Fish Eagle and Lilly Trotter

A Fish Eagle resting in the dead branches of a lead tree.
Anybody who does not look at this image in the
largest possible format will loose his/her "viewing license"

 

an 'African Jakana' or Lilly Trotter
becomes a 'Hippo Trotter'
in a pond completely overgrown with
a green water plant.

The Hippo finally gets fed up with this nonsense
and leaves the pool, carrying some of the water plant on
her back.

Again I urge you to use large format when viewing
these pictures.

Cape Buffalo in Gonarezhou

This Cape Buffalo just emerged from the
Beauty Parlour where he had an expensive
mud bath.

Cape Buffalo are said to be among the most dangerous
animals. A high speed attack of this bulky pile of muscle
with the enormous pair of horns could become
most unpleaant.

I must admit, though, that they just glared at us,
turned around and slowly moved off
into the thicket.

...one herd numbered around 300 to 400
of these black beauties(?)

 

More of the Safari 2013

a thirsty Lion

and his mate

with those tusks a Warthog is not totally harmless.

Four Yellow Billed Storks out fishing.

May I suggest

that you view these images in the largest possible format.

The bigger the picture, the better the viewing.

From the Safari in Zimbabwe, 2013

Most of the day the Hippos spend in the cooling
water. This pond was overgrown with a green
water plant which totally hid the Hippos
when they submerged.
Now and then they would come up for air
and you'd have to be quick on the shutter.

When they decided to leave the pond
for whatever reason
they would carry the water plant on their backs
like a decoration.

Because of their unpredictable behaviour,
jumping in the air, running and cutting
right angle turns, Wildebeest are also called
the clowns of the veldt.

I cannot ever see too many Zebras.
And every time I see another one,
it has to be photographed, even though
I already have 100 pictures of these lovely animals.

The Purple Breasted Roller
caught himself a morsel.

Elephants playing in the water hole

Don't anybody ever tell me that elephants
do not have a sense of humor and play.

They push each other around, spray themselves
and each other,

 

try to dunk one another under water, and
come up spitting water and starting the
game all over again.

Elephants in The Gonarezhou Game Preserve
southern Zimbabwe, certainly know
how to have fun.

Return from Africa

I've come back from an almost one month trip to Zimbabwe...
It was, as was every other Safari to this Continent, an unadulterated adventure.
I took many many photographs... 5420 to be exact, ... which I will now have to sort out and bring into a semblance of order, so I can produce a show: "Safari Zimbabwe 2013"
However, long before that I will post here some of the best images I was able to capture.

You think that animals have no sense of humor? You think they do not play?
You should have seen this family of Elephants in a water hole pushing each other over and coming up huffing and puffing and seeking playful revenge by pushing the other one under water, who then came back up, shook himself like a dog and if you were quite still and attentive, I think you could have heard them laughing for joy.

I can hear your comment: "Bert is anthropomorphising animals again and does his usual wishful thinking."
well I can forgive you this remark. You were not there and did not see what I saw.

Please be patient.. I will soon start posting some pictures from this wonderful, exciting, Safari Zimbabwe, 2013.

Bertstravels can hardly wait himself to see them on this site.