Back home this week to a very overgrown garden, so time will be very limited on the computer. We got back safely on Tuesday after the TGV (train) broke down before it had even left Bordeaux station. We had to change the taxi collection time at Angouleme but that went OK. It was a 30 hour continuous trip, so was more gruelling than usual but the timings of the public transport meant we had little alternative. The garden is a jungle after 300mm rain in two months, so much hacking and strimming will have to be done before the lawnmower can cope! Never seen the like in our 20 plus years here. We had a fabulous time though. My wish was to see leopard and wild dogs, we saw both and much more.
The maximum temperature in the Charente today is 16⁰C, minimum 8⁰C. 20 - 41 km/h South/West winds. 90% chance of rain.
Spotted hyena (Crocuta crocuta).
White-backed vulture (Gyps africanus).
White rhino or square-lipped rhinoceros (Ceratotherium
simum). The rhinos are dehorned every 18 months to try to prevent them from being killed by poachers!!
Burchell's zebra (Equusquagga burchellii).
African buffalo (Syncerus caffer), also known as the Cape buffalo.
African elephants (Loxodonta africana). This young "teenager" was giving us a bit of cheek, Nigel in the vehicle far right.
Black-backed jackal (Canis mesomelas).
African lion (Panthera leo leo). Taking a stroll down the road, totally ignoring us.
As above.
There are 8 different kinds of mongoose in the Kruger Park - Banded Mongoose, Dwarf Mongoose, Large Grey Mongoose, Meller’s Mongoose, Selous’s Mongoose, Slender Mongoose, Water Mongoose, White-tailed Mongoose. This one was named as a Water Mongoose (Atilax paludinosusis). I am happy for any other ideas though!! Possibly a dwarf mongoose.
Tree Squirrel or Smith's Bush Squirrel (Paraxerus cepapi).
Go-away Bird (Corythaixoides concolor).
Gray Heron (Ardea cinerea).
Swainson's Spurfowl (Pternistis swainsonii).
Spotted Hyena pups. We saw their parents leave the den to go hunting just as it got dark. These two young pups popped their heads out to see what was going on. The photo is by torchlight, so not great.
Guineafowl butterfly (Hamanumida Daedalus).
Greater Kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros). Only the male has horns.
Black-collared Barbet (Lybius torquatus).
Red-billed Spurfowl (Pternistis adspersus).
Butterfly (Acraea egina)...
As above.
Amazing photos Diane! This must have been an incredible trip. How great to see all these wonderful animals and others in their natural habitat. Thank you for sharing them all, thoroughly enjoyed.
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise, it was an amazing trip and I was lucky to see all my favourite animals. Glad you have enjoyed them so far.. Keep well, Diane
DeleteYou saw some beautiful animals. You will have these pictures to remind you of this experience forever.
ReplyDeleteIt was ont of the best holidays ever, we enjoyed every minute of it. Thanks so much for the comment, appreciated. Cheers Diane
DeleteAmazing photos, I loved seeing all the wild life, very exotic to me.
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thanks Amelia, African game reserves are just the best place to go on holiday :-) Keep well Diane
DeleteSo amazing! It must have been a great experience seeing all those wild creature so close. Thank you for sharing them!
ReplyDeleteThank you Angie one of the best holidays ever to see all the animals on my wish list. I hope you are well, Diane
DeleteThe essence of Africa in your pictures, Diane. It fills me with incredible sadness to know that we have to capture and dehorn the rhinos in order to protect them. We humans are a sick species. Your garden (aka jungle) sounds like a real challenge - and you are not getting any younger! Prends soin de toi. Bisous - David
ReplyDeleteThanks David. Humans are doing a wonderful job of ruining the world in every respect! You are right, I am not getting any younger, and the garden is going to be a huge problem. Gardeners here are too expensive!! Time is running out for everything, but we had a great holiday! Bisous mon ami Diane
DeleteHello Diane,
ReplyDeleteWhat a great report with fantastic pictures.
Amazing to see all these animals so close. So very nice.
What a great colors have the zebra's, really fantastic. This is real wildlife.
Many greetings,
Marco
Thank you Marco for you very kind comment, it is much appreciated. Greetings from France now, Diane
DeleteSO many great shots, Diane! What an adventure. Glad you made it home safely. Good luck with the garden!
ReplyDeleteThanks Pam. It was a fabulous trip and we were so lucky to see all that we had on out list. The garden is a problem!! Take care, Diane
DeleteHola Diane, me encanta verte de regreso y bien. Me ha gustado tu reportaje, has hecho unas fotografías preciosas. Un abrazo.
ReplyDeleteMuchísimas gracias por tu amable comentario. Todavía tengo muchas fotos que revisar, ¡pero tengo tanto trabajo que hacer en el jardín y la casa que tendrán que esperar! Un abrazo, Diane.
DeleteAmazing photos of a wonderful trip. I am very sad because I will not be able to visit such beautiful places: my wife is scaring of flying!
ReplyDeleteThat is very sad as living in the wild in South Africa is very special. Glad you enjoyed my photos though. Take care Diane
DeleteWow so many great shots.
ReplyDeleteThanks for all your comments that are very much appreciated. I hope all is well, cheers Diane
DeleteLike Denise I enjoyed all these beautiful animals. What a great experience for you. Great photos. Sounds like an awful long trip. Well done for managing it. We can't manage overseas trips any more. We only do short trips now. I hope you have been able to trim the garden back.
ReplyDeleteThanks Diane. I suspect this will be our last long trip, I am coping better that N with his peripheral neuropathy, and plus this time his back as well. The garden is a problem as the the mower hit a stone first time out and the workshop is extra busy it seems. Not sure when it will be back! Meanwhile I am having to strim everything with the big strimmer in harness!! I need to plant the vegetable garden as well!! All is not going as planned!! Hope all well over there, cheers, t'other Diane
Delete