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First day and I saw the Big 5 at Kruger National Park

Dung Beetle Kruger National Park South Africa

Dung Beetles find where elephants have been

It is almost unheard of to see all the Big 5 at Kruger National Park in one day, but that’s what happened on my first day.

African Elephant Kruger National Park South Africa

OMG but these African elephants are Huge weighing in at about 5 ton.  Although they eat about 60 pounds of vegetation a day they only digest about 40 percent of what they eat leaving behind plenty for the dung beetles to enjoy.

Giraffe and White Rhinos Kruger National Park South Africa

White Rhinos aren’t white yet are seen more often than Black Rhinos.  They weigh about 1 ton.  Unlike the blacks, the whites herd their young in front.  Because they’re color blind, contrary to popular belief, they do not charge red cars or trucks.  But then we’re driving a white truck anyway so we’re safe.

Leopard Kruger National Park South Africa

The leopard is very difficult to see as it hides either in the tall grass or lounges on a tree branch.  Because they can only run short distances they usually drop or pounce on their prey.  We were lucky that a guide driving along the road directed us to this leopard taking a cat nap.

Female lion Kruger National Park South Africa

On the way back to camp we became part of a Lion jam along the road.  First two females came out of the bush pausing to call cubs, of which there were five.

Lion cubs Kruger National Park South Africa

Then along came two young males.  They like to sleep on the warm road overnight.

Lions Kruger National Park South Africa

I thought my heart would pound out of my chest as I held my breath watching these lions walk no more than 5 feet from the truck.

Buffalo Kruger National Park South Africa

Figuring we were damn lucky to have seen 4 out of the Big 5 we pulled up to the campground gate and saw the buffalo.

Sterling Silver Big 5 necklace Kruger National Park South Africa

Sterling Silver necklace of the Big 5

So why are they called the Big 5?  Not because they are the biggest animals.  The Big 5 are the hardest to shoot while on a hunting safari.  But of course we’re only shooting them with cameras.

Kruger NP, South Africa , , , , 30 Comments

Nature’s Story of a baby Javelina

Berta called me this morning and said very softly, “I’m holding a baby pig.” What?  A baby javelina.

I rushed over with the camera. The baby javelina is about the size of a loaf of bread, and adorable. It seemed content in Berta’s arms, closing its eyes as if to say, “finally warm.”

Four adult javelinas had found their way in and out of the still not quite fenced side yard. (click here for that story) Then she heard the baby crying. It’s pitiful, I heard it later. She waited for the adults to come back, but they didn’t, and the baby kept crying. So she grabbed a blanket and scooped it up.

Wasn’t long before the “family” made their way back to the freshly spread bird seed inside the fence. So Berta set the baby in blanket down outside her door. It eventually wobbled itself over to the adults trying to suckle and rub on all of them. They were patient and tolerant, even a little attentive, yet were also absorbed in snuffling up as much seed as the banquet would provide.

In fact they stayed for hours finishing up the feast. It is Christmas after all.

There is something wrong with the baby javelina’s back legs and it appears weak. Very small to be trying to keep up with the pack in cold weather. I suppose if you can’t keep up then you don’t survive.

We talked about what would be best to do and ultimately decided that nature would take its course. Later in the day we found the baby dead. Berta wrapped it in the blanket and I took it to the wash where it can go back to the earth.
Arizona, javelinas, wildlife , 14 Comments

Lijit

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