Johannesburg - Rhino and Lion
Nature Reserve - 2009
This reserve was a highlight on the trip last year and I was keen to return again.
Servals
Servals are medium-sized African wild cats that mainly live in the savanna areas.
Their numbers have dwindled due to people taking over their habitat and also hunting them for their pelts.
They are protected in most countries and are not currently threatened with extinction.
Servals are extremely intelligent, and demonstrate remarkable problem-solving ability,
making them notorious for getting into mischief, as well as easily outwitting their prey, and eluding other predators.
Servals have historically been kept as pets in Africa.
The Ancient Egyptians worshipped them as gods, and kept them as pets.
Lion cubs
Caracals
The caracal is a fiercely territorial medium-sized cat ranging over Africa and eastern Asia.
The word caracal comes from the Turkish word "karakulak", meaning "black ear".
It hunts at night (but in colder seasons also in the daytime) for rodents and hares.
It is best known for its spectacular skill at hunting birds, able to snatch a bird in flight.
The pupils of a caracal's eyes contract to form circles rather than the slits found in most small cats.
The cheetah was 5 years old
A Blue Crane - South Africa's National Bird.
Ground Hornbill
Ground Squirrel
Secretary Bird
Marabou Stork
This is one of the black leopard cubs that I played with last year.
Widebeest (Gnu)
Cape Buffalo
Painted Dogs
Yes, they have warthogs here too.
Impala
This reserve was a highlight on the trip last year and I was keen to return again.
Servals
Servals are medium-sized African wild cats that mainly live in the savanna areas.
Their numbers have dwindled due to people taking over their habitat and also hunting them for their pelts.
They are protected in most countries and are not currently threatened with extinction.
Servals are extremely intelligent, and demonstrate remarkable problem-solving ability,
making them notorious for getting into mischief, as well as easily outwitting their prey, and eluding other predators.
Servals have historically been kept as pets in Africa.
The Ancient Egyptians worshipped them as gods, and kept them as pets.
Lion cubs
Caracals
The caracal is a fiercely territorial medium-sized cat ranging over Africa and eastern Asia.
The word caracal comes from the Turkish word "karakulak", meaning "black ear".
It hunts at night (but in colder seasons also in the daytime) for rodents and hares.
It is best known for its spectacular skill at hunting birds, able to snatch a bird in flight.
The pupils of a caracal's eyes contract to form circles rather than the slits found in most small cats.
The cheetah was 5 years old
A Blue Crane - South Africa's National Bird.
Ground Hornbill
Ground Squirrel
Secretary Bird
Marabou Stork
This is one of the black leopard cubs that I played with last year.
Widebeest (Gnu)
Cape Buffalo
Painted Dogs
Yes, they have warthogs here too.
Impala
