The maximum temperature here today is 22⁰C, minimum 14⁰C. South East winds of 22km/h with gusts up to 46 km/h.
African Buffalo with calf (Syncerus caffer caffer) and Cattle egrets (Bubulcus ibis).
Buffalo as above.
Cape Bushbuck (Tragelaphus sylvaticus).
Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus) having a nap under the trees.
Lions having a snooze but I thought you might be interested in their story see below. This is at Kragga Kamma Game Park Eastern Cape.
South African giraffe (Giraffa giraffa giraffe), ostrich to the right and Zebra in the background.
South African ostrich (Struthio camelus australis). You can see how large the giraffe is in the background.
Not that often one sees a giraffe lying down but I guess they have to rest as well. The zebras are Burchells Zebras (Equus quagga burchellii).
Impala (Aepyceros melampus).
Nyala male (Tragelaphus angasii).
Nyala females, No horns and lighter in colouring also smaller than the male.
South African ostrich (Struthio camelus australis).
Waterbuck (Kobus ellipsiprymnus) one of the easiest to identify, note the white ring around the tail.
Ring-necked dove (Streptopelia capicola), also known as the Cape turtle dove.
Southern masked weaver (Ploceus velatus).
African hoopoe (Upupa africana)...
As above.
Black-headed heron (Ardea melanocephala) adult...
and juvenile.
Helmeted guineafowl (Numida meleagris)...
As above.
Thank you so much Elyse for taking us to Kragga Kamma, much appreciated.
My local list of wildflowers. (91 Species 02/12/2021).
See also my Bird blog
Joining up with My Corner of the World.
What a cornucopia of joys!
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for the visit and the kind comment, appreciated. Cheers Diane
DeleteGreat series of pictures, Diane, and a heartwarming story about the lions. We need one once in a while. I think that every animal in South Africa is now in a game farm of one kind or another. I remember my visit there, at least in part, for the sheer preponderance of fences. We stayed at a lodge where they served Kudu and Impala at dinner, and explained to us that since there were no predators on their reserve, the ungulates would eat themselves out of house and home and their numbers would exceed the capacity of the enclosed land to support them, so culling was the only option. That is how I once ate Kudu shank, Miriam had Impala, and on a different occasion we both had Ostrich carpaccio. When in Rome, I suppose....... gros bisous de ton ami canadien, David.
ReplyDeleteDavid a game farm and a game reserve are not quite the same. Most of the game reserves are not fenced but the animals mostly seem to sense where they are safer. Farms close to the reserves often have a problem with animals on their property. A game farm is a place where game animals are raised to stock wildlife areas generally for hunting. There have been game reserves since I was a child where it is easier to see wild life but they are totally free to roam where they like. This last visit to Tembe I was hoping to see Wild Dog, but we were told that they thought they had wandered off into Mozambique, hunting was easier there at the present time. Not sure where you went but it does sound more like you were on a game farm! We used to be able to buy Ostrich at the butcher when we lived there, no different to eating a large chicken except it had less fat!!! Ostrich neck cooked like oxtail is fantastic!! Cheers, bisous Diane
DeleteGreat photos! The lions are so lucky to be that Game Park now! Great ending to a sad story! Love the birds especially!
ReplyDeleteI was glad to witness the three lions happily sleeping under the trees, but one wonder how many other animals never made it out. War is cruel in so many ways. Cheers Diane
DeleteLucky you get to see so many wonderful critters in Africa!
ReplyDeleteThanks Angie we were lucky we had some great sightings. Have a good day, Diane
DeleteThe wild animals are beautiful. Thank you for sharing these photos with us.
ReplyDeleteThanks Nancy for the visit I hope that you are on the mend. Take care, thinking of you. Diane
DeleteWOW...can't even imagine what it would feel like to see those animals out in the wild and not caged. I would be in AWE of your pics. Just to be able to witness all that...amazing.
ReplyDeleteIt is something I have been lucky enough to see most of my life being brought up in Southern Africa. Nothing more exciting than to see a leopard right in front of you when driving along the road. Take care, Diane
DeleteIf seeing it all your life it prob is not as impressive as it would be for a newbie like me!! lol....
DeletePam it is always impressive, I could watch the wild animals every day and never get tired of seeing them. We can learn a lot about a good way of life from them. Cheers Diane
DeleteThey are beautiful for sure.
DeleteBonjour Diane.
ReplyDeleteTes photos sont un réel bonheur. Merci beaucoup !
Bisous et bon weekend. Je ne sais pas si il y aura des orages ?
Bonjour Nathalie, merci pour le commentaire. Orages prévus ici pour dimanche, samedi était une journée fabuleuse. Bon weekend, bisous Diane
DeleteYour showing us some fabulous photos of the wildlife in Southern Africa, Diane. That's a real heart-warming story about the Lions, but it also makes me wonder how many other animals there might be out there that do not get rescued like this and die in squalid conditions.
ReplyDeleteBest wishes to you both from Central England where it is a bit cold, and raining - just about to put the heating on again. Take good care - - - Richard
Richard you are so right, but what are lions doing in these places anyway, it is sad to think of all the wild and domestic animals that get caught up in human squabbles that get out of hand!!! It was a delight though to see these three resting peacefully under the trees.
DeleteWe have had a fab day today and we even had a barbecue this evening sitting outside at 7pm watching a setting sun listening to the sparrows and blackbird chorus. Having said that tomorrow is forecast for storms!!
Very best wishes to you both, Diane
Oh my goodness, amazing photos!!! I am bookmarking this post so that I can see them again. Thank you Diane and cheers!
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise and I am delighted that you enjoyed this post, many more great photos still to follow but I need more time!!! Keep well and have a good day, diane
DeleteSome wonderful photos Diane. I'm sorry that I can't be in Africa now because we are in Greece. It's a shame that game parks are now the main places to see the big six rather than the real wilderness. I'll catch you soon back in the UK.
ReplyDeleteGame parks are simply areas that are left for animals to live freely, they are still in other places but not that many. They have learnt to live in reserves where they feel safe which is good. Even as a child I never saw many animals out of a game reserve, though sadly now the poachers have caused chaos and the only rhinos we saw had all been dehorned, very sad, There used to be rhinos around every corner now it is difficult to see one.
DeleteEnjoy Greece, one place I have never been to! Cheers Diane
Your wonderful photos take me back.
ReplyDeleteI miss it already. Have a good week, hugs Diane
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeleteThanks very much, Have a good day Diane
DeleteA truly remarkable experience. Your photos are so crisp and natural. Those buffalo want to jump off the screen.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kenneth for your kind comment much appreciated. Cheers Diane
DeleteHi Diane - I love that photo of the buffalo and then the cheetah hiding away. Interesting history about the bears, then the lions being given a life ... lovely images - thank you - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteThanks Hilary, great for the lions to live their new lives as they are doing and so relaxed. Hope all is well, Diane
DeleteThank you for sharing these great photos of the wild animals in their natural inhabitants.
ReplyDeleteIt is a pleasure Nancy and I hope that you are feeling much better 🤞 Take care, Diane
DeleteHi again, Diane: You left the request for Costa Rica information on the comment you made on the book review of Science Communication in a Crisis, and I responded to that comment. Perhaps you never returned to check it. As I now mentioned send me an email and I will reply. There is too much information to provide on a blog comment. Bisous - David
ReplyDeleteI did look and could not find an answer at the time but I found it later and replied.
DeleteThe African Hoopoe is so like our own European Hoopoe but equally, quite different, if you see what I mean. I like that picture of the Cheetah lying in the dappled light. Such perfect camouflage to add to their speed on the ground. How lovely to remember seeing a whole family of Cheetahs at close quarters on our visit to Africa. You are a lucky lady Diane. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteAwesome shots!!!
ReplyDelete