Every visitor to a game reserve in South Africa knows the “ooh’s” and “aaah’s” that are elicited during an encounter with the continent’s wild primates. These close cousins of ours are always a joy to watch, even if they can be quite naughty (especially when they’ve learned that humans equal feeding opportunities, so please don’t feed them). We were delighted to see some very large troops of Chacma Baboons around Satara during our visit in December 2021.
This of course presented wonderful opportunities to enjoy all their antics, and often from very close up!
The way they care for their babies is probably one of the most endearing characteristics about Chacma Baboons, even if the babies will struggle to win the baby photo competition at the local pharmacy…
Speaking about mothers and babies immediately brings to mind this loving mother Vervet Monkey and her young baby that we saw near Satara on the S100.
Of course, this is a very different side of the Vervet’s character from the pestering we witnessed them dish out to a pair of Water Thick-knees!
de Wets Wild 
Street photography in the park! I see you got well deserved comments on the image of the baboon’s hand. I love the story it tells.
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Thank you so much, John!
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That close-up of the baboon’s hand is absolutely incredible, and the faces of those babies? Priceless…❤️
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Thank you very much, Lori. The little ones really are so lovable!
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Daardie bobbejaanhand gaan enige naeldeskundige die horriepiep gee 😉
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Ja-Nee, sy sal maar haar hele middag moet uitboek om te probeer red wat te redde is! 😀
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Wonderful images Dries and what fun to see these friendly primates. The close up of the baboon’s hand and the velvet monkey mother and baby photos are especially beautiful 👏
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You are too kind, Xenia. Thank you.
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Ek kan hulle vir lank dophou en soms lekker lag vir hulle manewales … maar na ons kuiertjie in KwaZulu-Natal het ek gesien hoe stout hulle kan wees! Jy’t pragtige foto’s van hulle geneem – ‘n mens wil amper “ag moeder” se wanneer jy in daardie groot ogies van die kleintjie vaskyk!
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Dis jammer dat dit eintlik die mense is wat “stout” is om die ape in sulke moeilikheidmakers te verander. Dit kan n mens se vakansie-bui nogal omkrap as die ape in jou bungalow, voertuig of piekniekmandjie inkom en hulself help.
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Jy het weereens die mooiste fotos va hulle geneem, De Wet.
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Baie dankie, Una. Joubert het ook sy kant gebring.
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These are all delightful pictures of the baboons in action as nature intended. You have caught some lovely expressions and I really enjoy the photograph of the hand!
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Thank you very much, Anne.
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Daai baba gimnas foto is fantasties!
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Baie dankie!
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People always are pleased looking at primates. Of course they are wild and will act like any wild animals. They could be very destructive. Great photos, D. 🙂
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Thank you very much, H.J. You are right that they can be a real nuisance, and that is inevitably people’s own fault for feeding them.
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Eintlik kan mens ure sit en kyk na hoe die bobbejane reageer nie net op hul omgewing nie maar ook op die menslike indringing. Blouapies bly steeds te dierbaar vir woorde al is hul altyd op die uitkyk vir “moeilikheid”.
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Ek dink hulle is juis so fassinerend omdat so baie van ons “menslikheid” in hulle weerspieel word.
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Beslis so.
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