Eastern Cape

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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…

6 Comments
26/09/2013
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Lion leftovers

You don't kick a lion kill out from behind every bush and very few people have had the opportunity to see the actual kill take place.  What you do get though are the remains of those kills.  Bones picked clean and bleached white by the sun.

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17/09/2013
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Mock charge

On a recent visit to Kuzuko Lodge in the greater Addo Elephant National Park we had some amazing sightings.  The afternoon game drive started with a close up sighting of their two male lions before we encountered a herd of elephants in a valley close to the lodge.  The matriarch put up a spectacular mock charge what with flapping ears, stamping of feet and the shaking of a poor little bush.  Unfortunately I didn't have me camera at the ready and missed…

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10/09/2013
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Egyptian goose on Kings Beach lake

Have you even noticed that you will always find Egyptian Geese where ever there is water.  Lakes, dams, rivers, ponds and even on the off chance a backyard pool.  When the Boardwalk development opened in Port Elizabeth some years ago it wasn't long before a pair moved in and they have been there ever since, hatching their chicks every year.  The same has happened at the new Kings Beach development with a pair moving in very soon after completion.  I…

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02/09/2013
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Game sightings at Kuzuko Lodge

What is the difference between visiting a game reserve and a zoo?  At a zoo the animals are kept in enclosures with little freedom and visitors are guaranteed to see them although the sightings include walls, buildings, fences and cages.  At a game reserve you will see the animals in their natural environment and as they are free to roam throughout the reserve but there is no guarantee to see them.  So which would you rather do?  Personally I would take my chances and…

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22/08/2013
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The view from Kirkwood Lookout

On Friday I took part in the Skäl Nelson Mandela Bay's annual Tourism Amazing Race.  This year it took place in the beautiful Sundays River Valley north of Port Elizabeth.  I purposely left my camera behind as the team I was in went all out to defend our title from last year.  In the end we came in first but due to a 5min penalty got relegated to second.  Just to show how competitive the race between the top teams were its important to…

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19/08/2013
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View of Kuzuko Lodge

Kuzuko Lodge, a private concession in the Greater Addo Elephant National Park, sits on top of a hill overlooking the surrounding countryside.  It has beautiful views down the valley and beyond, but I would like to share a picture of the lodge taken from the valley while we were on our afternoon game drive

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16/08/2013
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Yawn and Snarl – World Lion Day

Today is World Lion Day.  It's the first global campaign to celebrate the importance of the lion world wide.  People tend to be very aware of the plight of animals like the rhino, the gorilla and the African penguin due to their vulnerability, but very few know that it won't take much for the lion to be in the same situation.  The king of the jungle is probably the most iconic of the animal species and have over the ages fascinated man,…

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10/08/2013
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Icons of the Karoo – Sweet Thorn Sunset

After the posting Quintessential Karoo and Karoo Icons - Farm Gate I decided to string together a series of posts showing off some of the Karoo icons I photographed on my last visit to the Karoo.  To me the Karoo is big sky country and the sky makes for a big part of any photograph taken in the area.  The night skies are the most impressive you will see anywhere with the Milky Way stretching from horizon to horizon in all…

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05/08/2013
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Icons of the Karoo – Farm gate

After posting "Quintessential Karoo" of the people walking on the dirt road in the Karoo the other day I started thinking.  What do people associate with the Karoo?  I came up with the following. Big skies, dusty roads, wind mills (windpompe), flowering aloes, sheep and Angora goats, Karoo koppies, inspiring silence, beautiful sunsets, farm gates, Karoo bush and historic towns and landmarks.  The Karoo has so much to offer, you just need to know where to look and what to look for.

8 Comments
03/08/2013