2. South Africa, Ngala 2012

Ngala 2

Cape dwarf cameleleon, cape buffalo, red flowering bush, young kudu, elephant in the bush, black-backed jackel, zebra dominance battle, leopard cub in tree, Mopane tree, leopard with impala carcass, breakfast in the bush, hippopotumus displaying, hippo lunging from the water, hippo with wide open mouth, pregnant zebra, zebra pair, nursing zebra, Cape turtle dove, European bee eater, Stripped kingfisher, sunset over Drakensberg mountains, pair of blue wildebeest, Giant african millepede, warthog with broken tusk, impala with tickbird, Martial eagle with nest, young female lion
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Hippo displaying at sunset-2, Ngala, South Africa.<br /> <br /> This hippo had made his home in a quarry, and as sunset approached he became more and more active, repeatedly lunging out of the water with his mouth open. I have observed this behaviour in other hippos as darkness approaches, but don't know what causes it. It seems to be a prelude to them leaving the water to come ashore to feed on the grasses. Considering they are vegetarians, they have an impressive set of teeth! This photo is a side view, and a frontal view is also posted today.
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Hippo displaying at sunset-2, Ngala, South Africa.

This hippo had made his home in a quarry, and as sunset approached he became more and more active, repeatedly lunging out of the water with his mouth open. I have observed this behaviour in other hippos as darkness approaches, but don't know what causes it. It seems to be a prelude to them leaving the water to come ashore to feed on the grasses. Considering they are vegetarians, they have an impressive set of teeth! This photo is a side view, and a frontal view is also posted today.

  • Portrait of a leopard in a Mopane tree-2, Ngala, South Africa<br /> <br /> Portrait-2 and portrait-1 are very similar. Couldn't decide which of the two I preferred, so I posted them both. Any thoughts?
  • Portrait of a leopard in a Mopane tree-1, Ngala, South Africa<br /> <br /> Portrait-1 and portrait-2 are very similar. Couldn't decide which of the two I preferred, so I posted them both. Any thoughts?
  • Portrait of a leopard cub in a Mopane tree, Ngala, South Africa
  • "These trees weren't made for sleeping" <br /> <br /> Young leopard trying to get comfortable in a Mopane tree, Ngala, South Africa. Check out all of the legs hanging down.
  • Young leopard sleeping in a Mopane tree, Ngala, South Africa<br /> <br /> Doesn't look that comfortable, but he managed to get to sleep!
  • Beautiful young leopard standing in a Mopane tree, Ngala, South Africa.<br /> <br /> Because of its excellent camouflage against the foliage, best seen at larger sizes.
  • Breakfast-in-the-bush,-Ngala,-South-Africa
  • Open wide!
  • "Open wide", Ngala, South Africa
  • Hippo displaying at sunset-2, Ngala, South Africa.<br /> <br /> This hippo had made his home in a quarry, and as sunset approached he became more and more active, repeatedly lunging out of the water with his mouth open. I have observed this behaviour in other hippos as darkness approaches, but don't know what causes it. It seems to be a prelude to them leaving the water to come ashore to feed on the grasses. Considering they are vegetarians, they have an impressive set of teeth! This photo is a side view, and a frontal view is also posted today.
  • Mouth wide open
  • Hippo displaying at sunset-4, Ngala, South Africa<br /> <br /> You do NOT want to see this coming up next to your canoe! Hippos kill more people than any other African animal and can be highly aggressive toward humans and boats. Their powerful jaws can bite canoes in half and they can tip over even larger boats.
  • Jaws
  • Cape turtle dove, Ngala, South Africa
  • European bee-eater sitting on a wire, Ngala, South Africa<br /> <br /> The European bee-eater breeds in southern Europe and winters in Africa.
  • Striped kingfisher
  • Giant African millipede
  • Sunset over the Drakensberg Mountains, Ngala, South Africa
  • "A little to the left....now up a little....up a little more.....that's it, you've got it!"<br /> <br /> Tick bird grooming an impala, Ngala, South Africa
  • "Hmmm, doesn't look too good in there"<br /> <br /> Tick bird inspects impala's ear, Ngala, South Africa

  • fotoeffects

    on January 28, 2013

    Now, that is one big mouth! Terrific shot!

  • henryklepczynski

    on January 27, 2013

    Very nice portrait.

  • God's Child

    on January 27, 2013

    The doctor said, "Open wide and say, "Ah!"

  • Rosemary Walden

    on January 27, 2013

    A perfect moment.... he seems to have his beady eye on you!

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