A Rare dwarf Nguni calf has been born in Cape Town. The calf, which does not have a name yet, was born on the 26th of December at Vergelegen in Somerset West. The birth is quite a coup for the 3000-hectare wine estate, which includes a 400-hectare game camp located within a 1980-hectare nature reserve.

A rare dwarf Nguni calf has been born in Cape Town

Vergelegen’s environmental manager, Eben Olderwagen, says the dwarf Nguni calf is one of their most unusual newcomers. The calf has short, stocky legs and a distinctive brown-and-white spotted hide. Olderwagen says the little calf is expected to grow no taller than between knee and waist height when fully grown. He added that Dwarf Nguni cattle have a much shorter lifespan than standard Nguni, usually around 4 years. This is compared to up to 20 years for a normal Nguni.

Olderwagen said, “His mother is very protective and closely monitors anyone who approaches.”

There’s also another young Nguni that the new calf can play or hang out with. Olderwagen says Henry is mostly white in colour and something of a celebrity on the estate. Henry is bottle-fed and tame and has formed a close bond with hospitality and events manager Sue Steenkamp, and enjoys spending time in her garden. He says both calves were late arrivals.

There’s also another young Nguni

Vergelegen also welcomed an impressive 133 Nguni calves between July and September last year. This brings the total Nguni herd to around 450 animals. Other animals you can find at Vergelen include eland, bontebok, and spotted eagle owls.

From a media statement: Further excitement is expected soon, with two Rau quagga mares heavily pregnant. Vergelegen is currently home to 10 Rau quagga. The first seven animals – one stallion, five mares and a foal – were relocated from Pampoenvlei in the Atlantis – Darling area in May 2022. The Rau quagga at Vergelegen forms part of an ambitious conservation initiative, launched in 1987, to selectively breed southern plains zebra that closely resemble the extinct quagga, which once roamed South Africa in vast herds before being hunted to extinction in the late 19th century.

Two Rau quagga mares are heavily pregnant

Unlike other zebras, quagga typically have stripes only on the head, neck and front portion of the body, with brownish upper sections and unstriped, pale legs and bellies. Visitors who would like to find out more about the wildlife and biodiversity initiatives at Vergelegen can book a guided environmental tour in an open-top game drive vehicle. These are weather permitting, departing from the wine tasting centre at 10.00. Duration is around two hours and costs R950 per person, which includes a wine tasting, branded cap and water bottle. Maximum nine people. Members of the public are able to visit Vergelegen daily from 08h30-17h00 (last entry 16h00). There is an entrance fee of R30/person, or R10/pensioners and scholars. Good news for pensioners is that they can enjoy free entry on Mondays.