I have not posted a blog for ages and all I can say is that Writers block took hold of me, I had many attempts at posting something without any results, but take note I am back. Many of the photographs in this blog is some of my older work and the comments that I made under each photo comes strait from the hart
You may have noticed that I am a nature lover and that I always try to let my tourist friends experience Nature as pure as possible, it is therefore that when humans treat animals, birds, reptiles and insects with disdain, I find it very difficult to forgive and forget. The photograph above show two Rhino's relaxing in a pool of mud, this is how it should be and not dying in a pool of blood, after their horn has been hacked off by a poacher. Just a note these two plus a real special female were killed in Hluhluwe/Umfolozi National Park during 2012, by their minders (Park Rangers).
My love for birds was born when I was young, this 1.4 meter Goliath Heron is such a beautiful bird that words are not capable to fully describe its grace and poise.
People are also part of nature and for those who live close to and understands Nature I have a great admiring, the hut above could have been Zulu Shangane, but it is in fact a Traditional Swazi Hut. During our tour we often visit these traditional huts. The Swazi is a friendly nation and we are always greeted with a smile. They have interesting cultural, traditions, habits and beliefs. when I have a group that has to travel through Swaziland, I always try to let my guests experience Their song and dance culture.
Here are some of my Dutch tourists taking part ........yes a great experience for them
When Nature and Humans are in conflict with another we put up warning signs, I wonder is this sin there to protect the Motorist or perhaps the hippo's crossing the road at night.
They say that beauty is in the eye of the beholder, yet I dare anybody t disagree that theirs little steenbok is not one of God's finest creations.
The Sadlebilled Crane remains one of the worlds most Graceful birds.
The moment that we all want to experience, Lions have made a Kill close enough for us to view the whole process, unfortunately our game viewing experience was soon spoiled by inconsiderate, local Tourists, crowding and just making a nuisance of themselves. at least we were lucky to see it happen.
Hyena sightings are common in Kruger Park, people stopping to watch the dynamics of the pack are less common, I do try to spend some quality time when we spot them.
International Tourists have a checklist for the big 5 and are quite satisfied if the ranger can show them the five, this is a pity, because we have a huge diversity of wildlife in our country, imagine that you can tick off one of the vary rare Roan Antelope (i have only once seen them more than 7 years ago) or the beautiful Sable (two sightings in 40 visits to the Park) in Kruger, and then I am not even mentioning the small and special Cats like the African Wild Cat or what about a Pangolin
Aardvark and Porcupine. When you include the ugly 5 Small 5 and the Beautiful 5, wow you need to visit the park many more times
Baby Elephants are cute but they can cause severe damage to a human, this little guy found the game viewing car to close for comfort, gave us a mock charge and with his second charge bumped a huge dent into the jeep. his mother came to see what the commotion was about, we departed immediately, preventing an incident with a fully grown elephant protecting her young.
Lion cubs are cute and they are cuddly and very playful, please whenever you see them alone, remember momma and the rest of the pride are close by, I once saw a Tourist getting out of her car to take a closer photograph, her actions could have cost her, her life, and yet when i spoke to her on the dangers of Wildlife she turned aggressive. I left it there perhaps she would think twice before venturing out of her car.
Animal tracks tell their own story and here we have two very fresh tracks in the sand, a practised Field guide helps to identify and determine when the tracks were made. so many Tourists come to Africa to tour around our parks, they fail to See these opportunity's, and drive right by the animals, and sometimes as I explained in one of my previous blogs they fail to see warning signs, and put themselves in danger.
by the way these are tracks of the Blue Wildebeest on the left, and Hippo on the right.
Most Lions would sleep around 18 hours a day, but after they had a kill and had their meal they could sleep for up to 22 hours, however they are still alert and will hunt and kill should the opportunity arise. This male was sound asleep and we sat about ten minutes just waiting for some movement, it happened at the blink of an eye, when a branch of an old tree broke and fell to the ground. this Lion sat up sussed the situation and was sound asleep before most of the Touring party switched on their cameras.
South Africa has so much to offer, here I explain the history of Houtbay's East and West fort, small fortifications by international standards, but in the late 1700's History of Cape Town these were very important protective facilities for both Houtbay Harbour and Cape Town and the Spice Route around the tip of Africa.
The Tsitsikamma National Park offers the Tourist some of the most spectacular vistas on the rugged coastline, of the Southern Cape, this photograph of the suspended bridge over the Storms River mouth, was taken before the fire destroyed the route, and before the changed route now offering a walk across three suspension bridges.
During our mountain pass tours we often stop to discuss the History, Construction and the surrounding Nature, here close friend Kobus Lategan discusses the reasoning for the construction of the Swartberg Pass, sometimes an expert on a subject ads great value to our Tours.
The Cape Floral Kingdom is internationally known to be the smallest but the most diverse of them all, here a tourist stops to admire one of our many Proteas, wile on a short walk on the Spectacular Swartberg Pass in the Western Cape.
The Howick waterfall is 365 foot high and is also one of my personal favourites when touring through Kwa Zulu-Natal Province
The Drakensberg Mountain Range, reflected in the Tugela River. postcard stuff around each bend.
The Drakensberg Mountain Range on horseback on a clear day is a sight to behold. It is also possible to view San Rock Art in these mountains, these artists wrote South Africa's pre-history without knowing how to read and write.
These Beautiful Rhinos were spotted in the Hluhluwe/Imfolozi National Park in 2004, I cant help wondering if they are still alive, poaching has decimated our population, and it seems that the end of all this senseless killings are will be when these animals have become extinct
We encountered this huge Elephant near Orpen Gate in the Kruger National Park, we stopped to view him while he was browsing, when he suddenly became aware of our viewing vehicle, and come real close to inspect. Now that was a tense moment.
The Nile Crocodile would spend half its day basking in the sun, many people make the mistake thinking that they are sleeping, make no mistake they are fully alert, and would slide into the water if there is any chance of pray nearby.
The African Fish Eagle has a very unique call, it is also the one sound apart from a Lion roaring, that the International Tourist associates with Africa, I am always on the lookout for them for that very reason.
This Baobab Tree is about 1700 old and is to be found in Mojadji's kloof near Tzaneen in the Limpopo Province, it is only when you stand next to it that you understand why some local folk describe it as the elephant among the trees. To judge the size look out for the lady in grey in the foreground.
Having a beer inside a tree is not something one does every day, yes this bar can take 14 persons in its hollowed out trunk, it was even used as a place to lock up prisoners of war, during the Great South African War
On this picture you can clearly see the entrance to the Pub .
Pictures of wildlife I ave many, but some moments or encounters will remain with one forever, this lone Buffalo Bull was very close when he appeared from the Mopani trees, the stare he gave us made me feel that he was ready to take us on. Note the small twig stuck in his horns.
Being away from home is a given when you are a tourist Guide , however when you are away from your Family and love ones, and at that perhaps as far as 2000 km from Capetown on old years eve, you need to not let it get under your skin, here I appear very relaxed around the pool of our lodge, but my thoughts are at home far away from where I am sitting.
This small group of German Speaking communicated well enough for me to take them on a Wine Tasting tour on New years Day, we packed a pic-nick Basket and had an impromptu Pic- nick on the Lawn of Neethlings Hof Wine Estate after they closed at around lunchtime.
We found Eagle encounter still open and I managed to fulfil at least one of my lady Tourist's dream allowing her to hold and stroke an Eagle, certainly a wow moment for her.
Things change that is for sure, here a small group enjoys wine tasting at Sydelberg Wine Estate, and today it goes by the new name of Spice Route wine Estate.
Even today a visit to Ronny's Sex Shop, is an experience and when "old Ronny" himself tells the story how it came into being, we have the Tourists captivated. It certainly does not hurt to send a picture home, to see what the folks at home think of your tour to South Africa's Route 62 was like.
Pictured is the well known rail bridge over the Kaaimans river near the small quaint town Wilderness on our Garden Route. the train on the bridge was the extremely popular Outeniqua Tjoe Tjoe Historical train that ran between Knysna and George. Huge structural damage due to major storms saw the Rail Operator close this attraction.
The white VW Micro bus was my first Touring Car , it offered a comfortable touring experience, unfortunately destroyed by an electrical fire.
Be on the lookout I am back so I will be writing to you soon.
