Friday, May 09, 2008

Animals of South Africa







Zebras, impressive indeed!







These lions seemed happy to pose for pictures--at a distance. No close-ups allowed!












While I admit that I'm neither an animal expert nor a true animal enthusiast (except for cats, the domestic variety), I was thrilled to see the many animals of South Africa in their natural habitat, as preserved in Kruger National Park.

So why was this better than seeing the animals in a zoo? It just seemed more natural and appropriate that the animals were in charge. They had the right of way everywhere, and we human beings could look, photograph, but not get too close. After all, it's their world.

My photos are not the best, but they show things as they were. The photo above shows fruit bats relaxing on the ceiling of a picnic shelter. We were told that they only stir at night, and that was a comforting thought.


Next, an elephant emerges from the bush. I saw many elephants, and more pictures will follow.


The baboon is an ugly-looking animal, but playful, I guess. We even saw a pair copulating beside the road. Not a pretty sight, but it's their home, after all.


The giraffes are more impressive than this photo indicates, expecially when they eat leaves from the tops of tall trees. They are graceful animals that seem to glide along through the bush.


A typical roadside scene in Kruger Park is a large herd of impala, with zebras and other animals nearby.


These photos were taken with a simple instant digital camera from either an open vehicle or a tour bus. The Internet contains many better pictures, but I hope mine give you a flavor of the realities of animal viewing in South Africa. I'll have much more to say about the trip later--and I'll post a few of my better pictures once I get them all sorted out.

4 comments:

Barb said...

You're right! It is never too late! I love that you made this trip, albeit physically taxing.

My sister just graduated from college; she's 51! She put her husband through college, then her two sons. As they started their Masters program, she started her GenEds. She finally decided it was her turn. She starts her first job Monday as an RN!

It's never too late!

Anonymous said...

These photos are just beautiful. And like the sister in the commenter above, I loved doing my master's in media studies, finishing at 50!

I'm sure you had a wonderful time and will tell more.

seniorwriter said...

Yes, I expect to tell more about my trip, and to give a realistic look at the problems of travel for elders.

My own mother finished college in her late fifties, so I really do believe it's never too late for most things!

*~Nightshadow~* said...

What a fabulous trip and opportunity. I am enjoying your wonderful photos and description of a once in a lifetime venture. I will be very interested in seeing and hearing more about it.