Under South Africa’s current “COVID-19 lockdown restrictions” our nature reserves and national parks are allowed to open their gates to local day visitors, and so Joubert and I used the opportunity to visit Pretoria’s Rietvlei Nature Reserve this past week (Marilize is back at work at the local Primary School). It was our first time out in natural surroundings since our visit to the Royal Natal Park in March and, despite all the new formalities of temperature checks and health declarations at the entrance and the constant aggravation of face masks fogging up the lenses of my glasses in the crisp winter’s air, still an experience to be treasured – perhaps even more so now that it is clear how easily freedoms like these are forfeited in a time of crisis. Being just 13km from our home and surrounded by development in South Africa’s most industrialised province, it is easy to underestimate the value of Rietvlei as a place where tired souls can find a temporary reprieve from the onslaught of seemingly ever escalating bad news.
DeWetsWild 
Astounding diversity and beauty so close to your home! Great to be able to regain snatches of freedom!
PS – Are you forced to wear them infuriating face covers even in the privacy of your own car?
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Indeed, AJ, you’re supposed to be donning a mask whenever you venture out of your residence. Keeping it on, irritating as it may be, is also preferable to taking it on and off regularly lest you contaminate the mask with virussed hands…
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Love Joubert’s bird pictures!
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Thanks, Kathy! He’s such a star.
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Thank you for the visual tour! Now more than ever is the time to connect with nature. You are lucky to have a spot like that so close by. What a nice way for father and son to spend a day.
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Of course we’re agreeing with you fully on all counts! Getting to Rietvlei definitely was a “stitch in time”!
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My niggie stuur my nou die dag fotos van haar trip in dieselfde reservaat. Sy bly ook net so naby daaraan. Hulle is in Faerie Glen. Regtig ‘n goeie krop fotos. Ek’s verstom so iets bestaan amper in die middel van die stad.
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Rietvlei is regtig n juweel in daardie opsig, Petru. Die eertydse stadsvaders moet regtig krediet gegee word vir die versiendheid om die reservaat daar te stel. Lekker om van jou te hoor ook!
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What a fabulous and restorative day out. You saw so much and your photos are great. Thanks for sharing reconnecting with nature. I expect Marilize was just a teensy bit envious …
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So she was, Janet, and we also really missed her company. With the limit on the number of vehicles in the reserve set at 50 and being tightly controlled you could wait hours for a turn to pass through the gate over weekends, meaning that you have to arrive really early and long before gate opening time to secure your spot. That in itself is not a problem for the de Wets, but the possibility of becoming another crime statistic is.
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Glad you were able to recharge yourself with this trip. You’re lucky there is so much to see nearby. Wonderful pictures! I didn’t know you had shrikes there. One of my favorites – part songbird, part raptor.
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You’ll be glad to hear that we have several kinds of shrikes, or “butcherbirds”, here in South Africa, Siobhan, and some of them are really beautifully coloured (like the Crimson-breasted Shrike Joubert photographed here).
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Lucky you!
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Yep!
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It’s a real treat to view these today! I too, look forward to spending more time outside. Continued best wishes to you and all your family. 🙂
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Reconnecting with the natural world really is so important, Takami. I hope you get a chance to do exactly that soon.
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What a brilliant day, Dries. The birds and animals really put on a welcome back show for you. All the photos are wonderful but I was particularly struck by the waterbuck this time round.
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Very kind of you, Tracy. As always. Thanks very much!
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How marvellous that you and Joubert were able to get out! Your efforts were amply rewarded too.
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Absolutely just what the doctor ordered, Anne.
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What a wonderful collection of photos of beautiful birds and animals. Thank you for sharing your respite from CV19
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We’re only too glad that we could. Thank you, Anne.
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Fantastic gallery of wildlife that we don’t have in USA. Fascinating photos. Joubert takes great photos, too. Very interesting post, my friend. 🙂
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Glad we could show you something new, H.J!
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Beautiful photos! I’m glad you were able to get out.
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Thanks, Deb. So were we.
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Must have been wonderful to get out! Joubert has not lost his touch with photography. So good to see!
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It was wonderful to have us two de Wet boys and our cameras out exploring again, Lois.
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Superb photos! I am also looking forward to going out to nature and see wildlife again.
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Connecting with nature really is so important, Hien.
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