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
Your country is beautiful thought so different from mine 🙂
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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!
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Magnificent landscapes and homage to Earth Day, deWets! Thank you for taking me there. 🌍
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It really was our pleasure, Jane – thanks for dropping by!
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Perfect reminders that there still so much beauty in this world~! Thank you for sharing 😍
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That’s what we love doing!
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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.
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I believe that every little conscious act makes a big difference in the end, Joanne!
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I hope so. Our continued existence literally depends on it.
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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.
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Partykeer voel dit of n mens n onwenbare oorlog baklei, is dit nie, Ineke?
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Dit is so. Die media help nie om dit makliker te maak nie. Hul wys hoe erg dit is en wat dan? Daar is nie n oplossing as almal nie saamwerk nie.
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Ek dink tog dat elke klein bietjie help, Ineke, veral wanneer dit kom by bewusmaking en houdings verander.
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Ja, mens moet seker tog maar positief bly.
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Thank you for sharing your beautiful places – and reminding us of Earth Day
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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!
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So am I!
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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.
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En die ergste is dat 50 jaar terug se plastiek meestal nogsteeds “rondhang”en steeds nie verdwyn het nie. En elke dag gooi ons net meer en meer weg…
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Hi guys. I totally agree. Great photos of stunning scenery. Happy Earth Day!
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Thanks, Kim! And to you!
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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.
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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.
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These are definitely places I want to still be around when I have kids.
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Welcome here, Jess, and for weighing in. Of course we share your sentiment wholeheartedly!
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That header image is exceptional; thanks for addressing the plastic issue – and for sharing so many views of your world… I also loved that impressive tree!!!!
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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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I was just thinking this morning, “Every day is earth day” for me… That is true for you and your family as well.
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We’d like to think so! Thanks, Lisa!
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Beautiful places. Thanks for sharing them.
janet
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We love sharing them, Janet, and hopefully make just a little bit of a difference to ensure they remain as pristine!
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Very beautiful photography and wondrous wild places!
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Thank you so much. Our lives would have been dreadfully dull without these beautiful places.
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