There’s no denying that Africa’s mega-mammals are a great attraction for visitors to our national parks, and being in close proximity to these majestic and charismatic animals remains a thrill we cannot ever tire of, no matter how often we have the pleasure to see them up close.
The Cape, of African, Buffalo may not box in the same weight division as the rhinos and elephants that also call Marakele National Park home, but they have a well deserved fearsome reputation, especially the cantankerous lone males, of which we saw quite a few while we were exploring the Park on our short visit last week.
With our white and black rhinos being so severely threatened by poachers it was heartening to have several good sightings of these prehistoric-looking animals at Marakele, and we realised again what a great debt of gratitude we owe the rangers who keep these animals safe on a daily basis.
An elephant roadblock is always a wonderful experience, but in Marakele, where the elephants are less used to having vehicles in their space, it can be downright exciting! It is important to give the grey giants lots of space and respect, so I am grateful that I can trust Joubert to get the shots while I keep the car pointing in the right direction!
Remember that DeWetsWild will gladly assist you with a reservation and planning if you’re interested in visiting Marakele National Park and making the most of your visit.
DeWetsWild 
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Thanks for sharing these incredible photos of these massive creatures! Quite a contrast from your tiny creature post I just read!
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That’s what i love about our National Parks – they’re filled to the brim with interesting subjects, big and small!
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Pingback: A more demure Marakele | DeWetsWild
Wonderful photographs!
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Thank you very much, Anne!
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They are so majestic!
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Undeniably so, Kathy, and seeing them in real life it is even more evident.
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Daardie horings van die buffels is ongelooflik mooi (en waarskynlik baie gevaarlik). En ja, dit is verblydend om deur jou foto’s te kyk en die pragtige renosters te sien. As ek kyk na die mooi olifant foto’s, verstaan ek hoekom jy en Joubert so ‘n goeie span maak 🙂.
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Baie dankie, Corna. Dat ek en Joubert n liefde vir die natuur en fotografie deel is vir my n groot seen!
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Jy en Joubert is bevoorreg om pa en seun van mekaar te wees!
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Love those pictures 🐘
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Thank you very much, Faith, and welcome here!
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Klompie mooi fotos van die reuse amper oer diere. Die een van olifant met sy slurp so op is so duidelik, beslis ‘n unieke kompetisie foto.
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Baie dankie, Ineke. Joubert was koel en kalm met die kamera onder groot druk!
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Beslis ‘n baie goeie einskap om koel en kalm te bly. Hy gaan nog ver kom met sy fotografie. Stel hy belang om dit sy werk te maak?
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Dis defnitief n opsie waarmee hy speel, Ineke, en hy neem nou al reeds ook fotos vir sy skool by hulle sport en kultuurgeleenthede!
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Dis goeie ondervinding. Ek sien as mens regtig ingaan op ‘n rigting is betaling baie goed. Mens moet natuurlik hard werk en eintlik eet slaap en drink fotografie. Het hy al ‘n kursus gedoen om meer inligting te kry om nog beter te doen? Daar is n goeie fotograaf wat besonder goed was wat Tina vir my ingeskryf het. Selfs die gevorderde jaar ook gedoen.
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Hy het nou al n paar sulkes bygewoon, Ineke, en gelukkig reel die skool se fotografieklub nou nog meer geleentheid daarvoor.
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Uitstekend. Hy gaan nog bekend word as hy so aangaan. Waarvan hou hy meeste? Natuur, mense of argitektuur?
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Natuur en sport is sy groot forte, Ineke
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Interessant genoeg het ek ook van die sport aksie fotos gehou om dit af te neem. Het natuurlik nou nie ‘n vreeslike kamera gebruik vir aksiefotos nie.
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Unieke foto… die van Joubert!
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Daardie foto bring vir my groot trots, Elsabe!
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I love these behemoths and I really like the photo of Joubert taking a photo. 🙂
Close, close game with New Zealand, especially with all the new faces. I do think Duarte is overrated although he’s an excellent kicker for conversions.
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Thanks, Janet!
As for the rugby, I really hope the team grows together and we end the season better than we started!
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Agreed!!!!!
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‘the grey giants’–I like that. This one was quite adamant about ‘my way or the highway.’ Wonderful shots of all these behemoths.
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Thanks, Lois. I’m sure you would’ve enjoyed getting so close to the big guy!
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haha! You know I would!
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