Celebrating South Africa’s wild places on Earth Day

33 Replies

The theme for this year’s Earth Day is an end to plastic pollution.

It is almost unthinkable that humans would wantonly destroy our planet through the careless manufacturing and discarding of plastic waste, and yet we are pumping tons and tons of plastic into our ecosystems on a daily basis, endangering not only the wildlife that depend on these habitats but also our own continued existence.

Celebrating South Africa’s beautiful wild places seems like a good way to spend Earth Day 2018, but isn’t it sickening to imagine landscapes like these buried under heaps of trash?

Addo Elephant National Park scenery
Sunrise over the lagoon at the main camp in Agulhas National Park
Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve
Breede River in Bontebok National Park
Camdeboo National Park scenery
Leokop and a lone paperbark tree in Chelmsford Nature Reserve
Dinokeng Game Reserve Scenery
Ezemvelo Nature Reserve Scenery
Diepwalle Forest, Garden Route National Park
Rondevlei in the Garden Route National Park, seen from the hide
Tsitsikamma coast, Garden Route National Park
Golden Gate Highlands National Park
Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
Ithala Game Reserve
Sunrise on the Eastern Shores, iSimangaliso Wetland Park
Fever trees in Umkhuze Game Reserve
Karoo National Park Landscape
The scenic route through Kgaswane Mountain Reserve
View from Ted’s Place on the Sweni Trail, Kruger National Park
Easter Sunday Sunset over Loskop Dam Nature Reserve
Mapungubwe National Park scenery
Lenong viewpoint is up there, at the towers, in Marakele National Park
Midmar Dam Nature Reserve scenery
Mokala National Park
Moreletakloof scenery
Scenery at Mountain Zebra National Park
Big herd of roan antelope on the floodplain at Vogelfonteinin Nylsvley Nature Reserve
View over the Oribi Gorge Nature Reserve from Oribi Gorge Hotel
Mankwe stream in Pilanesberg National Park
Scenery at Walter Sisulu National Botanical Garden
Bitter Aloes (subspecies candelabrum) in Queen Elizabeth Nature Reserve
Rietvlei Spruit in the Rietvlei Nature Reserve
Suikerbosrand scenery
Boulders scenery, Table Mountain National Park
Scenery at Cape Point, Table Mountain National Park
Giant’s Castle’s fresh mountain streams
Kamberg Nature Reserve
Reflections at Mahai, Royal Natal National Park
Mangroves lining the lagoon at Umlalazi Nature Reserve

 

33 thoughts on “Celebrating South Africa’s wild places on Earth Day”

    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      I can’t argue with you, Awa; South Africa is a beautiful place! And while it may be very different, I am sure your country has many beautiful spots as well, and we should be looking after them!

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply ↓
  4. Joanne Sisco

    Each photo shows such a beautiful place. We don’t think about the miles of floating plastics on our seas, or the mounts of plastics filling garbage dumps all over the world.

    I could go on a long tirade, while at the same time knowing that I too am part of the problem. I have my fair share of electronic devices which get replaced when I deem them too old, and buy products encased in excessive packaging. I virtuously sort my garbage into compostables and recyclables, yet give little thought to what happens to them when they leave my home.

    Liked by 1 person

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  5. scrapydo2.wordpress.com

    Die liewe plastiek. Ons “recycle” hier en nou wil China nie meer dit van hier af invoer en gebruik nie. Wat maak ons nou daarmee? Ek wonder? Dis tonne. Ons het nou al dit amper reg dat die supermarkte nie meer plasiese sakke gebruik om te pak nie. Jy gebruik jou eie materiaal sakke oor en oor.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      You’ll know how much it means to us to be able to share these beautiful places with all our friends here, Ann-Christine. We’re so glad that you came visiting today!

      Like

      Reply ↓
  7. perdebytjie

    Ongelooflike mooi foto’s, Dries! Ek weet net nie hoe hierdie plastiekgebruik omgekeer kan word nie. Ek word woedend vir al die verpakking van elke item. Dis 50 jaar se storie, nou wil ek nie weet hoe dit oor nog 50 jaar gaan lyk nie.

    Liked by 1 person

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  9. John

    Wonderful pictures of the beautiful nature you have.😊 I agree totally with you, we must stop destroy the nature and hurt and kill the animal. We must make that all people will know how important it is.

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      And it is all going awry because of our human greed and hunger for profit. I believe deep inside all humans have a love and yearning for nature and simplicity, yet these desires are trumped by other, more temporary, needs and wants.

      Liked by 1 person

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      I cannot imagine a life in which beauty like this is no longer available and accessible, Lisa. What a horrible thought. And yet every day we as individuals and as a species are taking it apart bit-by-bit…

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      Reply ↓

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