Africa Wild

I finally got the sales deal I was working on for 4 years yesterday ..So today I rewarded myself and pre dawn drove the 43 kms to the Addo South Gate. >> to practice with the new camera which is a total beast ..Huge learning curve ahead ..Anyway I found a few subjects to practice on ..and this superb East Cape Kudu obliged and from 200 metres away walked right up to my silent switched off car for this pic. The East Cape Kudu differs from the say Kruger Kudu by being slightly smaller bodied and shorter horns generally. A Good bull in these parts grows good horns to 45 inches and is then a very good hunting trophy (2 seasons in the Eastern Cape {not 4} ..Cricket season and hunting season ) however I estimate this boy to be 51-52 inches ..Superb by local standards and Kruger standards too !! E Cape Kudu also have beautiful long colourful beards much to the envy of their northern cousins

It clouded over a little bit later in the morning and these 2 stroppy teenager Bulls arrived and tried to scare me !! Lovely no shadow light. I saved a full res version which was 58.7 M bytes !!! ..This online version was reduced to 330 k bytes so all the goodness has been stripped away and further so by posting online ..but the large version will make a beaut canvas A0+++..hopefully some Texan will buy it ..Hapoor dam here is like Nsemane dam is to Satara ..iconic...blessed to live so close

The Kudu in the top pick had a buddy who was equally impressive for an East Cape Kudu

I Loved this scene early this morning at Lismore waterhole Addo ..Real East Cape Scene in the Sub Tropical Thicket

Those horns are real jewels The second kudu looks a bit thin and worn, although the horns are long

The ellie pics are lovely

So, are you happy with the new toy?

Yip the 2nd Kudu is thin ..I think he has been visiting the ladies too much ..lots of interest in breeding amongst the kudu at the moment in Addo. Yes HAPPY with the toy BUT its very uncompromising

Another walk Past at Hapoor dam Addo this morning

I think that the East Cape Kudu is the most handsome of all African Kudu

Friday is certainly better than the week end proper to visit Addo ..It was just me and this ellie arriving for a drink at Hapoor dam..Note the herd of East Cape Kudu Cows in the background ..ideal habitat in the Sub Tropic Thicket ...perfect for Kudu , Bushpig, and Black Rhino

Addo Kudu! Not a pic like yours, but a nice bull