We had plenty of wonderful sightings during our recent three week long holidays in the bush – we already shared much of it with you, and there’s yet more to come in the next few weeks – but this was probably the biggest highlight of the trip!
Late in the afternoon of Christmas Eve, in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, we encountered a white rhino cow and her small calf just where the road goes into and through a thicket of thorny trees. We followed slowly behind as they ambled along, until eventually there was a clearing in the vegetation, just at the spot where there’s also a broad bend in the road. Mom started grazing on the roadside, while her little one decided it was time for some fun. He started running like crazy, at times flying with all four feet off the ground, running circles around his mother and us, then slamming on the brakes in a cloud of dust. Several times he’d charge directly at our vehicle, stopping a meter or two in front of us, only to spin around again, running away at breakneck speed, likely hoping that our silver-grey Jazz was a playmate he could chase and be chased by. Of course, with mom keeping an eye on his antics from close-by, there was no way we could join him for playtime. But inside the car we were laughing out loud in sheer delight.
Eventually he realised that his mom has disappeared around the corner, and he hightailed it to catch up. As we rounded the bend ourselves, we found him next to mom, totally breathless.
We were in awe of the fantastic Christmas present Hluhluwe-Imfolozi had just gifted us.
(you may click on the photos below to view them all in a carousel gallery)
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How wonderful! Absolutely fantastic set of photos, congratulations!
Thank you Dina!
Nice blog too. ❤
Thank you very much, and welcome!
Look at baby go! Woohoo! Pardon my ignorance, did the baby make any kind of noise while rompin’ around?
I’m so glad you came to look at this post Maida, thank you! He didn’t make any sounds except for the occasional grunt, snort, huff and puff 😉
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Fantastic! 🙂 Not a sight you see every day!
Certainly not Jo, but when you do you have to savour it!
Super photographs Dries and Marilize, what a terrific memory.
Glad you liked it so much Pennie!
Magical moments, how wonderful to have observed the scene.
Absolutely Liz! Must be one of our most memorable nature experiences ever.
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So cute he is! I only saw a very small one (it was Dec.) who stayed right by momma.
White rhino calves are normally very well behaved Michael, this one must be giving his mother grey hair…
that’s just too funny!
So he had the same effect on you as he did us Ladybuggz 😀
What a delightful outing! And what a wonderful series of images!
Thank you so much Meg! “Delightful” describes this experience perfectly!
This is absolutely a thrilling and delightful story. Your terrific images really capture this surprising experience. Thanks for the smile.
Thank you very much Jane, we’re glad to know the little one had the same effect on you as he did for us – a big smile!
Wonderful! We never thought we’d describe a rhino as “cute,” but this fellow certainly is. 🙂
Thanks guys! He was so playful and full of energy, melted our hearts for sure!
Absolutely breathtaking and amazing! Good thing mama didn’t take you as a threat! What a fabulous experience to share! 🙂
Thanks Linda! It really was a thoroughly enjoyable experience!
Lovely Christmas special! Were you not afraid of the mother charging you!(I know white rhinos are not that aggressive but still it is her baby)
Luckily mother rhino was very relaxed Ineke, but yes, we made sure to know where she was at all times and kept the engine running just in case!
Aitsa kyk net hoe lekker baldadig! Dis baie spesiaal
Dit was regtig baie spesiaal, dankie Tina! Nou nog as ons daaraan dink kan ons nie help om te glimlag nie.
Ahh… the good life. Just how nature is meant to be. ❤ Love this collage. What photo equipment allowed you to get these superb shots?
~Jane
Thanks a lot for the very kind compliment, Jane! This certainly was the kind of nature experience that comes around only very occasionally, and we’re so thankful that we were blessed to be in the right place at the right time to be able to take it all in.
In answer to your question about the equipment; I used my Canon 1100D DSLR, fitted with a Tamron 70-300mm lens.
My husband will be especially delighted! He just purchased the Tamron 70-300 lens for his Nikon. Very impressive 😉 (But you already know how much I love your photo stories)
Enjoy your adventures today.
I hope your husband’s as satisfied with his purchase as I am, Jane. It’s given us great service over the last 3 years.
Oh my!!!! That is greaT!!!! Love those pics….Kids are always the same, with two or four legs!!!! Such a great experience!!! Thanks for sharing them!
It certainly was a very special experience Ilargia, thank you!
Truly special Dries. Once in a lifetime – although hopefully not 🙂 I can feel your excitement in that car! Guess your adrenaline levels were as high as the calf’s?
We were just concerned that he’d not be able to stop in time before either running down the embankment or running into the car, causing himself some serious injury. But like all small kids he seems to have a whole army of guardian angels looking after him 😉
Must have been a boy 😉
That’s what we were also thinking Maurice!
Dit is so dierbaar!Klein diertjies bly darem oulik,al is hulle groot van postuur.Pragtige foto’s Dries!
Baie dankie Dina! Dit is so, eintlik hoe kleiner en hoe ronder, hoe mooier is hulle!
I think you got the title of this post exactly right 🙂 Being in the right place at the right time = delightful experience!
Thanks very much Joanne! This was such a treat, and no doubt we’ll think about it everytime was pass the spot on future visits to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
Ahhhh….So precious and so very cute. This post is so appropriately named. Well done Dries, Marilize and Joubert. Great images of a unique unforgettable experience. Have a great week from both of us 🙂
Thanks Joey, I just knew you’d like this one!
😉
Are you enjoying better weather yet? It seems our heatwave may be subsiding for now.
Enjoy your week dear Culvers!
Cool, windy but most days sunny. What more can you ask for 😉
😀
I can only imagine how incredible that was!
It’s a memory we’ll treasure for a very long time, Juliann!
I am reading this, grinning from ear to ear. Your description is wonderful, but the photos–no feet touching the ground! What a little rascal this one was–so cute.
Seeing him in real life had very much the same effect on us Lois. What a thoroughly uplifting experience!
Wonderful – how lucky you are to have seen them.
Absolutely Maamej! Was better than winning the lotto (though, I don’t know what it feels like to win the lotto…)
These are absolutely fabulous- thanks for sharing. I can’t stop smiling 🙂
Glad we could brighten your day Anne! Welcome here!
You are welcome. I may have confused you because my comment may have come from my baking blog rather than @vannilla.
Die mooiste fotos ooit. Pragtig! Voel of jy saam die renostertjie wil dans en spring. Mooi geneem Dries.
Baie dankie Spokie, ek is maar te bly as die fotos iets van hierdie wonderlike ervaring weergee.
That is something else – seeing the rhino with all feet in the air
Unbelievable, hey Rob!? I wonder if a 2-ton adult could also do it 😉
Oh my word, what joy!
Absolutely Charlene. Watching scenes like this, it’s easy to forget all the cares in the world and just “live in the moment”
Oh how wonderful, that is quite possibly the best Christmas present ever. That baby is adorable, I have a huge big grin on my face right now. 🙂
Everytime I look at the photos it brightens my day too Ailsa! And we agree, one of the best Christmas gifts ever!
What an amazing sighting! Thanks so much for sharing.
Thank you Jen for coming along with us!
The baby rhino is very cute….
So nice to have you visit us again, Nina!
You made me feel guilty now. I’ve always visited you, only that I didn’t make comment that often… 🙂
No need to feel that way at all Nina! We’re genuinely delighted to hear from you, one of our most long-standing supporters! 🙂
I wouldn’t have thought rhinos could be so graceful!
This little one was as light on his feet as any ballerina, V!
What a blessing your life is, enjoying these amazing animals in their natural habitat. As always, you are so inspiring. All the best – Lisa
Very true Lisa, we are richly blessed to call this country home! Thanks for the kind words!
That looks like a pretty special experience, it was really having fun, great post.
Thanks Boeta. Indeed, we were richly blessed to be at the right place at the right time!
Fantastic photos! How agile that baby rhino is, and such fun to watch. Lucky you. 🙂
Very lucky! It’s experiences like this that keep us going back to the bush for more; you never know what’s waiting just around the next corner…
What an amazing day! Thank you for sharing.
Extremely memorable, Patty! Thanks for stopping by 🙂
Gosh, I wish I have this kind of energy. 🙂
You and me both Seeker!
Fantastic. What an experience!
I can’t imagine we will ever forget it Rosemarie!