Today’s photos come from Rosemary Alles, who lives part-time in South Africa and works for a conservation organization that partners with local people. Her narrative and captions are indented, and you can enlarge the photos by clicking on them. As I wrote about her in a previous post:
I am an American living (temporarily) in SA. These pics were taken from my small studio in rural South Africa and while within the greater Kruger region. I am originally from Sri-Lanka, a war-torn nation just to the south of India. My family and I immigrated to the west to escape a violent civil war in Lanka.You can find more about us (the work her conservation group does) here. We focus primarily on indigenous women/children at the intersection of conservation.
Francolin Chick (tiny tiny tiny)
Kiddos we work with – all from communities around Kruger.
African Bush Elephant, Loxodonta africana (male)
Black Headed Weaver bird nests (Ploceus melanocephalus; can be hundred on one tree). “Black-headed weavers are known for their intricately woven spherical nests crafted from hundreds of blades of grass, reeds, or palm fronds. Weavers are very noisy and highly social. They live in colonies, so a hundred nests may dangle from a single tree.”
Sunset:
Plains zebras (Equus quagga):
Kiddos we work with – all from communities around Kruger.
Vultures at dusk (Hooded, Necrosyrtes monachus, and White-backed, Gyps africanus):
South African giraffes (Giraffa giraffa):
Savanna Elephant (male, in stress – check the dribble, not in Musth, probably stressed because he was trying to cross a railway line and they know about trains):
- European Roller, Coracias garrulus, (Migratory, in Southern African/African regions during European Winter):
Breeding herd of female Savanna Elephants (they were being pursued by several males in Musth – big “drama”)
Southern Fiscals (Lanius collaris) in a row:
Wild Hibiscus (Hibiscus sp.):
Cape Starling (Lamprotornis nitens):
Female Greater Kudu, Tragelaphus strepsiceros, (Antelope):
Leopard (Panthera pardus) track (gorgeous animals, couldn’t take a picture of him though, he was there for a moment and then into the bush, marking territory, was really awesome to see him, good looking, adult, and healthy male) :
Giraffe track :
Beautiful photos. The scenery and animals are so evocative. Too bad about the leopard.
I have some great shots of leopards which I’ll send to Jerry. Thank you for the lovely compliment on the images.
Great set. Wish I had been there.
Thank you for the compliment. You can always come and visit!
Fabulous photos! The vulture shot is stunning. Many thanks.
Thank you very much.
Very nice—I love the lighting. The Kruger Kiddos look like a joyous bunch in both pictures!
I love working with the children. Animals and children bring perspective. And, the children love the campouts. Ironically, the wild world of Africa is a world that is (largely) “foreign” to these children. We try to disrupt that reality to make the wild world an accessible, tangible one.
Great pix and cause!
Fantastic pictures! That one of the vultures looks like a dramatic painting.
Thank you Mark. The tree was occupied by multiple species of vultures. At least 4. Was very interesting. They seemed to be waiting for something.
Amazing photos! Very exciting. Please send more!
The animal tracks are so incredible to see.
Aloha Debra. I hope you are well.
I’ll do my best to get more pics of animal tracks.
Blessings from afar.
Wonderful!
Thank you Norma.
Sorry! Thank you *Norman*
Cool pictures. Thanks!
Welcome and thank you.
The birds on the wire are mislabeled; they are Swallows (called Barn Swallow in the U.S.), not Southern Fiscals.
Thank you Doug,
You may be right. I can’t be sure. The birds had not color. Black and white. Don’t Barn Swallows have color?
Mahalo for the heads up.
Totally agree on the Swallows, Fiscals do not occur in flocks like this, nor do they have elongated tail streamers. At least some of them show some reddish colour at the throat.
The swallows photo is stunning! And all are interesting/beautiful. Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for the compliment.
Most beautiful giraffe photo I have ever seen.
It was a great moment, I didn’t have time to focus (properly) before the game vehicle started pulling away and the giraffes started to move. A shame, because they were resting. Seated on the ground.
Thank you for the compliment.
The vultures – wow – so moody and wonderful.
Thank you Janet. Yes, moody is a good word to describe the scene.
Thank you. Moody is a good word to describe the scene. I thought I had responded before, but don’t see my response. Thank you for the compliment.
Beautiful!! The Roller is a stunner. Best wishes for your important work.
Thank you very much Susan.
These were a treat. Some of the skies you captured really added to the drama. I’ve never been to Africa, but people I know who have often mention how “weird” the sky can be. And kudos for helping the locals.
Good morning, just read this and saw your beautiful photos. Love them all. What lovely children. I’m an amateur photographer living in Florida. I take wildlife photos too, but I’d absolutely love to visit and spend time shooting these magnificent animals ❤️
Liz