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South Africa - Adventure Through the Wild (Game Drive Experience)

Updated: Nov 1

African Safari. Commonly referred to as "The trip of a lifetime", "Life changing; an experience you'll never forget", "What happens in Africa, stays in Africa" ... ok, so that last one is normally reserved for Vegas, but then again you never know. 😂


While a recount of our entire trip will be way too lengthy and definitely wouldn't be considered a "quick read", I wanted to showcase the beautiful, exotic, and ferocious animals we encountered on our Adventure Through the Wild.


With that being said, enjoy the photos and fun facts. Also, I'd love to hear from you all if you've had similar experiences or even have a fun fact to share.


(Sighting rating ⭐ = very common to ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ = STOP...grab your camera!)

(Photos taken on a Canon T1i, 100-400mm zoom lens ... a MUST HAVE for any safari)

(Animal facts from: game drive - a safari guide greater kruger, third edition - van den berg. Game Drive: Heinrich Van De: 9780620419352: Amazon.com: Books)



Killers and Scavengers


Black-backed Jackal ⭐⭐⭐

  • Fun Fact: Forms single partner bond for life

  • Social structure: Travel in pairs, shy, territorial

  • Life expectancy: 10 years

  • Gestation: ~ 2months



Lion ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

  • Fun Fact: When a new male coalition takes over a pride, they usually kill the cubs of the previous male to promote the new coalition's own offspring

  • Social structure: Pride, brotherhood

  • Life expectancy: ~20 years

  • Gestation: ~3.5 months



The Giants


Hippopotamus ⭐⭐⭐

  • Fun Fact: These lone grazers consume up to 40kg daily

  • Social structure: Sociable, groups

  • Life expectancy: ~54 years

  • Gestation: ~8 months



White Rhinoceros ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

  • Fun Fact: Second largest land mammal, rare and endangered

  • Social structure: Solitary, territorial

  • Life expectancy: ~45 years

  • Gestation: ~16 months



African Savannah Elephant ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

  • Fun Fact: They intimidate intruders by flapping ears and lifting trunk; serious charges are silent with ears pinned back and trunk lowered

  • Social structure: Matriarchal clan

  • Life expectancy: ~60 years

  • Gestation: ~ 22 months



Giraffe ⭐⭐⭐⭐

  • Fun Fact: Long ago, people thought giraffes were a cross between a camel and leopard. Originally referred to as Camelopardalis

  • Social structure: Loose group, often solitary

  • Life expectancy: ~28 years

  • Gestation: ~15 months



African Buffalo ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

  • Fun Fact: Their horns are hollow and covered in a sheath of keratin

  • Social structure: Large mixed herds

  • Life expectancy: ~25 years

  • Gestation: ~11 months



Plains Zebra ⭐⭐

  • Fun Fact: Zebras usually rest in pairs with their heads placed on the other's back, facing in opposite directions

  • Social structure: gregarious, small family groups

  • Life expectancy: ~35 years

  • Gestation: ~13 months



Antelopes


Blue Wildebeest / Greater Kudu / Impala / Nyala / Waterbuck / Sable Antelope

  • Wildebeest: They typically are found with Zebras because their blunt incisors are too small to graze in higher grasses

  • ⭐⭐ Kudu: high jumpers clearing a height of +2.5m

  • ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Sable Antelope: Regarded as the most handsome antelope with the longest horns of all species, except the kudu



Other Mammals


Common Warthog ⭐⭐

  • Fun Fact: Warthogs use their snouts / tushes

  • Social structure: Clans

  • Life expectancy: ~20 years

  • Gestation: ~6 months



Chacma Baboon / Vervet Monkey ⭐⭐

  • Fun Fact: Loud barking is typically the male baboon warning troop of danger. Grooming is a way of building bonds within the troop

  • Social structure: Troop with clear order of dominance

  • Life expectancy: ~30 years

  • Gestation: ~6 months


Reptiles


Nile Crocodile ⭐⭐⭐

  • Fun Fact: The sex of the hatchlings depends on the incubation temperature; females - lower temperature, males - higher temperature

  • Social structure: communal

  • Life expectancy: ~45 years

  • Gestation: 16 - 80 eggs, 85 day hatching period



Birds

(Egrets, Hamerkop, Spoonbills, Hawks, Coucals, Bee-eaters, Rollers, Hornbills, Swallows, Strikes)



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