There is often a huge focus on finding the big game for the guests. At times, we almost need to check ourselves as field guides from getting into a mode of chasing after the big sightings. I made a big effort of trying to introduce the guests to some of the remarkable behaviour and smaller animals of the African bushveld, as well as the flora. During my training in norther Natal, we had some severe flooding. What was quite incredible as we later discovered was that the trapdoor spiders had survived this flooding. The density of their burrows was one every square metre in places along the river bank. This area was completely covered by a raging torrent during the flooding, and yet just a few days after the water subsided, we were able to lure the females from their burrows. What an impressive construction that the circular opening to their burrows is closed so tight that the water is unable to penetrate. Female trapdoor spiders live in burrows for their entire lives and are territorial, building the burrow a minimum distance from her neighbours. The burrow diameter is slowly increased as the female grows in size. Females may live for up to 20 years. The female hunts from the burrow, lying in wait for passing insects. She dashes out to grab the unfortunate victim. Interesting to note the numerous spiderlings in the above photograph, setting out from the mothers burrow. Adult male trapdoor spiders are free ranging, not constrained to any burrows.