Justine just emailed in some of her most beautiful shots last week. I was taken aback by the beauty of the animal diversity that we have now on our large reserve. Our guests at the Vuyani Safari Lodge really do get their money’s worth! African safaris don’t get better than this.

I remember, several years ago, that it would take days to spot some of these animals, but in the meanwhile the animal numbers, and range of species, has grown so fast, and the knowledge of the guides have improved to the level that we see some of the world’s rarest, and most beautiful animals, on a very regular basis. we recommend a minimum stay of 5 nights at the lodge, and the optimal length of stay is probaly 6 nights, as it allows for one of our popular guided day trips to the Kruger Park as well.

Anyway, let’s look at the shots!

First off the familiar Southern yellow billed hornbill. Made famous by “Zazu” in the Lion King, this is a very distinct-looking bird. One of their local nicknames is “flying banana”. 😉 There are plenty of them on our reserve. They feed the breeding female that has “locked” herself (for safety) inside a dead tree (typically), as the entrance has been closed with facaes from the inside. If the male dies during this period, then the female starves to death as she cannot get out without the male opening up the hideout from outside or feeding her through a small hole that was left for that purpose. To love means to trust!

Next up is this beautiful shot of an equally beautiful owl. This is a pearl spotted owlet, part of the family that groups most of the owls, the “typical owls”, or Strigidea. Other owls are the “barn owls” family of owls.

This owl hunts at daytime, which is why one can see outside of night time. I always find owls to have the most penetrating stare one can imagine. Almost spooky.

Here a shot of some rutting impala (always fighting those!). Early on in the season, but they are already at it. Females must have a right laugh looking at this behavior … but don’t forget, it’s all for you ladies!

Very skittish, hard to spot, but we have a family of dwarf mongoose living behind the boma at the lodge, so they can be observed there. Cute and social animals!

Below a baboon pondering about the meaning of life … what’s it all about? Or did he just get dumped? 😉