Speeding on the bicycle over the sandy lanes, with two bottles of juice on the bike rack – do you remember those Sunday afternoons?
(Btw I love the outfit: Millennium Falcon meets Pixie Pals…)
Photo taken in Choma, Zambia
Zebra love
We encountered a group of zebras standing on the road. After waiting for a while, a second group arrived. In this photograph zebras from the two groups meet and greet each other. Such affection and love!
Photo taken in Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa
Painted dogs
African wild dogs, also known as painted dogs, are among Africa’s most endangered species. There are probably around 6,000 animals left in the wild. It’s therefore always a blessing to see them, like here at sunset in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia.
Photo taken in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
The majestic impala
The humble impala is one of the most common animals one might encounter on a safari game drive. While first-time visitors may be reasonable impressed by the impalas’ soft eyes and the males’ horns, those who have been on safari more often generally just pass them by. Impalas are ubiquitous, they are everywhere – and like everything that is considered ‘normal’, they lose some of their allure.
I often pass the impalas by too. But I’m happy that on this occasion I didn’t. Because this is a majestic impala, with impressive horns, completely at ease while eating his grass. He looks at us but knows that here, today, he is the king of this grassy field.
Photo taken in Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa
Welcome
Back in Lusaka we are greeted by these lovely yellow wild flowers that have sprung up literally everywhere besides the roads and on our campus. What a welcome!
Two elephants
Two elephants feeding from a mango tree in black and white on a black background.
Photo taken in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
On our way
Romance in the bush: a male and a female rhino walking down the road. We must have followed them in our car for over half an hour while they walked, stopped, grazed a bit, walked on. Beautiful animals.
Photo taken in Pilanesberg National Park, South Africa
Electric blue
One of my favorite African birds: the greater blue-eared glossy starling. Such magnificent colors, changing from green to blue to purple depending on the light.
Photo taken in South Luangwa National Park, Zambia
Celebrating the King
Today in the Netherlands it is Kingsday. Dutch people all over the world celebrate King Willem-Alexander’s 50th birthday.
The lion is called the ‘king of the jungle’. A bit of a strange label, since lions live on the African savanna and not in the jungle. But I can imagine what makes the lion king-like: his mane circles his head like a crown, and his pose is absolutely majestic.
That’s not to say that a lion is never afraid or threatened. Just before this photograph was taken, two lions – locally known as Ginger (the albino) and Garlic – were resting in a very relaxed manner. Then two elephants approached.
The lions were immediately alert, and moved away when the elephants came closer. Like any earthly king, the lion is not almighty…
Awesome wonder 