10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 19, 2023

Photos courtesy of Mosetlha Bush Camp A dusty-red road leads me through Marico bushveld deeper into the 750 square kilometers large wilderness of the Madikwe Game Reserve – the 4th largest reserve in South Africa, home to 350 bird and 66 mammal species, some 4 hours’ drive from Johannesburg. They raise their trunks, sniffing the air.

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South Africa Africa Game Elephants 277

10,000 Birds

JULY 11, 2013

A dusty-red road leads me through Marico bushveld deeper into the 750 square kilometers large wilderness of the Madikwe Game Reserve – the 4th largest reserve in South Africa, home to 350 bird and 66 mammal species, some 4 hours’ drive from Johannesburg. Trips Mammals South Africa' They raise their trunks, sniffing the air.

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Africa South Africa Elephants Rhinos 245

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2012

Africa is famous for its large, charismatic mammals, and the Big Five epitomize the most sought-after of these fantastic beasts. Originally a hunting term, the Big Five were the most dangerous and prized targets of the great white hunters on safari. Black Rhinos are best sought in South Africa, Namibia and Tanzania.

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Buffalo Rhinoceros Leopards Elephants 246

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 14, 2021

Also, the lake is the most reliable place for both Black and White Rhinos in the whole of East Africa. Other wildlife includes 60 mammal species, 13 primates among them, Chimp tracking, Forest Elephants too. Roger Tory Peterson called it “the most fabulous bird spectacle in the world”.

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Africa Kenya Uganda Tanzania 262

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2016

It’s the only park I have ever been to that not only have I seen all five of the Big Five (Lion, Leopard, African Buffalo, White Rhino and African Elephant) in, but seen them all on the same day. Madikwe may have been farmland once upon a time but these days it has been fully restored as an astonishing game reserve.

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South Africa Leopards Giraffes Africa 189

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 1, 2016

I’ll never forget my introduction to the mammals of Kruger National Park, South Africa. This is the thing—no matter how devoted you are to birds and birding, once you get to Africa, you can’t resist the mammals. This means you need to pack a mammal guide in addition to your bird guide. Believe me, I tried.

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Rhinos Animal Mammals White Rhinos 252

10,000 Birds

FEBRUARY 5, 2015

White Rhino lifespan is 40 to 50 years, but I am wondering if “my” rhino is still alive? Cover photo: White Rhinoceros, Wikimedia Commons. Conservation Africa Mammals poaching South Africa' My eyes will be returning to the lonely acacia next to a waterhole, trying to spot a large shadow in the sunset.

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Rhinos South Africa Rhinoceros White Rhinos 191