Tag Archives: Moreletakloof Nature Reserve

Watching a Common Moorhen chick grow up

Over the past several weeks we’ve been fortunate to watch the resident pair of Common Moorhen raise their chick at the little pond in the centre of our local Moreletakloof Nature Reserve.

We first noticed the parent pair with more regularity in late August, with the onset of warmer spring weather. Soon after, we had our first glimpse of the chick and since have returned to visit as regularly as we could – the dam always featuring on our hike at some point and usually we’re lucky to get at least a glimpse of the chick. The rate at which it has has grown is absolutely astounding and it will soon be independent of its parents.

Common Moorhen parent

Common Moorhen chick on 4 September 2020

Common Moorhen chick on 10 September 2020 being fed by one of its parents

Common Moorhen chick on 10 September 2020

Common Moorhen chick on 10 September 2020 being fed by one of its parents

Common Moorhen chick on 24 September 2020

Common Moorhen chick on 24 September 2020 being fed by one of its parents

Common Moorhen chick on 24 September 2020

Common Moorhen chick on 15 October 2020

The month of love is drawing to a close…

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We encountered these two love-struck plains zebras this past weekend while walking in our local Moreletakloof Nature Reserve. What a contrast to the fighting, kicking and biting zebras from Ithala Game Reserve we showed you a couple of weeks ago!

This is our final entry for the 5 Day Black-and-White Challenge, and it gives us great pleasure to invite our dear friends, Joey and Marks Culver, to join in the challenge. They are experts at black-and-white photography, and showcase their talents on their blog, mjculverphotography, which you really should visit if you’re at all interested to see exactly how black-and-white should be done! Marks & Joey, it’s no problem if you decide not to join in, as long as you know how much we enjoy your blog and appreciate your friendship!

There are only two rules for this challenge:

1. On 5 consecutive days, create a post using either a past or recent photo in B&W.

2. Each day invite another blog friend to join in the fun.

Moreletakloof, 2 February 2014

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There’s always something beautiful and interesting to enjoy in the Moreletakloof, our “local” nature reserve!

Moreletakloof Nature Reserve, Pretoria

Moreletakloof, 5 January 2014

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Suffering from extreme wilderness withdrawal symptoms – yes, we know we’re only back in the city for a week now 😉 – we headed to our local nature reserve, Moreletakloof, this afternoon for a bit of a “fix”.

Out and about

Moreletakloof scenery

Springbok

Moreletakloof scenery

Plains zebra

Blesbok

Guinea fowl

Face to face with nature…

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Joubert and I spent the afternoon strolling through our local Moreletakloof Nature Reserve today, encountering a variety of animals along the way and accompanied by a most relaxing chorus of birdsong.

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Now!

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We’ve just returned from a morning outing in the Moreletakloof Nature Reserve near our home, where we encountered this zebra. If you’d like, there are more photos from our trip here.

NOW

We’re participating in the online adventure travel and photography magazine LetsBeWild.com‘s Wild Weekly Photo Challenge for bloggers. This week’s challenge is “Now“

Moreletakloof – 27 January 2013

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Probably the best thing about living in Pretoria is that there’s a bunch of nature reserves very near to us. The tiny (100 hectare) Moreletakloof Nature Reserve is just one example: it is only 2.6 kilometers from our home, and early this morning Joubert and I headed there for a bit of walking. Despite it being overcast and drizzling we had a thoroughly enjoyable father-and-son experience, encountering a variety of birds and animals along the trail.

Ostriches are frequently encountered in Moreletakloof, and can be dangerous when protecting chicks.

Moreletakloof’s animals are quite habituated to the human presence

Zebra foal with an irritating itch in the ear

Impala

More impala

Red bishop

And even more impala

This small stream meanders from one end of the reserve to the other

Trail through thicket

Restored farmhouse from the late 1800’s now operating as a restaurant, with blesbuck grazing on the grounds

Blesbuck

Who’s watching who?

Beyond (2)

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Game viewing in the Moreletakloof – a tiny nature reserve smack in the middle of Pretoria’s eastern suburbs.

(this is our second entry for this week’s challenge – have a look at the first if you’d like)

Game viewing in Moreletakloof

Have a look at other bloggers’ interpretation of this week’s theme “Beyond”.

Inspiration

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de Wets Wild is inspired by spending time together in South Africa’s wild places – as in this picture featuring Dries and an eight-month old Joubert negotiating a trail in the Moreletakloof Nature Reserve in Pretoria, South Africa.