HAPPY THANKSGIVING to all my friends in the new world!
Catching and Releasing a Mozambique Spitting Cobra!
Well, a lot of you got it right! (see previous blog)
I use these goggles when catching or releasing spitting snakes (or if I do know which snake I might encounter). In this case I caught a Mozambique Spitting Cobra (in Zulu:Mfezi) which had strayed into a room at Thanda house late at night. Today I released it onto another part of the reserve.
This collage of images shows the release of the snake. Thanks to Warren Beets for taking the pictures (I could not take any myself – I was busy :-))
PS: I will add a GoPro camera to my equipment set so I can record these sort of procedures on video – from my view-point.
Be prepared?
It looks like a silly picture, but I was preparing for something serious!
What was I preparing for? Have a guess?
I will blog the answer this evening 🙂
Picture by Warren Beets
Ivory!
Protect them! … no further comment …
Pakamisa
On Saturday and Sunday I was invited to a game reserve near Pongola named Pakamisa. This very special place specializes in exploring the African bush on horseback (for more information go to www.pakamisa.co.za).
I enjoy taking pictures of these beautiful horses in action. The really good news for me is that they recently got a new horse, which will be able to take my weight. I am looking forward to my first time on a horse 🙂
A very lucky day!
This morning’s game drive on Ithala was excellent.
First I saw a lot of Baboons on a newly burned area …
… the I got some great shots of a Secretary Bird …
… and finally I found a small breeding herd of Elephants near one of the waterholes …
… and as per Ithala rule I kept my distance (over 30 meters from the herd). But one cow did not like me looking at all and chased me down the road. She was quite serious in her attack (ears back, trunk rolled up, so sound and fast takeoff). While driving with my left hand and watching her in the mirror I took a picture with my point and shoot camera out of the window at 40 kph…
An exciting morning at Ithala. I will be back!
A quiet evening drive!
Today’s evening game drive on Ithala was rather quiet. Besides the usual suspects (Zebra, Wildebeest, Kudu and Warthog) I got some funny images of a female Ostrich and when I got back to my room at the camp a Bushbuck was eyeing me for a while before disappearing into the bush.
Now I am off to dinner after a lot of driving 🙂
New, funny, harassed, well light and rocky!
A good morning drive on Ithala. I encountered …
… a new species (for me :-)): An antelope named Tsessebe, which I have never seen before.
… two Secretary birds with their funny walk across a burned area.
… a Tawny Eagle who was harassed by a Black-shouldered Kite.
… a well light scene at sunrise with Zebra and Wildebeest.
… and an exciting drive on a very rocky 4×4 trail.
Let’s see what the afternoon will bring!
Ithala
Today I have spent my first day at Ithala Game Reserve in the North of Kwazulu Natal. Ithala is a beautiful mountainous reserve with many interesting tracks. I will spend three days of my off-time here.
Next to regular roads Ithala has some interesting 4×4 trails. Some of them are rather rocky and very challenging (Inclines for first gear low with center and back diff set). My Toyota Fortuner mastered the steepest one very well.
This image was taken after the ascent from top of the mountain …
… Once back in the plains I took this image of a male Giraffe at sunset …
… and just after sunset I encountered this male Ostrich along the road.
I also saw White Rhino, Zebra, Wildebeest, Kudu and many different bird species.
A good first day!
Jellyfish
It was great to be in the USA for a few days. I enjoyed meeting many friends in Nashville, especially at the zoo. Thanks for all the great hospitality. I will try to be back next year 🙂
During the visit I got to visit the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga for the first time. I took this picture (above) of a West Coast Sea Nettle. The Jellyfish exhibit was my favorite part of the aquarium.
PS: I am a lucky man with three homes – one in Europe where my family lives – one in America with all my friends in Nashville – and one in Africa with good friends and all the wilderness which I love!
About Jellyfish:
Jellyfish are typified as free-swimming marine animals consisting of a gelatinous umbrella-shaped bell and trailing tentacles. The bell can pulsate for locomotion, while stinging tentacles can be used to capture prey.
Jellyfish are found in every ocean, from the surface to the deep sea. A few jellyfish inhabit freshwater. Large, often colorful, jellyfish are common in coastal zones worldwide. Jellyfish have roamed the seas for at least 500 million making them the oldest multi-organ animal.
