South Africa: It’s A Wrap
Sunday, 16 July, 2017 by Beachbums1
Baby Elephant attempting to give Mama a drink from the riverbed. The water level is high so the elephants don’t have to dig too deep to get fresh water.
A little over six weeks ago, we drove out of Umlani Bush Camp and made our way back to Johannesburg. We had a plane heading for London to catch the next day. Not going to lie, both my daughter and I had a tear in our eye as we left the magical Timbavati Private Reserve. This safari was everything I dreamed it would be but I was also sad/angry that a lot of the animals are at risk from poachers. Thankfully, there are those willing to fight against them but it seems like a losing battle sometimes. As with drugs, the demand for animal parts needs to be stopped but oh, what a complicated weave that is.
There were so many wonderful memories from our nine days there and below is a recap in photos. My heart is happy when I look at them…
The lilac-breasted roller in South Africa.
Vervet Monkey, males are known for their bright blue scrotum and vivid red penis. They have a complicated vocal communication system. For example, one screech will indicate a predatory bird and all the vervets will scan the sky. Likewise, a snake call will have all looking at the ground.
The Steenbok is a small, brown antelope. Females don’t have horns. They zig-zag as they run when avoiding a predator.
Always a thrill to see Giraffes ~ they are such interesting creatures. Where there are giraffes, there are usually zebras. And like the zebra stripes, the brown and white pattern on the giraffe is unique to each individual. These are males because their stumps are bald. The females are tufts.
Sunset in South Africa
If you’d like to see additional safari photos, follow along on instagram @beachbums88
So glad to know that you felt the deep connection. Pictures are treat to my eyes..😊
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Thank you for your comment. Happy you like the photos. My adventure in South Africa was life changing – looking forward to returning.
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beautiful pictures! We went on a safari in September and were quite surprised by the dry land..
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Lovely. We will be there in a few weeks and are looking forward to this experience.
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How fun that you’re going there soon. You will LOVE it. Which areas will you be visiting?
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We will be going from Dullstroom to Cape Town. Going through Kruger, Mpumalanga, Blyde River Canyon, Satara, Mlilwani, Tembe, Hluhluwe, along the way. Did you go into any of those areas?
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We did the drive from J’burg to the Timbavati (Mpumalanga province) then stayed 8 nights at Umlani Bushcamp. This allowed us to go on 16 game drives which was fantastic. Saw something new every time and we saw some of our favorites several times. The Abel Erasmus pass along the way to Timbavati is a gorgeous area ~ waterfall, river, gorge, local handmade crafts). We didn’t get to Cape Town and were told repeatedly it was not to be missed. Next time…
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That sounds great. We will keep this stuff in mind during our visit.
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Incredible wildlife. Talk about a once in a life time experience🙂
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Patti, thank you for sharing, not only the photos, but your thoughts, perspective, and emotions.
The light blue scrotum is fascinating … I’d love to know the evolutionary reason for that (I’ll go look it up).
Your photography is wonderful, and that sunset is sigh worthy
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Great post and photos! Takes me back to my honeymoon safari.
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These are absolutely beautiful. One day I will get there.
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Thank you! I hope you are able to go on a safari soon. It’s amazing!
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Wonderful photos
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Thank you!!
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Lovely post: I could feel your excitement and thrill. Vervet Monkey’s communication system is awesome, so is the speed of Steenbok and the grace of giraffe. Thanks for sharing.
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Thanks for stopping by – the animals of South Africa are amazing and I’m hopping to go back again soon. But it’s a big world and I’m already planning for a trip to a different continent next year. So much to see…
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Totally agree. So much to see. All the best 🙂
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Based on the pictures in your posts, it must have been a bodacious trip! Thanks for sharing.
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Robin- it was a fantastic trip. I would go back tomorrow if I could!
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What a wonderful experience. Alie was their while in college and has wanted me to see it ever since.
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Great photos! I especially like the intense sunset!
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Thanks! The sunsets 🌅 were amazing!
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Welcome!
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