ithala

2013-07-27

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!

2013-07-262013-07-26

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 🙂

2013-07-25

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!