The maximum temperature here today in the Charente, France, is 12⁰C, minimum 0⁰C. South-West winds of 17 km/h with gusts up to 24 km/h. Frost this morning.
I had intended to get a blog done before Christmas to wish you all a Happy Christmas. Now I can only say I hope you had a good Christmas, and to wish you all a very good New Year and a healthy 2024.
Tembe Elephant Park offers intimate encounters with some of the largest elephants in Africa. The 300km2 reserve, located in the Republic of South Africa between Kwa-Zulu Natal and Mozambique, is the ancestral home of the Tembe tribe who own and co-manage both the Park and the Tembe Elephant Lodge.
African elephant (Loxodonta) with Impala (Aepyceros melampus) in the foreground.
Mud glorious mud.....
as above.
The South African giraffe or Cape giraffe (Giraffa giraffa or Giraffa camelopardalis giraffe). Note the oxpecker on its neck but I am not sure which one this is (Buphagidae).
As above...
As above, with oxpeckers.
Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis), not the best photo but a record of the sighting...
As above.
Nyala (Tragelaphus angasii), the darker male with horns in the foreground, the rest are females.
Nyala male.
African Lion, Male (Panthera leo)...
As above.
African dung beetle (Scarabaeus satyrus), sadly not rolling its dung!
Speckled Rock Skink (Trachylepis punctatissima).
Pin-tailed whydah (Vidua macroura).
Pale Flycatcher (Melaenornis pallidus).
As above.
Purple-crested turaco (Gallirex porphyreolophus). Not easy to see and even more difficult to take photos of.
Swallow-tailed bee-eater (Merops hirundineus).
Warthog (Phacochoerus africanus)...
As above.
In one area of the park the trees are covered in this Fungi (Lichen Chlorophyta). Interesting.
Small Striped Swordtail Butterfly (Graphium policenes policenes). Sadly missing part of it 'tail'.
As above.
Lilac-breasted roller (Coracias caudatus).
To finish off; this is what the park is all about - the elephants.
This is my park buzz off - this youngster spent some time chasing this lone African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) away. So funny to watch.
Taking a drink.
Family get together.
Mud baths are such fun..
We watched these two for ages just enjoying the mud.
Our thanks go to my friends Gordon and Julie for taking us on this very special trip with the four-wheel drive club to a private camp in the park in March 2023. It was amazing and still more photos to come!!!
So many amazing animals! I have never seen a nyala...the female looks particularly pretty. May you have a Happy New Year, Diane!
ReplyDeleteThanks Angie and yes the Nyalas are lovely antelopes. All the very best cheers, Diane
DeleteWonderful set of pictures - we are seriously talking about a trip to Africa in the near future - I have added this area as a possible! Hope all is well, Stewart M - Melbourne
ReplyDeleteTembe is beautiful but if you pick a one off Game reserve, then Kruger has almost everything there and you can stay in different places in the park. Your chances of seeing wild dog are good, our last visit we saw three different packs and we spotted leopard. Sabi Sands a private game reserve adjoining Kruger is excellent so I believe, we have not been there but friends have. Cheers Diane
DeleteThese are the scenes that draw you back time and again, Diane. It is one of the serious misses that during my trip to RSA I never did see elephant. Some people seem to think that they are proverbially “everywhere” but that is far from the truth. My heart is heavy when I read of the ongoing issues with poaching and habitat loss. Stay well. Bon jeudi. Gros bisous de ton ami canadien, David
ReplyDeleteDavid I have been lucky that I think I have seen elephant ever time I have visited a game reserve but sometimes maybe only 1 or 2. At Tembe we did see a lot but as you say poaching and habitat is becoming a big problem. We did not see rhino there and that used to be something we saw regularly. The only ones we did see elsewhere had all been dehorned - so sad. The human race has a lot to answer for!! Bon week-end, bisous mon ami, Diane
DeleteA very interesting tour with great photos.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much for your visit Kenneth and for the comment. All the very best for 2024, cheers Diane
DeleteWonderful photographs of sights that I will never see, Diane. I hope all is now on track for next years Africa visit.
ReplyDeleteMy very best wishes to you and Nigel - I hope that 2024 is a good one for you both - - - Richard
P.S. Managed to get my scan brought back to 3rd Jan - just have to travel a bit further.
All on track so long at the moment, hopefully no disasters before the 24th of Jan. You will have to join me online through Namibia,
DeleteDelighted that you have managed to get the date back to a sensible one despite having to go further.
Very best wishes to you both, I hope that 2024 is full of good surprises. Take care, Diane.
Hi Diane. Like you I hoped to complete a blog post or two before the Year end but circumstances intruded. Rain and wind for weeks, my nuisance gout and then Christmas. A new year and better weather not far away and Greece in Many. Meanwhile you finished on a high with fubulous photos . All best for 2024.
ReplyDeleteHi Phil, the older I get the days seem to get shorter. The weather has been horrible here, but not as bad as what you appear to have had over there. I have thankfully never experienced gout (yet) but I believe it is very painful.
DeleteKeep ringing and all the best for results in 2024. Take care, Cheers Diane
Bonjour Diane.
ReplyDeleteJe suis d'accord, c'est incroyable de vivre ça. Merci pour ces fabuleuses photos, je vous souhaite une joyeuse Saint Sylvestre.
Gros bisous.
Merci Nathalie , j'adore l'Afrique 😊. La Namibie en février et mars donc j'espère beaucoup plus de photos. J'ai encore envie de finir les photos de 2023 !!
DeleteBisous mon ami
You got some great photos. Brings back strong memories. Happy New Year ❣️
ReplyDeleteThanks Gaelyn, I understand those memories, that is what takes us back there so many times, Hugs Diane
DeleteHope 2023 is ending on a high note for you and that 2024 brings you many blessings.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, sorry I have not been visiting so often but the days and the weeks seem to be sorter than they used to be!! All the best for 2024, cheers Diane
DeleteToo beautiful to see all those animals live freely in their natural environment.
ReplyDeleteI am very sad to know that many of them spend their life in a circus or in a zoo.
Happy new year!
It is such a pleasure to see them living s normal life, I agree it is sad that they can be kept in close quarters and so often mishandled. The human race has a lot to answer for.
DeleteKeep running and stay fit. Cheers and happy 2024, Diane
Such gorgeous photos! Wishing you and yours all the best for this new year, dear Diane, hope it's a good one!
ReplyDeleteAmalia
xo
Thanks Amelia and I wish you a wonderful 2024 with many more to follow. Cheers Diane
DeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit and the comment, appreciated . Happy 2024, Diane
DeleteGreat blog about wild animal. Success for your blog. Happy New year
ReplyDeleteThanks for the visit and the comment. Happy 2024, Diane
DeleteWhat a special and wonderful experience! Great photos as usual. Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteI so miss Africa but I wonder as we get older how much longer we can visit. Travel gets harder all the time. Have a great 2024, Diane
DeleteFabulous photos Diane, I always wanted to go on a photographic safari to Africa. What an amazing experience you had! I know you lived there at one time, another experience I would have enjoyed. Thank you and Happy New Year!
ReplyDeleteThanks Denise, it is an experience I can repeat as often as possible, yes even after living there for 50 years I never get tired of the wild life. Happy 2024, cheers Diane
ReplyDelete