Monthly Archives: December 2018

Our 2018 in pictures

Taking a look back at all the wonderful places we stayed at while exploring South Africa’s wild destinations in 2018.

We hope that 2019 will be kind to all our friends here at de Wets Wild, and that we’ll continue to share in each others adventures!

Skukuza Unit 210, Kruger National Park, March 2018

Twanana Research Camp, Kruger National Park, March & May 2018

Haak-en-Steek Cottage, Mokala NP, April 2018

Chalet 26 at Augrabies Falls National Park, June 2018

Cottage 25 at Twee Rivieren, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, June 2018

Cottage 1 at Mata Mata, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, June 2018

Cottage 8 at Nossob, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, June 2018

Chalet 24 at Twee Rivieren, Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, June 2018

Ntshondwe Chalet #20, Ithala Game Reserve, August 2018

Camping at Bakgatla, Pilanesberg National Park, November 2018

Umlalazi Log Cabin #1, December 2018

Chalet 16 at Mpila in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, December 2018

Joubert’s photos of the playful piglets

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While we were still visiting Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park recently I shared a sneaky photo I took of Joubert busy photographing a pair of playful warthog piglets in Mpila Camp. Now that we’re back home I can share a few more of the photos he took of their playful antics. They also tried involving a young nyala ram in their games, but he wasn’t interested in childish games.

These are all Joubert’s photos. He turned 9 in August.

Playful warthog piglets at Mpila (photos of Joubert)

Joubert’s cute and cuddly photographic subjects

Playful warthog piglets at Mpila (photos of Joubert)

Merry Christmas!

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We wish all our friends here at de Wets Wild a Merry and richly Blessed Christmas!

We’ve returned safely from our visits to Umlalazi Nature Reserve and Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, and will be spending Christmas Day celebrating one of the cornerstones of our Christian faith with family here in Pretoria.

These pictures of the beautiful scenery in the Hluhluwe section of the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park were taken on our way home yesterday.

View from Siwasamikhosikazi picnic site

View over the valley of the Nzimane River

The King and Prime Minister of Imfolozi

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This morning we spent some time with two magnificent male lions in the far western reaches of Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.

One of them was bruised and battered with battle scars all over his body. Obviously he’s the enforcer for the King; the light-maned male with the relatively unscathed hide and face.

Sadly, today was our final full day here at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi. Tomorrow we only have the distance between here at Mpila Camp and the Memorial Gate to savour this pristine wilderness one last time before heading back to Pretoria.

Morning coffee, with a view

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This was the scene we enjoyed our first cup of coffee, rusks and biscuits with this morning, here in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.

I’ll grow up my way…

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If there’s any good advise experienced parents can give newly expecting ones, it is that none of the thousands of parenting guide-books on the bookstore shelves will apply to your child 100%. You have to find what works for you, and go with it – your kid will turn out just fine.

The same seems true in the animal kingdom.

This afternoon while having lunch at Mpila in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, we noticed this mother Vervet Monkey and her baby coming past in a most unconventional manner. Normally the newly born babies would hang below the moms tummy, within easy reaching distance of her mammary glands. This little one however clung to the fur on his mom’s behind with all his might, and it obviously hurts her to quite some degree, as she regularly took him off and gave him a harsh hiding, to which he then responded with a terrible tantrum, screaming to high heaven until she relents and he gets back onto her buttocks. It was such a funny sight, and if she was human I would have given her a knowing wink of the eye in sympathy.

I did it my way…

Just in case you were wondering, this is the more usual way female Vervet Monkeys carry their babies; an example from another mom in the same troop that walked past our accommodation unit.

Vervet baby suckling (photo by Joubert)

Cute and Cuddly

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Today I sneaked a photo of Joubert while he was taking pictures of two playful warthog piglets outside our cottage here in Mpila in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park

9 Years old: December 2018. Joubert the photographer, Mpila, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park

Joubert’s cute and cuddly photographic subjects

What a welcome at Mpila

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We had only just arrived at Mpila Camp in the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park this afternoon, when we were welcomed by this Spotted Bush Snake on the mosquito screen of our kitchen door – What a welcome!

Umlalazi Airshow

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While exploring the mangrove swamps here at Umlalazi Nature Reserve this morning, this Pink-backed Pelican treated us to a low-level flypast.

Today was our last day here at Umlalazi. Tomorrow, we head for the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park. If we have a good enough connection well try to post a daily update from there as well.

Early to rise…

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We were out the door at 04:20 this morning to take in this spectacular sunrise over the Indian Ocean. We then spent a couple of hours playing on the beach before going back to our cabin for a delicious brunch. Wish every day could start this way…