Winner Photographers Competition November 2009

Congratulations to Janet Bloom (SA) for her winning entry – African Paradise Flycatcher. This photograph will be featured on our electronic newsletter which will go out at the end of the month (and credited to Janet).

Janet had the following to say about her submission:

“We saw this mom and dad feeding their chick at a lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve when it started raining. The dad swooped down and sat on the chick until the shower was over. A few days later, the chick had left the nest and was flying with the parents.” Continued

Sugar Bird & Spider by Leonard Browne (photograph)

This photograph of a Sugar Bird and Spider was submitted to our Novembers Photography Competition by Leonard Browne. The sugarbirds are a small family of passerine birds which are restricted to southern Africa. The two species of sugarbird make up one of only two bird families restricted entirely to southern Africa … Continued

Flightless Dungbeetle by Neville Cowan (photograph)

Dungbeetles seem to be a favourite sighting for visitors to South Africa, based on the number of photographs of dungbeetles that have been entered into our photographers’ competitions. Here is one of my favourites from our Photographers Competition November 2009, by Neville Cowen of the UK.

This particular dungbeetle was captured on film, in the malaria-free Addo Elephant National Park, which boasts the largest remaining population of this endangered beetle in the world. The main attraction of the Addo Elephant Park is the park’s 350 or so African Elephants. The Black Rhino and Cape Buffalo are also notable species, as are many other large herbivores, particularly antelope species such as kudu, eland, red hartebeest and springbok. Continued

All eyes on Cape Town (photographs)

The city is buzzing with visitors all here to enjoy what Cape Town has to offer in the lead up to the final draw for the FIFA 2010 World Cup which is happening on 4 December. Readers of the UK Telegraph recently voted Cape Town as their favourite city outside Europe and in Condé Nast Traveller’s Readers Choice, Cape Town was named top city in Africa / Middle East, and 4th in the world … Continued

Birds Eye View by Noula Bouwer (photograph)

Todays photograph was sent to us by Noula Bouwer as is entiled “Bird’s Eye View”. A great photograph of a giraffe, Noula has submitted a number of really great photographs to our current photography competition. You can see more of her entries at November Photography Competition. Giraffe are non-territorial, social animals that travel in large herds that are not organized in any way. They live in the savannas of Africa, where they roam freely among the tall trees, arid land, dense forests and open plains … Continued

Game Drive photograph by Justin Cohen

South Africa is a wildlife paradise offering umpteen numbers of national parks and game reserves. Although each game reserve offers its own dimension to game viewing, one common factor ties them all together: the regal big five of the South African wild world – Elephant, Leopard, Rhino, Lion and Buffalo. Game Viewing in South Africa is done either in closed vehicles (mostly in the National Parks), in open safari vehicles in the Private Game reserves and both day and night game viewing is available in private reserves … Continued

Vervet Monkey – mother and baby by Trudi Naude

Submitted to our November Photography Competion by Trudi Naude, this photograph of a vervet monkey (Cercopithecus Aethiops) and her baby is entitled “Hold on tight”. Different types of vervets vary in colour, but generally the body is a greenish olive or silvery grey. The face, ears, hands, feet and tip of the tail are black, but an obvious white band on the forehead blends in with the short whiskers … Continued

Eagle in Flight – photographs by Dror Orbach

These two photographs caught my eye when we received them as I think they are quite spectacular. Taken during a holiday to South Africa last year, they were sent to us by Dror Orbach from Israel. Dror has quite the eye for taking great wildlife photographs … Continued

Dwarf Chameleon photograph by Jennifer Peers

This amazing close up of a dwarf chameleon was sent to us by Jennifer Peers as an entry for our November Photography Competition. Jennifer has submitted some of the most beautiful photographs (see previous featured photo here). According to the Wikipedia entry for Cape Dwarf Chameleon (Bradypodion pumilum), it is native to the Western Cape where it is restricted to the region around Cape Town. Continued

Giraffe photograph by Erma Mae Perkins

This beautiful photograph of a Giraffe taken on a game walk in the Hluhluwe Umfolozi Game Reserve was submitted to our November Photography Competition by Erma Mae Perkins. Established in 1895, this is the oldest game park in South Africa along with nearby St Lucia Reserve. Apart from game viewing drives there are self guided auto trails which provide information on both the management and natural history of the Hluhluwe-Umfolozi game reserve. Guided walks can be especially rewarding in the early morning and late afternoon … Continued

Bashful and Beautiful – Waterbuck by Dror Orbach

Todays photograph of a female Waterbuck was sent to us by Dror Orbach from Israel, taken on a visit to South Africa in 2008. The waterbuck is not aquatic nor much at home in water, but it does take refuge there to escape predators. The waterbuck is a large, robust antelope with large, rounded ears and white patches above the eyes, around the nose and mouth and on the throat. Only the males have horns, which are prominently ringed and as long as 40 inches. Continued

Yellow-billed Hornbill photographs by Mhairi Kelly

These two fabulous photographs of a group of Yellow-billed Hornbills was sent to us by Mhairi Kelly. The Yellow-billed Hornbill is a medium sized bird, with length between 48 to 60 cm, characterized by a long yellow beak with a casque (only in males). The Yellow-billed Hornbill feed mainly on the ground surface, where they forage for seeds, small insects, spiders and scorpions. Termites and ants are a preferred food source in the dry season … Continued

African Paradise Flycatcher photo by Janet Bloom

Todays beautiful photograph is of an African Paradise Flycatcher taken by Janet Bloom in the Madikwe Game Reserve. Says Janet: “We saw this mom and dad feeding their chick at a lodge in Madikwe Game Reserve when it started raining. The dad swooped down and sat on the chick until the shower was over. A few days later, the chick had left the nest and was flying with the parents” … Continued