The Buffalo

As with most of our adventures,we tend to always bump into these big boulders of Buffalo,who look really funny but so dangerous!Every time we spot Buffalo,its great.They always seem to entertain us with their normal day to day lifestyle!

At the Kruger National Park was just one of these occasions.

While camping at Berg En Daal,we decided to take a stroll to the shop & explore where we were staying instead of just driving all day.

We get to the shop & walk about,see this dam where a hippo was chilling.So we sit down,take in the scenery & watch a Malachite Kingfisher flying back & forth over the water to a concrete ledge.

Just next to this ledge were loads of terrapins resting on the sandbank while a small croc rests with them.

We notice a walkway that ends up taking you around the campsite,which we follow,taking photo's along the way.As we reach the end of the dam,we see Cattle Egrets flying in like Aeroplanes,one after another.eventually Buffalo slowly start pulling in,1,2,3...13!They come to drink some water,flick some mud around & roll in it to which was hilarious.This was quite a treat for us.

On another occasion,on our way to Nkuhle picnic site,a young bull Elephant stormed out of nowhere & chased away the Buffalo's who were leisurely crossing the road.While waiting in anticipation for a Leopard to return back to its kill hidden in a tree(which was very well camouflaged,hidden in the the bushes near another Buffalo),a Buffalo popped out onto the dirt road near us & surprisingly we were able to get up,close & very not personal ha ha....

World Rhino Day - 22 September 2011

World Rhino Day is on the 22nd September 2011.How will you show your support for these precious Animals?One way is to MAKE A NOISE.

This global campaign initiated by WWF,is calling EVERYONE,ALL CONCERNED CITIZENS of the world,to make as much noise as one can!no matter what you use,use it.Get your 2010 soccer world cup vuvuzela or even roll up a newspaper,whip out a loud speaker & make your noise.Shout out loud at 13h00 Central African Time (CAT) on the 22nd september 2011 & hopefully this will help towards some positive action!These "BIG SHOT LEADERS " need to wake up & realize that these situation is hectically serious!It's time to take some serious action against these ruthless rhino poachers.

ARE YOU READY TO ACCEPT THE BIG 4?

Historically,rhinos were in their thousands all across Africa.Today,southern Africa is home to the majority of Africa's surviving rhinos.

Approximately 4,000 black rhinos & 22,00 white rhinos are all that are left to prevent this species from sliding over the brink,into extinction!

According to WWF statistics,since 2005,there has been over more than 600 rhinos gunned down.

In South Africa,there have been 333 rhinos killed in 2010 & these killings are on the rise this year,sitting at a staggering figure of 279.

Rhino bag from Woolworths

Rhino Force Bracelet bought
from the Kruger National Park

These items above I recently bought in support of the rhino fund & YOU to can buy these items & help make a difference.Some of the proceeds from these items goes to WWF 's work & the Rhino Force Trust which is used towards fighting rhino poaching & also helps creating employment.

So again i ask you this question...


How will you show your support for these poor animals?


Personally this kills me to know there are people out there who are killing these rhinos to the near brink of extinction & it seems like they don't care!Greed is the root of all evil & these ruthless poachers should be REALLY punished harshly for their crimes!!!!!In the animal world,the death penalty is either death from another animal for survival or from illness.Now these poachers have given them another death penalty of which they cannot defend themselves!Death Penalty Should be applied to these Ruthless Poachers if they are caught in the act,as I can imagine that the justice system could take very long & they end up getting a slap on the wrists,or a huge fine in which they can afford as their funds is from poaching!

I can't imagine my children not being able to see a rhino one day!I don't want to be having to show my children photographs of rhinos,which they will never understand what it feels like to even see this magnificent animal in person,close up in front of their eyes!All they will have is pictures & information.I remember my first encounter with a White Rhino & it was scary but at the same time AWESOME.Wild animals are very unpredictable so that gave me such a scary feeling with such adrenalin pumping through my veins,getting closer slowly as to not scare but to only observe beauty.I LOVED IT & I want my children to experience this for themselves in their own way.

What happened to the DODO Bird?
Look it up....
All you will ever see of this bird is a stuffed one as I did in a London museum!
Are we gonna end up looking at stuffed rhinos in museums?

HELL NO WE ARE NOT!!!


Here are a few photographs of these beautiful rhinos that I have.

Our Lion Encounter at the Kruger National Park

While at our campsite at Berg En Dal in the Kruger National Park,we went down to wash our dishes when we bumped into a young Afrikaans guy while he was cleaning his potjie pot.While discussing what we had seen so far & if he heard the Lions roaring in the early hours of the morning?He said he had been woken up to it as well & he asked if we have seen the Lions who had taken down a Buffalo yet?We replied "NO" & he told us what had happened & where it was!We were a lil bummed because we had travelled that route the previous day & on this day we decided to take the high road & not the low road where this kill had happened.

We decided that we would hit club duvet early so we could hit the road early enough to avoid all the "RUSH HOUR" traffic.Hearing Vehicles starting up their engines woke us up,so we got up & armed with our flask of hot coffee & a box of rusks,off we went to scope out the scene.The traffic had already begun & we were smiling BIGTIME when we watched other vehicles turning into the other dirt roads.

Arriving at our turn off,slowly moving along,we noticed vultures coming in for landing & the traffic backing up & we knew we were in for a wait,but patience pays in the end hey.As we slowly got going,the Honorary Ranger Pulls up & clears the way as drivers tend to their own thing on the road when they spot something exciting!!!

We arrive & what a scene it is!A male Lion walks between the cars & vanishes,leaving 3 others.As we slowly move,you see the dead Buffalo almost completely eaten!All the insides are gone & only a lil bit of  flesh left.We find a lil spot just out of the way so traffic could flow,whip out our flask,pour some coffee & get our camera ready.A Lion gets up,gives us a pose or 2 & moves towards the Carcass & starts licking,pulling & biting.Eventually the other Lion gets up & approaches the other lion eating & he acknowledges him before climbing into the chow.We didn't see the third Lion eat as he was on a chill pill & having a snooze with his paw arbing about in the air.

After a good chat with the Honorary Ranger (who was very knowledgeable & a lekker old ballie),reminiscing about our past adventures at other reserves we had visited,we decided to hit the road & give others a chance to see this magnificent feast the lions had & plus we had no coffee left.


Sorry about one or two of the photo's,I been having some problem uploading them to my blog.