Tales from the Tulls

Tortoise Crossing & Reptiles

Saturday, Oct 9 South Africa

Another interesting thing was watching a zebra nose with interest at a "leopard tortoise" that was crossing the road... I forgot to take a picture, I was busy watching him... but here is the tortoise:

Leopard Tortoise

So funny, he got that far and then turned back...

We found an Iguana sunning

There are 2 Giant Plated Lizards, one is in the hole, and one just at top of hole

Continued: Fish Eagle

Footprints on the Pavement

Saturday, Oct 9 South Africa

Our guide pointed out many of the muddy footprints on the road and what they belonged to - elephants, hippo and such.

Hippo Print

Elephant Print

it was right after we saw the elephants, that we saw the prints... (not the guy below, but this was a crossing for them too) He had been to the water-hole... he came up to the road and was startled by us, we stopped and let him cross, then he let out a big snort and shuffled along!

This guy was all wet!

Loud Snort and he was on his way...

Continued: Tortoise Crossing

Elephants are Thirsty...

Sat, Oct 9 SouthAfrica

We had just finished lunch and were headed back out for more Safari time when we came upon this herd of elephants crossing the road heading toward a watering hole...

Mama led with babies following...

then dad followed...

but, they kept coming!!

and coming...

got to the water...

and then they left!

There were several cars blocking, so we couldn't really get to watering-hole for good pics, until elephants were leaving!

Continued... Footprints

Leopards

Sat, Oct 9 South Africa
We have not seen any lions yet, but we saw 2 leopards!! One was lounging in a tree totally relaxed, see his paws hanging down...

Leopard

and the other was right by the road! It was interesting how we found the second leopard...

Kudu standing at alert snorting... so our guide knew a predator was around!

About the time the Kudu jumped...

our guide caught sighting of the leopard in the rearview mirror, so we backed up and I was able to get several pics of him meandering off. Way cool!!

Leopard meandering off...

He stops to scent the tree...

and then continues on his way!

Continued: Elephants

Slender Mongoose

Saturday, Oct 9, 2011 South Africa

While on Safari our guide pointed out a mongoose that went zipping by and said you can never get their picture because they are so skittish!

.... uhh-mm, I told Mr. Mongoose "thank you", because he actually sat there and posed for quite a long time... the guide could not believe it. I will say though, that this was the only one that didn't just scurry by and we saw several.

One of them was chasing a Crested Francolin (which is similar to our quail). They are basically ground feeders and seldom fly.

Continued: Leopards...

Whose Dung is it?

I just realized this didn't post...

Saturday, Oct 9 South Africa

It was even interesting to see whose dung was laying on the roads...

Giraffe Dung... it had a long ways to fall.

Hyaena Dung-- they eat lots of bone!

okay, you can quit laughing...

Slender Mongoose...

Safari!

Saturday, Oct 9 South Africa

Our Guide arrived timely, but recommended we go on Safari since it was an overcast day... so Safari we did...

Dennis and I with our guide - Mike Stephens.
He was awesome!! (Termite Tours)

Oh my gosh, what an awesome Safari it was!! We saw so many mammals, reptiles, birds, rocks, trees and such! It was like many of them posed for me!!! We began the safari and immediately we see a hyaena, and yes, I had my camera in hand as he goes running by. Thanks John and Ashley for letting us use your FABULOUS camera... I think I got some great pics!

Spotted Hyaena

We saw 19 different species of mammals and the average to see on safari is 13! We'll go back again, but here are a few pics we have...

Giraffe

Red-Billed Oxpecker - eats ticks off the giraffes

Zebra Family

Vervet Money

Wildebeest posed for me

Kudu wouldn't turn to look at me... only out of the corner of his eye!
He knew I was there!

Steenbok... look at the bugs on his back!
Where's the Red-billed Ox-pecker when you need one?!?

Hippos came out of water one at a time at the exact same point...
they were fun to watch.
There was a crocodile laying right where they got out...
and it never moved!

Hippos Sunning

Another group we spotted in the water,
don't know if he's yawning or what?
So strange-- they open their mouths underwater
and allow fish to feed on the crap stuck to their teeth!