10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2013

A close encounter with a couple of White Rhinos gave me a good opportunity to get a proper look at some Red-billed Ox-peckers Buphagus Erythrorhynchus that often accompany them. Whilst the birds are usually associated with clearing ticks and dead skin, they are not averse to a bit of blood-letting.

Rhinos 160

Rhinos White Rhinos South Africa Birds 160

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2015

The annual number of rhino poached in South Africa last year rose to 1,215, Environmental Affairs Minister Edna Molewa told a media briefing in Pretoria two weeks ago. On average, over 100 rhinos were illegally killed each month. Molewa added that so far this year 49 rhino had been killed countrywide.

Rhinos 179

Rhinos South Africa Rhinoceros White Rhinos 179

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 14, 2021

This is the second post in the Birding crème de la crème series (the first, focused on southern Asia, is here ). The bird-richest region of Africa is its equatorial East: Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi (unlike the rest, the last one, Burundi, is politically unstable and not recommendable). Lake Nakuru.

Africa 246

Africa Kenya Uganda Tanzania 246

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2012

As visitors’ and the public’s interests expanded from the Big Five, and an appreciation for lesser mammals, birds and smaller wildlife has became more widespread, the term Little Five was coined. They are large, noisy birds of drier areas of East and southern Africa. Black Rhinos are best sought in South Africa, Namibia and Tanzania.

Buffalo 237

Buffalo Rhinoceros Elephants Leopards 237

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 19, 2023

Photos courtesy of Mosetlha Bush Camp A dusty-red road leads me through Marico bushveld deeper into the 750 square kilometers large wilderness of the Madikwe Game Reserve – the 4th largest reserve in South Africa, home to 350 bird and 66 mammal species, some 4 hours’ drive from Johannesburg.

South Africa 264

South Africa Africa Game Elephants 264

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 1, 2016

This is the thing—no matter how devoted you are to birds and birding, once you get to Africa, you can’t resist the mammals. This means you need to pack a mammal guide in addition to your bird guide. It’s a wonder we didn’t go into a tailspin from the sudden weight re-distribution. Believe me, I tried.

Rhinos 252

Rhinos Mammals Animal White Rhinos 252

10,000 Birds

JULY 11, 2013

A dusty-red road leads me through Marico bushveld deeper into the 750 square kilometers large wilderness of the Madikwe Game Reserve – the 4th largest reserve in South Africa, home to 350 bird and 66 mammal species, some 4 hours’ drive from Johannesburg. Here and there, eyes are shining, mostly numerous Scrub Hares.

Africa 226

Africa South Africa Elephants Rhinos 226