Bird eats man in Wakkerstroom.

It was horrible. Whilst holidaying recently in Wakkerstroom- the jewel of Mpumalanga- I witnessed something truly awful which, just like one of those irritating Abba tunes, will remain in my head for a very long time. I, along with a couple of other tourists, was standing on a bridge overlooking the wetlands when I sensed I was being watched. Slowly, I turned around with my camera on-the-ready and snapped a photo as quick as I could.

I then heard a loud scream for help and snapped again. By the time I asked somebody to help it was too late. One of the tourists had been taken- Senqu clothing, binoculars, large-rimmed kakhi hat and all.

It was horrible. A local resident once said of this place that “There is magic in the air in Wakkerstroom. If it grabs you, you will fall in love and never leave.” But there is also a man-eating bird which if it grabs you, you too will never leave.