In this season the bush is green with yellow spots from the flowering acacia shrubs. This big male giraffe was obviously enjoying himself, sucking off the yellow flowers from the branches!
Tag: nature
White rhino kicking up dust
A rhino kicking up some dust with its feet. Rhinos shuffle their feet, thereby creating a small dust cloud, when they feel threatened or annoyed, for example by a car that gets too close. In this case the behavior didn’t seem directed at our car as the rhino was otherwise very relaxed and went on to pass an impressive amount of urine…
Playing lions
We were parked at the viewpoint at Lengau Dam. Just about to turn around I looked up and said, “There’s something else coming. Looks like kudus… or lions.” I wasn’t even serious about the lions, it was just that whatever I saw from the corner of my eye had that sort of color. I looked again and… there really were lions!! Seven lions came down from the hill to the water to drink and play. What an amazing sight!
Black rhino
A black rhino with its head held characteristically high. Black rhinos always look like they are asking “What do you want?” in a not too friendly way. I guess it’s just that they hold their head up high instead of looking demurely to the ground like their cousins the white rhinos. Anyway, it’s always a blessing to see one of these endangered animals!
Kissing giraffes
An affectionate moment between two giraffes. Giraffes are mostly seen in groups – if you spot one, you are likely to see more in the surrounding bushes. They do, however, not really form herds. A group of giraffes (aptly called a ‘tower’) can be composed of different individuals every day.
Lioness staring at me
Goosebumps to see this female lion, part of a pride of seven lions, staring at me from close by! Photo taken in Pilanesberg National Park.
Baby impala
One of the great things of visiting Pilanesberg at this time of the year is that there is an abundance of baby animals, like this young impala lying in the grass. I’m sure the big cats are enjoying it too, though…
Black-backed jackal in a hurry
While for some their trigger finger itches when they see a black-backed jackal, I like these opportunistic hunters. This one was in a real hurry, running towards and past us on the road, tongue out. I wonder where he had to go!
Steenbok male
In Europe, a steenbok is a big and impressive curly-horned mountain goat. In South Africa, it is the cutest little antelope. The male has two twig-like horns on its head, the female has no horns. They are extremely shy and will run away at any suspicion of danger. It’s a blessing to find one that stands still for long enough to be photographed!
Awesome wonder 