Elephant touching

Elephants not only use their trunks for eating, smelling and drinking, but also touching each other, especially when young.

This re-enforces the bond between the animals of the herd

This baby is only about 18 months old.

Rock Hyrax (Dassie)

 Family Hyracoidae Procaviidae

The Rock Hyrax reaches a length of 50 cm (20 in) and weighs around 4 kg (8.8 lb),  

They eat a varied species of plants and grass and are able to go for many days without water due to the moisture they obtain through their food.

Hyraxes live in colonies of up to 30 individuals. These colonies are subdivided into smaller groups consisting of a few families. These consist of 3 to 15 related adult females, a dominant male, and several young. The dominant male defends and watches over the group. The male also marks its territory

They give birth to two or three young after a gestation period of 6–7 months. The young are well developed at birth with fully opened eyes. Babies can ingest solid food after two weeks and are weaned at ten weeks.

They live on and amongst rocks and can be found in most habitats. They come out early in the mornings to absorb the first rays of the sun

Scorpion - Uroplectes triangulifer

Family Buthidae  - Uroplectes triangulifer

This species lives under rocks and is about 5cm in length.

Stick Insect

Family Phasmatodea - Bacillidae 

 Can anyone give me an idea of what is going on here? Stick Insects normally have 6 legs but this one has 4 and it looks like this baby one is eating its own leg????

Caterpillar pupa moth - Geometridae

Probably Geometridae - Emerald Moth species

Mushrooms

A selection of mushrooms found on my recent travels. 

 Please do not pick and eat wild mushrooms. They can make you very sick!!

Lion cub

"How boring to be a two year old male lion cub!"

 Yawn .......

 "I think I will go and lay in the elephant dung for a change of pace!"

Mountain Sandman (Spialia spio)

Family Hesperiidae - Skipper

Spittal bug

Spittal bugs surround themselves with a ball of foam attached to grass to hide in from predators.

Shelduck Duck

Family Anseriformes Anatidae

My first sigting of this species seen in Mountain Zebra National Park.

Elephant baby

This was quite funny!! The baby would stop and put its trunk on the ground ...

walk a few steps ....

and do it again. LOL!! Was he resting its trunk because it was too heavy? :)

Info: Unique Facts about Wildlife in South Africa (Joan Young)

Leopard

Leopard can be so hard to spot!! 

 Most of the time it is just a tail disappearing into the bush.

 But if you are lucky and have the paatients, you might see them reappear in the open.

Info: Unique Facts about Wildlife in South Africa (Joan Young)

Samango Monkey

These monkeys are almost impossible to get pictures of as they are always in the trees. 

 These are two VERY long shots I took of one which at least give a sort-of idea what they look like. They are found along the eastern coast and are about twice the size of Vervet Monkeys.

Southern Rock Agama female (Agama atra)

Family Agamidae

They blend in so well that unless they move, you can walk right past without noticing it.

They are about 25cm in total length and are insect eaters. Found in arid regions.

Very dirrerent in colouration to the male. (Click on link)

Cat's Eyed Emperor (Aurivillius arata)

Family Saturniidae