Zebras Crossing!

One of the most special things about living in Africa is the ability once in a while to visit Game Reserves/National Parks, and once again we were not disappointed with our recent venture into the Pilanesberg National Park in South Africa, just a few hours from us here in Botswana.

The rains have been very good this season, so the scenery was lush green and the animals were healthy and reproducing prolifically!

Seeing lots of mothers and babies was an extra special bonus.

But another ‘quirk’ about this time was the number of sightings we had which included the animals crossing the road ahead of us. 

Zebras

 Giraffe and Wildebeest

Giraffe and Zebra 

A Leopard Tortoise 

White Rhino 

and even a Cheetah...

with her three cubs! 

But whether in the bush or across the road, or high in trees or low in the grasses, or birds or butterflies or larger beasts, it was an opportunity once again to see the amazing beauty, design and creativity of our Creator and have even more reason to praise and worship Him. 

Here are some more highlight pics!

A tiny Steenbok in the grass-

he may only be 50cm tall, but his ears are huge in comparison!

 Springbok

 Hippo mother and baby

 Wildebeest babies were also plentiful

Was a special bonus to see a mother Black Backed Jackal and her 3 nearly full grown (but more pale coloured) pups

Another delight was seeing so many different species together - here a giraffe, impala and waterbuck,

and below some zebras just ambling past a rhino having a mud-bath!

And of course I was on the lookout for butterflies and there were many, most of which I had already seen in our own garden!

But among these 6 different species who were all drinking at a mud-puddle were two I had not seen before (the Dotted Blue and Topaz Spotted Blue)

The birdlife was also a treat - from the brilliance of the Malachite Kingfisher….

to the stateliness of the Egyptian Goose…

and the size and power of the Osprey having his lunch atop a dead tree branch on the hillside

or how the Kori Bustard just blends in with the grass,

And an opportunity to finally get a photo of the Lilac Breasted Roller - the national bird of Botswana!