Africa revisited -

We are slowly walking along this Elephant path
when suddenly this chap steps out from the brush.
He shows us his displeasure at our intrusion
with a couple of trumpet blasts, a raised trunk,
pointing his tusks at us and flapping his ears.
Ant speaks to him with a quiet voice, saying:
"yeah, you're a good boy, sure you are, good boy"
It may be a coincidence, or Ant's soothing tones
might influence him.
The Elephant slowly turns around and walks back
from where he came.

White Backed Vultures love to sit on a high perch,
surveying the countryside for miles around them.
They can smell carrion from long distances.
This reminds me of the vulture
who took a flight with Air Canada.
Under his wings he caried three dead rabbits.
At the gate the flight attendant tells him:
"Sorry, Sir, only two carrions
per passenger.

One of my favourite "Vulture Shots"

Those very very shy Warthogs.
Most of the time, they see you
and they're gone in a flash.

After a good meal, if you don't have a serviette
or a handkerchief, you gotta lick your chops.

Some favourites - to be viewed LARGE !!!

This adult male Impala slowly walked away
and looked at us over his shoulder
as if to say:
"The clicking of your camera bothers me,
so go away and leave me alone."

A flock of "White faced Ducks"
gathers amid the blooms of the water plant
which covers the whole of "Green Pool"
in Mana Pools.

The "African Jacana" also called "Lilly Trotter"
edquipped with wide spread, long toes,
quickly moves from Lilly Pad to Lilly Pad.

He and a submerged Hippo seem to get
along quite well.

That's the way it was

This "Toyota Land Cruiser" got us everywhere.
Up steep inclines and precariously down again.
Only Ant's supreme driving skills allowed us
to enjoy all of it in quiet confidence.

They are called "Mosy Tents"
of course, short for mosquito tent.
You could lie on your back and look at the starlit sky
and marvel at the "Southern Cross".
Of course, a Lion or a Hyena could also see you.
None paid us a visit... those unfriendly creatures.

A "Baobab Tree" in the sunset.
The Natives call it the "Upside down Tree".
There are many fables but also interesting facts
about this tree. If you push me, I'll tell them to you.
Someday !!!

The scarf around my neck is not for decoration.
Made wet and wrapped around your neck
it efficiently cools the blood running up the cartoids, making
your whole body feel cool.

Just a "water flower"
looking much more beautiful in nature than
on this picture.
What else do you want to know from
Bertstravels ???

The Cheetah and the Impala

These Cheetahs are not easy to spot.
You'd think that their black dotted fur would be easy to see.
well, you'd be wrong.
It is incredible how they blend in with their surroundings.
We saw this cat take down an adult Impala.
One short, incredibly fast burst of speed and the Impala went down.
This action happened so fast,
that I only got one shot with my long lens away...
too late.
Then the Cheetah dragged the Imp into the shadow of a bush.
For a long while she just sat there, looking in every direction.
It was clear that she'd seen us, but obviously did not
consider us a danger.
Most of her attention was directed away from us.
After a while, I could not believe our luck,
the cat dragged the gazelle from under the bush
and into the sun light.
Then she began to eat.
Nervously, at first, then a little more certain.
My trigger finger found little rest.

 

 

The Cheetah is licking her chops
in anticipation of a good meal.

Now, go back to the top
and view these images in the large format.
How often do I have to tell you that???

Last Day of the "Wagner" journey

I'm sitting in the lobby of a very nice hotel in the City of Leipzig, Germany.
Although the computer told me that I had entered the wrong security word, the connection to my e-mail and my Blog was established without any problem whatever.
Day before yesterday we were in Dresden and heard a wonderful concert in the "Frauenkirche".
The story of this church and the whole downtown Dresden is worth hearing about. I read abgout it a long time ago and one really must try to sort the wheat from the chuff.
Maybe I will take the time and write about Dresden and the very last days of World War 2 some other day.

Yesterday we witnessed a very mediocre performance of "Die Meistersinger of Nürenberg".
It amounted to about 4.5 hours of Wagner's great music performed and sung in a rather lackluster manner.
If today's performance of "Parcifal" is presented equally amateurishly, I will be glad to get back to Bleiburg as soon as possible, so that I may continue work on my show "Safari Zimbabwe 2013".

I am not alone in my very critical opinion of this, yesterday's performance. some true Wagner aficionados  shared my dismay and expressed their disappointment even more vociferously.
In both cities, Dresden and Leipzig, we took guided tours. These were most interesting and thereby it will not all be for nought.

I've been thinking about my show about my recent Safari and came up with a few good ideas, how to make it even better.
Guess who can hardly wait to get back to my computer to work some more on this show.

Bertstravels... that's who...

Richard Wagner

There will be no entry on this Blog for a little over a week.

Christin and I are joining a tour which follows the "foot prints" of the great German composer, Richard Wagner. ( He of "The Flying Dutchman", The "Nibelungen Cycle" , "Parcifal", "The Twilight of the Gods" and many more Operas, which, on average, last about 4 to 5 hours.
This voyage will take us to Dresden, Leipzig and several other places. I'll check in again when we return. I have many more fascinating pictures to show you.
Greetings from a wagnerian
Bertstravels.

Kanibal Bugs

There are not only Lions and Elephants and Giraffes in Africa. There are also "ugly bugs"...

Over there, said Ant, pointing to two trees standing close together. There is the embankment of the Save river, a nice place for lunch. Jumping out of our Toyota Cruiser, (well, maybe I didn't "jump", because at 81 you get out of a high riding vehicle with caution and deliberation ) we explored the immediate area for an even space to set up our 'lunch table'.

No, Ant said, this is probably not the right place. He pointed to the ground and there were hundreds of these beetles. Accidentally I stepped on one or two of them. What do you know,  injured he became the immediate victim of his brethren. 
The closest beetle to the injured one, lost no time in starting to devour his still living mate. 

I don't know why these beetles fill me with revulsion, almost bordering on fear. I look at them and see only an eating machine. Completely mindless, possessing a brain with only one aim: ...eat...eat...eat...

I know that Lions also experience no empathy with their victim. A Cheetah will kill an Impala without a second thought. This I can understand and accept. But when a beetle starts gnawing on his brother who is half dead, I somehow and for some reason draw the line.

We found another place for a quick lunch and then proceeded to look for the shallow to cross the river.

A few days later we witnessed a Cheetah slay an Impala. I remember this with a profound emotion, but not with revulsion or fear. Ant told me the name of these beetles. I don't remember it. Maybe I just don't want to remember it.

That's all about those bugs from
Bertstravels