From November 30 to December 10, 2025, John Midgley (KwaZulu-Natal Museum, South Africa) and Kurt Jordaens (AfricaMuseum, Belgium) collected Diptera at the Lajuma Research Centre and Nthakeni Bush & River Camp in Limpopo Province, South Africa. This region is poorly studied in terms of fly diversity, and this expedition marked our first sampling effort there. Unfortunately, a severe heatwave, with temperatures soaring up to 47°C in the shade, significantly reduced insect activity. Nevertheless, this provides the perfect excuse to return to this stunning area for further exploration!

Lajuma (https://www.lajuma.com/) is situated 25 km east of Vivo and 45 km west of Louis Trichardt (Makhado), high up in the Soutpansberg Mountain range. The highest peak of the Soutpansberg is situated on the reserve. Lajuma has a surface area of 430 hectares, is rugged, and has deep valleys and high cliffs. The reserve is characterized by clear mountain streams and beautiful waterfalls. Vegetation varies from montane grassland to woodland, thicket, and groundwater forest. Due to its location and diversity of soil and climatic zones, the area contains a remarkable diversity of plants and animals. Moreover, the Lajuma Research Centre provides excellent fieldwork opportunities to, for example, students, volunteers, and research teams. To date, more than 500 students and volunteers, ranging from pre-university to PhD candidates to Postdoctoral Fellows, have participated in the Lajuma Programme or conducted their own research, publishing over 100 peer-reviewed articles. A great place to collect Diptera, and we will certainly stay in touch with the research team!

Nthakeni Bush and River Camp is situated in the far north-east of the Limpopo province, near the Pafuri Kruger National Park gate. Situated on the banks of the Mutale River, the area has a high diversity of trees, including magnificent Baobab specimens. The area is under strong human pressure with expanding agricultural activities.

First published in the PINDIP Newsletter on 31 March 2025. Sign up for the PINDIP newsletter at https://www.pindip.org/