Found 'em! ...and Some Bush Moms

Tuesday found us diverted to 'Plan C', as the first option, a lion-breeding program was closed during their move, and the second choice, a local nature reserve was closed due to this week's management hunt. As is often the case, though, sometimes you just get lucky.

Our third choice was to drive a little over an hour, towards Rustenburg in the North West province, to Pilanesberg National Park. Ringed by four large hills, this area is home to the numerous plains game species we saw at Marakele, as well as elephants and rhinos. It would not take long before we would come across one of the local traffic infractions (traffic should stay left, not right in South Africa).

The elephants that had eluded us the day before were more readily found as the terrain was much more open, and we came across several large groups doing what elephants do.....

And as eating was always a popular pastime with most of the species we came across a couple more 'action' shots.....

Sticking with the theme of motherhood from here, I can assure you these bush moms look after their young ones with a very careful eye, and once that eye is on you, discretion and a slow, careful retreat are in order.....

Finding the small rhino group at the end of the day was the capper on a excellent day of finding great photo ops at Pilanesberg. We spent the last 30 minutes or so of shooting light with this small family group.

And speaking of family groups, the most serendipitous of circumstances; while cruising through the park, we came across Neil's middle sister, Minette, her boyfriend, his family, and their World Cup guests, touring Pilanesberg. We followed them for a bit, and as we split, they extended an invitation back to their timeshare at nearby Sun City for a traditional South African braai, a barbeque, y'all. All in all, this was a great day. Wednesday, our last half day in bush, then back to Pretoria to change gears, and get ready for a little soccer tournament being hosted in beautiful South Africa.

 

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