Africa Wild

RP, Ok, will post it up under unusual behaviour , the SSJ was not sick to our opinion , was very much alive and was not limping or so.

Richprins wrote:I'm sure you are making that leopard 4 years in a row up, aat! Wasn't it in the papers somewhere? They won't believe it if we send it on again!

I agree seeing adult elephant lying down is a new thing over the last 3 years or so...maybe put it up under unusual behaviour, and we can get experts?

The SSJ is very rare, and almost impossible to photograph? I think that one is sick?

Thanks Mel,

When I was reading about tuskers I also found some stories where they were sleeping , but as you say, they cannot lay down for long. That's because their lung-"system" does not allow it. It'd unique with mammals , they are the only animals with such a "system". Maybe I write some about it at the tusker forum shortly.

Mel wrote:Oh, wow!!! That side-striped jackal certainly is a jewel among the sightings. Well done - definitely rare

I find it quite cute when ellies lay down for a nap, but when you see it for the first time it looks rather frightening and sad because you think that the poor animals is too weak to stand up. Luckily, most often it is really just a kip they take.

And the leopard, well..., what is there to say? A leopard is a leopard

Thanks Pumbaa,
Another good reason to go kruger / mopani again Pumbaa
Elephant babies , we have seen them laying down before but big one never so far. I am blaming myself I did not make photo's of the 2 big bulls we saw laying down... was a bit shocked or so that something happened and just forgot it. Was weird to see such big bulls laying down and getting up so quickly .... evenry trip there is a first time for something...

Pumbaa wrote:I am totally about tha leopard sighting, Aat,

you simply have so much luck even with that particular one

To see a side striped jackal in Kruger is in fact rare - Great shots

we do often saw already sleeping elephants especially the little ones of them do a quick sleep whilst the others gathered together under a tree

Herewith a pic of an ellie bull lying right next to the road at Shingwedzi - taken in September 2016 . He was fast asleep , and we sat with him for quite a few minutes before he started stirring .

And this little guy lay there for about 20 minutes until the big female nudged him to wake up , and they then moved on .

They really look dead

It's quite sweet to see the little ones having a nap although we don't often see the adults doing it.

@ All,
Thanks for all comments... time for a new episode.... with from a distance I mean making pictures from a distance to capture animals in their environment.

*** Travel Tales ***
Trip to Kruger NP 2016 (October – November) New series of Stories

04 – From a Distance

Hi again,
Going through the photos I made during our trip I found some I like to share with you.
Typical many pictures portraits of one or some animals.
This episode is based on photos (made from a distance) with animals in their environment.

This first one was kind of special since I could capture 3 of the big five in one frame with lovely light. 2 rhino’s, buffalo and mother elephant with her child. It was still very dry and there was no fighting at all… looked like the animals understood to share the available water.

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A view on Nshawu (Mopani area). Almost every day it was loaded with animals.

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The next two pictures or made north of Shingwedzi where a mega herd of buffalo was on the search for water. This was just a small “part” of the herd.

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and

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A bit further north, close to Sirheni camp, we found Buffalo and Elephants sharing water. Lovely view from the road. Will come back to this location later on with a real spectacle…

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S50… driving from Shingwedzi to Mopani we found these Roan in the riverbed. Probably loaded with water today.

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This is a nice example how kruger was during the dry period. Riverbeds still a bit green and little water and just out there…dry..dry..dry…

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I really liked this view… 6 rhino’s ( I forgot where it was !). I was quiet looking at this, realizing how difficult it is for these wonderful animals. Happy to see 6 of them enjoying the location.

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Last one I like to share is about 3 Giraffe, running ….

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Thanks and hope you liked this


Aat & Elly

Lots of BIG animals and then the Roan.....what a awesome sighting

Love all these distance shots