Showing posts with label Africa - MalaMala - Rhinoceros. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Africa - MalaMala - Rhinoceros. Show all posts

Sunday, June 27, 2010

The White Rhinoceros


"Oops, there's something stuck in my ear".

Remember those little Red-billed oxpecker birds I showed doing a great bug clean-up job on the kudu?  Seems like they are also employed by these guys too!

Having narrowly escaped extinction through more enlightened conservation policies, the white rhinoceros has found a safe haven at MalaMala.


White rhinos are actually grey and have a softer squared lip and shorter horn than the more ferocious black rhino.

Here you can see how, on an evening game drive at
MalaMala with our guide Gordon, this crash of seven rhinos came very close to the vehicle.  They were gently nibbling the grasses and moving slowly toward the setting sun.


Although very large and appearing a bit top heavy on those short legs, rhinos are agile and move quite fast when necessary.


Paula at the ready to capture great shots with her camera.


Jen's camera snapping away in front of me as the rhinos checked us out.  They just kept moving slowly along - note the oxpecker on the back of the one in the foreground.

........and then there was this guy, the magnificent 'Lion King' of course......



........earlier that same day we saw him wandering alone, roaring softly now and then.  Gordon told us he was calling his lady.  Later that evening after watching the rhinos we were in for a big surprise involving the lions..........get ready for the next episode!