The Victor and the Vanquished (Duel at first light – the series)

Early into our December holidays, we came upon two black wildebeest bulls squaring off in a territorial tussle near the Basotho Cultural Village in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park. At the onset they appeared evenly matched, sometimes wrestling each other right to the ground with their horns interlocked, entirely oblivious to the human spectators. Reasonably quickly one triumphed and sent his rival running, the entire fight lasting all of one exhilarating four minute long round.

Golden Gate has a substantial population of black wildebeest, and is one of the best places to go searching for these endemic South African creatures.

As the sun rises on 2017

Happy New Year everyone!

With the sun rising on 2017, what better way to start than with a few sunrise pictures from our recent visit to Golden Gate Highlands National Park?

 

2016 South African Blog Awards

Today is the last day for voting in the SA Blog Awards. Thank you to everyone who’s already voted for us; we really appreciate the support!

Our 2016 in pictures

Looking back on another year of enjoying South Africa’s beautiful wild places!

Quick wrap-up from Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park

We’re back home in Pretoria after our 10 day Christmas-in-the-Bush holiday. We didn’t have very good internet connection at Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, the last stop-over on our trip, and couldn’t post our usual daily photo. For now though, herewith a few photographs from HIP just as a teaser with a promise of lots more to come soon!

 

 

 

Coming to you live from Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park!

After a long drive from the Drakensberg we’ve arrived safely at the big game haven that is Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park!

(Seems we struck it unexpectedly lucky with the connectivity this evening!)

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Enjoying a sunnier Royal Natal

Good evening from a much drier Royal Natal National Park, where we used the opportunity provided by the shining sun to explore some of the myriad trails that traverses this beautiful piece of earth, enjoying scenes like this along the Mahai stream.

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Tomorrow we’re heading for the Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park, and may not be able to post regular updates until we get back home to Pretoria (though we will try). If you don’t hear from us again before then, here’s wishing all our friends at de Wets Wild a blessed Christmas!

 

 

A Century Old Royal

We’ve arrived to a stormy, wet reception at the next stop on our December holiday itinerary: the Royal Natal National Park, which celebrates its centenary this year.

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Golden Gate Sunset

Just another sunset in beautiful Golden Gate Highlands National Park

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Duel at first light

Early this morning we were treated to the spectacle of two black wildebeest bulls locking horns over a disputed territory near Basotho Cultural Village in the Golden Gate Highlands National Park.

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We’ll share the whole sequence when we’re back home after the holidays.