Reptiele en ander gediertes op vakansie
We spotted gorgeous reptiles and other critters while on holiday above the Tropic of Capricorn.
Reptiele / Reptiles
Ek is te dom om al hierdie mooi akkedisse en skinke korrek te identifiseer. Ek dink egter die een hierbo is ‘n gewone platakkedis.
I am not good with reptiles, but this one may be the common flat lizard. Seen at Mapungubwe.
Dit mag ‘n reënboogskink wees, maar ek weet nie.
I do not know, possibly a rainbow skink. Seen at Mapungubwe.
Ek is redelik seker dit is die dwerg-pantser akkedis.
I am reasonable sure this is a dwarf plated lizard. Seen in the North of the Kruger National Park near Mopanie.
Ek dink dis een van die sandakkedisse, maar is nie seker nie.
This may be a spotted sand lizard. Seen in Mapungubwe.
Goggas / Bugs
Een van die naaldekokers
One of dragonflies
‘n Baie interessante mot
An amazing moth
‘n Cool vlieg
A cool fly
Spinnekop / Spider
Die streeppoot- goue wawielwebspinnekop*
Banded-legged nephilia (Nephila senegalensis), one of the golden-orb spiders
For an amazing field guide, try to get hold of Ansie Dippenaar-Schoeman’s book Field guide to the spiders of South Africa. It was published by LAPA Publishers.
*Die pragtige Afrikaanse woord kom van Banie Penzhorn, die vertaler van Vincent Carruthers se boek Die Natuurlewe van Suider-Afrika, ‘n Veldgids tot die diere en plante van die streek. Dit is uitgegee deur Southern Boekuitgewers.
Here are more pictures of our holiday.
Sterkfontein and Maropeng: Walking in Little Foot’s steps
Mammals of the Kruger National Park
Mapungubwe: following Zakes Mda and the ancient people
Hier is nog kiekies van ons vakansie.
Sterkfontein en Maropeng: In Little Foot se voetspore
Soogdiere van die Kruger Wildtuin
Voëls van die Kruger Wildtuin
Mapungubwe National Park is one of the newest parks in South Africa. Here are some pictures.
Die park se hoofaantrekkingskrag is die antieke koninkryk, lees meer hier, maar daar is ook wonderskone landskappe, baie voëls, olifante, leeus, luiperds, renosters, kameelperde, sebras en talle boksoorte te sien.
The park’s main attraction is the ancient royal household, read more here. But it also has breath-taking landscapes, lots of birds, elephant, lions, rhino and leopards, as well as giraffe, zebra and numerous antelopes.
Rooi / Red
Die rooi koppies is pragtig.
The red koppies are beautiful.
Kremetart / Baobab
Die kremetarte bekoor my.
The baobabs are special.
Rotsvy / Wild fig
Die rotsvye was ook interessant.
I also love these wild figs growing on sheer rock.
Antieke jagters / Ancient hunters
Ons het Braam se 4×4 ingespan en op antieke tekeninge afgekom.
Braam has a real 4×4, which we used. We found a number of ancient drawings.
Ons is nie seker of hierdie merke betekenis het nie, maar Braam dink dit is waar die jagters hulle pyle geslyp het.
We are not sure whether these marks have meaning, but Braam thinks it is where hunters had sharpened their arrow points.
Bene rek / Move the legs
Daar is genoeg plek om bene te rek en piekniek te hou.
In the park there are areas where one can get out and walk around.
’n Besoek aan Mapungubwe is iets wat ek baie sterk aanbeveel. Daar is soveel geskiedenis om te ervaar.
Reptiles and other critters on holiday
I am a great fan of Zakes Mda and his book The sculptors of Mapungubwe thrilled me; yet even before I had read the book, the archaeological finds at Mapungubwe had me curious. Here was a kingdom trading with the Far East centuries before Europe even woke from its dark slumber. In fact, at the time when Marco Polo, who explored the East on behalf the Europeans, was born, eastern traders already had a booming trade relationship with the kingdom of Mapungubwe.
Both the beloved and I felt the urge to explore, so we travelled to the newly-founded Mapungubwe National Park.
Our guide, Johannes Masalesa, drove us to within half a kilometre of the royal household. From there we walked.
Johannes is a legend in his own right. He grew up in this area and his grandfather was instrumental in guiding academics towards the site that would later be researched by the University of Pretoria.
We stopped every now and again for Johannes to explain things. He knows the plants and the birds. He tells stories.
Suddenly he said: “That is the rain-making koppie.” (Picture above)
At that moment Mda’s story came to life. I could vividly re-enact the scenes.
From then on I was not merely following the same path as Mda would have, I was also walking on soil that belonged to the people of a fascinating kingdom.
On top of the royal koppie Johannes pointed out the reception area where guests would have had to wait, the position of the queens’ huts and also where the allusive king kept his chambers. This picture was taken from the reception area.
The foundations of the huts still are visible.
In these holes stilts were planted to anchor royal huts – like those of one of the queens.
The mount indicates the reburial spot – all the human remains were returned in aluminium coffins.
The royal water reservoir on top of the hill. Note the large rock that was placed on top in order to protect it.
I highly recommend Zakes Mda’s book and a visit to the site under the guidance of Johannes Masalesa would be the next step. Then you should buy a copy of the book Johannes himself has written: Mapungubwe – place of the ancestors.
Johannes has the oral history that brings the surrounding to life. I loved listening to him and have a signed copy of his book here on my desk. Zakes Mda had honed those stories and sculpted them into vivid imagery.
These two storytellers made history real at Mapungubwe.
Afterwards we visited the museum that houses the famous golden rhino and some of the gold found at the royal gravesite. I stood there, centimetres away from one of the most famous sculptures of Southern Africa. Security was extremely tight and I was, understandably, not allowed to take pictures, but this postage stamp gives you some idea.
I’d suggest you go and see it for yourself!
We identified more than 80 species of bird while on holiday in the Kruger National Park. Here are a few of my favourite bird photographs from the Kruger.
Groot soogdiere in die Kruger Wildtuin
Here are a few of the larger mammals we saw in the Kruger National Park.
‘n Modderige olifant
A muddy elephant
Bontsebra – my vrou verstaan nie mooi hoekom ek hulle steeds afneem nie, vir my bly hulle mooi.
Burchell’s Zebra – I still love photographing them
‘n Rooijakkals verlaat sy skuilplek
‘n Black-backed jackal on the prowl
Een van die ou groot manne
One of the large tuskers
Walking in the footstep of Little Foot, one of the most complete humanoid fossils ever discovered, was quite an experience.
Op 1 April het ons in die voetspore van die voormense gaan stap. Ons het eers by die Maropeng-besoekersentrum aangegaan en toe is ons na die Sterkfonteingrotte toe, waar ons kon loop waar Little Foot millennia gelede rondgeloop het. Little Foot is een van die volledigste homonoïede wat nog ontdek is. Daarna kon ons verby die opgrawing stap waar mev. Ples ontdek is.
On 1 April we chose to walk in the footsteps of our ancestors. We visited the Maropeng Visitor’s Centre, and a few kilometres down the road, we walked into the actual Sterkfontein Caves where Little Foot was found. On exiting the cave, we walked past the site where Mrs Ples was found.
Die besoekersentrum is ‘n visuele genot, ingestel op jongmense. Ou mans kan dit ook geniet!
The visitors’ centre is a visual feast, aimed at the younger generation. Old men, like yours truly, also enjoy it.
Kaalvoet ontmoet Little Foot?
Bare Foot meets Little Foot?
Voor ‘n mens by die grotte ingaan, is daar nog ’n baie goeie uitstalling en ‘n geleentheid vir selfies in die spieël.
Before you enter the caves, there is another interesting exhibit and some time to reflect and take mirror selfies.
Die toerleiers weet waarvan hulle praat en het ‘n goeie sin vir humor.
The tour guides are knowledgeable and have a good sense of humour.
Little Foot was hier.
Little Foot walked here.
Een van die diepste en gevaarlikste mere in die wêreld – diep onder die grond.
One of the deepest and most dangerous lakes in the world – deep underneath the surface.
Phillip Tobias wag by die uitgang.
Phillip Tobias awaits one at the exit.
En Robert Broom ook.
So too does Robert Broom.
Ek het jare terug ook ‘n blog geskryf oor Maropeng.
Vis & tjips @Kalky’s
As jy die lekkerste vis & tjips wil eet in die Kaap, moet jy Kalkbaai toe ry op ’n stil dag en daar, in die Kalkbaai-hawe, moet jy by Kalky’s aangaan. Onopgesmuk, goedkoop en heerlik. (Ek het verlede jaar berig oor ‘n uitstappie wat die ATKV en LAPA Uitgewers aan kinders na Kalkbaai gebied het, klik hier vir foto’s,)
If you want to experience the very best fish & chips in Cape Town, head to the Kalk Bay Harbour on a quiet day. The food is unassuming, fresh, delicious and cheap.
Jy word deel van die lewe in Kalkbaai-hawe as jy by Kalky’s eet.
Kalk Bay’s harbour continues humming around you while you have your amazing lunch.
Robbe is deel van die hawe. Hulle lê en bak in die son, of swem in die see.
Seals are on the harbour wall, where you can hang out, and in the sea directly on the other side of the harbour.
En die meeue is natuurlik orals; en pragtig.
The sea gulls are ubiquitous, as one can imagine; and gorgeous.
Mooiste Kaap(punt) / Fairest Cape (Point)
In Maart het my ma kom kuier en ons het in die Kaappunt Natuurreservaat gaan stap. Dit is ’n pragtige omgewing.
In March my mother came to visit. She is in her seventies, but still is a keen hiker, so we visited the Cape Point Nature Reserve. The scenery is stunning.
My ma, wat amper weggewaai word deur die wind.
My mother, nearly being blown away by the wind.
My ma en die geliefde skuil agter ‘n rots.
My mom and the beloved hides from the wind behind a rock.