a few large game animals

We took the students to Kragga Kamma Game Park a little way outside of P.E. and got close up and personal look at some wild animals of Africa. Since it was such a nice experience we took Jessica and Todd there even though they had seen these animals in Kruger but these views were much closer.

Springbok - floppy eared

The animals shown above is a springbok which is the national animal for South Africa. They are quite prolific so they have a nice population at the park. The little fellow in the middle is one the guides have gotten to know because it has a floppy ear. None of the rest have one so it serves as nice marker.

Giraffe - Mrs. things are looking up!

The park has a pair of giraffes with two young, one male and one female. In this case the mother gave birth to just one at a time. The animal pictured above is the female (mother), which can be identified because they have a hairy fringe around the horns on their heads. It is hard to see in this picture but I know that this is the mother because the father had a much darker color coat. They are a very funny animal but graceful when they walk or run.

I'm a gnu how are you?

These are familiar animals to anyone who has watched wildlife films of large migrations of animals in Africa. The vast migration of wildebeest is about to be a thing of the past. Hunting and more importantly the loss of habitat has caused most of the herds to shrink. They have a small herd here in the park and they seem to be doing well considering there were several young around in the herd. Interesting looking beasts but this was as close as we could get to them.

male ostrich

There are a number of ostriches in the park, which you will see as you drive around. They have built a little shelter to protect the female when they are on the nest. The females are greyer so they blend into the ground consequently they sit on the eggs during the day when they cannot be seen easily. The male does the night shift on the nest when they would not be noticed because of their black feathers. When things are going to get amorous the males legs turn red. I don't remember what triggers this or if it is seasonal. I will have to check and report back. I will keep it G-rated. There are some ostrich farms around but the emphasis is more on the meat than on the feathers which is what started the farming in the first place. Like all things there is more to the story than I can relate right now.

White rhinos

Both the rhinos above are white rhino (They are a male and a female.). I suppose you think that just because they look gray that they should be more like black rhinos or may be a cross but no it is not the case. White rhinos and have a square lips to help them graze on grass as they mover their heads from side to side. The black has a pointed lips and lives in brush since they are browsers so must be more weary because they can't longer distances. There can always be a predator sneaking up on you.

I have more pictures particularly cheetahs eating, which I will get off later.