Ten of the most amazing African wildlife photographs on flickr!

Notice that all the following pictures are copyrighted, and cannot be downloaded unless written permission is granted by the photographers in person! Thanks for your comprehension!

Ground Hornbill Portrait

Impeccable eyelashes, don’t you think? I’m sure a lot of women out there envy its personal beautician… .

Photographer: Arno Meintjes.

Baby Hippo Cuteness

One reason why you simply cannot trust your dentist!

Photographer: Willie van Schalkwyk.

Location: Lake Panic, Kruger National Park (South Africa).

Back at the Den

Feeding time for these wild dog pups!

Photographer: Jose Cortes III.

Location: Savuti area, Chobe National Park (Botswana).

Lion Feast

“Bloody” great steak! Feeling hungry? Help yourselves…at your own risk! ;)

Photographer: Olivier Delaere.

Location: Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania.

Impala Strike

“No pain, no gain!” These bachelor warriors definitely mean business!

Photographer: Hennie van Heerden.

Location: Mala Mala Game Reserve, South Africa.

Mother Leopard and Cub

A well-deserved rest after a busy day at the “office!”

Photographer: Andy Goodman.

Location: Botswana.

Croc Fishing Tips

Down it goes!

Photographer: Peter Winnan.

Location: Sunset Dam, Kruger National Park (South Africa).

Support Southern African Photographers.

Elephant Close-Up

“Eye of the Tiger”, you said? Not exactly…

Photographer: Gerry van der Walt.

Visit Gerry’s Blog: http://www.photo-africa.com

The Lord of Darkness

Love the contrast between light and darkness, life and death! Absolutely stunning, huh?!

Photographer: Chris Eason.

African Pygmy Kingfisher

“Pygmy” in size, “Giant” in splendour!

Photographer: Peet van Schalkwyk.

Location: Kruger National Park, South Africa.

To hunt, or not to hunt? That is the question (and a very tough one indeed…)!  The issue is extremely controversial, and can be associated with another concern: is hunting good, or bad?

If you take the two extremes of the spectrum, animal rights activists (“anti-hunters”) will tell you that it is a total disgrace. On the other hand, for a number of reasons hunters will claim it should be allowed.

Both parties have their arguments (sometimes very pertinent ones), so the idea here is not to point the finger at someone but rather to look at both sides of the debate and to highlight some of the things that need to be enlightened further.

When Hunting is a Necessity

• For food/in order to survive.

While this argument is no longer as persuasive as it used to be (nowadays most of us go to the supermarket for food), some people (local tribes or farmers…) still rely on hunting practices to survive. In their case, hunting is more than legitimate: it’s a necessity for their own good!

• Impact on the environment and birth control.

In other instances, the proliferation of animal species has become such that it has reached its carrying capacity. In order to counteract this phenomenon, animal population can either be contained through sterilization, by relocating it, or by culling/killing it. Unfortunately, in most situations hunting is by far the least expensive and most effective way of dealing with the problem.

Let me give you a practical example to illustrate this. For my 20^th birthday, I was fortunate enough to visit one of Botswana’s most impressive game reserves: Chobe. Chobe National Park is renowned for having the highest concentration of elephants in Africa! Wonder how many they are? Over 50 000! Yes, you heard me right: 50 000 pachyderms wandering about in this precious piece of Eden!

While this statistic is encouraging for the overall African elephant population, the story locally is somewhat different. And boy, did I figure it out for myself! Most of the trees in the area had either been uprooted by the animals, or looked nothing like “real” healthy trees any longer. “Lunar”, that’s how the landscape almost felt like!

Needless to say that the elephant pressure, in this case, is having drastic effects on the local ecosystem and surroundings!

• Competition with humans and resources.

Overall, hunting can be used as a plague control, for animals seen as a nuisance (varmint hunting) or to keep a proper balance in nature. The latter is especially relevant to farmers, who get increasingly solicited by wild animals that trespass their properties, cause harm or ruin their crops!

When Hunting Becomes a Sport

• Trophy hunting is becoming extremely popular, especially in the West.
• Hunting is seen by many enthusiasts as a “fun” activity.
• Killing the “largest”, “most dangerous” and “rarest” animal species is all part of the competition.
• Heads or pelts of the animals are seen as a sign of “prowess”, and hunters “courageously” smile in front of the camera with their “well-deserved” prize.

Hunting Ethics

From the hunter’s perspective, hunting is good because:

- It contributes to wildlife in taxes.

- It generates income for local communities.

- It is part of human nature. Animals do not possess rights as we see them, and therefore can be killed.

From the animal activists‘ point of view however, hunting is not ethical:

- Animals never asked to be part of the “competition”.

- It might be “fun” to hunt, but not to be hunted.

Canned Hunting: When Hunting Crosses the Border Line!

A canned hunt, or canned hunting, refers to a hunting practice whereby the hunter is almost certain to get its trophy as the animals are being confined in a small area (such as fenced-in enclosures). According to Wikipedia, it is a “hunt for animals that have been raised on game ranches and farms until they are mature enough to be killed for trophy collections”.

It is a huge business, and some wealthy tourists are prepared to pay enormous amounts of money to kill a lion ($25,000 per cat or more…) or fell a rhino with a bow and arrow.

In South Africa alone, over 1000 lions are being killed each year in the canned hunt business. While attempts (by the Ministry of Environmental Affairs) have been made recently to ban this outrageous activity, business is pretty much still up and running.

The following video illustrates the situation rather well. Viewer discretion is advised!

Want to do something about it? Visit the “campaign against canned hunting” website, and make sure you sign the petition to ban this practice forever!

Speak Your Mind!

What is your view of the situation? Hunter or animal activist? For or against hunting? Speak your mind…

Ancient Beliefs

• In Ancient Egypt dung beetles, or scarabs, were worshiped.
• Egyptians believed that the scarab was a god that rolled the sun across the sky and buried it each evening.
• The sun emerged the next morning born anew.

Dung Beetle Facts

• Insects part of the Scarabaeoidea family.
• Feed partly or entirely on feces.
• 3 dung beetle types: rollers (roll balls), tunnelers (bury dung where they find it) and dwellers (live in manure).
• Possess super powerful front legs that can roll up to 50 times their own weight!
• Have been around for over 50 million years.
• There are over 7000 dung beetle species worldwide.

Dung Balls?

• Dung beetles remove dung from cows/wild animals and form dung balls.
• They have a very funny way of carrying around their “treasured prize”: heads down and bottoms up!
• Dung balls are the centerpiece of their new homes.
• Once they’ve picked the right spot, the beetles dig a hole to burry the ball.
• The female then lays her eggs in the new burrow.
• When the eggs hatch, they feed on the dung and renew the whole cycle.

Vital Function

• The abundance of dung beetles can be correlated with the abundance of flies. In other words, more dung beetles = less flies.
• The recycling of the dung aerates the soil and the nutrients in the dung ball nourish the Earth.
• Ultimately, this improves the nutrient cycle, betters the soil structure and encourages forage growth.

Just for Fun

Enjoy this fun dung beetle video by Rich Laburn (thanks man, you’re a champ ). And take a good look at the animal’s technique to know where it’s going…it rolls its ball, stops and climbs to the top to check its surroundings!

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila fasciatus

• White unspotted thighs.
• In flight the underwing is primarily white, and the upperwing is dark brown with characteristic white panels at the base of the primaries.
• Female larger than male and more heavily streaked in front.
• Juvenile has the underwing coverts and underbody pale rufous; darkens with age.
• Habitat: Woodland and savanna.
• Call: Musical ‘klee-klee-klee’ (whatever it means ).

African Fish-Eagle

Haliaeetus vocifer

Symbolizes Africa rather majestically! For more details, refer to my “Safari Bird Species” article.

African Crowned Eagle

Stephanoaetus coronatus

• Large size and hawk-like appearance.
• Dark grey above, and rufous below; breast and belly heavily mottled in black.
• Well-rounded wings and a long barred tail when in flight.

• Habitat: Evergreen and riverine gallery forest.
• Call: Extremely vocal “kiwi supporter” : ringing ‘kewee-kewee-kewee‘.

Bateleur

Terathopius ecaudatus

My favourite African eagle species out of them all.

• Black, white and chestnut plumage.
• Diagnostic wing shape and very short tail.
• Long wings held slightly angled upwards; rarely flapping when in flight motion.
• Male has a broad black trailing edge to the wing, whereas the female’s edge is narrow.

Male specimen (broad black trailing)!

• Immature individuals are brown.
• Habitat: Savanna.
• Call: Loud bark, ‘kow-wah‘.

Verreaux’s Eagle

Aquila verreauxii

• Also known as the “Black Eagle”.
• Unmistakable: in flight the wings are narrow at the base and broadening in the middle.
• White rump and back markings contrasting with the black plumage.

• Habitat: Mountainous regions with cliffs and crevices. Feeds primarily on rock hyraxes.
• Call: Melodious ‘keee-uup‘.

Martial Eagle

Polemaetus bellicosus

• Dark head, throat and upper breast + white, lightly spotted breast and belly and very dark underwings.
• Resembles the black-chested Snake-Eagle from below.
• Habitat: Variety of different habitats, from deserts to forests and savannas.
• Call: a rapid ‘klooee-klooee-klooee‘ in display.

Long-Crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

• Dull black plumage and long, wispy crest.
• Conspicuous white bases to the primaries when in flight + black & white barred tail.
• Male has white leggings, and a longer crest than the female.
• Female’s leggings are mottled brown/brown-and-white.
• Habitat: Wooded areas and marshy forest edges.
• Call: High-pitched ‘kee-ah‘ during display or when perched.

Fabulous video that illustrates the real benefits of intriguing conservation measures!      

Won’t say a word, just watch it! Enjoy!       

Broadcaster: NationalGeographic      

Problematic

• Rapid decline of big cats in Africa. Only 50 000 leopards left, 20 000 lions and 12 000 cheetahs.
• Conflict between humans (farmers) and cats (i.e. especially cheetahs).
• Farmers kill the felines/poison them for stocking their cattle.

Solution

• Anatolian sheep dogs.
• Cheetah Conservation Fund Initiative.

About Anatolian Shepherd Dogs

Anatolian shepherd dog (GNU Free Documentation License).

• Ancestors bred in Turkey to guard sheep and fight wolves.
• 6000 years of instincts. In other words, they know exactly what to do when they have to.
• Can weigh up to 70 kg: they have a very powerful neck and shoulders, and can run as fast as 75 km/h.
• Extremely independent.
• Raised with livestock as puppies (with very little human contact).
• Stay with the herd 24/7.

Results

• The dogs protect the flocks without hurting the cheetahs.
• Cheetah mortality is dropping (and so is livestock losses to other predators…).
• Farmers stop using bait to poison the animals.

Farmer Advantages

• Dog training and vet care is FREE.
• By taking good care of their dogs, farmers know the sheep dogs will look after the livestock.

Testimonials

“We’ve had zero losses where we use the dogs,” Mr. Knipe says. “They’re amazing protectors. Since we’ve gotten the dogs, everyone here has become cheetah-friendly.”      

Peter Knipe – South Africa.      

Anatolian shepherd dogs reduce livestock losses by 95 to 100 per cent.      

Cheetah Outreach – Charity.      

A list of facebook fan pages related to the African safari and wildlife industries!

If you feel like your fan page deserves to be added to the list, make sure you include it in the comments section! Thanks!

2AFRIKA

2AFRIKA, INC. is one of the world’s premier African destination management companies focusing solely on Africa. Headquartered in New York City, New York, they meticulously prepare travel arrangements to more than 18 African countries and Indian Ocean Islands.

Aardvark Safari Company – African safaris/game drives

Aardvark has detailed, in-depth knowledge of the properties available, and can arrange for you to stay in luxury lodges with spa rooms and swimming pools, or remote mobile camps in the heart of the bush.

Acacia Adventure Holidays

Acacia Africa is the leading African travel specialist. For over fifteen years they have shared & developed their knowledge of this diverse continent with the people of Africa & adventurers like yourself.

Africa Adventure Consultants

Armed with experience, knowledge and creativity, Africa Adventure Consultants can help you plan your next great adventure. They specialize in the following customized, award-winning safaris: luxury safaris, adventure trips, family safaris, affinity group travel and university groups, traditional wildlife safaris, honeymoon safaris and romantic trips, cultural adventures, gorilla tracking, trekking Kilimanjaro and other peaks in Africa, and safaris for experienced Africa travelers.

Africafreak - African Safari and Wildlife Specialist @ Your Service!

Africafreak is The African Safari Experience Revealed to You – A place for guidelines, tips and general information on safari destinations and African wildlife!

Africa Geographic

Africa Geographic is the continent’s premier wildlife and conservation magazine. ”It is founded in a celebration of Africa’s wild places and all the creatures living there.

Africa Unlocked

Having experienced the many faces of Africa over the last decade while working in the safari industry in Southern and East Africa, Albie and Freda Venter came to realize how profoundly a positive African experience can alter ones life. Being conservationists at heart, they pride themselves in offering eco-responsible trips and safaris to some of the most pristine and dramatic corners of the continent.

Africam

The World’s First Virtual Game Reserve uses webcams to display wild animals using real time streaming video encouraging eco tourism for lodges private and public featuring Tau, Tembe, Nkorho and Elephant Plains.

African Conservation Experience

Open your eyes to a whole new world and way of looking at the natural environment. They support vital conservation projects in heritage region of southern Africa and with over 10 years experience are able to offer every applicant the benefits of their personal knowledge.

African Conservation Foundation

The African Conservation Foundation is working towards the protection and conservation of Africa’s endangered wildlife and their habitats. Founded in 1999, ACF fills a unique niche by creating an Africa-wide network for information exchange and capacity building of conservation efforts in the region.

African Lion & Environmental Research Trust

Non-profit organization dedicated to the facilitation and promotion of sound conservation and management plans for the African lion (Panthera leo) in consultation with governments, wildlife authorities and communities.

African Safari Guides and Rangers

A platform for Safari Guides and Wildlife Rangers for networking and friendship.

African Trails Overlands and Safaris

African Trails have been running camping safaris/overland expeditions in Africa since 1980. Such were the success of these tours that, in the early nineties, they expanded into the Middle East.

African Travel

Africa experts with over 460 total years of combined experience in travel. Having lived in or traveled extensively through Africa’s top safari destinations, their specialists are dedicated to sharing their knowledge and customizing itineraries to match the unique desires of each traveler. All they sell is Africa!

African Wildlife Foundation

The African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) is the leading international conservation organization focused solely on Africa.

Ajabu Adventures Ltd

More than just an adventure! Based in Tanzania.

Conservation Safari

Be involved and enjoy an African wildlife conservation experience in the company of world renowned experts.

Elephant Listening Project

The Elephant Listening Project is a non-profit research venture using vocal activity to monitor the status and activities of elephants.

Elephants Without Borders

The largest mammal that walks the earth is now leading the way to help save vast areas of wild lands and the biodiversity they support. At EWB, they believe elephants are of considerable economic, ecological, cultural and aesthetic value to many people in the world and are one of Africa’s most valuable wildlife species.

ElephantVoices

Their goals are to advance the study of elephant cognition, communication and social behavior, and to promote the scientifically sound and ethical management and care of elephants.

E-Tourism Africa

A continental initiative to develop online tourism in Africa.

Explore Gorongosa

Their luxury walking safaris, Explore Gorongosa, are the first private safari activity to be offered within Mozambique’s Gorongosa National Park.

Eyes on Africa

Eyes on Africa was created with the vision of sharing the wonders of the African continent with those who are eager to explore some of the world’s most magnificent areas… areas that combine pristine, natural beauty, incredible wildlife, cultural diversity and remote, unspoiled and untamed wilderness.

Foxtrot Tours

Foxtrot Tours named after the dance “The Foxtrot”, aims to present and encourage you to experience Namibia at your own pace. “Slow paced, fast paced or any ol’ way you like it.”

Friend a Gorilla

Friend a gorilla is an initiative by UWA (Uganda Wildlife Authority) to promote and educate the world about Uganda’s mountain gorillas.

Getaway Magazine

This is the official Facebook fan page for Getaway, the travel magazine and website for both the grizzly adventurer and armchair-explorer in us all.

Going Africa Safaris

Going Africa Safaris is born from a passion and love for Africa. With the aim to provide the best safaris for a fair price.

Hills of Africa Travel

Hills of Africa Travel specializes in providing customized African safari tours. They offer spectacular adventures with personalized and customized service, guaranteed to provide you with the experience of a lifetime.

I Love Africa & Safaris

Enjoy having fun on the site as it guides you through creating the perfect safari package based on YOUR interests.

Ian Shoebotham Photography

Ian’s mission is to give further interest and awareness of African Wildlife. Discusses conservation topics, related stories from the wild and interprets issues of concern.

International Rhino Foundation

In 1993, in response to the escalating crisis facing all five rhino species, the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) was founded. The IRF is involved in programs both in nature and in captivity, both of which IRF believes are critical for the survival of rhinos.

Isilo Elephant Tembe

Official fan page of the Tembe Elephant Park: where the world’s largest elephants roam wild!

Janicke Håvardstun’s Wildlife Photography

Janicke has been working in Africa (as a volunteer) for 4 years in a row now. Working with lions, cheetahs, elephants, baboons, leopards and many other animals.

Jao Concession

A responsible ecotourism and conservation company. The reason they exist is to protect pristine wilderness areas and the flora and fauna – or biodiversity – that they support.

Kalahari desert

For all Kalahari desert fans out there! Did you know the term ”Kalahari” was derived from the Tswana word Kgala, meaning “the great thirst”, or Khalagari, Kgalagadi or Kalagare, meaning “a waterless place”?

Kalimba Reptile Park

A fabulous getaway just outside of Lusaka, Zambia. The owners are great friends of ours, and they have done an amazing job developing the facilities! Be sure to visit them if you’re in the area!

Ker & Downey

Delivering flawlessly executed, custom itineraries for over four decades. Reflecting your style, taste, and budget – choose from an award-winning suggested itinerary or build your own…

Kerry de Bruyn Photography

Kerry de Bruyn Photography specialises in capturing all things natural – wildlife, nature and landscapes.

Kilimanjaro

Kili fans, here’s your page!

Lewa Wildlife Conservancy

Lewa has embodied its mission as a catalyst for conservation. With a proven track record, the model of community-based conservation development is being spearheaded across northern Kenya, and emulated by other East African conservation organizations.

Lion Guardians

The Lion Guardians program attempts to reduce the pressure on lions by employing their greatest enemy (the Maasai warrior) to conserve them rather than kill them. Since the onset of this project there have been no lions speared on Mbirikani ranch.

Mapogo Lions

The Mapogos are a large coalition of male lions living in Sabi Sands Game Reserve.

Mara Triangle

In the year 2000 local leaders became concerned about levels of mismanagement in the Mara Triangle – one third of Kenya’s Masai Mara Game Reserve. As a result the Mara Conservancy, a non-profit organisation, was established to manage the Triangle on behalf of Trans-Mara County Council.

Marius Coetzee Photography

Marius Coetzee is a professional safari guide currently based in the world renowned Sabi Sand Game Reserve, South Africa.

National Geographic Crittercam and WildCam

The National Geographic WildCams bring you live streaming video of animals in the wild.

Plan Your Safari

Safari tips from experts: REAL experts!

Research Cam

Volunteer to assist with wildlife conservation in South Africa. Join the Ingwe Leopard Project team and help to make a real difference in wildlife conservation.

Rhino Africa

Planning a trip to Africa? Based in Cape Town, Rhino Africa are African experts and can organise an itinerary to suit your every need.

Rob The Ranger Wildlife Videos

Wildlife videos and stories from Rob the ranger, Sabi Sands, South Africa.

Rothschild Safaris

Rothschild Safaris are specialists who are from awesome Africa and are passionate about sharing the best from the land they love.

Sabi Sands Leopard Identification

A database of the leopards of the Sabi Sands (South Africa).

Save The Chimps, Inc.

Save the Chimps’ mission is to provide a permanent sanctuary for the lifelong care of chimpanzees rescued from research laboratories, entertainment and the pet trade.

SA-Venues

SA-Venues provides an easy online South Africa Travel Guide to assist you with the planning of your travel arrangements to South Africa.

Soul of Africa Safari Company

Soul of Africa Safari Company was founded with the dream of sharing the magic and soul of Southern Africa with individually minded travellers.

South African National Parks

South African National Parks, (SANParks), manages a system of parks which represents the indigenous fauna, flora, landscapes and associated cultural heritage of the country.

The Africa Travel Blog

Start a journal and share your Africa travel stories, pictures and experiences with friends, family & the whole world on The Africa Travel Blog.

The David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust

The trust is dedicated to the protection and conservation of wildlife and habitats in Kenya.

The lions of Africa

The aim of this page is to foster discussion and action regarding the wholesale slaughter of the majestic Lion.

The Serengeti

Facebook page for all the fans of the Serengeti National Park!

Travel Rwanda

Discover a new place, a new adventure, new friends and unimaginable beauty. Discover Rwanda!

Travelwires

Travelwires is a blog on business to business travel and tourism news in Africa. Tourism operators and suppliers make the bulk of the readers.

Uwe Skrzypczak

German wildlife photographer, sharing his passion of the bush with the world. N.B. Most of the content is in German!

Virunga National Park

Official fan page of the Virunga national park, DR Congo.

Volcanoes Safaris

The No. 1 Gorilla Safaris Company – Volcanoes Safaris is a unique great ape ecotourism business specializing in mountain gorilla safaris to Uganda and Rwanda.

Wild life – The big 5 in Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda – Tours 2 East Africa

The aim of Tours 2 East Africa is to give tourist worldwide a unique experience as a Tour Operator all over East Africa.

WildEarth.TV

WildEarth.TV (WE) strive to be the world leaders in the LIVE broadcasting of wildlife. Whether that broadcast is on TV or the web.

Wildlife Film Academy

Inspiring the next generation of dynamic wildlife filmmakers!

WildlifeDirect

WildlifeDirect was founded in 2004 by Dr Richard Leakey with the view of creating a virtual endowment that would available to conservationist in times of crisis.

WWF South Africa

WWF is one of the world’s largest and most respected independent conservation organizations, with almost five million supporters and a global network active in more than 100 countries. WWF stands for the World Wide Fund for Nature.

Jambo rafiki!

Just got an incredible email the other day from Uwe Skrzypczak, a professional wildlife photographer currently spending some time in the Serengeti National Park! I am so excited to share with you what he’s experienced lately. Here’s what he has to say:

On Friday, we had followed the gnu herds in vain (for over 6 hours) and were about to take a meal when our Driver guide stormed through the Ndutu Lodge restaurant. He said that a half hour ago 7 wild dogs were sighted only 3 kilometers away, on the way to Lake Masek. African wild dogs have been regarded as extinct in the Serengeti for over 20 years, therefore we firstly didn’t take the info seriously at all. I said to him: ‘tourists must have mixed up the Bat-eared fox with wild dogs’. Nevertheless, we jumped into our jeep and after 5 minutes had the animals in front of the camera. Photographers get such a stroke of luck only once in a lifetime, and this was definitely one of those moments!

What a lucky bugger, believe it or not but painted dogs are one of the rare animals I am yet to have encountered in the wild (the zoo simply doesn’t count). Perhaps I’ll have to travel with him next time I venture on an African safari!

The following is a series of shots he took while on the scene. I’ve also included key wild dog facts for those of you who might be unfamiliar with this endangered species.

Scientific name: Lycaon pictus.

General particularities: Outstanding hunters, with a success rate of about 85 percent. They are often known as “killers in carnival suits”.

Shoulder Height: 65 cm; Mass: 24-30 kg; Gestation: 69-70 days.

Social structure: While 5-20 individuals is usually the norm, they can sometimes be observed in packs in excess of 30-40 members. 

Diet: Wild dogs feed on a wide variety of different animals, from small antelopes to larger prey (including domestic livestock).

Water-dependent? African wild dogs drink regularly although they may go without water for long periods of time.

Noise: Produces a clicking sound and has a deep, hoarse bark.

Speed: African hunting dogs are swift runners, and can maintain speeds of around 45 km per hour for almost 5 km.

Since it would be impossible to recall them all, I decided to list some of the ones I’ll cherish forever:    

- First animal ever encountered in the wild: Black rhinoceros, Nairobi National Park (not bad for a first, don’t you think?)! It crossed the road right beneath our eyes!    

Rhino Crossing (White Rhino)!

- A pressing need that could’ve been costly: Serengeti National Park entrance gate. My father was in an urgent need to go to the bathroom and chose a bush not too far from the car. About 5 minutes after he had come back, I said to him: “dad, check it out!” A HUGE 200 kg male lion was standing besides the exact spot where my father had done his business! VERY CLOSE!     

The Lion King Himself!

- Lone buffalo bull in the penumbra: Ruaha National Park, Tanzania. The lodge where we were staying at was right by the river, and it wasn’t fenced off (wild animals roaming around). It was almost dark and my mother and two sisters had decided to join us at the restaurant.     

For security matters, Maasai warriors usually stand by the chalets, but for some odd reason no one was there when they decided to leave the room. So anyway, on their way to meet us they bumped into a lone buffalo bull. As you may know, solitary buffalos are sometimes known for their aggressive behavior and should be handled with care…    

Needless to say that they got a huge fright! Luckily, one of the staff members saw the scene and scared the animal off with some stones.    

- An unhappy fellow: Serengeti Park, playing around with my cousins (about 12 years old at the time). I was standing on a small kopje when I literally got attacked from behind by an unhappy hyrax! Must’ve been disrupting his “nap” or something as it was clearly not happy to see us!     

Looks cool, can be vicious!

- Ecotraining experience, Timbavati (South Africa). Spent 28 days of magical moments learning about the fauna and flora of the African bush! Totally recommended if you’re looking for an unforgettable experience in the middle of nowhere.   

Some of the highlights of my stay included big 5 sightings, a sleep out in the bush, a lion kill right next to our camp (we could actually hear the kill as it was happening; freaky), and incredible tracking and walking safaris!    

What’s Your Safari Story?

Any anecdote or safari story to share? What’s your ‘unusual’ encounter? Drop me a line in the comments section, I’m curious to hear them all…Cheers!

If you missed out on last night’s “twitterview” (interview on Twitter), I thought I’d share with you the transcript. All in all we had a lot of fun, and the feedback we got from it was quite interesting!

A huge thank you to Melvin Boecher for inviting me on his #Q&A session!

Here it is, enjoy!

*Melvin’s tweet:* (please RT)

#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak Hi Michael, thanks for being my
Twitterview partner. First, let us explain what we are doing.
___________________________________________________________________
*Melvin’s tweet:* (please RT)

#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak It’s simple! We are having an
interview… the twitter way. Short & informative!
___________________________________________________________________
*Melvin’s tweet:* (please RT)

#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak To be a part of it, just follow us
or follow/search for “#Q&A” (Question & Answer). Easy as that.

#Q&A NEW FEATURE: YOU can send me a DM with a final question! I will choose one & @Africafreak will answer it… I hope.
___________________________________________________________________
*Melvin’s tweet:*

#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak Let’s begin! Ur an African Safari & wildlife expert & U are running ur own website!
________
#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak Let’s start with a tough question! What’s your favorite National Park in Africa & why?
___________________________________________________________________
*Michael’s tweet:*

#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes Sure, tough question indeed… I guess I’d have to go with the Serengeti.
________
#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes It’s got everything: abundant wildlife & incredible scenery! http://su.pr/4VsVB5
____________________________________________________________________
*Melvin’s tweet:*

#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak Yes, the Serengeti is great & is very famous for the ‘Great Migration’ of wildebeest & zebras.
________
#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak Have you been there to see it?
___________________________________________________________________
*Michael’s tweet:*

#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes Yes I have on a couple of occasions, though it’s been a while. Did you check the park’s latest update?
___________________________________________________________________
*Melvin’s tweet:*

#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak No, what are the latest Serengeti news?
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*Michael’s tweet:*

#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes Well believe it or not but I just read yesterday that Uwe (friend of mine) saw some wild dogs…
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#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes they had been out of the park for over 20 years! Pretty cool, huh? I’m so jealous…
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#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes It’s one of the only African animals I have NEVER seen! Have you?
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*Melvin’s tweet:*

#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak No, but that’s not a big deal, only been once on Safari so far.
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#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak We’ve explored Tanzania by self drive 4×4. That was fun & I can recommend it to others. http://su.pr/1×85Gk
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#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak The wild dogs sound interesting, but I still don’t get it all… what’s so special exactly?
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*Michael’s tweet:*

#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes What I mean is the animals were believed to have gone extinct there…until now!
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*Melvin’s tweet:*

#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak Now I get it! lol That is amazing! I hope you’ll see them soon, too.
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#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak Was there ever a situation on a safari where you felt a bit scared?
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*Michael’s tweet:*

#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes Not necessarily scared per se, but where things got a little shaky yes!
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#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes Got mock-charged by elephants on several occasions, had a few close encounters with lions, etc.
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*Melvin’s tweet:*

#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak Mock charged? Tell us more…
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*Michael’s tweet:*

#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes Yep, mock-charged: meaning the animal is feeling threatened…& is feinting an attack…
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#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes But if you approach too much…then they REALLY charge! Not to be underestimated…
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*Melvin’s tweet:*

#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak Experiences you won’t forget…I guess. Do you have any useful info for Safari ‘greenhorns’ like me?
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*Michael’s tweet:*

#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes Yep! Make sure u get ur FREE Safari Tips 101 Ebook: Tips & Tricks 4 ur African Safari: http://su.pr/1AO9yn
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*Melvin’s tweet:*

#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak That sounds very interesting & the e-book is for free! http://su.pr/1AO9yn What will travelers find in it?
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*Michael’s tweet:*

#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes Everything from where to go, what to do & take…photography tips, safari activities, etc. Very complete! http://su.pr/1AO9yn
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*Melvin’s tweet:*

#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak Do you have any safaris planned soon? Where will you go?
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*Michael’s tweet:*

#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes Recently got back from South Africa where I had a lovely time. Nothing planned as yet…
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#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes But if I had to choose 4 a specific destination right now I’d go 4 the Okavango Delta (Botswana)!
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*Melvin’s tweet:*

#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak When being on Safari. What kind of accommodation do you prefer? A luxury lodge or a tent next 2 ur 4×4?
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*Michael’s tweet:*

#Q&A @Africafreak 2 @traveldudes I’d go w/ the tent w/out 4×4 lol! Can’t really compare: depends whether u wnt 2 exprience REAL Africa or not!
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*Melvin’s tweet:*

#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak Sounds like we’ll have to do a safari together in the future!
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#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak What’s your insider #travel tip for travelers who are exploring Africa?
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*Michael’s tweet:*

#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes Can’t rely on public transport 2 be on time somewhere. Compass, map & hat = must!
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*Michael’s tweet:*

#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes POLE POLE (slowly slowly) is Africa’s favorite leitmotiv! No need to be in a rush…
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#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes In other words, you get there “when you get there”!
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*Melvin’s tweet:*

#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak “Hakuna Matata!” = “No problem!” That’s what I remember.
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#Q&A @Traveldudes to @Africafreak FINAL QUESTION BY @TravelDesigned Is it safe to travel in Africa?
#Q&A @Traveldudes to @Africafreak FINAL QUESTION BY @TravelDesigned It seems like there is so much unrest in many of the nations.
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*Michael’s tweet:*

#Q&A @Africafreak to @Traveldudes @TravelDesigned 1st of all notice that travel operators will not venture in countries considered “unsafe”!
#Q&A @Africafreak to @Traveldudes @TravelDesigned & 2nd Africa is often portrayed as such in the media. While there is some truth in this…
#Q&A @Africafreak to @Traveldudes @TravelDesigned …1 cannot generalize. As a whole u must take ur precautions like in most big cities
#Q&A @Africafreak to @Traveldudes @TravelDesigned But in my opinion, Africa’s wonders BY FAR outlast all the “wars” & political woes…
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*Melvin’s tweet:*

#Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak What a nice & interesting Twitterview! Thanks a lot & watch your back for rhinos on your next safari!
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*Michael’s tweet:*

#Q&A @Africafreak to @traveldudes HAHA lol! Thanks so much 4 having me Melvin, & what a great initiative! Cheers Africafreak
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END________________________________________________________________

What the Followers Had to Say…

GoApril Pack light & bring your camera #Q&A @traveldudes to @Africafreak What’s your insider #travel tip for travelers who are exploring Africa?

kimberkoz #Q&A @traveldudes What is the best Iphone app for travel blogging?

africafreak @kimberkoz Check These Top 20 iPhone Travel Apps http://su.pr/8Z6jQg #Q&A @traveldudes What is the best Iphone app for travel blogging?

traveldesigned @traveldudes Thanks for choosing my ? and @Africafreak thanks for answering–I knew the answer but was testing you–hehe!! #Q&A

IsabellesTravel @africafreak and @traveldudes Thanks for the interesting #Q&A twitterview!!

KergElaine @Africafreak Random question: does anyone show up 4 a safari wearing pith helmets anymore? I think they’re so hot LOL! #Q&A

When profession rimes with passion…   

Soham Mukherjee is a professional herpetologist who works closely with incredible (yet very unpredictable) animals: crocodiles, snakes and arachnids. While he is not based in Africa he still gets to handle African species, especially West African Dwarf Crocodiles and Nile crocs.   

Soham is kind enough to share his passion for animals with us: I’m sure you’ll thoroughly enjoy this interview!    

Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris)!

1. Soham, tell us a little about yourself/your personal background?   

Zoo was the most interesting thing that happened to me at the age of 3 years. I was so obsessed that I had to be taken there almost every day for a visit! I would spend a lot of time observing each animal so my parents, aunt and granny used to take turns taking me to the zoo. It was such a pain for them to spend 3-4 hours carrying me around.   

I grew up in Ahmedabad city in Gujarat state (India). Our earlier house was in a densely populated residential area in the city. The only wildlife around were squirrels, pigeons, kites, crows and ants. Watching ants was my favorite pastime! We shifted to a new house which was then in the middle of nowhere and that’s when I advanced to the next level. Our house was surrounded by fields; full of snakes, monitors, scorpions, birds, mongooses and a lot more. It was like a giant walk-through enclosure housing multiple species. Our house was often visited by snakes and that’s where I caught my first snake, a Bungarus caeruleus (Common Krait). I was 12. Young and crazy!   

I started collecting snakes, monitors and later on scorpions for my own little ‘room-zoo’. I only got crazier as I grew up, with more and more animals. I had started ‘rescuing’ people by removing unwanted snakes from their property. Good looking specimens always had a vivarium ready for a comfortable stay! At age 17 I figured I was getting rather good at captive management of animals. At this time I had 44 species of animals including snakes, lizards, amphibians, turtles, tortoises, arachnids, birds and small mammals. The best part – my parents didn’t know about this!    

So now I thought why not put this experience to some good use. This is when I joined a wildlife rehabilitation centre, and later, headed the same (this is when I came to know that most of the animals that I was keeping were protected under the Wildlife Protection Act of India! Oops!). I bunked college to work at the rehab centre. Working here gave me huge opportunities to work with a wide variety of animals and some really awesome people from HSI, BNHS and ZSL who helped me set up standard protocols for wildlife rehab at the centre. I worked shortly with an outdoor adventure based learning company (ANALA Outdoors), Centre for Environment Education and the Ahmedabad Zoo. I realized that nothing excites me more than reptiles, especially snakes, and I have since been full time in love with them!   

2. Where are you based?   

Currently I am based at The Madras Crocodile Bank near Chennai, South India, where I work.   

3. What is your profession?   

I’m proud to say that my passion is my profession! I work at the Madras Crocodile Bank (thanks to Gerry Martin and Rom Whitaker) working with my favorite animals. I basically do my bit in the captive management of animals here, help with some in-house research and some education work. One of my favorite perks is the opportunity to train crocodiles as a part of their behavioral enrichment program and management strategy.   

Training a young alligator!

4. What made you fall in love with exotic animals? At what age? Have you always wanted to do what you do today?   

I was always into animals but unfortunately in India there’s little scope of working with exotic animals except for some birds. Exotic animals as pets are still in its primary stage. Most of the animals that I have worked with are native to India. It is only now that I get a chance to work with some exotic crocodile species at the Croc Bank. As I mentioned earlier, I was 3 when I fell in love with the zoo holding both exotic and native animals!   

People often ask what inspired me or what motivated me to get into this. I find it difficult to answer this because there wasn’t anything like that!! I instinctively (that’s the closest word to describe it!) got into this. And yes, I always wanted to do (this and more!) what I do today. I left my degree in computer applications for this!   

5. Why herping and not something else? What’s so special about such animals?   

Herps are surely on top of the list but the list is long! I love herps because they are one of the most difficult animals to understand and I love to explore their lives. You keep on learning new things all the time. With every new discovery, you are left with a world full of speculations. It is endless!   

6. Take us on a typical day at work…what do you do?   

Well, I start my day with a walk around the park, assessing the animals and any specific enclosure needs. With around 2500 reptiles (mostly crocs), there’s always something to be done. After the round, I go to my office to respond to loads of emails regarding animal exchange programs, herp husbandry inquiries, reptile rescue/release issues, career in herpetology inquiries, identification inquiries, etc. I also maintain the animal records in a software by International Species Information System.   

I also participate in egg collection (awesome fun, especially with Salties, Siamese and Nile crocs!), processing and incubation. Neonatal management during the hatching season requires special attention. I do some enclosure enrichment when needed.   

Post lunch, it’s time for croc training sessions! I am now working with 26 individuals of 10 species. The training program is part of the behavioral enrichment for crocs (and for me ). I end my day with feeding the Draceana guianensis (Caiman Lizards) and some selective feeding to individuals that need special care.   

Apart from this, I supervise some of the ongoing research projects and help with the education programs. Occasionally, I assist our veterinarian with treatment.   

7. Do you ever get scared about your daily activities (I’d certainly be scared… )?   

Oh ya! Crocs and venomous snakes are potentially dangerous animals to work with. It is the fear that keeps me on high alert when I am working close with them. The moment you lose the fear and start acting rather casual, you are a threat to yourself.   

Seems rather relaxed, doesn't he?!

8. Any stories or anecdotes you’d like to share with us?   

There are loads and loads of super interesting things to share! I could keep on writing forever. However, I’d surely like to share a couple at least.   

We have always known Gharials as exclusively fish-eaters but I was fortunate enough to be at the right place at the right time to photo-document a Gharial catching and eating a Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis). This is probably the only photo-documentation ever! I was so amazed and exciting to witness this.   

Once I had caught a Xenochrophis piscator (Checkered Keelback) and thought I’d killed it. Later I figured that the snake had mastered the art of letisimulation (playing dead!). This is again the only record for this species and I got it on video! And then of course there’s this whole thing about crocodile training. I was once laughing at the concept and now I am the biggest supporter. It is unbelievable how intelligent they are and how fast they learn.   

9. Any accidents while handling animals perhaps (nothing serious I hope), or situations where things got a little shaky (out of hands…)?   

Only once! I got nailed by a Naja naja (Spectacled Cobra) back in 2006. I was in a hurry and it was a dark rainy night. This won’t happen again as I know what went wrong and I’ll never let it happen again.   

10. Some people are supposedly capable of communicating with animals. Do you consider yourself one of them? If so how do you do it… special gift?   

Most of the animals that I have worked are not very expressive, especially reptiles. But there isn’t a lack of communication. It is just a bit subtle. A lot of it depends on your ability to read their body language.   

It is kind of strange because I myself don’t know how I do it; maybe it is a special gift!   

11. Do animals recognize you as a person/can they sense your presence (recall your voice, etc.)?   

When you keep a distance in terms of interacting with the animals, they don’t really feel the need to recognize you but when you work closely with them, I do feel (and I am sure of it) that they recognize you and in some cases, respect you.   

You would probably know that mammals positively recognize people but I have found the same with birds of prey, crocs, monitor lizards, water birds, etc. while training them. They recognize the trainer by physical appearance and voice.   

12. Anything else you’d like to tell us? Advice for people who’d like to pursue the same kind of path?   

You need pure passion to pursue this path and if you have the passion, you wouldn’t need my advice For people who are still in the process of figuring out what they want to do, the best thing is experience it at least once before you get into it. This will help you decide if your decision is the right one.   

Thank you Soham!    

Visit his blog!