More Duikers

Can you stand two more "Duiker" images ?

If you look at them at all, please do so in the large format.

One more "Duiker in the Tall Grass"

Having posted two shots of this tiny gazelle in the tall grass
I thought I should show you the shot when it had enough of us
and took off in great (little?) leaping bounds.

Hidden in the Tall Grass

Two little "Duikers"
in the tall grass of the Kalahari.

Looks more like an expressionistic ( or should it be "impressionistic)
Painting than a Photograph.

Changes on the wood shed

A few changes had become necessary....
Our "wood shed" in which were stored
some furniture and antiques had developed a number
of leaks in its 50 year old roof.

...so we called the roofers.
Four of them showed up on Tuesday morning
and had finished a first class job on Wednesday evening.

...strip the old tiles ...
replace them with new...
I think the new roof looks super....

Now for something different

Enough of Africa... Lions and Elephants..

There is Wildlife in our neighbour's wood shed's rain trough.

Haven't seen any birds lately ?

above and below:
my favourite bird:
The Lilac Breasted Roller.

ain't he/she a beaut ??

The Mechanic:
and what seems to be wrong with your vehicle?
Oh, I see: the mirror is not properly aligned.
We'll fix that in a jiffy.

I'm innocent, your Honor:
I've been framed by the police.

AFRICA'S NOBILITY

with his mighty cork-screw horns he has obviously
made a big impression upon this lovely lady

The scimitar, swing back horns of this "Sable Antilope"
should impress not only his chosen bride, but also
this photographer.

The horns of the "Oryx" point streight up.
When he lowers his head, the needle sharp ends, however,
point streight at you.

Another member of "Africa's Nobility" surely is the "Ostrich".
Inspite of his bulk, this black-feathered male
develops considerable speed in any effort to evade a predator.

Mother and Child - Zebra Variety

I just love the way in which the stripes seem to
melt into each otgher.
Tell me this isn't beautiful!!!

Full Moon over Bleiburg and Roses

I thought I'd give you a rest from the Safari in Africa
and show you a "Full Moon" shot from our balcony,

and

Two Roses blooming in our Garden.

Some Great Looking Birds.....

There are, 100s of different kinds of birds in these areas. Not always easy to photograph. Sometimes they seem to just wait for the moment that you raise your camera and the split second before you trip the shutter, they are gone.... the next time they may stick around, but the sun is behind them and they become a dark outline on your exposure, the next time... oh well, there is always  good reason why you can't get: "Just the right shot"..  I'll show you some of the more or less successful attempts to photograph these elusive feathered friends...one more beautiful than the one before....
Bertstravels.

Hey, Look at these great looking Birds

Some Birds of Zimbabwe/Botswana

A few words about my recent Safari...

Somebody e-mailed me and suggested that in addition to the pictures, I should talk a little about this month in Africa. Let me first and foremost tell you, that everybody who can manage it, should, once in their lifetime, take a trip to Africa and go on a Safari.
When I say Africa, I mean East Africa and southern Africa. I only know a tiny little part of this continent:
Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe and Botswana. In Kenya I have visited: The Masai Mara, Amboseli, Tsavo, Mount Kenya and several other Wildlife Sanctuaries. In Tansania it was the Ngorongoro Crater and the Serengeti, All the way from the southernmost point right up to the North, where the Serengeti joins the Masai Mara. In Zimbabwe, we canoed the Zambesi River from the Kariba Dam all the way to just before the border to Mozambique. Zim features Hwange, just a little south of Victoria Falls, which themselves are worth a visit. These Falls are 1.5 km long and the Natives there used to call them: "The Smoke that thunders"
Hwange is a multifaceted Nature Park, containing small Lakes, rivers, grassland, bushland and trees. This Park shelters some 150 species of mammals and I don't know how many other animal types.
Zim has, of course, many other nature reserves. But Hwange, with almost 14,000 square kms is the largest.
From Zim south/westward one gets into Botswana. Right away you are in the Chobe Desert, then in the Okawango Delta. The O.D. is the world's largest Inland River Delta. It contains the "Moremi Game Reserve". Motor in, fly in, canu in, hike in (accompanied by a guide with a gun).. whichever way you explore Moremi and the rest of the Okawango Delta, it is an experience you will not soon forget.
Be sure you restock your supplies in Maun before you explore the Nxai Pan, followed by Makgadikgadi and finally the "Central Kalahari Game Reserve". About all of these I could write pages and pages...suffice to say:
These places are "different".... The Light looks different, the Air smells different, so are the plants and, of course, the animals are very different. Needless to state that the night sky is different. Lieing on your back inside your moscito-tent looking up at the Southern Cross tells you just how different.
When you observe an elephant chasing a pack of "Painted Dogs", seemingly just for fun, when you then have a chance to sit in the sand, eye to eye with these actually quite shy creatures, (the dogs, not the elephants)  taking picture after picture of these expert hunters....When you see a pod of Hippos grunting away in a good sized waterhole and then you notice a Grey Crane casually standing on the back of one of the Hippos, and a turtle having made one of the others its "spot in the sun", or, if you are lucky enough to quietly watch a superb example of a male Lion as he says to his bride: "Let's do it" and she seems to say: "Okay, come on, Big Boy"... When you see all manner of antilopes, monkeys, crocodiles and what not...
When you have seen all of this, photographed it to your heart's content, then you know: This place is different.
Bertstravels.

LIONS ROAR AT NIGHT !!!

I thought I'd show you some lions:
This one, (above and below) made herself comfortable
underneath an overhanging thorn bush.
Almost missed the cat while slowly driving by.

She blends almost perfectly into the grass shield.


PLEASE VIEW THESE PICTURES
IN THE LARGEST FORMAT
POSSIBLE

Yes, I know you have sharp teeth and could tear me apart
in three seconds. But I'm on top of a "Land Cruiser"
and you can't get me... Nanana

Botswana Ladies

Native Women of a certain age and class
will dress in this somewhat flamboyant way.
I am not certain if the plastic container on her head
belongs to the hat, or if she is just carrying it home.

Long, colourful dresses and large, wide brimmed hats
belong to a lady of class.

There were several others,
but they did not allow me to take their picture.