An Elephant Farewell from Botswana & South Africa

Bags are packed & we're heading home ...

We've had a wonderful visit spying on the stunning wild animals & birds of Botswana's Chobe River & South Africa's Kruger National Park.

Elephant cow & calf on the banks of the Chobe River Botswana

Lots of photos and stories to tell ...  

check out my posts later in the week to catch a glimpse of some of our discoveries.

Bye for now

Cheers Jen

ps 11 Leopards & 11 Lion sightings in Kruger National Park over four days :-)

Photo Shoot uSharka Beach, Durban

Friends and family know that I find mornings a bit of a challenge ...
However I had no trouble getting ready to take the 45minute drive to the beach near uSharka, Durban for a 5.45am meeting with South African photographer Emanuel Maria.

And a big thank you to Gavin & Sally Marlton for arranging the photo shoot with Emanuel, their longtime friend and well renowned South African photographer & Nikon specialist and enthusiast.

We enjoyed a full-on day with Emanuel as we explored: Aperture, Shutter Speed & ISO; as well as composition, lenses, effects & camera settings, to name but a few.

Below is a selection of our shots taken from sunrise to late morning, along uSharka Beach, Durban, as taken, no editing -

Thanks again to Gavin & Sally Marlton & to Emanuel Maria
for the amazing photographic opportunity & experience. 

http://www.emanuelmaria.co.za

http://www.photographiccourses.co.za

Emanuel is a very well known photographer in his field, and his photographs 

have been published in books, calendars, postcards and magazines locally and overseas.

ps  An update on my Blog!!!!   

I'm quite a bit behind my planned schedule  ...  NO INTERNET ... we've just returned from five days in Kruger National Park where we've had the most amazing safari experiences.    Tomorrow we fly to Botswana for five days in and around Chobe National Park.  

Lots more to come ...  Will post again soon ...  Bye for now

Cheers Jen

Sani Pass - one of the best kept secrets in Africa

Wonderful company,  4x4 Discovery Land Rover, stunning weather,  "just in case" warm clothes and cameras - recipe for a great day trip to one of the best kept secrets in Africa - the Sani Pass.

Amidst much chatter and breath-taking views, we twisted our way along the only vehicle track towards the "top of Africa" ...  through the rocky cliffs, along the spectacular 4x4 track,  and over the Drakensberg escarpment and into the mountain Kingdom of Lesotho.

First stop after leaving Durban - checkout the icicle waterfall on the roadside,
as we headed up the Sani Pass towards the Kingdom of Lesotho

Turn 180 degrees - view in the direction we had just driven - towards Durban.

The Sani Pass is a world heritage site on the border between South Africa and Lesotho,  2874 metres above sea level.   We crossed the border at the top of the pass, (passports required), and headed a few hundred metres to Sani Mountain Lodge, the highest pub in Africa.     http://www.sanimountain.co.za 

Sani Mountain Lodge - great place for lunch before an open fire.
The views from this quiet, peaceful and remote site are absolutely amazing.

With snow falling gently, we took a short drive into Lesotho past a village
of traditional rondavels, the huts the Basotho People of Lesotho live in.

The Basotho have a unique African mountain culture, reminiscent of Tibet!   The tribes people live in traditional rondavels, herd goats and sheep in the high mountains and grow crops by ox-ploughing and hand-hoeing.                                                 http://www.sanilodge.co.za

Before heading back down Sani Pass we stopped off again at the Sani Mountain Lodge Carpark, to check out the view & experience the still falling snow.  Pleased to try out the beanies, gloves & scarves that Sally had packed "just in case"!   With strong winds, snow & chill factor it was a bit of a challenge for the cameras, too!    Enough snow for snow balls ...

Gavin & Sally

Jen

Laurie         

The long & winding road down the Sani Pass from the Lesotho border
 - steep descent, hairpin turns & a bit more snow.

Bye for now

Cheers Jen

Things to see near Hluhluwe ... Head off on a Game Safari Drive

What a fun afternoon, a game drive from our hotel to the Hluhluwe Game Reserve.

Once we'd passed through the entry point, we headed off in convoy, all filled with anticipation & delight. Our guide Jan had whispered that he'd turn down the first track hoping to find a lioness and her two cubs.  Not to be, however we all enjoyed the wild animal spotting adventure.

Entry sign to Hluhluwe Game Reserve

Heading off on an afternoon safari, hoping to spy a lioness
& her two cubs.

Giraffe roaming not far from the entry point to the reserve.

Warthog enjoying a bad hair day!  Other warthogs were enjoying dusty dirt baths
& a touch of tummy scratching!

Love the Zebra stripes

A traffic stopper & not a STOP or GO sign in sight ...
White Rhinoceros aka White Rhino

Rhino calf practising crossing the road ...
It had already looked both ways before crossing the road with its mother .

Snack time, with mum standing close by.

Herd of Savannah Buffalo

A long & winding road, through Hluhluwe Game Reserve,
towards the exit gate.

The setting sun just outside the Hluhluwe Game Reserve Gate.

Adventures in and around Hluhluwe were drawing nigh ...  time to return to Durban & then on to spend time with family in Hillcrest & Creighton,  in the foothills of the stunning Drakensburg mountains.

Bye for now.

Cheers Jen

More things to see near Hluhluwe Village ... Cape Vidal wildlife while the cold wind blew

This'll be a quick post tonight, as we're busy packing to head off towards Kruger Game Reserve tomorrow.  Have had the most wonderful week spending time with family in and around Durban - (more about that in the next few days)

Masked Weaver bird
Spied this bird not far from the Cape Vidal Game Reserve -
I love the bright yellow breast & had fun experimenting with the out-of-focus background (bokeh)

...  After the delight of seeing the Impala, Kudu & Water Buck near the Cape Vidal Park entrance, we headed off excitedly in an open jeep, for a afternoon of game safari viewing on our way to the ocean.

The sometimes bumpy yet scenic ride allowed us to sight a variety of wild animals and birds before we were met with a cold wind that cleared away the cobwebs & had most of us wrapping ourselves in the blankets provided.

White Rhino
Watching the crash (herd) of rhino munching on the grass right next to our 
vehicle was unexpected.  This rhino cow & her calf were quite oblivious to 
our photographic exploits.

Rare Samango Monkey
These rare monkeys watched us from afar whilst we enjoyed our picnic lunch,
meanwhile the small black-faced vervet monkeys tried to join us for lunch.
Later they climbed into the jeep looking for hidden supplies of food.

Mongoose
Cute family & friends of banded mongoose watched us cheekily from the
picnic area.

Warthog
Following a tummy rub on a discarded log, this Warthog enjoyed
munching on the fresh young grass shoots.

Bye for now

Cheers Jen

Things to do near Hluhluwe Village ... Spot the Impala & the Kudu calf

A late morning drive through Cape Vidal World Heritage Park in an open safari jeep ...  first stop - check out the members of the Impala family.

Impala ewes grazing in the Cape Vidal World Heritage Park

Impala, the most common antelope of the bushveld regions of South Africa, are graceful, rufous-fawn antelope, with white underparts.  They are mixed feeders, and browse on shrubbery and graze grass on gently undulating or flat terrain. Acacia pods and fruits are eaten when available.

Impala are renowned for their spectacular leaps over shrubs and bushes, particularly when alarmed.

ps  Impala have been referred to as the Macdonalds of the bush as they are of the most common prey for predators. The distinction markings on the rump also resemble the company logo to a degree.

The Kudu, another in the antelope family,  is found inhabiting mixed shrub woodland, and savanna plains in eastern and southern Africa. The kudu relies heavily on close, dense thickets in which it can escape to and hide when it feels threatened.  They have stripes and spots on the body, and most have a chevron of white hair on the forehead between the eyes.

Kudu ewe with fawn enjoying a late morning drink.

Time to move on.

Ewe leading her fawn across the bushveld.

Kudus live in small herds of up to 24 kudu individuals. The kudu herds mainly consist of female kudus and their calves.  The male kudus tend to be solitary and only come together with other kudus when it is time to mate. 

Kudu male - check out the antlers

ps  Lions, leopards, hunting dogs and spotted hyenas hunt kudu, while cheetahs, smaller cats, eagles and pythons prey on the young. 

Male Water Buck

ps .... Thanks to Cath for recognising the Kudu that I mistook for an Impala ewe :-)

Until next time

Cheers Jen

Things to do near Hluhluwe Village ... Hippo viewing

A great way to spend the morning - meandering amongst the St Lucia wetlands in the "Spirit of St Lucia", with binoculars & cameras in hand, searching for hippos, crocodiles & birdlife.  Lots of wildlife in view & plenty of photo opportunities.

The iSimangaliso Wetland Park, previously known as Greater St. Lucia Wetland Park, was listed as South Africa's first World Heritage Site in December 1999 in recognition of its superlative natural beauty and unique global values.

ISSCT ladies - time to check out the hippos, crocodiles & birdlife of the Wetlands.

The 332 000 hectare Park contains three major lake systems, eight interlinking ecosystems, 700 year old fishing traditions, most of South Africa’s remaining swamp forests, Africa’s largest estuarine system, 526 bird species and 25 000 year-old coastal dunes – among the highest in the world. The name iSimangaliso means miracle and wonder, which aptly describes this unique place.
Ref: http://isimangaliso.com

The park is also home to 1,200 Nile crocodiles and 800 hippopotami.

Hippopotamuses are found in Africa, and are generally considered the third largest land mammal (after the White rhinoceros and elephant).   Hippopotamuses spend a large amount of time in water and are found in rivers, lakes and swamps.  Resting in water helps keep the hippopotamuses temperature down.  The word ‘hippopotamus’ means ‘river horse’, and is often shortened to ‘hippo’.  Hippopotamuses give birth in water,  are herbivores and eat mostly grass.

Hippo swim time!

A Hippo wink :-)

Hippos enjoying the sunshine

This hippo calf was enjoying the sun & chomping noisily on the grass
near the river.

African fish eagle  -  Haliaeetus vocifer

Woollynecked stork -  Ciconia episcopus
This stork was wandering through the grasses near to a bloat of hippos.

Until tomorrow ...

when I'll share with you some of my experiences in adjacent Cape Vidal area.

Cheers Jen