Etosha – Page 2 – Pelican Yoga

Waterhole at night, Etosha, northern Namibia (3 of 3: giraffes)

Published February 17, 2023 by Pelidoug

Waterhole at night, Etosha, northern Namibia (3 of 3: giraffes)

Giraffes harvest most of the water they need from the leaves they eat, so they do not need to drink every day.

However, they do need to drink.

On that occasion, the current world’s longest necks are “not long enough”.

As every lion and crocodile knows, the only occasion when it is a good idea to “move in for the kill” on an adult giraffe is when that giraffe is drinking.

Every giraffe is acutely conscious that his or her “killer kick” defence system is entirely disabled whenever s/he has to splay his/her legs to enable his/her neck to reach down far enough to make drinking possible.

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Waterhole at night, Etosha, northern Namibia (2 of 3: rhinos)

Published February 14, 2023 by Pelidoug

Waterhole at night, Etosha, northern Namibia (2 of 3: rhinos)

Five rhinoceros species (within which are eleven subspecies) still walk “our” planet’s surface.

All are in trouble; their total number is lower than ever before in human history, and they now walk “freely” only within a tiny portion of their former range, in discrete populations in various National Parks and “Reserves”.

Diceros bicornis, commonly known as the “black” rhino, is the smaller, now rarer – and allegedly, more ornery – of the two African species.

It and Ceratotherium simum – the so-called “white” rhino – are in fact both grey.

The fifth night of November 2022 was a good one for rhino-watchers at the Okaukuejo waterhole; the rhinos’ demeanour was not at all ornery, and they broke only wind – loudly.

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Waterhole at night, Etosha, northern Namibia (1 of 3: elephants)

Published February 12, 2023 by Pelidoug

Waterhole at night, Etosha, northern Namibia (1 of 3: elephants)

Etosha National Park is one of Africa’s largest and finest national parks.

Okaukuejo is the southernmost of its six major “camps”, and its main administrative centre.

By day and by night, Okaukeujo’s waterhole offers visitors oft-superb, comfortable, relaxed and close wildlife viewing.

As this three part series illustrates, the night of 05 November 2022 was very rewarding.

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World’s water-wisest bath, Etosha National Park

Published January 18, 2023 by Pelidoug

World’s water-wisest bath, Etosha National Park

When even the most ardently water-wise member of our own species has a thoroughly enjoyable bath, water may not be wasted, but it is necessary.

Some other species, however, have hugely-enjoyable baths without getting damp, at all.

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Happy Gnu Year, with musical bonuses (final, double-edition of Namibia “single”-image series)

Published December 31, 2022 by Pelidoug

Happy Gnu Year, with musical bonuses (final, double-edition of Namibia “single”-image series)

Gnu/wildebeest are bona fide antelopes.

However, as the Blue Wildebeest’s scientific name – Connochaetes taurinus – suggests, most human newcomers assume that wildebeest are bovine beasts.

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Emblematic, delicious (#14 in Namibia single-image series)

Published December 17, 2022 by Pelidoug

Emblematic, delicious (#14 in Namibia single-image series)

Southern Africa’s oryx – Oryx gazella, aka “gemsbok” – is the largest of the world’s four oryx species.

This handsome antelope is prominent on Namibia’s coat of arms.

Oryx is also a firm favourite of Namibian diners; if Namibia had a “Paul Hogan”, he’d surely entice tourists by offering to “throw some gemsbok on the braai”.

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Featherlight, superabundant (#8 in Namibia single-image series)

Published December 7, 2022 by Pelidoug

Featherlight, superabundant (#8 in Namibia single-image series)

Most Australians have never heard of – let alone, seen – a member of the species pictured above.

Quelea Quelea – the Red-billed Quelea – is, however, almost certainly the most abundant bird on “our” planet!

It is a significant agricultural pest. Sometimes in flocks of millions, billowing in the sky like smoke…

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Black rhinos, horns intact (#1 in Namibia single-image series)

Published November 26, 2022 by Pelidoug

Black rhinos, horns intact (#1 in Namibia single-image series)

This mother and calf are black rhinos – the smaller of Africa’s two rhino species

They still “enjoy” a critically endangered conservation status, but numbers have rebounded in recent years.

Circa one third of them live in Namibia.

Photo is copyright Doug Spencer, taken at 9.30 pm on 05 November 2022 in Etosha National Park.

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