Close encounters of the ellie kind

I always say that Addo is probably the best place in the world to watch wild African elephants in their natural environment and to get fairly up close sightings.  Its not because these elephants are tame, not by a long shot.  Over the years they have just gotten used to vehicles and as long as you don't intrude on their space and they don't feel threatened,  the chances are often good that they would walk right by your vehicle.  I…

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Elephant family

One can never emphasise enough how amazing a park the Addo Elephant National Park is.  I think a lot of people underestimate Addo but the beauty of that is that when they visit their expectations are completely blown away.  I always say, and I do so because I believe its true, that Addo is the best place in the world to view wild African Elephants in their natural environment.  Over the years they have become used to visitors' vehicles - not tame - which means that its often…

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Mongoose

If I stand on my toes I can see the weekend.  Just like this yellow mongoose I recently spotted at Addo Elephant National Park.  Most people who see him standing like that may think it's a meerkat, but that would be a case of mistaken identities. Have an awesome weekend!

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Dusk in Addo

Dusk is by far my favourite time when visiting any game reserve or national park. It's preceded by the most beautiful light for photography but when the sun starts to dip, touching the horizon, it’s like calm sets in on the bush. The cross over from day to night. When the daytime animals start to settle down and the night time animals wake up. After a hot day the coolness of evening brings relief while the wind often dies down.…

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Addo flowers

After the rains we had in the Eastern Cape this past winter the veld is looking really good.  Its no different in the Addo Elephant National Park with lots of yellow and purple flowers all over.

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Die klein dingetjies

Dis so maklik om as reisiger soveel op die groot dinge te konsentreer dat mens die klein goedjies miskyk.  Gedurende 'n besoek aan Addo Elephant Back Safaris in die Zuurberge net langs die Addo Olifant Nasionale Park het ons onder andere saam met die olifante gaan stap.  Terwyl hulle water gedrink het het ek hierdie skoenlappertjie langs die dammetjie gekry en hy het lank genoeg stilgesit sodat ek langs hom kon gaan lê om die foto te kry.

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Waar is die leeus?

Besoekers aan die Addo Olifant Nasionale Park word aangeraai om twee (of drie of vier) keer te kyk en seker te maak dat daar nie leeus in die omgewing is voor hulle by die uitkykpunt op Suurkop uitklim nie.  Omdat die park die tuiste is van die Groot 5 - om die waarheid te sê dit is die enigste park in die wêreld wat kan sê hulle het die Groot 7 - is die kanse goed dat daar dalk 'n paar leeus êrens…

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Lighting the way

Arriving back at Camp Figtree in the Zuurberg after a late afternoon game drive in Addo Elephant National Park, you are welcomed by lanterns lighting the way to the lodge.

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Flightless Dung Beetle

One of the smallest but best known inhabitants of the Addo Elephant National Park is the Flightless Dung Beetle (Circellium bacchus).  The Flightless Dung Beetle is endemic to the Addo Elephant Park and surrounds and very unique in the fact that they can't fly and hence the name.  This fact also makes the beetle a vulnerable species as they only use elephant and buffalo dung to feed off and lay their eggs in and at the time when these animals…

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