Few words this week as I share a small selection of photos using the zoom lens for a slightly closer look. All these photos were taken on our recent trip to Kruger National Park.

Well-spotted – a cheetah watching distant impala

Solitary senior – a lovely old elephant eating while close to the road. I guess that the well-worn groove towards the end of his right tusk is likely due to years of stripping bark off trees

Doe-eyed – a female kudu browsing

Hippo hide – being eye-balled by a hippo while I was sitting in a hide at Shimuwini Bushveld Camp overlooking the Letaba River in Kruger National Park

Lilac-breasted roller – what more can one say?

Silent sentry – water thick-knee (dikkop) near standing water in mopane woodland after recent rain

Patient hunter – female saddle-billed stork at a small natural waterhole

In a jungle of grasses – dwarf mongoose

Sniffing around – a water monitor lizard checking things out on the pathway outside our chalet at Sirheni Bushveld Camp at Kruger National Park

Like sunshine on a cloudy day – little bee-eater

Fine feathers – Swainson’s spurfowl

Sad-eyed buffalo of the lowlands

It’s good to know that there are still some areas of the Earth where wild things run free.
Wishing you all peace, health and happiness over the festive season.
Posted by Carol

January 5, 2022 at 6:28 pm
Having just left a comment on the previous post, here I am again wanting to say the same words – glorious shots of some wonderful creatures. Kruger Park remains one of my favourite places on earth and you have reminded me of the reason why.
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January 6, 2022 at 8:07 pm
It is a very special place 🙂
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January 4, 2022 at 4:00 pm
Oh fabulous. What a new year treat.
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January 5, 2022 at 2:10 pm
🙂
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January 4, 2022 at 5:36 am
What a beautiful collection you came home with, Carol. I am glad to see Kruger treated you well!
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January 5, 2022 at 2:09 pm
Thanks very much. There is much to enjoy each day as your photos during your recent visit to Satara amply demonstrate!
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December 31, 2021 at 2:34 am
Loved all the wonderful pics, Carol, but today the lilac breasted roller takes the cake for me. Wouldn’t it just brighten up a New England winter?! Wishing you a Happy New Year!
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January 1, 2022 at 1:14 pm
The rollers definitely are a sight for sore eyes. Luckily though you have some gorgeously coloured birds visiting to brighten your winter months. Thanks for the good wishes and wishing you the same as we hope for better news this year.
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December 26, 2021 at 6:22 am
As always – endless patience, good spotting, great photos.
Thank you. X
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December 27, 2021 at 7:43 pm
Thanks Anne. In truth there is not much patience involved – mostly serendipity! 🙂
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December 25, 2021 at 2:27 am
Love your photos! Speaking of wildlife running free, I had a squirrel run through my living room last week. That sure prompted an in depth look at how it got in!
Merry Christmas and Best Wishes for the New Year.
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December 27, 2021 at 7:41 pm
Thanks Margy – I hope you had a lovely Christmas and best wishes for the New Year too.
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December 24, 2021 at 3:32 pm
Spectacular images. I intend to revisit your photographs on my computer screen when we return home.
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December 27, 2021 at 7:38 pm
Thanks so much Mariss. I am sure you are enjoying a lovely break at Hogsback.
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December 24, 2021 at 11:51 am
All the best to you and yours! Hope you are having a lovely holiday season – and thank you for all your wonderful images and tales from nature! Portraits glorious – the little bee eater stole my heart!
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December 27, 2021 at 7:37 pm
Thank you so much for the good wishes and I hope you and your family are also having a great time over these holidays. The little bee-eater is a ray of sunshine!
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December 29, 2021 at 7:16 am
💝
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December 24, 2021 at 6:04 am
Great set of photos, Carol. I love the top one particularly. I hope you and your family have a wonderful Christmas and a Happy New Year.
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December 27, 2021 at 7:34 pm
Thanks Graham – yes I like the inquisitive buffalo too. Sorry this is a bit late to wish you a happy Christmas but sending best wishes for the New Year and the year ahead.
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December 24, 2021 at 3:39 am
Thank you for your beautiful photographs Carol! Wishing you and your family blessings of joy and hope at this time and throughout the year, xxx
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December 27, 2021 at 7:32 pm
Thank you for the good wishes Christeen and I hope that you and your family had a peaceful and happy Christmas as we all look forward to the New Year ahead.
xxx
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December 24, 2021 at 12:20 am
Ahhh…. I will have to come back again (and again) for more and closer looks at these wonderful creatures you’ve shared with us. It just gives me goosebumps to know that there still ARE creatures such as these living their lives. Looks like you had a wonderful time getting to enjoy and ‘capture’ these encounters. Thank you ever so much for taking us along !
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December 27, 2021 at 7:29 pm
We did have some lovely encounters, and it is nice to be able to share them. It is of comfort to know that protected natural spaces do continue to exist even if against many odds.
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December 23, 2021 at 10:25 pm
Splendid captures, Carol. Gorgeous animals! Wishing you all the best ❤
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December 27, 2021 at 7:16 pm
Thanks Eliza – I hope you had a lovely and cosy Christmas.
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December 27, 2021 at 10:34 pm
Yes, things are pretty low-key these days. No one dares to gather!
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January 1, 2022 at 1:12 pm
Yes, and low-key is getting to be a habit, which may be hard to break!
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January 1, 2022 at 4:22 pm
I agree, most days are pretty stress-free, not a bad thing, methinks!
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January 5, 2022 at 11:57 am
🙂
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December 23, 2021 at 8:39 pm
Wonderful collection!
Best to you and yours this Holiday Season and in 2022!
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December 23, 2021 at 8:41 pm
Thanks so much Sandy and sending very best wishes to you too and your family for the Holiday and for the year ahead.
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December 23, 2021 at 8:15 pm
The first shot of the Buffalo is superb and worthy of a frame and a wall.
Wishing you a marvelous Christmas, Carol.
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December 23, 2021 at 8:27 pm
We were approached by a herd of curious buffalo – it was so interesting to see how individual they each are.
Thanks Arc, and wishing you and yours a marvelous Christmas too.
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December 23, 2021 at 7:52 pm
What a marvellous selection to tide us over until your next episode!
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December 27, 2021 at 7:16 pm
Thanks Anne – hope you had a lovely Christmas.
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