Wednesday, December 2, 2015

Out of the Jurisdiction: Pilanesburg National Park, South Africa

Here are the last pix from a month in southern Africa.  These photographs were taken in Pilanesburg National Park, a preserve two to three hours from Johannesburg.  Most of these will be 
close-ups, with a couple of others included.



An elephant came right up to the safari vehicle.


A pied kingfisher seen at a hide on a dam (the local term for a body of water).
There were some serious lenses aimed at the birds.  My 70 - 300 mm lens was enough.


It is always fun watching giraffes going into their drinking-water stance.


Warthogs don't look any better up close than they do at a distance.


A female giraffe feasts on acacia.


Zebra are good at standing still and posing.


Three zebra grazed together on plains that had suffered a fire.  Zebra often stay close.  
It is thought that the striped patterns blend together and mislead predators into thinking
that they are seeing a single much larger animal.


This isn't a close-up, but I wanted to illustrate how plentiful impalas are in the African bush.  
So many predators feast on impalas that they are known as the "McDonalds of Africa."

I arrived back in Florida yesterday.  Today will be spent doing laundry, sorting mail and paying bills.  With any luck, I will get out to find something for tomorrow's post.
Thanks for your visits while I was away and unable
to visit other blogs.

18 comments:

  1. Really enjoyed your shots from Africa Jack, they were brilliant. Must have been so nice spending time with family, I'm pretty excited to see my granddaughter when they come over for Christmas.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Hmmm. I've never heard the expression "McDonalds of Africa." They must breed like North American deer, right?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Great series, Jack. That first photo reminds me of someone...oh, right, my 1st grade teacher!

    And for some reason the stance taken by a giraffe drinking looks a lot like a Hollywood starlet dancing in a disco.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Oh, Jack, these are awesome captures!!! And, yes, I am envious, but I'm also so glad you share them with us!! Thank you!! Hope your trip continues to go well!!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Wow! What a trip. Show us more.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Such beautiful animals... the zebra's my favourite.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Great series, Jack, I like all these animals.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Jack, how did you know I love elephants?

    ReplyDelete
  9. these are all great...i really loved the elephants and that giraffe made me smile, so cute!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Glad you are home safe and sound. I have truly enjoyed every one of you Africa posts. This post is truly spectacular. I'll bet you are going to have some of these fabulous shots enlarged and framed!

    ReplyDelete
  11. Lovely photos, Jack. I'm guessing that in order to catch an impala you'd have to be a bit slimmer and fitter than the average Big Mac customer.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Welcome back, Jack! I was in that very same national park years ago. Without a digital camera, unfortunately!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Terrific wildlife photos, Jack. I especially like your first elephant portrait. She didn't mind having her picture taken. Hope you had a long lens for that shot. The giraffe and zebra shots are great also. I've greatly enjoyed your posts from Africa. I worry that these animals may not survive another generation.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Your zebra portrait rivals any of the portraits you've ever taken. What a poser! 'Is this my best side, Jack?' I like the three headed one too!

    ReplyDelete
  15. You had some truly incredible wildlife sightings on this trip and your photos are wonderful -- many are outright stunning. Did you use your 70-300 mm lens on all your closeups or did you have something more high powered at other times?

    ReplyDelete
  16. Amazing shots! Surely different the usual...

    ReplyDelete
  17. I was overwhelmed by your Africa series! I guess you already know how much I love that continent and its wildlife (and peoples and sceneries and everything else!). Your photos are brilliant and they make me want to go there again and again. Thank you, Jack!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Such fabulous wildlife shots! Your zoom is amazing. I love the giraffe in particular - have always had a soft spot for those awkward creatures. I just purchased my first DSLR this past summer and have so much to learn. I look forward to admiring more of your photography!

    ReplyDelete