken for people.
The tree aloe (aloidendron barberae) is Africa’s largest aloe, reaching up to 15m in height and 0.9 m in stem diameter. Its tubular flowers attract many birds.
The poker grass aloe (aloe kniphofioides) is a grassland aloe which requires fire for survival. With its bulb-like roots and succulent nature, the plants survive the fires and resprout. The flowering is prolific after fire, attracting a great number of pollinators.
The Kranz aloe (aloe arborescens) is a bushier aloe often found on rocky outcrops, exposed ridges and krantzes in mountainous areas. The large flowers range from deep orange to pure yellow, with some bi-coloured forms showcasing the best of both hues.
The Kranz aloe consists of dead, dried leaves which create a home for many insects, which in turn, attract insectivorous birds such as wood hoopoes, weavers, and dark-capped bulbuls. The nectar and insects of these aloes also attract Cape white-eyes and other familiar generalist-nectar feeders, such as orioles and starlings.
Insect Species
Aloes provide critical winter forage for various insect species when other flowers are scarce, making them a bustling setting for pollinators such as honeybees and African solitary bees. The colour is heightened with the arrival of butterflies, including the common diadem and African monarch, while hawkmoths are known to visit aloes at night. Almost all flowering aloes attract insects, but these are some of the more popular species to check for insect sightings:
The soap aloe (aloe maculata) which is found mostly in grassland, but also often in rocky outcrops and thicket vegetation.
The grass aloe (aloe ecklonis) is a tough and beautiful succulent with a striking rosette of broad leaves and vibrant orange, yellow, or salmon-pink flowers.
Gerstner’s aloe (aloe gerstneri) is a rare species endemic to Babanango, flourishing in the thornveld among rocky outcrops and grassy slopes adjacent to streams and rivers.
The book aloe (aloe suprafoliata) grows in shallow soils on rocky slopes or in rock crevices on steep cliffs, in mountain grassland and open woodland.
Reptiles and Mammals
While animals are attracted to a variety of aloe species, one of the most popular ones for small animals is the grass aloe (aloe ecklonis). The dense rosette of leaves will provide shelter for nesting birds as well as small animals.
The insects attracted to aloes provide not only a great feeding station for birds, but for smaller animals including reptiles and mammals. It’s common to see lizards basking on the aloe stems, taking advantage of the winter sunshine while also hunting insects attracted to the aloe blooms.
The moisture-rich leaves and stems of aloes provide great sustenance for small mammals, particularly during the drier winter months. Porcupines are known to eat aloe stems, especially during droughts when their primary food and water sources become scarce. Bushpigs, which forage for roots and bulbs, will feast on aloes and other succulents when food is hard to find. Primates also eat aloe leaves, flowers, nectar, and stems for their moisture content, with baboons and vervet monkeys among the animals found near aloes at Babanango Game Reserve.
Even elephants have been known to selectively feed on these succulents, with kudu and eland browsing on the leaves, and black rhinoceros known to uproot entire plants, despite the bitter, toxic flavour many aloe species carry specifically to reduce herbivory.
When Is the Best Time to See Aloes in Bloom?
Visiting Babanango Game Reserve during the aloe flowering season is a truly unique experience. The blooming aloes attract wildlife of all sizes, creating a dynamic display of nature in motion. It’s a chance to witness the ecosystem at its most active, learn about the intricate relationships that sustain it, and enjoy game drives that showcase the richness of KwaZulu-Natal’s wildlife.
As these striking plants come into bloom, they stand as a powerful symbol of nature’s resilience and beauty, reflecting Babanango’s unwavering dedication to conservation and the ongoing rewilding of our remarkable reserve.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do aloes flower in South Africa?
Most South African aloes flower in winter, between May and July, though some species flower in spring or summer.
What is a keystone species, and why are aloes one?
A keystone species has an outsized effect on its ecosystem relative to its abundance. Aloes qualify because they support pollination, feed the food chain through insect activity, provide layered habitat for reptiles and insects, and increase resistance to fire.
Which aloe species can be seen at Babanango Game Reserve?
Species recorded at Babanango include the mountain aloe, tree aloe, poker grass aloe, Kranz aloe, soap aloe, grass aloe, book aloe, and the reserve-endemic Gerstner’s aloe.
What birds are attracted to aloes at Babanango?
Purple-banded and malachite sunbirds are common, with Gurney’s sugarbird occasionally recorded. Amethyst, White-bellied, Southern Double-collared, and Scarlet-chested sunbirds, plus wood hoopoes, weavers, dark-capped bulbuls, Cape white-eyes, orioles, and starlings are also drawn to aloe blooms.
Do larger animals eat aloes?
Yes. Kudu and eland browse aloe leaves, black rhino have been known to uproot entire plants, and even elephants selectively feed on aloes despite their bitter, toxic flavour.