The impundulu (a Zulu word), known in Zimbabwe as Kondo (a Shona word) is one of the best-known lightning birds in Zulu mythology. This bird is no other than the hamerkop or hammerkop (Scopus umbretta) (1).

Why this rather inconspicuous bird had been given this status escapes my understanding. However, it is believed that it is able to summon thunder and lightning with its wings and talons.

The (for me) greatest wildlife film maker Alan Root made a documentary that he called “The legend of the lightning bird, Hamerkop, the king of all African birds” (2) and I always wondered about the name he used. Now I know.

Despite being a medium sized bird, unique member of the family Scopidae and a relative of pelicans, they are well known for building several very large nests during the year. This is an enormous task for a bird of this size as each nest can weigh up to 50kg and it takes over one month to build!

During one of the drives near the Olifants river we came across a really humongous nest, larger than any other hamerkop nest we have seen before. In doubt we consulted one of the rangers at Letaba Rest camp who assured us that it was indeed built by the impundulu and that it was the largest he had seen.

(1) Other lightning birds include the ground hornbill and the secretary bird.

(2) See: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijA_oYfr99U&ab_channel=ShacharGelbart (maybe include it in the post?)