Beautiful South African Scenes

While on holiday in South Africa last month, we traveled from our home in the Free State to the Kwa-Zulu Natal Drakensberg to spend a night with John, Debbie and children. Driving back home after a wonderful reunion with the family (which I posted about in December), I managed to snap a few photos from the car. Below is a typical African scene of washing on the wire fence, with the magnificent mountains as a backdrop.

An idyllic and typical African scene ...

...of bright washing...

...draped over the wire fence surrounding a small Africa settlement

A few kilometers ahead I managed to capture the Sentinel Peak one of the highest free-standing peaks of the range (3166m or 10386ft).  It was also the first major peak to be climbed via a rock climbing route. This was in 1910 by W. Wybergh and Lt. N.M. McLeod.  

The Sentinel Peak, 3166m

John and Debbie have hiked the Drakensberg mountains since they were very young; John had his first taste of the 'Berg when he was 13 and Debbie can recall hiking from six years old! Their own children have also grown up in the Drakensberg and to date, the youngest "hiker" (carried on his dad or mum's back) is little Israel from the age of three months! His older siblings, Eryn (9 3//4), Joshua (6 1/2), Bethany (3 3/4) and Elijah (2 1/2) are all intrepid little hikers in their own right already!

Another typical and serene African scene with the Sentinel Peak towering over the huts

As we left the Drakensberg behind us and traveled up the pass towards the Free State border, we came across a troop of baboons that have inhabited these parts since forever. Normally these primates sit casually on the side of the road eating bits from take-away containers that motorists toss from their vehicles. (yes, this happens in SA; littering is not a punishable offense, more's the pity!) However, the road across these hills has been left to fall into great disrepair and very little traffic passes this way these days. This is a good thing when you consider that when the baboons heard our vehicle approaching, they turned tail and literally took off showing only their pink heels. I managed to get a fuzzy photo but we were thrilled that these animals are not being being spoiled by humans any longer!

The once tame baboons now run away from the sound of humans and their vehicles

At the top of the mountain pass, is Sterkfontein Dam which supplies Gauteng with water.  Apart from its practical  purpose, I just LOVE this massive body of water for the photo opportunities it provides. Not that we've ever often stopped for long enough for me to photograph it at length, but I have taken quite a number of photos from the back of the motorbike. This time I thought I would take my chances from a moving vehicle. Was I pleasantly surprised when I downloaded the photos...

Not only is this a massive expanse of water; on a calm day like it was that day, the water is a deep blue too

Driving home through the Golden Gate Highlands National Park    which I've posted about many times before, we stopped at the SANParks camp and cafe to buy a bottle of water. The name is derived from the sun which reflects off the sandstone cliffs, especially the imposing Brandwag (Sentinel - not to be confused with the Sentinel Peak I posted about above) which stands guard to the area. 

 The majestic Brandwag/Sentinel stands guard at  the Golden Gate Highlands National Park

A kilometer ahead is another specifically shaped mountain/rock formation: Gladstone's Nose. If you click here, you can read my post about how this rock got its name. 

 Gladstone's Nose 

Once again, I've endeavored to show readers a little more of my beautiful country: this time, Kwa Zulu Natal Drakensberg and Golden Gate Highlands National Park.   

I hope you're all having a wonderful week.

 

Birds on the West Coast of South Africa

While visiting our friends in the Southern Cape, the four of us rode down on two motorbikes from their home and business in Barrydale, to their holiday home on the Breede River. While walking along the beach I spotted a pair of African Black Oystercatchers with a third bird of the species.

African Black Oystercatchers

A close-up of the pair

And a quick-pic of the third bird nearby

The African Black Oystercatcher is still regarded as near-threatened but a locally common resident. Their nest scrape is normally near rocky kelp so I suspect this pair in the first two photos were not too far from their eggs or young.

Also quite common in the area is the Blue Crane which is South Africa's national bird. While we sat on the deck of the cottage we could hear these birds calling: a loud guttural Kraaarrk  but I couldn't get a glimpse of them. Then suddenly my friend said three birds had taken off from below and were flying in our direction. I panned up into the sky (very difficult for me, an amateur photographer!) and managed to get one of the birds as it flew over us. 

 A Blue Crane silhouetted again the clear blue sky (you'll have to take my word for it, LOL!)

After the weekend, we took a trip to the West Coast. While waiting at one of the many roadworks that we endure all over South Africa, Grant spotted a Sugarbird perched on a shrub beside the road.  I whipped out my camera and managed to get a photo - not very clear - but the very first photo I have of this beautiful little bird, which is prolific in the Cape Province. 

 

 A Cape Sugarbird perched on a protea bush  (South Africa's national flower)  at the side of the freeway

We continued towards the coast and stopped in Paternoster where we wandered along the seashore - me taking photos of the beautiful coastline and white homes dotted along it and the others in my party parrying with the many "kreef-smouse" /cray fishmongers selling wriggling crayfish/lobsters.

 Cape Gull at Paternoster on the West Coast of South Africa

After enjoying fish and chips on the promenade at Paternoster, we rode to a nearby town called Jacobsbaai. While the others ordered coffee and carrot cake at a famous restaurant called Weskusplek (famous because it's owned by popular South African singer, Steve Hofmeyer, )   I wandered to the edge of the little inlet of water in front of the restaurant. Apart from a couple of gulls on an island in the middle of the lagoon, I 'd also noticed a "different" bird and began to photograph it.  At first I was very excited because I thought I was seeing an African Penguin, but when I downloaded the images, I realized it looks more like cormorant!

 Mystery bird at Jacobsbaai

Later back at the B&B in Langebaan, I had the opportunity to photograph a beautifully patterned bird. The landlady sprinkles birdseed and maize on the car park patio and along with the pigeons, sparrows and other LBJ's, this bird enjoyed it's fill. 

Cape Spurfowl/Cape Francolin

The Cape Spurfowl, or Cape Francolin, is a gamebird of the pheasant family. This francolin is endemic to the southwestern Cape of South Africa. The Cape Francolin is found in open, scrub-like areas, preferably close to running water. Its nest is a grass-lined scrape under a bush, and six to eight eggs are laid (but sometimes two females will lay in one nest). This species can become very tame and will feed in gardens, by roadsides, or with farmyard chickens. It will run rather than fly if disturbed.The call is a loud cackalac-cackalac-cackalac.

I'm linking this bird and travel post to Wild Bird Wednesday. 

I've also provided links to the quaint villages we visited on the West Coast because: 

a) you haven't lived until you visit South Africa and

b) you will truly fall in love with my beautiful country when you visit the Cape West Coast.  

Penny for your thoughts?

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