Lilac breasted roller

Lilac breasted roller

This is the only roller with a lilac coloured breast, blue on it's stomach and tail. They can be found one-one or in pairs in open grass and thorn fields. They become 36cm. (Gewone troupand - Coracias caudatus)

Butterfly

Another butterfly

Karoo Prinia

The Karoo Prinia can be distinguised by the dark spots on it's light yellow breast and light brown eyes. They are usually in family groups and can be found at the southern half of South Africa to the tip of Namibia. They become 14cm. (Karoolangstertjite - Prinia Maculosa)

Baby Springbok

Just born Springbok baby lying down when there is possible danger

So what will a baby Springbok do when there is danger around? Because it isn't able to run away, it will take a few steps and go lay down flat on the ground until the danger is away.

Mother checking on the baby

Once reunited, the mother will check to see if her baby is ok.

Fork-tailed Drongo

Fork-tailed Drongo

The Drongo is a black bird, noticeable by it's fork tail of which the outside feathers curl out. Robin red eyes and a strong beak. Both genders look similar. It will copy the sounds of other birds, especially owls and birds of prey. They can be found in trees, but not forests. Drongo's are quite noisy and aggressive. They become 25cm. (Mikstertbyvanger - Dicrurus adsimilis)

Giraffes in the sunset

Giraffes in the sunset

Dragonfly

Dragonfly

Hyena laughing

Spotted Hyena laughing, or whatever. 

Scratching my back

Zebra scratching his back against a tree. Judging by how skew the tree is, this wasn't the first time :-)

I am not medicine

About 2 rhinos are killed (poached) everyday due to a misbelief

Mud bath

Spotted Hyena taking a bath in the heat to cool down.

The Spotted Hyena has a big or heavy chest that is higher than it's back side. It's got a yellow/grey colour with dark brown spots over it's body but not on it's head, throat and chest. Habitats range from grasslands, savannas, woodlands, deserts, forests and mountains. Hyenas are both hunters and scavengers. They eat anything from lizards, birds, snakes and insects but also have the ability to take down an antelope. Their jaws are very strong to eat bones, teeth and hooves. They sleep in dens and live in clans of up to 100. Total length 120-180cm, Shoulder hight 85cm. The Spotted Hyena is endangered due to habitat loss, killings by farmers and entrapment.  (Gevlekte Hiëna - Crocuta Crocuta)

Spotted Hyena

White-backed Vulture

White-backed Vulture coming in for a landing

Except if one can see it's white back, they can be easily confused with the Cape Vulture as their looks are very similar. White-backed Vultures have dark eyes. In-flight it has a white cross and all feathers underneath the wings are even in colour (dark). They live in the bush and can gather in large groups at a carcass. On good days they will fly high in the sky for long. These creatures are highly mobile and can cover several 100 km's a day in search of food. Vultures are facing the threat of extinction, with the White-backed listed as vulnerable. Threats are poisoning, persecution, electrocution when colliding with power lines, drowning in farm reservoirs, shortage of safe food and loss of habitat. They make their nests in trees. Becomes 90-98cm (Witrugaasvoël - Gyps africanus)

White cross can be seen in flight

At a carcass

Butterfly

Colourful photo of a butterfly getting nectar from a flower

Violet-backed Starling

Violet-backed Starling

The male Violet-backed Starling has got a white chest, violet back and head, yellow eyes and black feathers around the ears. The female has a short beak and doesn't have the black feathers around the ears. Size - 18-19cm. It lives in trees and eats fruit. (Witborsspreeu - Cinnyricinclus leucogaster)

Rhino Awareness

This short film aims to show how serious the current state of rhino poaching is, while at the same time giving you hope that we can win the battle and save the rhino from extinction - via Helping Rhinos

Black Rhino

Critically endangered Black Rhino

There's only about 2000 Black Rhino left on Earth, possibly much less.
Location: unknown (for the poachers)

Dead Vlei

Dead Vlei - Sossusvlei

Dead Vlei is close to Sossusvlei in the Namib Naukluft Park. Dead Vlei was formed when the nearby Tsauchab River flooded. Several shallow pools formed that eventually receded when the climate changed. The water was there for long enough for several Camelthorn trees to grow. These trees are all dead now, but the dry desert climate prevents them from decomposing. 

The towering red dunes are believed to be the world’s tallest, some of them exceeding 300 meters.

Zebra's and baby

Burchel Zebra's and baby

Burchel Zebra's become 1.3m tall, with a tail length of 45cm and weight between 290-340kg. It looks like a horse, but with black, white and shaded stripes that go all the way from it's back to it's chest. These patterns vary widely (almost like a fingerprint). They can be found in grass fields just about anywhere in Southern-, Central- and East Africa. (Vlaktesebra - Equus burchelli / Equus quagga)

Abdim's Stork

Abdim's Stork holding it's wings in the sun

Abdim stork is a summer visitor to Southern Africa, but doesn't nest there. In-flight it can be distinguished by a white cross on the chest to under the wings. Yellow-brown beak, blue mask, pink feet, toes and wrists. 
They can be found in large swarms of up to several hundred. It will fly quite high, looking for outbursts of insects plagues. (Kleinswartooievaar - Ciconia abdimii)

Crossing necks in the road

Two Giraffes crossing their necks in the road

Save Manyeleti anti rhino poaching video

If you have anything to donate, then please help Manyeleti game reserve.

Shaft-tailed Whydah / Queen Whydah

Two Shaft-tailed Whydah's sitting in a thorn tree, looking at each other

The Shaft-tailed Whydah is endemic to Southern Africa. Notice the yellow-cream coloured chest, long tail and red beak. They can be found in really dry areas like where there's some thorn trees or sandy field with sparse vegetation. Parasite to the Violet-eared Waxbill. In areas where there is food, males will chase away other small birds. (Pylstertrooibekkie - Vidua regis)

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill sitting in a tree

Blue Head Lizzard

Blue Head Lizzard climbing down a tree

Lion cubs playing

Lion cubs playing with a stick under a tree

Black Rhino taking a bath

Critically endangered black rhino taking a bath

White Lion

A young male white lion waiting in the grass

Namibian dunes

The red dunes of the Namibian desert - Sossusvlei