National Geographic Kids South Africa - July 2013

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Various animals and plants in south Africa.

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M

WIN

a bush holiday

worth
R45 000!

YTHS

RUSSIAN

TIGERS
4

ROBOTS

FUNNY
FRIENDS

COOL
COOL
TOYS!
TOYS!

CHOCOLATE
SCULPTURES

AWESOME
AWESOME
AIRPLANE
AIRPLANE

Issue 107 July 2013 R28,00 (VAT incl.)

COOL

9 771811 723006

07107

HI,KIDS
TH

N
o
M
E
H
T
F
o
R
E
T
T
LE
Dear Fiona
is sopHia ella
“Hello, my name raise money
to
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nt
wa
i
.
searll
because i wanteD
For tHe rHinos
tHe worlD anD
in
t
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lp
to He
wHen you Do
oD
go
so
ls
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e.
nic
ing
tH
some
e rHinos anD
i reaD about tH
lp. iF we Don’t
He
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ly
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re
tHey
ll be extinct
wi
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em
tH
Help
want tHat. but
anD none oF us l tHe rHinos
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wH
le
op
tHe pe
rns Don’t
anD take tHeir Ho anytHing
t
ou
ab
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but tHemselves stupiD because
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g!
wron
inos ever Do to
wHat DiD tHe rH tHey can make
ink
tH
ey
tH
?
tHem
tHe Horns, but
meDicine out oF
Hair anD it will
st
ju
is
rn
Ho
tHe
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tH
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ly
ab
prob
y will Help. i
ne
mo
my
pe
Ho
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us rHinos!”
eo
rg
go
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os
tH
bless
cape town
8,
,
rll
sea
ia
pH
so

bIRTHDay
CaKE FoR a
gooD CauSE

Send us your let
when it is your ters, pictures and comments
. Le
birthday. We wa
nt to hear from t us know
you!
• Write to

us at: Th
Cape Town 8000 e Editor, NG KIDS, PO Box 1802
,
• Send an e-mail .
to
SMS* a letter to [email protected] or
“NGK Letters” at
33970.
* SMSs

cost R1,50. Free
SMSs do not app
See www.ngkids.
ly.
co.za for terms
and conditions.

Sitting shivering in a cave with an animal skin wrapped
around his shoulders, the Neanderthal thought: “Nah, it’s
too cold to go out hunting.” Life was pretty tough then. The
earth was in the midst of the last Ice Age. Even worse, early
humans appeared and it seemed they could always outsmart
him. One theory is that the simple invention of a needle gave
these early humans a huge advantage over their Neanderthal
cousins. They could make clothes that fitted properly and
didn’t fall around their ankles when running after woolly
mammoths. Right now I’m glad the knitting needle was also
invented. It means I can keep my head warm with a woolly
beanie.
In keeping with the cold weather, our cover star is a
handsome Siberian tiger that’s well adapted to living in snow.
I think it may be my favourite cover yet. What do you think?.
On 18 July we celebrate Nelson Mandela Day. It’s his
95th birthday. Take a look at some of the portraits drawn by
readers on page 46 and think about what you can do to help
other people on his birthday. One idea would be to have your
school organise a blanket collection drive.
Thank you for all the birthday fun we had last month. We
were very inspired by an NG KIDS reader (see letter of the
month) who combined fun with a good cause. Instead of
asking for presents, she asked for
money to be donated to the Rhino
Foundation. She raised R3 000.
Great work!

Find the tig
ers! We hi
d ten of th
the magaz
em in
ine. Here’
s one, but
spot all te
can you
n?

Dare to Explore!

SubSCRIbERS
oF THE MoNTH

July’s subscribers of the month are Morgan and Tait
Townsend from Tableview,Cape Town. They have won*
a Table Mountain Cableway Family combo(2 tickets
for adults and 2 for children)worth R610 and a cafe
meal voucher valued at R250. The prize is valid from 26 August to 26 November 2013(the
cableway is closed for maintenance from 22 July to 25 August).The annual Table Mountain Cableway Kidz Season
has started and will be running until 31 October 2013.This season,2 kids under 18 years ride for free when an adult
return ticket(R205 - valid until 30 September 2013)is bought over weekends,public holidays and in the June and
September school holidays.The Cableway operates weather permitting.Go to www.tablemountain.net or call
021-424-8181 for more information.
* Terms and conditions on page 49

NatioNal GeoGraphic KiDS

3

Tigers In the Snow

page 18

EDITORIAL
Editor Fiona Thomson
[email protected]
Editorial and Digital Assistant
Shounees Moola
[email protected]
Senior Designer Monique Petersen
Copy Editor Pieter van der Lugt
PUBLISHING
General Manager Liezl de Swardt
Publisher Nikki Ruttiman

Who Am I?

Guess what this strange sea animal is.

page 12

Dolphin Rescue

Volunteers help captive dolphins go free.

page 16

ADVERTISING SALES & SOLUTIONS
Sales Director
Craig Nicholson
[email protected]
Business Manager (Women’s)
Marilize Hay
[email protected]
Business Manager (KZN)
Eugene Marais
[email protected]
Business Manager: Digital
Terance Winson
[email protected]
Sales Manager (JHB)
Bianca Quinn
[email protected]
083-375-1721
Sales Manager (CPT)
Abigail Wilmot
[email protected]
083-212-1141
Sales Executive(National)
Lynne Deacon
073-704-8793

Food That Fools You

MARKETING and PR
Marketing Executive Lisel Daniels
Tel.: 021-443-9857
Admin Assistant Lulama Joe
CIRCULATION
SALES & SOLUTIONS
Circulation Manager
Adele Minnaar 011-217-3263
Subscription Manager
Dilshaad Hassan 021-443-9937
SUBSCRIPTIONS
All subscription payments to:
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS,
PO Box 1802, Cape Town 8000 or
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS,
Free Post, CB0006,
Cape Town 8000 RSA
Tel.: 0860-103-578 Fax: 021-405-1033
E-mail: [email protected]
NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS
CAPE TOWN:
ABSA Building, Women’s Interest,
18th floor, 4 Adderley Street,
Cape Town
Tel.: 021-443-9871;
Postal address: PO Box 1802,
Cape Town 8000
DIRECTORS
John Relihan, Raj Lalbahadur
REPRODUCTION Media24
PRINTING Paarl Media Cape
DISTRIBUTION:

Secrets of food styling

page 30

PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC SOCIETY
Chairman of the Board and CEO John M. Fahey
President, Publishing and Digital Media Declan Moore
Executive Vice President and Worldwide Publisher Claudia Malley
Executive Vice President Terrence B. Adamson
International Publishing:
Yulia Boyle, Senior Vice President
Diana Jaksic, Director
Jennifer Jones, Manager
Cynthia Combs, Rights Manager

Myths Busted

The scoop on five totally weird tales

page 34

DEPARTMENTS
6 Pet Friends Forever
10 Incredible Animal
Friends

25 Calendar

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS is published and distributed 12 times a
year by Media24, with permission of the National Geographic Society,
Washington, DC 20036.

38 Cool Inventions

46 Art Zone

40 Subscription Page

48 Fun Factory

42 Fun Stuff

50 Just Joking

On the Cover
Cover PhotograPh: istockphoto
Cover insets: FUNNY FRiENDs (REUtERs / thoMAs MUkoYA);
sAMARA pRiVAtE GAME REsERVE (BUsh hoLiDAY)
Page 3: DAViD ADEY (FioNA); ALL othER iMAGEs sUppLiED
Page 4: © iMAGE soURcE / coRBis (tiGER RUNNiNG); © JEFF FostER (DoLphiNs);
istockphoto (MANtA RAY); RENEE coMEt (pANcAkEs); toM Nick cocotos (MYths BUstED)

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC KIDS Magazine
Chief Creative Officer, Books, Kids, and Family Melina Gerosa Bellows
Senior Vice President, Kids Publishing and Media Nancy Laties Feresten
Vice President, Editorial Operations Julie Vosburgh Agnone
Editor and Vice President Rachel Buchholz
Design Director, Kids Publishing and Media Eva Absher-Schantz
Photo Director, Kids Publishing and Media Jay Sumner
Senior Editor, Science Catherine D. Hughes
Editorial: Andrea Silen, Associate Editor; Nick Spagnoli, Copy Editor; Kay
Boatner, Assistant Editor Photo: Kelley Miller, Senior Editor; Lisa Jewell,
Editor Art: Eileen O’Tousa-Crowson, Art Director; Julide Obuz Dengel,
Designer; Stephanie Rudig, Digital Design Assistant
Copyright Media24. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be
reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or be transmitted in any form or by any
means, electronic or mechanical, without prior consent of Media24.

4

SmdN
eAeP
OYcT
Ve2
em
0m1bb1eerr 22001111

We know how much you love your pets.
Now you can send us photos, drawings
and letters especially for this page!
You can also send questions about your
pet to our NG KIDS vet.

SWEET BREEDS

Norwegian
3
Forest Cats
1

They are bigger and stronger than
other cats, with large, bushy tails.
They are very friendly and get on
well with other cats and people.

2

Their size is quite distinctive and
their shaggy fur can come in lots of
colours – from pure white to coal
black and anything in between.

3

A large male can weigh nearly twice
as much as an average domestic cat.

ISTOCKPHOTO (NORWEGIAN FOREST CAT, CAT WITH STETHOSCOPE); ALL OTHER IMAGES SUPPLIED

Facts about

Q: My cat has the
sniffles, what’s wrong?
If you have
questions about
your pets (furry,
feathered or
scaled), ask our
local NG KIDS vet,
Professor Paws.

A: If it’s not allergies, he’s probably caught a cold
just like humans do. Like human colds it will get
better by itself, but there are things that you can
do to help him feel better. Make sure he has a nice
place to sleep, keep him indoors if you can and
make sure he has enough to drink. Chicken broth
helps as well.

How to keep your cat
warm in winter
Just because it has a winter coat doesn’t
mean it won’t feel the cold.
Get your dad or

mum to fix

draughts –

also save
on electricity.

it wil

Build an
indoor
tent for
your cat.

Make sure

there’s a nice,
warm blanket in
its bed.

Give the cat a little bit more
quality food.
Give it cuddles!

Storm

Dear Fiona
I love my pet Storm! He is a golden
Labrador and loves to play. His mum’s
name was Holly and he was born in a
litter of ten. My friend Megan has a
golden retriever named Lilly and she is
two months older than Storm.
Storm’s first birthday will be on
16 July 2013, which is also my aunt’s
birthday.
We got him in September 2012, so he is
still quite young (but he is very big!).
I love that you put in a “Pet Friends
Forever” page. It just adds something
nice to the magazine.
I have attached two pictures of Storm
to this e-mail. It’s a picture of him in his
doggie pool and a picture of him with a
bandanna.
If you could put this in the July or
September issue that would be great!!
I hope you get my message!
- Erin Coetzee, 11, Cape Town

Send us your pet-related letters, questions, pictures, drawings and jokes!
• E-mail to [email protected] • Ask a parent to post your pet on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/NationalGeographicKidsSA
• Send a letter to The Editor, PO Box 1802, Cape Town 8000

We would love to meet your pets!

Aquathl
s
d
i
K
n
o
r
I
ay
d
r
The Pritt
u
t
a
S
y
n
un
,
h
t
e
held on a s
b
a
z
i
l
E
t
April in Puocrcess.
a huge s

1

The Pritt Aquathlon
reaches new heights.
The event is hosted in
Nelson Mandela Bay as
part of the IronMan

South Africa

weekend. It’s all about
fun and healthy
living for kids.

2
first

The
.
left at 12 p.m
ritt
e friendly P
th
y
b
d
te
is
s
s
a
No
IronKids
t
’s all abou
it

n
e
k
ta
re
times a
and doing
g
in
t
a
ip
ic
t
r
pa
ets
Everybody g
and a
a
when they

wave
volunteers.

your best. goodie
medal
cross
bag
the line.

8

www.ironkids.co.za

M

in this

Iron Man
heroes.

their

o it, let’s do
i
t!

ou kno
y
w
id
Highlights of
Pritt IronKids
South Africa
2013 were
screened on
SuperSport.

ADVERTORIAL

After

4

swim
entrants jog along
the walkway down
to the red carpet of
the real Iron Man So
ut
Africa, then run through theh
finishing arch to become
a Pritt IronKid of
South Africa!
their

ALL
kids
the ages – you have to be
the race. of 6 and 13 on the between
day of

What:

6 to 9 ye
Swim 60 ars:
1,2 kilom metres and run
10 to 13 etres
Swim 100:
2 kilometr metres and run
es

You ca

Go to wwn be an Iron K
out for th w.ironkids.co.za id!
and watc
e event o
2
h
tN
N a t0i1o4Naa
l eG
G rn
aS
p ahtu
i rd
c KiDS
lseono M
andela B ay 5 april
ay.

9

FinisherPix
(Photogra
Phy);
istockPho
to (other
illustrat
ion)

e part

k
for kids to ta st like
t
even ju

Yo
u

?

D

3

time

r

can do
t
t
i
it;
Pr

nd
ca

lon,
y in
, was

Parents and reat
had a g
spectators ’s great
too! It

e
l
b
i
d
e
r
Incimal Friends
n

i’m not
ho,
saying w f
o
but one
a
s
d
e
e
n
s
u
bath.

An

len

BaBoon Befriends BushBaBy
Nairobi, Kenya
Habitat Forest treetops
in Africa
WeigHt 70 to 900 grams
Crybaby A bushbaby’s
cry sounds a lot like a
human baby’s wails.
SuperSize eyeS They
have large eyes that help
them see better in
the dark.

10

How can you tell that Dina the yellow baboon and Bushy the bushbaby are best
friends? They give each other bear hugs even when they’re on the move. Bushy
often wraps her arms around the baboon’s tummy and holds on upside down as
Dina crawls around their enclosure at the Nairobi Animal Orphanage.
The animals bonded after arriving at the reserve as infants. “Now Dina acts
as Bushy’s mum,” says Edward Kariuki, a vet who works at the orphanage. The
baboon protects her pal from other animals and makes sure Bushy eats enough.
Bushbabies, also known as galagos, are nocturnal in the wild. Baboons are
active during the day. Bushy changed her sleeping schedule so she can be awake
at the same time as Dina. Luckily, the motherly baboon doesn’t scold Bushy
for staying up past her bedtime. “The friendship is rare,” says primate expert
Barbara Smuts, “but the animals are great for each other.”

Yellow BABooN
Habitat Savannah
and woodlands of Africa
WeigHt Adults can
weigh 23 to 32 kilograms.
tHe Name game
yellow baboons are
named for their
yellow-brown fur.
opeN Wide if these
monkeys feel threatened
by a rival, they might
yawn to show the other
animal their teeth.

REUTERS / THOMAS MUKOYA (BOTH)

BUSHBABY

? Who am

?

?

Read the facts about this
weird-looking sea creature.
Do you know its name?

?

Answer on page 50

?

An They are found in

?

adult can the tropical oceans
be almost around the world.
seven

metres
across.
12

They are very acrobatic
and can leap out of the
water.

?
??

BY FIONA THOMSON

?
?
they

are black
on top but mostly
white underneath.

ISTOCKPHOTO (MANTA RAY)

m
?
a i ?
?

A famous
place for

diving

with these
they are creatures is Yap

related to
sharks.

Unlike sharks they
have no teeth
but sieve their food.

Island, Micronesia.
Micronesia
WrIte the AnIMAl’s nAMe In thIs spAce

NatioNal GeoGraphic KiDS

13

REAL OR FAKE?
CAN yOU BELIEvE EvERytHINg yOU READ?

R

Not always!
Especially when what you’re reading is on the Internet. Sometimes it’s hard to tell what’s for
real and what’s just a joke online – and some people are trying to trick you on purpose. Two of
these stories are Internet hoaxes. Can you guess which are real and which are fake?
ANSWErS oN pAgE 50

G

ELECtED
MAyOR!

ABILENE, TEXAS, AMERICA
An Irish wolfhound named Devlin was
elected Dog Mayor of Abilene, Texas,
beating Douglas the basset hound,
Horatio the Chihuahua and Sampson
the Akita mix. Mayor Devlin travelled
the country to raise awareness of
animal rescue and served with a
human mayor during his term.
Next stop, the White House.

DUDE BUILDS

house
OHRIGSTAD, SOUTH AFRICA
A giant piece of footwear served as an unusual home for
some South Africans. Artist ron van Zyl built the twostorey house, complete with a patchwork
quilt bed, to resemble the one from the
nursery rhyme “The old Woman Who
Lived in a Shoe”. Today the shoe is
part of a complex made up of a
restaurant, a pool, cave tours and
hiking trails. Inside the shoe is a
museum featuring ron’s wood
carvings. Wonder if there’s a
giant sock somewhere to match?

14

J U ly 2 0 1 3

MAN FALLS
FROM SPACE
THE EDGE OF OUTER SPACE, EARTH
Felix Baumgartner put on a pressurised
suit like the one astronauts wear, plunged
more than 38 kilometres to Earth and
survived. “Fearless Felix” started his
journey in the New Mexico desert in a
capsule that was lifted to the edge of outer
space by a huge helium balloon. He faced
dangers like oxygen starvation and his
blood boiling as he stepped off his platform
40 kilometres above Earth’s surface. Thanks
to him astronauts may soon be wearing
his spacesuit to survive the extreme
conditions in space. Now that’s one giant
leap for mankind.

TREE

OCTOPUS
DISCOVERED

OLYMPIC NATIONAL FOREST,
WASHINGTON, AMERICA
Scientists have discovered a land octopus
in the rain forests of the state Washington.
The Pacific Northwest tree octopus, or
Octopus paxarbolis, spends its first few
months in the ocean before moving on to
land to mate, absorbing the moisture it
needs from the damp rain forests. Logging
and growing human neighbourhoods are
threatening its habitat, so activists are
trying to get the animal on the endangered
species list.

LAMBS
SOLD
AS DOGS

SAPPORO, JAPAN
In a scam that may have fooled as
many as 2 000 people, hundreds
of lambs were sold as poodles to
wealthy pet owners. Paying R10 000
or more, people snapped up what
they thought was a bargain. Poodles
can cost twice as much in some

countries. The con was uncovered after
an actress said on a talk show that her
“poodle” didn’t bark and refused to eat
dog food. Soon there were hundreds of
complaints from other people. Officials
are trying to decide on the best way to
return the lambs. Guess you could say
these would-be dog owners were fleeced.

ED

15

Dolphin
Volunteers help captive dolphins go free.

I

der
nstead of the enormous deep sea
where they were born to swim,
two bottlenose dolphins see only
the concrete walls of the pool that
imprisons them. For months the male
dolphins, named Tom and Misha, have
been attractions near the coast of
Turkey. Tourists pay to swim with the
2,7-metre-long dolphins in a small pool
only four metres deep.
The business owner neglects the dolphins
and the pool isn’t cleaned. A thick layer of
dolphin waste and rotting fish builds up on
the bottom, creating a terrible stench. The
contaminated water makes the dolphins
sick and the pair rapidly lose weight. The
stressed, cooped-up dolphins fight each
other. They’re only weeks from dying.

HELP ARRIVES

A local organisation called the Dolphin
Angels hears about the desperate situation
and begins a protest campaign. Soon the
Born Free Foundation, an animal rights
group in England, joins the cause. Once they
win custody of Tom and Misha, the rescuers
put their plan into action to release the
dolphins back into the wild.
Wildlife experts carry the two dolphins
out of the pool on stretchers and load them
into a van. To fight infections and parasites
from the bacteria-infested water, the

rescue from pool

animals get strong doses of antibiotics from
a vet. The rescuers haul the dolphins out to
a large floating pen enclosed by deep nets
in the Mediterranean Sea. The rescue group
calls in marine mammal rehabilitator Jeff
Foster of Seattle in America to prepare the
dolphins for the wild.

LEARNING TO EAT

Jeff is hopeful, since Tom and Misha were
captured in the wild. But he knows the
training will still be difficult. “You almost
have to start from the beginning,” he says.
After an estimated six years in captivity,
the dolphins won’t even eat the frozen fish
they’re used to unless someone places it in
their mouths. They refuse to eat fish such
as anchovies that they’d find in the sea. The
caregivers gradually mix different dead
fishes into their diet, trying one species at
a time. Once Tom and Misha acquire a taste
for the local seafood, Jeff tries to figure
out a way to interest them in live fish. He
decides to take advantage of their ongoing
quarrels from the pool, which included
fights over food.
“What we had going for us, was the
competition between the two males,” Foster
says. “We wanted them to compete for
a fish.” It works. The hunt becomes a fun
cat-and-mouse game for the dolphins. They
regain a healthy body weight, but they need

muscle to survive in the wild. Tom and Misha
begin a challenging exercise regimen that
includes fast swims and leaps into the air.

BACK TO THE WILD

After 20 months of rehabilitation the
dolphins are ready. Scuba divers remove part
of the sea pen’s netting, opening the door to
freedom. Twenty minutes pass before Tom
cautiously swims through the opening. Misha
follows and they’re off. “They took off and
never looked back,” Jeff says.
The team monitors
the animals from a boat. They watch
as the dolphins repeatedly splash
in and out of the
water in a kind of swimming
sprint. It’s something Tom
and Misha haven’t been
able to do as captives.
Within 90 minutes of their
release, Tom and Misha
catch wild fish. The pair
travel an astounding
40 kilometres on their first
day back at sea. They even
mingle with a wild dolphin.
“They were excited to be free,”
Jeff says. “Returning them to the wild
was righting a wrong. Seeing where these
animals came from and where they
are now makes me feel really good.”

getting healthy
Each
bottlenose dolphin
makes a unique
whistling sound
that identifies who
it is to other
dolphins.

16

© bff (rescue); © nichola chapman / born free
foundation (getting healthy); © jeff foster (big picture)

j u ly 2 0 1 3

nRescue

WANT MORE?
WANT MORE?
WAtch A viDeo of Dolphins
Working together:
kids.nationalgeographic.com/videos/

WANT MORE?

WANT MORE?
WANT MORE?
Dolphins get
the water
they need
from the fish
they eat.

WANT MORE?
A bottlenose dolphin
can swim up to
35 kilometres
per hour.

back to the wild

NatioNal GeoGraphic KiDS

17

In the
1930s, only about
30 Amur tigers
were left in
the wild.

in the Snow
These wild cats survive
the cold of eastern Russia.

18

My th busted!
Scientists once thought
Amur tigers were the
biggest cats in the world
.
But new data show they’r
e
the same size as
India’s Bengal
tigers.

A long tAIl helpS
A runnIng tIger
keep ItS BAlAnce.

© tom & pat leeson / ardea (big picture); © image source / corbis
(tiger running); © toshiji fukuda / minden pictures (tiger and cubs)

MuM teAcheS her
twInS to hunt.

S

By KAreN De Seve
ilently moving through the trees,
a tigress stalks her prey. Deep
snow covers the ground and with
each step the big cat sinks in to
her belly. She knows the snow will
muffle any sounds, so she can sneak up on a
wild boar that is rooting around for pine nuts.
A few metres away, the tiger pauses, crouches
and then launches her 125-kilogram body
towards her prey. Snow sprays with each leap
as her plate-sized paws prepare to pounce on
the boar.
A powdery cloud fills the air. Then the
snow settles, revealing the metre-long
tail and orange, black and white body. Now
stained red, the tigress grasps the boar in
her mouth.
She carries her catch behind some larch
trees and her two cubs join her from a nearby
hill. Camouflaged among the trees, they were
watching their mother hunt. They practise
their pouncing as they approach their
dinner. These yearlings will start hunting for
themselves in three to six months. For now,
they are content with the meal their mother
provided, followed by some snooze time. The
cats curl up near their dinner scraps and fall
asleep as a night-time chill creeps through
the forest.
These Siberian or Amur tigers live
further north than any other tiger
subspecies.

NatioNal GeoGraphic KiDS

19

s
In the far eastern reaches of Russia,
winter temperatures can drop to minus
40 degrees Celsius.
Thick fur insulates their bodies as they
sleep in the snow. In summer their coats
cloak the cats against the forest,
making them nearly impossible to see.
One wild boar is a small meal for three
tigers. A single tiger can eat up to
40 kilograms of meat in one meal.
By morning, the three are on the prowl
again. Even though tigers are well adapted
as the top predators in this cold climate,
each day brings new threats. The greatest
danger isn’t other tigers competing
against them, but people. Even skilled
tigers can have bad luck and scientists are
trying to keep the odds in favour of
the animals.

A tigER CUb StiCkS
WitH MUM fOR At
LEASt 18 MONtHS.

Many Amur tigers
have beachfront
proper ty – they live
in Russian forests
on the edge of the
Sea of Japan.

Hunger games

In the snowy, forested arena, finding food
is a big part of survival. But that’s not
all. Well-hidden snares or trucks speeding
along logging roads kill many tigers each
year, not to mention armed deer
hunters who come across tigers. “In Russia,
very few tigers die of old age,” says Dale
Miquelle, an Amur tiger researcher with
the Wildlife Conservation Society. “Most
die at the hands of poachers.” The tiger
trio is among about 400 Amur tigers that
researchers think are left in the wild.
The range of tigers in Russia is about
the size of the Eastern Cape and in the
southeastern part of the country. As
recently as 50 years ago there were plenty
of deer and wild boar, the tiger’s favourite
food. Prey is harder to find these days.
People hunt them, while
logging companies and fires destroy the
forest where they live. Some tiger habitat
is protected, but the cats wander beyond
these safe zones in search of prey.
tHiS tigER’S SCRAtCHES
ON tREES ARE MESSAgES
tO OtHER tigERS.

HOW YOU CAN HELP Tigers, leopards, lions and other big cats
need protection. Learn more about National Geographic’s Big Cats Initiative
online at kids.nationalgeographic.com/kids/big-cats or ngbigcats.org.

20

february 2013

ice-cold water quenches
this tiger’s thirst.

© juniors / superstock (big picture); © tom & pat leeson / ardea (scratching); © lisa
husar / team husar (drinking); © lynn m. stone / nature picture library (amur leopard)

The tigress and her two cubs roam a
home range that’s about 400 square
kilometres, more than the size of
Bloemfontein. Soon her son will leave,
but her daughter will take over part of
this territory. Half of all tiger cubs die
young because they are sick, killed by
hunters, or orphaned. Cubs that survive
leave their mum at about 18 months
old, relying on the hunting skills they
learned growing up. Sometimes a young
male must travel far to find unclaimed
land with enough food. But the odds are
his journey will take him through areas
where people live.

TroUBLeSHooTiNG

It is late winter when the male tiger
leaves his mother’s care. He wakes up
from his nap and sniffs the remains of a
meal for any leftovers. Then he leans in
to scratch against a tree, but he catches
his paw on something. He tries to pull
away, making things worse. He has walked
into a wire snare and the more he moves,
the tighter it gets.
A little while later, he hears voices.
People. They stay behind the trees and
one of them raises a gun. The tiger roars
at the sharp pain in his backside. Then
he starts to get dizzy, so he lies down
and falls asleep. He’s been shot by a
researcher with a tranquiliser gun,
not a hunter. Unable to find enough food
in the snowy forest, this tiger started
killing livestock and dogs in a nearby
town. Dale and his team are called in to

fix the problem. “Many conflict tigers
are young. They have left their mother’s
home range and are looking for their
own territory,” Dale says. “They are
hungry and have not become good
hunters yet. Relocation gives them a
second chance.” Otherwise, a farmer
would track down the tiger and shoot him.
The researchers quickly weigh and
measure the tranquilised tiger. They
fit a collar with a radio transmitter
around his neck. This will let Dale and
his team keep track of him for at least
three years.

New TerriTory

Two hours later the tiger wakes up in a
cage bumping along a road in the back of a
truck. It stops about 240 kilometres from
the town and the cage gate opens. The
wild cat is wary but eventually leaps out
of the cage, kicking up snow as he bounds
towards the trees. Unfamiliar with the
territory, he searches for signs of other
tigers. He comes across a birch tree with
a strong odour. Another male sprayed the
tree and left scrape marks and urine on
the ground to tell others the area is taken.
Dale’s team monitors the tiger from
a distance, picking up signals from the
radio collar. They hope he can find food,
avoid other males, find his own territory
and a local female. The tiger spots a deer.
Melting snow drips from the trees,
masking his footsteps as he ambushes
his prey.
His odds just got a little better.

amur leopard
Living side-by-side with Amur tigers
is another big cat, the Amur leopard.
Only about 40 of these leopards exist
in the wild, on the border of Russia,
China and North Korea. Efforts to help
Amur leopards bounce back include
the new Land of the Leopard National
Park, which protects 2 850 square
kilometres of forest.

NatioNal GeoGraphic KiDS

21

1

Queen Elizabeth II
visited South Africa in 1947
when she was 21.

2

a

3

European
oak from
the 1800s

in 1940 a

ship’s bell

from the HMS
dominium was
installed at the

blew over
in a storm

on 27 June
1994.

lower entrance.

it still announces

working hours.
4

5

The bIRdbATH
in The dell
was builT over

5

SOME PEOPLE QUEUE
ALL NIGHT FOR THE
ANNUAL PLANT

200 yEARS

SALE, wHERE
935 PLANT
SPEcIES cAN bE
bOUGHT.

IONA THOMSON
by F

ago by Colonel
ChrisTopher
bird.

30 ih
zzAbOUT
z

z

THINGS

z

15

zz
z
garden
zconcerts
since
z
1993.
:
zz 5 z
zzT
z
zeat
z
19

:

J U LY 2 0 1 3

birthday
cake to celebrate
the garden’s 100th
birthday.
The dark
chocolate
cake represents the

z

earth.

z

:

z

T

22

you can

R

There is a GRAvE
at kirstenbosch.
It is for the FIRST
dIREcTOR OF THE
GARdENS. He is
buried under an
ATLAS cEdAR
that came from
MOROccO.

:

a pair of spotted eagle owls
breed annually in the garden.

people have
been to the

R

kirstenbosch
Gardens.

17

On 21 August 1996
PRESIdENT NELSON
MANdELA visited the
gardens. He PLANTEd
A TREE to MARk
THE OccASION.

z
z
z
z
zz T z
z
z
zz z
z
:

18

16

R

14

zz z
z
2 million
More than

Kirstenbosch

has a 450-metre
long self-guided
braille trail that
gives blind people
the chance to
explore indigenous
forest.
20

rainfall at Kirstenbosch is
1 500 mm per year.

6

7

the emblem forthe
botanical Society, Strelizia
reginae, was renamed
Mandela’s gold when he was
inaugurated as president.

8

9

kirStenboSch
iS hoMe to SMall
Ground
and tree MaMMalS,

froGS and
inSectS.
cycads are called living fossils.
these plants have not changed
since the time of the dinosaurs.
kirstenbosch has 37 of the
40 species of these plants.

11

In 1895 cecil John
rhodes paid
£9 000 for the derelict

130 hectares

10 kirstenbosch receives

685 000 visitors per year.

farm which became
kirstenbosch.

kirstenbosch
won a Gold
medal at this
year’s chelsea
flower show,
making it a

12

total of 33!

in SuMMer
people watch
open-air MovieS
at kirStenboSch.

13 the comptom

herbarium
contains about
750 000
SpeciMenS.

stenboSch s
botanical

21

on 22 May,
biodiverSity
day, entrance
iS free to
kirStenboSch
botanical
GardenS

around the
country.

24

ch is
nbos ly 2013.
e
t
s
r
Ki on 1 Ju
0

22

23
with a
few Minor
exceptionS you
will only find
indigenous plants
at kirstenbosch

27

famous
visitors include
elton John and
the dalai lama.

28

Skeleton

Voted by national
GeoGraphic as one of the
world’s seven beSt picnic
SpotS.

Gorge, one of the
main routes up table
Mountain, starts in the

botanical
GardenS.

25

you can Get Married at kirStenboSch.

GardenS.

29

the kirStenboSch
eState coverS 528
hectareS, which
iS about 528 ruGby
fieldS.

26

10

Kirstenbosch is part of the
Cape floristic kingdom and
was declared a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 2004.

30

So far 125 bird species have been spotted in
the Gardens.

ISTOCKPHOTO, (1); FIONA THOMSON, (2, 5, 6, 8, 14, 15, 18, 17, 22, 29); GETTY IMAGES (7); KIRSTENBOSCH TEA GARDEN (24); ISTOCKPHOTO (16, 20, 22)

NatioNal GeoGraphic KiDS

23

o
t
E
R
DA
E
R
O
L
P
EX

BY C.M. TOMLIN

Austrian mountain climber Gerlinde

Kaltenbrunner, the first woman to
climb all fourteen 8 000-metre peaks
without the use of supplemental
oxygen, talks to NG KIDS about her passion
for reaching new heights.

“E
WANT TO BE A
MOUNTAIN CLIMBER?

imago sportfotodienst / newscom (kaltenbrunner in warm weather); © ralf dujmovits
(kaltenbrunner climbing); darek zaluski / national geographic (kaltenbrunner on k2)

STUDY:
Geography, geology and
meteorology
WATCH: Nat Geo Adventure’s
six-part series First Ascent
READ: Climbing Everest: Tales
of Triumph and Tragedy
on the World’s Highest
Mountain by Audrey
Salkeld

arly one morning while climbing Dhaulagiri I,
a mountain in Nepal, my tent was swept down
by an avalanche when I was still inside it. I tumbled
about 40 metres downhill. I couldn’t tell what was
happening and when it stopped, I was buried in the snow
and wasn’t even able to tell if I was up or down. Thankfully,
after an hour of digging and climbing, I was able to reach
the surface and climb out of the snow.
“There are many challenges in mountain climbing.
But climbing is not all about the danger. When I reach
the top of a mountain, it’s always a very calm, quiet
moment for me, when I can say ‘thank you’ to the
universe for allowing me to have the experience.
“If you don’t try new things, you’ll never know if
you’re able to accomplish them. Nobody’s perfect from the
beginning. You have to be open to receiving help
from others and believe in yourself. I started with small
mountains before I climbed large ones.”

The NG KIDS series “Dare
to Explore” helps celebrate
the 125th anniversary of the
National Geographic Society,
which was founded in 1888.
Grab a parent and go to
nationalgeographic.com/
125 for more information.
Coming next month: venom
collector and medicine maker
Zoltan Takacs.

“Your passion doesn’t have to be mountaineering – it could
be art or playing an instrument – but it’s important to
always feel your passion from the inside.”

Earth’s 14 Highest Peaks
1. Mount Everest
2. K2
3. Kanchenjunga
4. Lhotse
5. Makalu I
6. Cho Oyu
7. Dhaulagiri I
8. Manaslu
9. Nanga Parbat
10. Annapurna I
11. Gasherbrum I
12. Broad Peak
13. Gasherbrum II
14. Xixabangma Feng

24

8 850
8 612
8 586
8 501
8 462
8 201
8 167
8 156
8 125
8 091
8 068
8 047
8 035
8 013

China / Nepal
China / Pakistan
India / Nepal
China / Nepal
China / Nepal
China / Nepal
Nepal
Nepal
Pakistan
Nepal
China / Pakistan
China / Pakistan
China / Pakistan
China

NNEr on k2
KAlten bru

DID YOU
kNOW?
Sixty years ago,
on 29 May 1953, the
first successful summit
of Mount Everest was
achieved by Edmund
Hillary and Tenzing
Norgay.

15

22

29

14

21

28

International
Tiger Day

Back to school for inland
and coastal provinces

O8

O7

01

30

23

16

O9

O2

24

17

25

Nelson Mandela Day

18

26

19

12

11

10

World Population Day

O5

O4

O3

27

20

13

O6

•national geographic society (arctic FoX)

Wolf
© 2013 NatioNal GeoGraphic Society • NatioNal GeoGraphic, NatioNal GeoGraphic KidS aNd yellow
Border aNd KidS yellow Border deSiGNS are trademarKS of NatioNal GeoGraphic Society
• all riGhtS reServed • photo: iStocK photo (wolf)

NatioNal GeoGraphic KiDS

27

Arctic Fox

1

Your brain
generates enough

electricity
to power a
light bulb.

Each
minute
about 750
millilitres of
bloodtravel
2

through thebrain.
That would fill two

cooldrink cans.
3

Eating
chocolate
releases chemicals
in the brain that
make us happy.

the brain

Exercise can
make your brain
more active.

4

5 It would take

close to
3000 years
3
to count the
neurons,
or nerve cells,
in your brain.

6

Pressing your

tongue to the
roof of your
yourmouth
eases brain
,,
freeze .
,,

6

mind-boggling
facts about

Image Source / getty ImageS (bulb), StIllFX /
ShutterStock (baSe), Image dIgItally compoSed

NatioNal GeoGraphic KiDS

29

Food That
SOAPY ORANGE
JUICE

o
Fo
PIN THE
BLUEBERRY ON
e

Bubbles in freshly poured juice
disappear quickly. To keep this
juice looking fresh for the photo
shoot, stylists created
long-lasting bubbles by mixing two
drops of soap with some juice in
a separate container. These
were dropped on top of the
drink with a spoon.

The fruit on top of this stack
won’t roll away easily. A pin
was pushed through
each berry and into the
pancakes to hold it in place.
Some stylists use toothpicks
to help position food such
as olives in a salad.

SNIP ’N’ SPRAY

FRUIT
COLOURING
Sliced strawberries often have
bright white insides that don’t
photograph well. To make the
fruit camera-ready, stylists brush
red food colouring over the white
areas with a small paintbrush.
White spots on a strawberry’s
skin can be coloured with
dabs of lipstick.

30
30

Your hair isn’t the only thing
that sometimes needs a trim. If
a pancake isn’t perfectly round,
stylists snip it into shape with
scissors. A flapjack stack might
also be coated with a spray
people normally use to protect
furniture from stains. The
spray keeps the syrup
from soaking in.

PhotograPhy / renee Comet,
Food Styling / liSa CherkaSky (all)

J U LY 2 0 1 3

WANT MORE?

WANT MORE?
at
kids.nationalgeographic.com/stories/

WANT MORE?

ols

You

By AndREA SilEn

Y

our tummy may be rumbling, but if you sink your teeth into
these treats, you’ll get a surprise. These breakfast items are
filled with dish soap, pins, cardboard and other things you
would never eat.
Even an amazing dish will start to look bad or lose shape if left out
for too long. So food stylists and photographers have some pretty
unappetising techniques to make food appear tasty for things such
as advertisements and cookbooks. A rolled-up wrap might be glued
so it doesn’t unfold during a shoot or lemon juice could be added to
a banana to keep it from turning brown. Feast your eyes on more
secrets of food styling.

GOt GLUe?
This bowl isn’t really
brimming with cereal. A
circular piece of cardboard was
fitted inside the dish near the rim.
That way cereal pieces couldn’t sink
to the bottom. A thin layer of glue
and flakes were placed on the
cardboard. Why glue? Unlike
milk, glue won’t make
flakes soggy.

SIZZLING
SYRUP

Stylists wanted to make
this maple syrup looked really
thick. Before it was drizzled on
to the pancakes, the syrup was
heated in a saucepan to about 130
degrees Celsius. Warm syrup you’d
eat is about 50 degrees. As the
temperature rose in the pan,
water evaporated and the
syrup thickened.

SHAPIN’ BACON
To give bacon a wavy shape,
stylists first mould a sheet
of tinfoil into rows of ridges
and place the strips of raw
meat over the foil. Then they
roast the bacon in an oven.
As the meat cooks, it
hardens in this
shape.

tOOLS OF tHe

E

Carpenters carry
hammers and drills. Food
stylists have their own
tools. Here are a few.
HAIRSPRAY
Stylists use this product
to attach extra salt
grains to pretzels.
DROPPeR
A dropper dots fruit
with tiny drops of water
for a freshly sprayed
look.
POweR PAINt StRIPPeR
Resembling a
supercharged hairdryer,
this tool is most often
used to peel paint. Food
stylists use it to quickly
melt chocolate chips in
a cookie as if they were
just out of the oven.
eYeLINeR
The make-up is great for
creating fake grill marks
on veggies.

NatioNal GeoGraphic KiDS

31
31

Old-Schoo
You’ll be surprised at how much fun you have
making and playing these games.

Dro
aughts

s

You will need
• Piece of cardboard (40x40 cm)
• Red paint and brush • Thick black felt-tip pen
• Ruler • Glue • 2 pieces of white paper
(17,5x36 cm) • A pair of scissors • 12 purple
bottle tops • 12 blue bottle tops

Step by step
1. Paint the cardboard red. Fold the cardboard in half.
2. Use the ruler and felt-tip pen to
draw a grid of 4x8 squares on
each of the white sheets of
paper. The squares should
be 4,5x4,5 cm.
3. Colour every other square
black using the felt-tip pen.
4. Glue the two pieces of squared paper on to the red
cardboard so they meet at the fold in the middle.
5. Use the bottle tops as your draughts.

JAMES GARAGTHY (ALL IMAGES)

How to play
Each player takes their turn by moving a piece. Pieces
are always moved diagonally and can be moved in the
following ways:
• Diagonally in the forward direction (towards the opponent)
to the next dark square.
• If your piece is next to an opponent’s piece with an open
space on its other side, you can jump over the piece and take
it off the board. You can do multiple jumps as long as you’re
moving forward.
• Note: if you have a jump, you have no choice but to take it.

32

J U LY 2 0 1 3

Winning
the Game

You win the game when the
opponent has no more pieces
or can’t move (even if he still
has pieces). If neither player
can move, it is a draw or a tie.

s
G
a
e
ol m
Pick-up Sticks
• 25 kebab sticks •Water-based paint (blue, purple, red, green,
maroon)• Thin paintbrush • Ruler and pencil • Old coffee cup

You will need
1. Line up six sticks in a row. Use the pencil and ruler to mark each
stick 4 cm from each end.
2. Paint the ends of the six sticks green up to the marks you made.
Stand the sticks in an old coffee cup to dry.
3. Make a set of blue, purple and red sticks in the same way.
4. Paint the last stick maroon with purple stripes.

Step by step
• Drop all the sticks except the maroon stick into a big heap.
• Each player takes a turn to try to remove sticks from the pile,
one by one, using the maroon stick to help.
• If any sticks move while you are removing a stick, your turn is over.
• The player with the most sticks is the winner.
• Another fun way to play the game is to make each colour
worth a number of points. The winner is the person with
the highest score.

How to play

NatioNal GeoGraphic KiDS

33

vv

MYTHS
the scoop
on 5 totally
weird tales

BUSTED!

By Sarah WaSSner Flynn

S

myth

ome stories that are
supposed to be based
on fact have been
around so long that
we believe them.
NG KIDS looks at a few that
are just superstition and
explains why they’re not true.

1

if your ears are
Burning, someone’s
talking aBout you.
how it may have started
This idea probably traces back to the
ancient Romans, who believed the
gods sent physical signals, like sneezes, to warn
humans of misfortune.

why it’s not true
It’s impossible to know when your name comes up in a conversation you
don’t hear. But if you do hear someone talking about you, your ears might
get hot. Strong emotions, such as embarrassment or excitement after
someone has mentioned your name, cause your veins to expand. That
allows warm blood to rush to your head and ears.

myth

2

Bad luck comes in threes.
how it may have started
“When something happens once or twice, we may not notice,”
mathematician Rob Eastaway says. “But when it happens a
third time, we pay attention.” If people notice a run of
bad luck after the third misfortune, they may begin thinking
that bad luck always comes in threes.

why it’s not true
“If three unlucky events occur in a row, it’s just a
coincidence,” Rob says. So next time you forget
your lunch and then accidentally delete your phone apps,
don’t worry. Your luck is bound to change.
tom nick cocotos (ALL imAGEs)

3

myth

WIshINg oN
a shootINg
star WIll
make your
WIsh come
true.
hoW It may have started
Shooting stars were once
considered uncommon and
full of power and magic.
“People lucky enough to spot
a shooting star thought they
could capture some of its power
by making a wish,” says
Martha Barnette, who studies the
origins of phrases.

Why It’s Not true
Shooting stars aren’t wishmakers or even stars.
They’re meteors, which are space rocks that burn up
and glow after falling into Earth’s atmosphere, leaving a
trail of light. They are also very common. Each August, during
the peak of the Perseid meteor shower, 60 shooting stars streak
across the sky every hour. If the superstition
were true, wishes would be granted often!

myth

4

humaNs use oNly 10
perceNt of theIr braINs.
hoW It may have started
In the early 1900s, psychologist William
James wrote that humans have unused
brainpower. Just like in a game of
telephone, the true meaning of his idea
may have changed as people discussed it.

Why It’s Not true
You use 100 percent of your brain
almost all the time. Everything from
whistling to reading a book requires
brainpower, because your mind is
sending messages to your body. Your
brain works so hard that 20 percent of
the food you eat is used to fuel it. So
when someone asks you if this myth is
true, the answer would be a no-brainer!

WANT
MORE?

WANT
MORE?

Check out the
book National
Geographic Kids
Myths Busted!

WIN A FIVE-STAR BUSH HOLIDAY TO SAMARA
PRIVATE GAME RESERVE WORTH OVER R45 000!
Enter this month’s competition and you could WIN a three-night stay
for two adults and two children at Samara Private Game Reserve in the
Eastern Cape. The prize includes an Avis group B car* for five days and
one tank of fuel, all meals, two game drives per day (age-dependent)
and access to the Aardvark children’s programme.
SAMARA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE …
• Is situated in the Karoo.
• Nestles in an amphitheatre
of mountains on 28 000
malaria-free hectares.
• Has five-star luxury
accommodation with

beautiful views, home-grown
Karoo food and staff who are
always ready to help.
• Offers dining under the Milky
Way, in the riverbed or in the
bush – your outdoor dining

rooms await you!
• Takes pride in their cheetah
programme and is home to
Sibella, a cheetah who was
rescued from the hands of
hunters.

www.avis.co.za

Another project close to Avis’ heart is the Cape Leopard Trust, an initiative aimed at helping conserve the declining population of Cape
Leopards, which have been put under threat by uninformed farmers and various natural dangers.“One of the main challenges of the Trust is
being able to conduct the wide-ranging fieldwork and research in monitoring the animals,” says Keith Rankin, Chief Executive at Avis Rent a
Car Southern Africa. “The sponsorship is part of Avis’ long involvement with supporting environmental and wildlife projects. We are honoured
to be assisting the Cape Leopard Trust Boland Project in its aim to protect and conserve the Cape leopard inhabiting the Boland mountains.”

COMPETITION

A conservation
contribution of R45,00
per adult and R22,50 per
child is payable per
night.*GO TO PAGE 49

FUN THINGS
FOR KIDS TO DO:

FOR TERMS AND
CONDITIONS.

Spoor identification,
tracking, storytelling,
tennis, treasure hunts,
Bumble Game Drives
and much more!

HOW TO WIN:

ANSWER THIS EASY QUESTION:
Tell us the name of the cheetah rescued from hunters.
SMS* “NGK SAMARA” followed by your answer,
name, surname, age and e-mail address to 33970.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Telephone Reservations: 023-626-6113
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: www.samara.co.za

OeLntions
CO
inv
in the

air

On th
e
grOun
d

by crispin boyer

AR

sitting in bumper-to-bumper traffic isn’t fun.
Too bad flying cars don’t exist, right? not quite.
A prototype aircraft called the pAL-V (“personal
air and land vehicle”) transforms in about
ten minutes from a three-wheeled
roadster into a “gyrocopter”, a
cross between a plane and a
helicopter. Fuelled by ordinary
petrol, it handles like a sports
car on the ground, then flies over
jammed highways and mountains
with its pilot and one passenger. As
the rotor blades rise, a push of a
button extends the tail, readying the vehicle for
flight. because it’s a gyrocopter, the pAL-V needs
a runway to take off and land. Just hope you
don’t run into traffic on the way to the airport.

MOw-

BOt

Mowing the lawn
is a sweaty way to spend a saturday afternoon.
imagine if you could get the job done with the
flip of a switch. once charged and activated, an
electric robot called the Automower quietly
trundles across the lawn and cuts the grass.
it automatically senses obstacles by gently
bumping into them and turns when it
reaches a wire buried along the boundary of
your yard. The mower can work in rain and will
even send an sMs if it gets into trouble. When
the battery is low, the mowing robot will return
to its recharging station for a top-up before
heading back to finish the job.

38

Cl i

ck!

faCe-MaSK

CaMera

every undersea explorer needs a waterproof
camera. Here’s one that’s impossible to
forget onshore, because it’s built into the
snorkelling mask. set right above the eyes,
the lens on the Liquid image scuba series
HD mask snaps photos and records more than
an hour of high-definition video. An easy-to-reach
shutter button above the right eye activates the
camera, while cross hairs on the glass make it easy
to line up the perfect shot. Just point your head and
shoot, then download all your pics of photogenic fish
once you’re back on land.

pal-v / spark design & innovation (pal-v, both); courtesy of husqvarna
group (mow-bot); © liquid image (mask); © jeff bozanic (diver)

J U LY 2 0 1 3

BY miCHelle HArris AnD jUlie Beer

Check out these
outrageous facts.
A
group
of

owls
is called a

parliament.

MUSICIANS
PERFORMED A
CONCERT

IN AUSTRALIA
HIGH-FREQUENWITH SOME
CY NOTES

ONLY DOGS

Some
cobraS can

spit venom

two metres.

COULD HEAR.

Pigs have been
taught to play
video games.

i score
tons of
oinks, er,
points!

tHAt’s tHe
lenGtH of A
BeD.

YoU miGHt mAKe
Better DeCisions
witH

a FULL
bLaDDer.

The dot over
the letters i
and j is called a

tittle.

WANT MORE?
WANT MORE?
WANT MORE?

On Mercury,
the sun
appears to
rise and set
twice a day.

WANT MORE?
Check out the
book National
Geographic
Kids Weird But
True 4 and
the Weird But
True app.

WANT MORE?

WANT MORE?
© Brett Klaproth / Dreamstime (oWls); JuliDe Dengel (BlaDDer,
concert, egg); nasa (mercurY); © tseKhmister / Dreamstime (pig);
© michael richarDs & John DoWner / nature picture liBrarY (coBra)

NatioNal GeoGraphic KiDS

39

ADVERTORIAL

WIN YOUR OWN IPAD!

EXCLUSIVE
CLUB BENEFITS:

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• Participate in quarterly
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National Geographic Kids is an interactive, multi-topic
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Discovery Vitality members can
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Kids for only R222 for 12 issues
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HAPPY
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D THE
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CHIPMUNK

“NGK JUL” to
232361* and we’ ll
call you back.

Ca

0860 LL
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(shar 03-578
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media24.c

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EV A D KID
EN E R S
T S

Win tickets for you and your
family to Disney on Ice presents
Passport to Adventure
EMbarK on the ultimate sightseeing holiday with all your favourite Disney characters in Disney On Ice
presents Passport to adventure. Join Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Daisy on a journey to the magical
worlds of Disney’s The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Peter Pan and Lilo & Stitch. You’ll explore the Pride
Lands with Simba, Timon and Pumbaa; voyage under the sea with ariel and all her aquatic friends; tour
London with Peter Pan and Wendy, before flying to Never Land; and travel to Hawaii to visit Lilo and
Stitch. Upbeat music, loveable characters and exciting destinations make Disney On Ice presents Passport
to adventure a holiday you’ll never forget.

Johannesburg: Coca-Cola Dome
Date: 30 June 2013 at 11 a.m.
Cape Town: CTICC
Date: 3 July 2013 at 3 p.m.
Closing date: 28 June 2013
HOW TO ENTER:
SMS your entries to “NGK ICE” at 33970
with your name, surname, age, e-mail
address and preferred viewing city .

©Disney.Pixar 2013

Please note:
Only 4 tickets per family. There are 12
sets of 4 tickets in Johannesburg and
Cape Town. Winners names will be drawn
immediately. Winners will be determined
by a randon number generator and will
be notified telephonically. See page 49
for full terms and conditions.

T
runsHE SHOW
fr
UNE
COCA
-COL AT THE
N NN
A DO
ND
URmE
G
UL frOm 3
Y AT
T
O
CAPE CTICCN
TOWn
.

TIcKETS AVAIlAblE At WWW.comPuTIcKET.com, oR cAll 0861-915-8000.
Go to WWW.DISNEyoNIcE.co.zA foR morE INformATIoN.

james yamasaki

Game On!
h fun
This arcade is packed wit
le
litt
a
k
loo
but
do,
to
things
ngs
closer and you’ll see 11 thi
B
beginning with the letter
the
d
Fin
g.
sin
mis
e
have gon
es
missing items so the gam e 50
wers on pag
ans
on.
go
can

42

J U LY 2 0 1 3

CHEW

ON THIS

BY KAY BOATNER

BaNaNa SPLIT!

Brain freeze! people have been wolfing down banana splits since the
early 1900s. We just don’t know exactly where it started. three cities
in different american states claim they served the dessert first. it
doesn’t matter where the dish came from – we’re just glad it exists!
scoop up some cool facts about this sweet treat.

The average

cHerrY tree

Bananas

produces about
7 000 cherries,
enough for almost
30 pies.

grow on flowering
plants and are
classified as
berries.

cHocolate
sYrUp

Sugar, cocoa powder,
vanilla and milk are
all you need to make
it yourself!

peanUts

aren’t really nuts!
They’re related to
peas, which grow
underground. True nuts,
like pecans, grow
on trees.

ice cream

was introduced to
America in the 1700s,
but was mostly enjoyed
by the wealthy.

© EXACTOSTOCK / SUPERSTOCK

WANT MORE?

Go online for more recipes
at kids.nationalgeographic.com/
kids/activities/recipes/.

make a BaNaNa SPLIT
There’s no right way to make this dessert , so be creative! Get a parent to

1

Peel 1 banana
and split it
lengthwise down
the middle.

2

Add 1 scoop each of vanilla,
chocolate, and strawberry
ice cream between the
banana halves.

3

help you make one.

Drizzle 1
tablespoon of
chocolate syrup
over the ice cream.

4

Add 2 tablespoons
of whipped cream
and 1 tablespoon of
chopped peanuts.

5

Top the centre
scoop(or all three
scoops!) with a
cherry.

national GeoGraphic KiDS

43

GoinG Global

These photographs show views of
world landmarks. Unscramble the
letters to identify what’s in each
picture. Bonus: Use the highlighted
letters to solve the puzzle below.
answers on page 50

Top row (left to right): © Ron Sumners / dreamstime; © Chrisp543 / dreamstime; ISTOCKPHOTO (greaT ZIMBABWE)
middle row (left to right): © Hanhanpeggy / dreamstime; © Imaengine / dreamstime; © Anthony Baggett / dreamstime.
Bottom row (left to right): © Alexey Stiop / dreamstime; © Saiko3p / dreamstime; © Pius Lee / dreamstime.

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fo aicnh

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nixhps

Hint: This tower in Italy looks like it could fall over.
AnSWER:

44

J U LY 2 0 1 3

a

N

W

O

a

z

zz z

DRAW something
WACKY and WEIRD.

Send your original drawings to The Editor at NG KIDS,
PO Box 1802, Cape Town 8000. You can also send your
drawing by e-mail to [email protected].
Include your name, address, phone number, date of birth, a title for
your drawing, a statement that it is your own work and the name
of your parent or guardian. Your parent or guardian must sign a
release for publication of your illustration. Submissions become the
property of the National Geographic Society and all rights thereto are
transferred to the National Geographic Society. Submissions cannot
be acknowledged or returned. Selection will be at the discretion of
NG KIDS.

Our readers captured the essence
of Nelson Mandela in these lovely
portraits.

Zuhayr Loonat, 10,
Glosderry

J U ly 2 0 1 3

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7
gave 6
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Keenan Harding, 11,
Cape Town

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officiallya’s birthday has
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Zak Müller, 7,
Brackenfell

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Jessica Coetzee, 11,
Kimberley

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NatioNal GeoGraphic KiDS

47

PLAY THIS! <

WIN A
HAMPER
!

BY SHOUNEES MOOLA

WATCH THIS! <

WIN A
HAMPER
!

desPicable Me 2
Former supervillain Gru is back for
more minions and despicable things.
Since Gru is no longer a bad guy,
Win one of
his life has become a little boring
hampers th three Despicable Me
raising his three adopted daughters
2
Me 2 towel at include a Despicable
, kids
Margo, Edith and Agnes. Just when he
SMS* “NGK ’ T-shirt and cap.
DM” to 3397
thinks life couldn’t get any calmer, Lucy
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the world. Gru is not a villain this time but his
knowledge and skill as a villain are needed to capture
Eduardo, a new, powerful criminal on the loose. To take on a
villain you need to think like one
and Silas knows Gru is the best
guy for the job. Of course,
no former baddie is
without his sidekicks.
Gru’s loyal friend, the
mad scientist Dr
Nefario, as well as
the minions and the
three girls must
help him to save
the world again!

Wonderbook™: diggs
nightcraWler™
Ps3
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Nightcrawle derbook™: Diggs
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READ THIS! <
skinny by donna cooner
Ever Davies is 15 and weighs about 136 kilograms. Dangerously overweight and extremely unhappy about
herself since her mum passed away, Ever decides she needs to do something extreme to change her lifestyle.
In comes Skinny, a voice in Ever’s head that tells her she’ll never be popular or slim. Despite trying some
silly diet tricks and exercising, she doesn’t achieve her weight goals – and Skinny loves it when Ever fails at
anything. With the help and support of her father and her best friend Theodore, also known as the Rat, she
undergoes gastric bypass surgery. Soon she starts to lose a lot of weight and gain more confidence in time
for the high school prom. Skinny doesn’t like Ever’s new look or newfound popularity so she’s still filling her
head with nonsense. Ever eventually reaches her goals and realises who and what are important to her. But
what about Skinny? Is she still there or has Ever silenced her? Changing on the outside wasn’t easy but
silencing Skinny is Ever’s hardest task.
© 2013 UNIVERSAL STUDIOS (DESPICABLE ME 2), PENGUIN BOOKS SA
(SKINNY); © 2013 SONY ENTERTAINMENT (DIGGS NIGHTCRAWLER)

48

J U ly 2 0 1 3

TERMS AND cONDITIONS
*FOR ALL cOMPETITIONS AND GIVEAWAYS IN NG KIDS

BY PIETER
VAN DER LUGT

“I’M NEVER WATCHING A
VAMPIRE MOVIE AGAIN!”

All entries must include your name, age, postal address, home telephone number, cell number,
e-mail and any mandatory information specific to a competition, including answers to
qualifying questions unless otherwise specified. • Prizes and giveaways cannot be transferred
or exchanged for cash. • If you cannot meet any one of the entry requirements, the judges
reserve the right to award the prize to a runner-up. • NG KIDS has the right to substitute
the gift or prize with something of the same value. • The copyright of all entries, letters,
photographs, artwork, SMSs and questions belongs exclusively to NG KIDS and NG KIDS
reserves the right to edit and republish them in any media. • Winners may decline to have
their name used in advertising or listed publicly. • Competitions and giveaways are open
to anyone 14 years or younger, except employees of Media24, sponsors and their agents
or any company associated with the competition and their immediate families. • Where
the competition prize is a holiday stipulating that it is for a certain number of adults and
children, “children” will be taken to be under the age of 12, unless otherwise stipulated.
• Unless specified only submissions or entries from South Africa are allowed. If winners
reside outside of South Africa they may be liable for transport, courier or postage costs.
• The winners will be notified telephonically and their names will appear in NG KIDS magazine.
• The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into. • Allow two months
for delivery of prizes from winners’ announcement in NG KIDS. • The prizes will be awarded
to correct entries drawn randomly by computer after the closing date, except when there
is judging involved or it is stated otherwise. • If the winner cannot be contacted within two
weeks after the closing date, an alternative winner will be drawn. • All competition entry
SMSs are charged at R1,50 each. Free minutes and SMS bundles do not apply. You can enter
as many times as you like, unless stated otherwise. • By entering competitions online, via
e-mail or SMS, you agree to receive future correspondence from NG KIDS magazine and the
prize sponsors. You can opt out at any stage by sending an e-mail containing your name,
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Geographic Society. • NG KIDS will not assume liability for any ambiguity, error, oversight or
omission whether negligent or otherwise which may be committed by any employee of the
participating magazine, their agents or associates in respect of competitions or giveaways
published in the magazine or online. • Entry signifies acceptance of the rules. • Competitions
in the July 2013 issue of NG KIDS close on 30 July 2013 unless otherwise specified.

*GENERAL TERMS AND cONDITIONS FOR SUBScRIPTIONS
Children must ask an adult’s permission. SMSs charged at R1. • Free minutes
and SMS bundles do not apply. • Offer valid until 30 July 2013. • Offer is not
valid in conjunction with the Vitality offer. • Discovery Vitality offer valid
only for active Vitality members. • All subscribers agree to receive future correspondence
from NG KIDS, Media24 (Ltd.). • You can opt out at any stage by sending an e-mail
containing your name, surname, cell number and e-mail address with the subject line
“opt out subscriber” to [email protected]. • Offer is open to SA addresses only –call
021-405-1905 for international rates. • NG KIDS CLUB benefits are strictly for South
African residents. • Staff of Media24 (Ltd) and their immediate family, sponsors and their
advertising agencies are not entered into monthly subscriber’s competitions.

*GENERAL TERMS AND cONDITIONS
FOR SAMARA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE

sER (2)

“HEY, enough big hugs.
i can’t breathe down here!”

SMSs cost R1,50 each. Free minutes and SMS bundles do not apply. • You may enter as many
times as you like. • Entrants must be 14 years old or younger. • The competition opens on
26 June 2013 and closes on 30 July 2013. • The winner will be determined by a random
number generator and will be notified telephonically. No correspondence will be entered
into. • If the winner cannot be contacted for a period of two weeks after the closing date,
an alternative winner will be drawn. • The Samara prize is for 2 adults and 2 children up to
the age of 15 and is valid from 1 August 2013 until 31 July 2014. • Prize package includes
a three-night stay for a family of four at Karoo Lodge, all meals, two game drives per
day and the AardvArk children’s programme, but excludes all beverages, telephone calls,
faxes and curio shop purchases. A conservation contribution must be paid on departure.
• Avis will provide a Group B vehicle for five days with one free tank of fuel, valid in SA
only and subject to availability. Additional service charges and excess fuel for winner’s
own expense. Promotion and Standard T&Cs for Avis Rent a Car also apply. See avis.co.za.
• The prize cannot be transferred, redeemed for cash, upgraded or linked to any other
special or events on offer over this period at Samara and cannot be extended. • The prize
is subject to availability and may not be redeemed over public holidays. • Staff of Media24
(Ltd) and their immediate family, sponsors and their advertising agencies may not enter. •
Participants and winners of this competition indemnify and hold National Geographic Kids,
National Geographic Society, Media24 (Ltd) and the sponsor harmless against any liability,
claim, damage or loss that may result from participating or winning this prize.

*GENERAL TERMS AND cONDITIONS FOR DISNEY ON IcE
The competition opens on 26 June and closes on 28 June 2013. • Winners names will be
drawn immediately. • Winners will be determined by a random number generator and
will be notified telephonically. • The prize cannot be redeemed for cash or exchanged for
another date. • Please note: only four tickets per family. • There are 12 tickets available in
Johannesburg and 12 in Cape Town. • See full terms and conditions for all competitions and
giveaways in NG KIDS.
YOuR OwN

WINNERS FROM NG KIDS APRIL ISSUE

LuGGAGE SET!

CONOR MAYNARD CD page 42 Micky J Cazin (KwaZulu-Natal), Thanushka
Gounden (Durban), Marna Laubecher (Durbanville), Reuben van der Blerk
(Pretoria), Abdullah D. Vawda (KwaZulu-Natal) | WONDERBOOK: BOOK OF
ROBOTS
SPELLS page 422 Zander Steyn (Pretoria), Cwangco Mngomezulu-Tshandu (Pretoria East)
| JACK THE GIANT3 SLAYER page 42 Dorothea Longo (Johannesburg), Danyl McNiven
2
(Johannesburg),
Ryan Palmer (Cape Town), Lauwrens Wessels (Cape Town), Matthew
Hartzenburg (Cape Town)
NG KIDS

GREEN

SECTIO

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AWESOME!

W
NEvie
o
m
mo

Freaky

FROGS!

FUNNY
FRIENDS!

COOL
COOL
TOYS!
TOYS!

Get Ready4For

DUCK
FASHION
SHOW

GREAT
OZ:THE
OZ THE GREAT
AND POWERFUL
Issue 104 April 2013

R28,00 (VAT incl.)
AWESOME
QUIZ

AWESOME
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AIRPLANE
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49

“Who Am I?” (page 12):
Manta ray.

It overswept!

Why
was
the broom
late?

“Real or Fake?” (page 14):
Real: Dog Elected Mayor!, Dude Builds Shoe House
and Man Falls From Space.
Fake: Tree Octopus Discovered and Lambs Sold
As Dogs.

A
Q

“What in the World?” (page 44):
Top row: Statue of Liberty, Stonehenge,
Great Zimbabwe.
Middle row: Great Wall of China, Big Ben,
Eiffel Tower.
Bottom row: Machu Picchu, Taj Mahal, Sphinx.
Bonus: Leaning Tower of Pisa.

N UO lV yE M
J
20
B 1E 3R 2 0 1 2

Because it was framed.

Why did the
picture go
to jail?

ISTOCK PHOTO (ALL IMAGES)

“Game On!” (page 42) :

50

A
Q

No, it will be round.

Waiter:

Waiter, will my pizza be
long?

Customer:

Because you can see right
through them.

A

Answers

bad liars?

Q Why are ghosts
cow

Who’s there?
cows go.
Cows go who?
cows don’t go who,
they go moo!

KnocK,
KnocK.

look what’s CoMING
IN oUR aUGUst IssUE!
30 Cool
things About
new York
Young Chefs
are Cooking
in the ng KIDs
Young Chefs
Competition

istockphoto (dog, new york); all other images supplied

send us your
pet photos for
the ng kiDs
pet friends
forever
Competition

tricky pics:
secrets of Funny
Photos revealed
WIN YOUR OWN IPAD!

www.ngkids.co.za

EL

OL

W

RC

KA

LE

IP

OL

fliek
flie
k

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ovie
mo
m

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WEN JOU EIE IPAD!

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ON THE

EPIC
EPIC

EPIC
EPIC

ET!
06106

E

PLAN
Issue 106 June 2013
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9 771811 723006

WHY NOT JOIN THE
NG KIDS CLUB? SEE
PAGE 40 FOR DETAILS!

EN
W
ELKE DAG

R!
ONS VERJAA

’N PRYS!

Uitgawe 82 Junie 2013
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06082

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www.facebook.com/NationalGeographicKidsSA

SATO
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52

NOVEMBER 2012

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