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Elephants are officially hooved mammals, so a group is technically known as a herd. However, the collective noun for elephants – perhaps more fittingly, is a memory. A group of elephants can also be called a parade, although this is far less common. It is likely that elephants evolved trunks as they grew in size and bulk. Their pillar-like legs and naturally heavyset heads and shoulders would be major obstacles to feeding and drinking without their trunks, which enable them to forage and drink with minimal head movement.
The fork-tailed drongo is known for his ability to deceptively mimic other bird alarm calls in order for a certain animal to flee the scene so he can steal their food. They are also notorious for displaying aggressive and fearless behaviour by attacking and chasing off much larger animals, including birds of prey, when their nest or young ones are threatened.
The Pinnacle Rock is a massive quartzite rock that erupts from the earth’s surface and reaches some 30 metres in height. It is a freestanding rock that towers over the dense indigenous forest of Driekop Gorge in a dramatic display of nature’s quirks and the unique splendour of South Africa. It is littered with stunning, brightly-coloured aloes that not only add to the appeal amongst the local birds and insect species but also make for extra beautiful photographs of the rock and its surrounds. There are public ablutions available here, as well as vendors sitting at this attraction selling African curios and keepsakes. These stalls are a delight to visitors and locals alike and the vendors are friendly and helpful.
Info source URL: www.sa-venues.com/attractionsmpl/pinnacle-rock.php
Photo capture date & Location: 2019-10 Sabi River Sun Resort
Sabie Falls is hidden under the bridge as you drive out of Sabie towards Graskop. In 2010, a local named Eric Mkhatshwa cleared the area and tidied up the Williams Memorial Park. For a small fee, you can wander the tidy garden and get right to the edge of the waterfall. If you want to get even closer Kestell Barnard will take you abseiling down the falls.
Info source URL: www.countrylife.co.za/travel/6-of-mpumalangas-best-waterf...
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The photo was taken during October 2019 in Sabie, Mpumalanga, South Africa.
The arrow-marked babbler lives in social groups of between 3 and 15 birds (six being the average) that defend large territories, with the size of the territory being dependent upon the number of individuals in the group. They feed on insects, spiders and sometimes snails and lizards, as well as fruits. Foraging occurs near the ground, sometimes in association with other babblers or bulbuls. A dry gurgling babble “gra-gra-gra-gra-gra” is given by multiple birds, keeping the group together.
Pied crows are generally encountered in pairs or small groups, although an abundant source of food may bring large numbers of birds. The species behaves in a similar manner to the hooded and carrion crows. All of its food is obtained from the ground, trees, etc. including injured wildlife such as insects and other small invertebrates, small reptiles, small mammals, young birds and eggs, grain, peanuts, carrion and any scraps of human food and fruit.
Alert
Lionesses are the primary hunters of the pride. They are smaller and more agile than males and they use teamwork to bring an animal down. After a successful hunt, all the lions in the pride share the meal. But there is a pecking order, with the adult males eating first, followed by the lionesses and finally the cubs.
The crowned lapwing is an adaptable and numerous species, with bold and noisy habits. Crowned lapwings and the more localized black-winged lapwings sometimes associate and do not show mutual aggression, even within breeding territories. Different crowned lapwing males do however posture aggressively when nesting territories are established. The loser in an encounter assumes a special posture to signal his defeat.
Kalk Bay Harbour is a charming brightly coloured fishing harbour in the heart of the equally quaint town of Kalk Bay. Experienced local anglers take to the fishing waters with line, net and determination and return daily around lunchtime with a fresh catch for you to buy at cheerful prices. If you can't catch your dinner you may as well choose it and have it beheaded, scaled, de-gutted and filleted by a quirky expert (do your bartering before anyone picks up a knife). Take it home and try it simple and delicious on a rustic braai (barbecue), South African style with a local beer or wine. If you're feeling adventurous pick up a local recipe book and try a traditional potato salad side.
The impala is diurnal (active mainly during the day), though activity tends to cease during the hot midday hours; they feed and rest at night. Three distinct social groups can be observed – the territorial males, bachelor herds and female herds. The territorial males hold territories where they may form harems of females; territories are demarcated with urine and faeces and defended against juvenile or male intruders. Bachelor herds tend to be small, with less than 30 members.
The Afrikaans name, the Drakensberg, comes from the name the earliest Dutch settlers gave to the escarpment, namely Drakensbergen, or Dragons' Mountains. The highest portion of the Great Escarpment is known in Zulu as uKhahlamba and as Maluti in Sotho ("Barrier of up-pointed spears").
Ancient cultures in Africa revered the giraffe, as some modern cultures do today and commonly depicted it in prehistoric rock and cave paintings. Unknown outside of Africa, early written records described the giraffe as "magnificent in appearance, bizarre in form, unique in gait, colossal in height and inoffensive in character." The giraffe's high shoulders and sloping back give the impression that its front legs are much longer than the hind legs, but they are in fact only slightly longer. The giraffe has a distinctive walking gait, moving both legs on one side forward at the same time. At a gallop, however, the gait changes, and the giraffe simultaneously swings the hind legs ahead of and outside the front legs, reaching speeds of 35 miles an hour. Its heavy head moves forward with each powerful stride, then swings back to stay balanced. Giraffes have "horns"; not true horns but knobs covered with skin and hair above the eyes to protect the head from blows.
Info source: www.sa-venues.com/wildlife/wildlife_giraffe.php
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The photo was taken during February 2018 at Mabula Private Game Reserve, Rooiberg, Bela-bela, Limpopo, South Africa.
The blue wildebeest is a herbivore, feeding primarily on short grasses. It forms herds which move about in loose aggregations, the animals being fast runners and extremely wary. The mating season begins at the end of the rainy season and a single calf is usually born after a gestational period of about 8.5 months. The calf remains with its mother for 8 months, after which it joins a juvenile herd. Blue wildebeest are found in short-grass plains bordering bush-covered acacia savannas in southern and eastern Africa, thriving in areas that are neither too wet nor too arid.
The lion is the most social of all wild felid species, living in groups of related individuals with their offspring. Such a group is called a "pride". Groups of male lions are called "coalitions". Females form the stable social unit in a pride and do not tolerate outside females. Membership changes only with the births and deaths of lionesses, although some females leave and become nomadic. The average pride consists of around 15 lions, including several adult females and up to four males and their cubs of both sexes. Large prides, consisting of up to 30 individuals, have been observed.
African elephants have two finger-like tips on the end of their trunk which allows for extreme dexterity (Asian elephants only have one). The trunk is an amazing limb containing an estimated 100,000 muscles and tendons. The elephant’s tusks will continue to grow throughout its life making use of them for digging, foraging, and in the male's case, fighting. Just as people can be either right-handed or left-handed, elephants are either right-tusked or left-tusked as they will favor using one over the other.
The fork-tailed drongo is a medium-sized bird at 25 cm in length, including the tail. The fork-tailed drongo has a mainly glossy black plumage, with the wings being a little duller. This bird has a large head with a hooked black bill and a red eye. The tail is deeply forked. The fork-tailed drongo can be easily mistaken for a southern black flycatcher as the two birds are very similar in appearance, except the drongo has a red eye and the flycatcher has a brown eye.
Info source URL: southafrica.co.za/fork-tailed-drongo.html
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The photo was taken 2018-10 at Drakensberg Sun, Winterton, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
The Wire-tailed Swallow is a tiny passerine bird from the swallow family. They are agile and fast flyers, generally feeding on insects, mostly flies, when in flight. These swallows are somewhat similar in other aerial insectivores’ appearance and habits, like the swifts and the martins. It has distinctive, two long, thin outer tail feathers that appear like wires from which it gets its common name. It is found in Africa and Asia, boasting a striking blue upperpart, and a chestnut cap, which elegantly contrasts its bright white underpart. They are often found in open country near water and human habitation. Commonly seen in singles, pairs, or sometimes in small flocks.
The Monk's Cowl Nature Reserve with its breathtaking vistas of sweeping grasslands on the lower reaches, to magnificent towering cliffs and waterfalls cascading for hundreds of metres makes this an area of the Maloti-Drakensberg Park worth visiting.
Their dependence on water restricts the Burchell's Zebra to wander further than ten to 12 km from water. Densely vegetated areas are avoided. Predominantly a grazer, feeding in areas with short grass. Zebra have a strong sensitive upper lip with which it gathers herbage by collecting the grass between the lip and the lower incisors before plucking the harvest. The Burchell's Zebra lives in small family units, which typically consist of one stallion and one mare with their foals. Non-breeding stallions occur in bachelor groups.
Info source URL: www.krugerpark.co.za/africa_burchells_zebra.html
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Photo capture date & Location: 2018-08 Segaia Bush Retreat
Eland are found in grassland, mountain, sub-desert, acacia savannah and miombo woodland areas. They distance themselves from deserts, forests and swamps. Herbivorous, they feed in areas where shrubs and bushes provide the leaves they prefer. They use their horns to bring twigs and branches into reach. Also known to consume tuberous roots. They use their horns to bring twigs and branches into reach.
Info sourced from www.sa-venues.com/wildlife/wildlife_eland.htm
Photo capture date & Location: 2018-02 Bushtime at Mabula
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"Burst of Color in the Garden, on a Grey Rainy July Morning: Tigerlily [IG Remix.]" (7/9/14; Yorktown Heights, New York, USA.)”
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Situated in the heart of the magnificent Drakensberg mountains, the Drakensberg Sun Resort is one of the world’s most scenic holiday destinations. This family-friendly Drakensberg resort is the perfect place from which to explore the region’s many fascinating attractions – or simply to relax and unwind in one of South Africa’s most picturesque settings. Breath-taking views, utter tranquility, and the joy of discovering one of the world’s most spectacular destinations – Drakensberg Sun Resort has something for everyone.
Info source URL: www.tsogosun.com/drakensberg-sun-resort
Photo capture date & Location: 2018-10 Drakensberg Sun Resort
Grazing
Active mainly at dawn and dusk, springbok form harems. In earlier times, springbok of the Kalahari desert and the Karoo migrated in large numbers across the countryside, a practice known as trekbokking. A feature, peculiar but not unique, to the springbok is pronking, in which the springbok performs multiple leaps into the air, up to 2 m above the ground, in a stiff-legged posture, with the back bowed and the white flap lifted. Primarily a browser, the springbok feeds on shrubs and succulents; this antelope can live without drinking water for years, meeting its requirements through eating succulent vegetation.