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More Animals

The "Small Five"

Dung Beetle

Ghost Crab

Cricket

Butterfly

A Lost Baby Bird

Many of the other animals featured here are "Ungulates" - those who's last toe joint is covered with a hoof. This includes all Antelope species, Warthog, Zebra, and Giraffe. So let's start with the Giraffe.

They have long necks, but the same number of cervical vertibrae as human necks (7). They're pretty relaxed and somewhat comical-looking animals, and they are generally easy to approach if you just keep it cool. However, females with calves will defend themselves against lions and can even kill them, so stay away from protective mothers.

In Swaziland I stayed at the Sondzela Lodge, which is a fantastic place inside the huge Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary. Before I arrived there I heard a rumour that there was one lonely brown Giraffe in the park, and that he was very rarely seen (and maybe doesn't even exist). So on my day-long walk through the park I was some distance from the lodge when I suddenly sensed I was being watched. I turned around and look who was following me!

I saw Giraffe in four different parks, but most of these pictures were taken in Kruger.

This group of Giraffe were in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park.

Giraffe sure can move quietly. Just after sunset we were on our way out of the park and being very quiet when I was surprised to see this giraffe about two metres away and heading slowly into the forest.

The "Burchells" Zebra is one of three types of Zebra in South Africa, and the most common. Each animal has it's own distinct stripe pattern. After giving birth, the mother will walk in a circle around the baby and allow it to memorise the mothers stripes, which is how she can then be identified.

I saw Zebra in significant numbers in most of the parks. Most of these photos were taken in the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi Park.

The most abundant large animal to be found in conservation areas is the Impala. They exist is herds of approximately 20 animals, joining in winter with other herds to increase numbers. During mating season each dominant male will gather a herd of 15-20 females and drive out other competing males. Non-territorial males and juvenille males gather in "bachelor" herds. They have glands on the ankles of their hind legs which emit a scent and allow lambs to uniquely identify their mother.

A unique characteristic of Impala is the three black lines on its backside and tail. The big joke of course that it looks like the McDonalds golden arches, which is appropriate when impala are a "fast food" source for so many predators (lion, cheetah, leopard, hyaena, wild dog, etc.)

After a day or two on safari, many people get tired of seeing Impala, and will stop bothering to take pictures or even slow down to look at them. I still think they are beautiful animals, and are very photogenic.

Kudu are distinctly larger than Impala, but can still jump up to two metrers high. Only the male has horns, which grow in a spiral formation - one turn for each year up to three years.

The Nyala bears a strong resemblence to the Kudu (especially the males, which unfortunately I don't have a picture of yet) but are slightly smaller and more reddish in colour with a more pronounced stripe pattern.

The Klipspringer (male-left, female-right) is one of the more petite Antelope species. They are often found standing motionless on top of high rocks, as was the case in these photos. They are extremely nimble and move over steep rock surfaces on the tips of their hooves.

The Steenbok (this one is a male) is about the same size as the Klipspringer (and at least as cute). However they avoid rocky and mountainous terrain and when alarmed they often lie down to avoid detection, and then run away at the last moment.

I originally thought this was a Bontebok, but it is the very similar-looking Blesbok. I found a few of them walking around inside the Mlilwane Wildlife Sanctuary as I was headed up to "Execution Rock" on the horizon.

This is a male Blue Wildebeest, sometimes called a Brindled Gnu. They are often seen socially gathering with Zebra. I got it from one of my guides that flies lay their eggs in the nostrils of the Wildebeest and when they hatch there are then maggots living in their nose, and this sort of drives them mad, which is how they got their name. Anyone care to comment?

I'm nearly out of Ungulates now so here's the last of them. The Warthog is not particularly agile and must kneel down on its front legs in order to graze. It likes to live in old Antbear holes, which it enters in reverse so it can emerge head-first. It also resembles the South African male human after drinking too many Savannah Dry Ciders.

Next on the list is the Hippo, which really ought to be in the Big Five, as they are potentially one of the most dangerous animals. Normally they are to be seen submerged in water with only their ears, eyes, and nose above the surface and making smug piggish sounds which can all seem very charming. But in the late afternoon when the sun is not so hot they tend to leave the water in search of food, and if a person walks past and blocks theri way back into the water they can become very aggressive and dangerous, and have killed people under such circumstances. But not much to worry about when they are in water, or when you are on a tour boat with 50 people.

Aside from the usual farm stock, the Ostrich (male-above right, female-above left) is amoung the more heavily exploited animals in South Africa. They exist abundantly in the wild, but are raised in significant numbers on farms for their flesh and feathers, and in some cases for Ostrich riding/racing for tourists. They also sometimes exist as pets, as was the case at Sondzela Lodge in Swaziland where this Ostrich was often walking around by the swimming pool.

Just a few more animals... Turtle!

Guinea Fowl

Yellow Hornbill

And finally, the true king of the jungle, even if they are usually in the water. Looking at my South African wildlife book, which among other things lists the natural enemy of each animal, I see that many animals near the top of the chain get eaten by Lion, Leopard, and Cheetah. I also see that Leopard and Cheetah get eaten by Lion. So what animal eats Lions?

African Fish Eagle

Rock Dassie

... CROCODILE, MATE! He's a million years old and he's a killing machine.

...which brings us to the end of the animals list for now, except for what I'd like to call...