Growing up with a love for nature: Joubert turns 10!

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Today is Joubert’s 10th birthday.

Marilize and I thank God for creating Joubert for us and us for him. What more could we need? What a blessing it’s been to watch this bright and beautiful little boy grow up to share our appreciation and deep love for South Africa’s wild places.

Looking back at some photos of him enjoying the great outdoors brings a smile to my face and joy to my heart. Has ten years really flown by so quickly!?

Happy Birthday, Joubert!

2 Months old: October 2009. First visit to the Kruger National Park, and time for a nappy change in the bush!
7 Months old: March 2010. Climbing trees at Olifants in the Kruger National Park.
7 Months old: March 2010. Off-roading pram along the Rademeyer Spruit in the Moreletakloof.
9 Months old: May 2010. Did Dad see the elephants? Spekboom Hide, Addo Elephant Park.
9 Months old: May 2010. Surrounded by Guineafowl in the rest camp at Wilderness in the Garden Route National Park.
1 Year old: September 2010. What to do with these francolins? Biyamiti, Kruger National Park.
1 Year old: November 2010. Game-viewing at Chelmsford Nature Reserve.
1 Year old: November 2010. Time to learn more about birds. Mpila, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
1 Year old: November 2010. Playing on the beach at Cape Vidal, iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
1 Year old: November 2010. Time for a picnic in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
1 Year old: December 2010. Chasing butterflies through a field on the North West Province farm where Grandpa grew up.
1 Year old: April 2011. Looking for the Big 5 in the Kruger National Park.
1 Year old: April 2011. Just look at that interesting lizard! Letaba, Kruger National Park.
2 Years old: August 2011. Joubert appreciating the view from unit 14 at Olifants
2 Years old: October 2011. Short, unsteady legs over big rocks at Pilanesberg National Park.
2 Years old: December 2011. Inspecting a dead butterfly picked up at the Willem Pretorius Game Reserve.
2 Years old: June 2012. Making the acquaintance of a bushbuck at Letaba in the Kruger National Park.
2 Years old: April 2012. Happiness in a forest at Royal Natal.
2 Years old: June 2012. Just how big is that elephant skull!? Blyde River Canyon Nature Reserve.
3 Years old: August 2012. Photographing a warthog at our cottage in Mpila, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
3 Years old: August 2012. Something’s very interesting on the ground at Midmar Nature Reserve.
3 Years old: September 2012. Closer inspection of a nyala ewe in Pafuri Picnic Site, Kruger National Park.
3 Years old: December 2012. Practicing balancing at Ithala Game Reserve.
3 Years old: January 2013. Wet morning in the Moreletakloof.
3 Years old: February 2013. In the hide at Lake Mankwe, Pilanesberg Game Reserve.
3 Years old: March 2013. At the entrance to Chelmsford Nature Reserve.
3 Years old: April 2013. Best seat in the house: Mlondozi Picnic Site, Kruger National Park.
3 Years old: May 2013. Following an elephant at Tembe
3 Years old: July 2013. Almost as high as a pony! Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
4 Years old: August 2013. Being silly at Queen Elizabeth Park in Kwazulu-Natal.
4 Years old: September 2013. Showing one of Letaba’s bushbuck where to go for tastier leaves. Kruger National Park.
4 Years old: November 2013. Taking photos of dung beetles in Pilanesberg National Park is serious business!
4 Years old: December 2013. Fun and games in Golden Gate.
4 Years old: December 2013. Is it safe to venture forth? Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park.
4 Years old: December 2013. Quiet contemplation atop a hill at Ithala Game Reserve.
4 Years old: March 2014. Setting off on a walk in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
4 Years old: April 2014. Joubert de Wet, Horse Whisperer, at Golden Gate Highlands National Park
4 Years old: April 2014. Calling francolin chicks to come closer at Giant’s Castle.
4 Years old: April 2014. Different perspective on wildlife photography in Kruger National Park.
5 Years old: November 2014. Looking for jewels at Golden Gate Highlands National Park.
5 Years old: December 2014. Chancing being blown off the jetty at Charter’s Creek in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park.
5 Years old: December 2014. Figuring out Grandpa’s binoculars
5 Years old: December 2014. Posing at the Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife logo at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park’s Centenary Centre
5 Years old: December 2014. Braaiing at Ithala Game Reserve.
5 Years old: December 2014. Wildlife photography at kuMasinga Hide at uMkhuze Game Reserve.
5 Years old: April 2015. Skipping stones on Loskop Dam.
5 Years old: May 2015. Titanic impression on a trout dam at Kamberg in the uKhahlamba Drakensberg Park.
5 Years old: May 2015. Kamberg tranquility with Mom.
5 Years old: June 2015. Boat cruise on Lake St. Lucia.
6 Years old: August 2015. Scientific experiment from atop a boulder at Tendele in Royal Natal.
6 Years old: September 2015. Photographing the photographer at Ithala Game Reserve.
6 Years old: October 2015. Showing off his ticklist in Pafuri Picnic Spot, Kruger National Park.
6 Years old: December 2015. Again Joubert and a Letaba bushbuck! Kruger National Park.
6 Years old: December 2015. This sign in Rietvlei Nature Reserve doesn’t scare Joubert!
6 Years old: March 2016. Photographing a mangrove-crab at Umlalazi Nature Reserve.
6 Years old: June 2016. Antlions are so interesting! Satara, Kruger Park.
7 Years old: December 2016. Taking a break in Golden Gate Highlands National Park
7 Years old: December 2016. Getting wet at Royal Natal National Park
7 Years old: March 2017. Nsumo Picnic Site, uMkhuze Game Reserve, iSimangaliso Wetland Park
7 Years old: April 2017. Low with the flow at Giant’s Castle
8 Years old: September 2017. Photographing an animal burrow at Nylsvley Nature Reserve.
8 Years old: December 2017. In the information centre at Addo Elephant National park
8 Years old: December 2017. Walking in the Karoo National Park
8 Years old: December 2017. The cold waters of the Atlantic Ocean in the Table Mountain National Park
8 Years old: December 2017. Sunset over the Atlantic
8 Years old: April 2018. Opening the gate at Haak-en-Steek Cottage in Mokala National Park
9 Years old: August 2018. Celebrating his 9th birthday at Rietvlei Nature Reserve!
9 Years old: December 2018. Joubert the photographer, Mpila, Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park
9 years old: March 2019. Joubert photographing guineafowl at Thendele
9 years old: March 2019. Walking in the Mountains
9 years old: May 2019. Joubert at Austin Roberts Bird Sanctuary
9 years old: June 2019. Photographing a bull elephant crossing a road near Shingwedzi in the Kruger National Park
9 years old: June 2019. Photographing elephants near Shingwedzi in the Kruger National Park
9 years old: June 2019. Playing cricket (his other great love) in the camping area at Shingwedzi in the Kruger Park.
9 years old: June 2019. Joubert photographing San rock art at Giant’s Castle
9 years old: June 2019. Joubert photographing reflections at Giant’s Castle
10 years old: August 2019. Joubert at Rietvlei Nature Reserve celebrating his 10th birthday party
10 years old: August 2019. Joubert sitting next to the ranger-guide on a tour to see Rietvlei’s lions

62 thoughts on “Growing up with a love for nature: Joubert turns 10!”

  1. Abrie Joubert

    Ek dink nie Joubert het veel van ‘n keuse om van die natuur te hou nie. Die natuur is in sy gene, maar meer belangrik sy gene is in die natuur.
    Joubert ‘n mede-Joubert (al is en ‘n anders-om Joubert) salueer jou. Geluk met die eerste tien die volgende 10 gaan nog meer merkwaardig wees.

    Liked by 2 people

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  2. anne leueen

    Happy Birthday to Joubert. What a wonderful collection of photos. I can see that he is a fortunate young man to have you as his parents and to be introduced to the wonder of wild life at a young age. Thank you for this most enjoyable post. Our son is now 34! Our daughter 32 and is a mother herself. They grow up fast and it is a wonderful journey despite the ups and downs that are a normal part of becoming independent adults.

    Liked by 2 people

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  5. Crosslife Spaces

    A wonderful and blessed birthday to Joubert! Looking forward to seeing you matching your dad’s very good and interesting pictures and blogs! All the best to your whole family and thanks for bringing the wild life story into our desks.

    Liked by 2 people

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  6. Pingback: Birthday outing to Rietvlei | de Wets Wild

  7. Patti Ross

    Incredible! Lucky young man to have developed this ongoing relationship with Nature. If more kids had this awareness and appreciation, I would feel better about our future–when it gets in their hands. Thanks for sharing!

    Liked by 2 people

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  8. Joanne Sisco

    I’m sure you’re left wondering how it’s possible that 10 years could have passed by so quickly, but the evidence is in the photos 🙂
    How cool that Joubert became a photographer at such a young age! I wonder where he picked that up? 😉
    Congratulations all!

    Liked by 2 people

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  10. perdebytjie

    Dis so ‘n pragtige versameling foto’s, Dries! Baie geluk met hierdie besondere seun van julle se verjaarsdag. Mag hy julle nog baie jare lank vreugde verskaf.Eendag gaan hy nog ‘n beroemde natuurkunige en fotograaf wees.

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  11. naturebackin

    What a heart-warming series of photos conveying Joubert’s experiences and deepening relationship with nature. I look forward to seeing more of his photos too as he is a talented photographer. Wishing him all the very best for his birthday and for many happy nature-exploring days in the year ahead.

    Liked by 2 people

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  16. Tranature - quiet moments in nature

    Happy 10th birthday Joubert! 🤗🎶🎉 So lovely to see a young person enjoying time in nature and we wish you many more happy years ahead with wonderful wildlife adventures 🙂🦁

    Liked by 2 people

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  22. Anne

    Ten: double figures – SUCH an important Birthday. Happy Birthday Joubert! Your Mom and Dad have been giving you the very best in life experiences so far – enjoy every moment of your life’s adventures.

    Liked by 2 people

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  24. scrapydo2.wordpress.com

    Baie geluk met Joubert se verjaarsdag. Die fotos laat my ook terug dink aan die tyd toe Bertus 10 was(Hy’t 9 Aug 38 geword) Ek sien hom nou nog die kere wat ons gaan kamp het. Hy was in sy element as hy buite in die natuur kon wees. Jul het Joubert regtig n goeie voorsprong in die lewe gegee deur hom so saam met jul alles te beleef.

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Thank you, Deb!
      The photo of a tiny Joubert inching closer towards the bushbuck ewe really is one of my all-time favourite shots of the little man – it really captures his characteristically soft touch and appreciation for our natural heritage so beautifully.

      Liked by 1 person

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  27. H.J. for avian101

    Happy Birthday, Joubert! I can see that you like Photography, perhaps you could work associated with your Dad in the future! Have a fantastic 10! 🙂

    Liked by 2 people

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    1. de Wets Wild Post author

      Thank you so much, H.J! Joubert’s already doing very well with his photographic skills and it would be wonderful if he can continue to grow and flourish in that sphere, for he loves it so!

      Liked by 2 people

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  28. loisajay

    Happy, Happy Birthday to you, Joubert! I am so happy to have connected with you and your family. Your photos are such a treat for me. And that is quite an impressive for a 10-year old! I hope you had a fabulous birthday with many more to come.

    Liked by 2 people

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