native thorn
I think Vurhonga has an atmosphere issue in that it doesn't meet players' expectations of what a real place in Africa should feel like. Some would blame that mostly on which huntable species are absent, but I don't think it comes down to just that. Part of it is certainly the fact that there aren't massive herds of animals, but I assume those are based on valid gameplay considerations and technical limitations. But there other fixes that are clearly doable in the game.
Layton and Hirsch have a bunch of ambient birds, plus insect sprites that buzz around. Neither are perfect but they do go a long way toward making those maps feel alive. When they were absent from the first DLC map it made sense because Medved is a cold, desolate setting. But I can't figure out why they aren't on Vurhonga or any later maps.
The bugs I think could just be added to Vurhonga (and other maps) 100% as they are and it would improve the atmosphere. Same goes for the buzzards that circle in the sky, though they would need new SFX. The birds that take off aren't as straightforward since it's questionable how much those "groundgulls" fit the base maps, let alone Vurhonga, but there could be similar solutions.
What about flocks of small birds that will take off from trees or thick grass when a gunshot goes off? They could spawn with the gunshot, a certain distance away, and always flee the player so that it's okay if they aren't very detailed and don't land again. There could also be flocks occasionally flying higher than the buzzards. Small to medium sized tropical birds would be cool, and a flock of flamingos every now and then would be fantastic for making Vurhonga feel like a place in Africa. For an idea that's a little more out-there: oxpeckers. Would it be possible to have them sitting on the bigger animals? My guess is no but I have to suggest it anyway.
It seems to me there are already some tools in the game that could be used to help meet expectations of an Africa teeming with life.
upbeat adder