Living in Gauteng in South Africa there are some unique advantages over Europe and the United States.  Sadly, there are also some disadvantages.

 

Benefits

The climate is excellent as the winters are mild and the summers - unless you are in the wrong place - are not normally too hot.  The temperatures can shoot up in mid summer so there is always need for caution but with shade and care many chameleons will benefit from being out doors more than in.  Night time temperatures are often mild from October through to around April and Veiled chameleons can be left outside with little fear.  Carpets and Panthers need to be monitored in case of a fall below around 14c. 

 

This can be particularly difficult in spring and early summer, when warm or hot days can be followed unexpectedly by cold nights.  Sudden early morning rain showers can also bring the temperature down without warning.

 

The dryness of the air in winter is one aspect that needs to be addressed by heavy misting; the wind can be very dry.

 

With long cloud free days of bright sunshine - and care - your chameleon will get far better UV than any light can offer.

 

From a seasonal perspective any chameleons from Madagascar will feel right at home, being from the Southern Hemisphere.  However, chameleons from East Africa are often native to colder climates, coming from misty montane locations.  Gauteng can be too warm for such species without adequate humidity and/or shade.

 

Disadvantages

The number of species available is very low compared to Europe and the States.  It is slowly changing but will take time.  Avoid all wild caught smuggled animals as you are not only risking disease and parasites but you are also playing into the hands of those authorities and animal groups that want to prevent any chameleons being kept in captivity.

 

The range of food is far more limited here than overseas.  Most pet shops only stock crickets and the number of vendors, such as Gaga Feeders, that stock a wide range of feeder foods is very limited.  Chameleons thrive on a mixed diet, so add as many different foods as you can - silkworms, cockroaches, soldier flies and waxworms.  Be cautious about the nutritious value of each but don’t just rely on crickets, no matter how well you gut feed them.

 

Occasionally, the equipment available in South Africa lags behind that on offer overseas and, worse, things like UV tubes run out!

 

Be careful when buying calcium supplements - not everything from South Africa is lekker.  Some of the locally produced calcium has not been through such rigourous quality checks as products such as T-Rex.