For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Wednesday, October 27, 2010

Vacation Time - Day 4 Part 6

The first thing I see when I get out of camp is this mating pair of lions, but it is hot and they are lazing away the day in the shade of a tree. They will spend 3-4 days together away from their pride mating about every 20 minutes.
A little way down the road is a lovely dam which I always stop at. The water in it is fairly low right now but there is enough left for this pod of hippo’s to enjoy it. If the water dries up further, they will walk up to 10 miles at night in search of another pond or dam.
To one side, I watched the zebra come down to have a drink. I liked the reflection they made in the fairly quiet water. No wo zebra have the same stipe pattern.
Poor Egyptian Geese, not much water there to swim in is there?
Nor for this crocodile!! He is still small, only about 5 feet in length so he does not need much and can still cool down in the shallows.
I am heading for Olifants (Elephants) Camp as it has a wonderful lookout point high above the river and I can find an ice cream to cool me down a bit. As you can see, even here there is not much water flowing.
WHAT A DISASTER!! I am SO disappointed I can cry!!! Some IDIOT, let me repeat, some NINCOMPOOP IDIOT has built a wooden railing all around just at the height which interferes with your view while sitting along the benches. WHY??? People used to spend hours there getting something to eat and drink while game viewing.
There is a steep drop down to the river there and a low wall so no one will climb over. What possessed them to do this?? I will never, NEVER understand the mentality of some people!! Gaelyn will remember how wonderful it was to sit there and look at what animals came down to drink. This USED to be one of my favorite stops in the park, guess it is another I have to scratch off my list!! WHAT AN IDIOT THAT CAMP MANAGER IS!! Someone please tell him what I think of him!! GRRRRRR!!!!!
STANDING UP, I could see a couple of hippo coming to wallow in the water.
Needless to say, I did not stay long. WILL SOMEONE PLEASE GO AND TELL THE MANAGER HE IS A MORON!! I am so mad!! (as if you have not gathered that by now!!)

A little way down the road on the way to another camp, I came across this elephant having a mud bath. Oh what a glorious time he was having!!
He would slurp the muddy water and mud into his trunk and shower himself with it and move his foot back and forth stirring it up some more. :)
Then he would stomp in it and get it to splash all over the show. What fun!! LOL!! Now I have to ask, women have mud packs put on at the beauty parlor, now isn’t it obvious from his wrinkled skin it does not work, so why do we still try it? :)
He must have spent 20 minutes splashing about before he got out and was covered from head to foot in that mess. Okay, I will admit that one of the reasons for them having a mud bath is so that it dries on the skin and the stinging flies cannot bit him (as if he can feel it through that thick skin) then the rubs himself against a tree trunk and the ticks encased in the hard mud fall off. So is THAT why women do it? To get rid of the ticks? Hmmmm!! Now there’s a thought!! LOL!!
I have been asked to do a series of articles on our bugs for a magazine and was sent the proof to read. If you are interested in seeing it, please click here.

24 comments:

Diane said...

I get the feeling you are really mad about that railing!! It seems very stupid to me to block a viewing spot, but if you lived in the UK, you would know all about health and safety!! It has gone from the sublime to the ridiculous and this sounds similar.

I love the pictures, especially the reflection of the zebras, but oh it does look very dry, you seriously need some rain ‘me thinks’. Diane

Firefly the Travel Guy said...

Now that is what I call a magnificent day of game viewing. Stunning sightings and photos. As for the rail, I agree. What an Idiot!

MadSnapper said...

these are all wonderful shots of these amazing animals. i would love to see them. in the zebra shot it looks like one of them is very young, that is my favorite for today but they are all lovely. i think i know you were upset, ha ha. do you think it is a saftey rail?

Craig Glenn said...

Hey I saw a lion a few weekends ago here in Florida too! He will be on the blog soon...

Craig

Unknown said...

What a wonderful post, Joan! Love every shot. Great african shades!

Gaelyn said...

Wow, first out the mating lions. I am So reminded of our days out searching for wildlife, with a bit more water. In fact I just posted our second day and the Olifants looks so different. Especially without the rail (some Idiot's idea for safety). Guess if I was worried about wrinkles, ticks or stinging flies I' try the mudbath, followed by a thick coating of dust.

Andrea said...

Great Pictures!
I love the elephants ones.
(Idiots are everywhere and their mother is always pregnant...)

Ida said...

GREAT post and pics!!

If I ever met Mr. Idiot, I'll give him your message...
~ LOL! ~

Mary said...

What super vacation photos, Joan--in all your recent posts! I am grateful you shared them with all of us. The zebras and their reflection is my favorite--also love those interesting tree roots.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I am Diane. That low wall of the lookout point has been there for about 50 years and no one has ever climbed or fallen over, so why spoil the whole thing now? Some people are idiots to put it mildly!!

You are so right about the rain which is very late this year. It should have started in September already and we have had none yet.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Jonker. It was a good day but then every day in Kruger is a good one. :) Unfortunately I could not write what I really wanted too about the idiot who ordered the rail put up.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Sandra. Yes, that is a fairly young zebra as can be seen with his still brown stripes instead of black.

No, as I just remarked to Diane, that low wall has been there for at least 50 years now and no one has ever hurt themselves by falling over so I dont know what the big idea with it is.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

I think it was walking the streets looking for you Craig. I am pleased you got a picture of it. :)

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Jose. As always, it was a good day of sightseeing.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

This is the dam near Satara I took you to Gaelyn. We have still not had any rains so the dams and rivers are very low.

I do not know what the IDIOT'S idea was!! I just know it has ruined the place.

LOL!! The mud bath did not work for the ele so I have an idea it might not work for you either but you can always try. :) Send me a picture will you. LOL!!

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Andrea. You are right about the idiots mother too. :) Typical Africa mentality.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

PLEASE do Ida. LOL!! Hopefully someone will tell him about this post and he can see this for himself!!

Gaan dit goed met julle? Ons kry ons eerste bietjie reen nou en ek is so bly want alles is baie droog.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Mary. It was so great to be back in the bush again. I would think those would appeal to your artistic eye. :)

Becky said...

Ranks right up there with Animal Planet Joan. Teriffic trip. I love that elephant. What joy it must be for them covered in mud.
Oh I hope somebody lets that manager know of your feelings. On our train watching trip there is an old, old model A car bridge crossing over 3 sets of really busy train tracks, and someone has put up a thick steel rail across the bridge on both sides right at eye level. This bridge is a fav stop to get fabulous pictures of trains.( No longer used by cars of course) Now, I am 5ft.3 and can you guess what this does to my picture taking?
B.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Becky. That elephant was enjoying himself so mush and I love watching them when they are active like this.

I am short too so this rail does the same thing. I always looked forward to visiting this spot but not anymore. I could not believe this rail when I saw it.

Rambling Woods said...

Oh dear...why did they do that...but I really enjoyed the photos although sex every 20 minutes for 3 or 4 days sounds exhausting...lol...

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

LOL!! I do not think I want to be a lioness either Michelle. :)

Mary said...

I think that railing really upset you, am I right? Calm down, Joan! I'm sure they thought they were doing everyone a favor by saving the life of some idiot that would have fallen off. Got to worry about those law suits! That is usually the answer for more idiotic things of this sort. Love the elephant photos.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

It has definitely spoilt a wonderful place to sit and watch the animals Mary. In the 50 years of its existance, no one has ever fallen over the low wall the rail was built on, so why do it now? I do not understand some people's way of thinking.