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

Giant Eagle Owl

Very early one morning I came across this beautiful owl.

Being dark, I had to use my flach which gave it red eyes. For the first time I used the Red Eye Removal in my processing package and it worked pretty well.

Wandering Donkey Acraea (Acraea neobule)

Family Nymphalidae Heliconiinae

Stratiomyiidae (Odontomyia) Soldier Fly

Family Stratiomyiidae (Odontomyia) Soldier Fly

 It reminds me of those after-dinner mints, :)

Large Cockroach - Blattodea

This must be the largest cockroach I have ever seen, around 3cm in length.

 Found in Tsitsikamma region.

Nyala

Very often Nyala are confused with Kudu and Bushbuck, although the Kudu is much larger when fully grown and the Bushbuck only slightly bigger than the Nyala.

The male has a distinctive white chevron between his eyes and up to seven white vertical stripes on each side of his body, while the female has about nine.

Like most other antelope species, only the males have horns. They are lyre-shaped and the longest horns that have been recorded were 83.5 centimetres.

Their gestation period is about seven months after which a single calf is born.

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

Water Monitor (Varanus niloticus)

Family Varanidae

Water Monitors, as the name implies, are always found near water and grow to almost 2m in length. They defend themselves by lashing out with their tails, biting and scratching.

They eat frogs, smaller reptiles, birds eggs and chicks, terrapin eggs, small mammals.

They are distinquished from the Rock Monitor by their yellow stripes which become more drab as they age.

Vultures feeding

Vultures are the clean-up crew and by the time they have finished with a carcass, there is nothing but white bones left.

Various species will gather together at feeding time and huge squabbles break out amongst all.

Some vultures have a wingspan of up to 2m.

Their bills are made for tearing the meal off.

Vultures cannot begin flying on their own and need the warm thermals later in the mornings to give them enough lift-off.

Faint Owl moth (Cometaster pyrula)

Family Noctuidae

Serrated Tent Tortoise (Psammobates oculifer)

Family Testudinidae

They are found mainly in the arid regions of SA and live up to 20 years of age.

Ladybird - Cheilomenes sulphurea

Family Coccinellidae 

Thanks for the correction on the name Dominik Hofer

 It is unusual to see a Ladybird with smudges of another colour in it like the patches of red on this one.