Grietjie Private Reserve

[Sprocky]

I found a lone "dagha boy" and stopped to photograph him. He was an impressive bull and while watching him, I heard more approaching. It was large herd, being led by a bull with magnificent horns...

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Here is a close-up of the handsome guy...

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The herd was now enjoying a drink, when they were disturbed by a herd of Elephant. Now I had both herds all around me, they were all happy with each others company. Here it looks like the Buffalo are standing guard while the Elephant drink...

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The last one for today, play time for the Ellies...

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Until next time, from the banks of the Olifants...

[Alf]

It looks so green there

[RogerFraser]

Lovely photos again .

Lovely Oxpecker

[Lisbeth]

Maybe not handsome, but certainly impressive

[Pumbaa]

Awesome ellie and buffalo shots, Sprocky,

and for sure love the burchell's and the yellow billed oxpecker too not to forget the jackal

[Klipspringer]

Well done on the oxpecker

Re: Waterbuck - obviously a myth that lions don't like waterbuck

[Lisbeth]

That's new to me.....and also to the lion that killed this one

[Klipspringer]

That's new to me.....and also to the lion that killed this one

Waterbuck have a lot of hair around their necks neck and there is a functionality to this hair as it is all hollow. The hollow hair allows for extra buoyancy when swimming, helping the waterbuck to keep their heads above the water. But hair can become saturated with water and if this was the case with the waterbuck the hollow hair would do the exact opposite of its intended function. To stop this saturation and keep the functionality of the hollowness, the waterbuck release a special oil over the hair which repels the water and keeps the hair dry.
This oil has a foul smell and for a long time was believed to be distasteful to lions and crocodiles thus keeping the waterbuck from being eaten. This theory has however been disproved over and over again.

[Lisbeth]

Sounds reasonable, on the other hand, if the lions don't eat them, there would be far too many by now

[Richprins]

Very good pics, Sprotjie!

That is a huge buffalo, put it up on 100ponder's thread?

I also like the coucal and the ellies at the waterpoint!

Klippies!