World Elephant Day

The elephant has to be one of my favourite animals!

While they can get defensive if you invade their personal space, they are some of the most placid and beautiful natured creatures.

I remember once camping of the banks of the Kariba and in the middle of the night a large male elephant decided to eat from the tree that our tents where pitched under.

We were all terrified of this massive creature ripping off huge branches. But the irony was that the elephant could not have been less worried, and didn't show an ounce of aggression.

It is for this reason and many other great memories that I remember these wonderful creatures on World Elephant Day.

Joburg Patterns

When I'm searching for good shot I am constantly looking for patterns, textures and colours. Looking over Joburg train station, I'm offered all of those things. It's a really fun place to be!

Patience Makes Perfect

These waters birds have so much patience. They'll stand in one position, not moving an inch, for what seems like an eternity as they wait for a fish to cross their path. This particular bird is a grey heron.

When these birds stand on one leg like this it always reminds me of the joke; why did the heron stand on one leg? ... Because if he stood on none he'd fall over!!! 

Yes I know... it's a terribly lame joke.

Grey Heron

Innocence of Youth

Watching baby animals in the wild is a small pleasure in life. I love how even with all the dangers and unpredictability of the world they live in they seem so innocent and oblivious.

This young cub was pestering his mother to play with him. He would claw at her as she was dosing off. He continued at this until she eventually conceded and started playing back.

Lion cub playing with mother

The Lonely Hyena Cub

This is a baby hyena, not normally an animal known for its cuteness. But this little guy just makes your heart melt. We found him alone on the side of the road, driving back to our camp in the Kruger National Park. Either it was his time to leave his mother and fend for himself, or he had somehow lost his family. Whichever case it may have been, he looked so sad, with his head resting on his paw. It was very hard not to put him in the car with us and take him home.

Hyena Cub

Emerging From The Shadows

I find the rhino to be one of the most prehistoric looking creatures alive, and every time I see one I feel I've slipped back in time a few millennia. But for something that looks like it was designed to be a weapon, it is amazing how placid these creatures actually are. It's no wonder they are on the brink of extinction.

Rhino

Curious Monkey

Driving around Pilanesberg National Park (South Africa), I got particularly close to this little guy and his family feeding in the bushes next to the road. His youth and innocence made him far more curious  as to what this big hunk of metal was with faces sticking out than his family members. He stared long and hard at us with a face of wonder and bewilderment until he eventually ran off.

Curious Monkey

Weekly Photo: Ou Kaapse Weg

If you haven't visited Cape Town before let me start by saying YOU SHOULD! It is a fantastic city, with a huge diversity of culture. If you haven't visited Cape Town but you have visited another African city, be sure not to judge it as just another rundown African town.

Cape Town is this beautiful unique city nestled in a whole bunch of mountains (Table Mountain included) that so happens to be at the tip of Africa. Roads weave between these mountains, linking the various suburbs and seas. There is never an evening or morning that isn't perfect to catch the sun at the edge of the horizon.

Weekly Photo: The Graceful Pied Kingfisher