Topic: In today’s midday heat (38°C / 100°F) an Thanda Elephant bull was mudding himself. A Cape Buffalo bull was not even moving from his cool bath when the gentle giant arrived. And for the birders along you: Try to spot the Woolly-necked Storks and the Hamerkop in the video.
Technical data: Apple 16 Pro Max | Telefocus Camera 120 mm
Three of my young guests at Thanda over Christmas and New Year took up birding as a new hobby during their stay.
They became very enthusiastic about it, and their families named them lovingly “The Birdy Nerdies.”
Over the last few days, their birding life list grew from 0 to over 150 species, which we spotted together at Thanda Safari and on the St Lucia Estuary boat ride.
My tracker (and birding specialist) Bheki and I very much enjoyed introducing them to birdwatching at Thanda Safari.
We had some great sightings together (see collage), including my ‘Bird Picture of the Year 2025’ of a Gorgeous Bush-Shrike.
Just send me a message if you are interested in birding with Bheki and me at Thanda Safari.
…refers to mature, solitary male African buffalo who are known for their frequent mud wallowing habits. The term is thought to be derived from the Shona word “dugga,” which translates to mud.
These bulls are frequently ill-tempered and may pose a threat, particularly if agitated. They are a familiar sight on Thanda, often seen near waterholes or mud puddles.
Technical data: Apple 14 Pro Max | Main Camera 24mm | ISO 64 | 1/1500sec | f1.8 | ev+0 | 80mm