We’re fresh back from our visits to two of the lesser known National Parks in South Africa’s Limpopo Province; Mapungubwe and Marakele. We had a wonderful time and have lots of stories and photos to share in the coming weeks. This is just a little teaser.
Mapungubwe National Park 25-29 June 2022
Meeting place for three countries: The confluence of the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers
Red-eyed Dove (photo by Joubert)
Scaly-feathered Finch
Angry elephant (photo by Joubert)
Limpopo River at sunrise
Pel’s Fishing Owl (photo by Joubert)
Klipspringer Ram (photo by Joubert)
White-fronted Bee-eater (photo by Joubert)
Verreaux’s EaAdult Verreaux’s Eagle departing from the nestgle
Kudu Bull
Large-spotted Genet (photo by Joubert)
Mating pair of Lions
Lilac-breasted Roller (photo by Joubert)
Impala (photo by Joubert)
Mapungubwe’s interpretative centre has a model of the famous golden rhino
Misty morning along the Limpopo River
Misty morning in Mapungubwe
Meves’s Starling
Yellow-spotted and Cape Rock Hyrax sharing the sun in Mapungubwe
Baobabs dotting the Mapungubwe landscape
Iconic Mapungubwe: baobabs, elephants and rocky outcrops
Mapungubwe scenery
Lappet-faced Vulture (photo by Joubert)
Mocking Cliff Chat
Cottage #18 in Leokwe Rest Camp, Mapungubwe National Park, June 2022
Elephants at the Treetop Walk
Crested Barbet (photo by Joubert)
Gemsbok
Marakele National Park 29 June to 3 July 2022
Vervet Monkeys gossiping (photo by Joubert)
White-crested Helmetshrike (photo by Joubert)
Beautiful Lion in Marakele National Park (photo by Joubert)
Elephant cow that made sure we were well and truly out of reach of her family (photo by Joubert)
Sunset at Tlopi
Buffalo bull (photo by Joubert)
Tent #10, “Loerie”, at Tlopi Tented Camp in Marakele National Park (June-July 2022)
Klipspringer
Buffaloes visiting Tlopi (photo by Joubert)
Giraffe on the Kwaggasvlakte near Bontle in the Marakele National Park
Green-backed Heron (photo by Joubert)
Hamerkop (photo by Joubert)
Marakele scenery
Rock Hyrax
Visitor at Tlopi
Grey-backed Camaroptera
Redbreast Tilapia in the dam at Tlopi
Violet-eared Waxbill (photo by Joubert)
Southern Boubou
Crimson-breasted Shrike
Banded Mongoose
Western Stripe-bellied Sand Snake
Burnt-necked Eremomela
White Rhinos going for s stroll
White-crowned Shrike (photo by Joubert)
Elephant roadblock at sunset (photo by Joubert)
Black Rhino (photo by Joubert)
Marakele scenery
Southern Pied Babbler (photo by Joubert)
DeWetsWild 
Dries, lyk of jy jou kamera kan wegsit. Ene Joubert is besig om fantastiese foto’s te neem.Pragtige foto’s deur julle altwee!
Baie dankie, Dina. Ek is ongelooflik trots op Joubert se vernuf met die kamera. Ek glo hy gaan nog baie beter word daarmee.
Hy het ‘n goeie leermeester!
Jy is heeltemal te gaaf. Dankie, Dina.
Wow, looks as though you saw a lot there. I particularly liked the klipspringer picture. What precious looking animal.
We saw so much, Siobhan! There is incredible natural diversity in both Parks.
What a great collection of gorgeous photos. Thank you. These two parks are still on my list of parks to visit.
Thank you very much, Carol. When you do get to them I am sure you will have a wonderful visit. These are very special places.
Wow this is great! It is a long time that I visit your blog, but we’ll travel soon to South Africa and visit this parcs. Your pictures makes us even more exciting to look forward to your stories.
I am very glad to hear that you will be visiting Mapungubwe and Marakele, Antoinette! I know you will enjoy both places very much.
Die foto’s is regtig ‘n lusmaker … soveel mooi! Pragtige foto van die olifante by die baobab boom (dis kremetart boom, ne?) Dit lyk of julle weer ‘n groot verskeidenheid diere gesien het … o lekker, ek sien uit na jou posts!
Jy is reg, Corna. Die verskeidenheid van lewe in die 2 parke is ń belewenis. En ń baobab is ń kremetart in Afrikaans nes jy sê.
So ‘n pragtige versameling foto’s van alles wat julle daar gesien het!
Baie dankie, Aletta!
☺️
Nou het jul weer my verlange aangewakker met die krimetartbome so in die mistige omgewing. Mapungubwe was deel van ons geskiedenis in Potgietersrus. Limpopo is ryk aan geskiedenis goed en sleg! Pragtige klomp fotos wat baie vertel van hoe en wat daar is om te sien. Lilac-breasted roller is dit ‘n troupant?
Die geskiedenis van Mapungubwe was juis verlede jaar deel van Joubert se skoolkurrikulum, dus het hy die museum baie geniet.
Jy is reg oor die troupant, Ineke
Dis ‘n lekker stuk geskiedenis. Eks mal oor die steentydperk in SA.
Each of these enticing photographs holds a promise of some interesting posts in the pipeline 🙂
Thank you very much, Anne!
Superb photos, Joubert and Dries. Joubert’s photo of the elephant roadblock at sunset will stay with me for a while. The misty morning was pretty special too.
Thank you very much, Tracy. These are two very special parks and we had a great time. I am glad to know the photographs give a sense of that.
I look forward to the full series, Dries.
Looks like an incredible experience. The photographs are fantastic! Cannot wait to see more.
Very kind of you, thank you
Excellent photos in Mapungubwe National Park. Great work by two photographers. D, and Joubert. 🙂
Thank you so much, H.J!
The elephants were angry at both parks! Oh, the white rhinos going for a stroll is such a joy! Fat-bottomed girls….!
I knew you were going to love those ambling rhinos, Lois!
Welcome back! This is more than just a teaser. Lots of excellent shots from both of you. I like that misty morning shot (and all the rest.)
Thanks, Janet! Two beautiful places this and easy to come away with beautiful photographs.
Always love seeing your posts,
Thanks, Kelly!
Joubert has some amazing captures here. He got the exact right moment for the big birds flying overhead. I hope the angry elephant did not attack!
Joubert’s really becoming quite good with his photos of birds in flight, thanks Anne. And we’ll tell you more about those angry elephants soon!
I look forward to more posts!