It's a tall story...Hope you’re getting ready to pack up. The virtual safari is nearly over, which means we’re talking about beginnings and endings…
So, in the beginning…eyes peeled, peering into the dense gold of the dry bush, hoping to see something wonderful, the first animal we spotted on entering the Kruger National Park was a lone bull giraffe. Tall, stately and looking like he’d seen it all before. There’s a certain look about some giraffes that puts one in mind of camels – which is probably why in Afrikaans they are called kameelperde – literally, camel horses. I think giraffes are exquisite creatures, standing at up to 3.3 m at the shoulder and 5.5 m at the top of the horns – they are, for such huge creatures, gentle and have so much grace – except when trying to drink water – let’s face it, it’s a long way down.
A looooong way down...
Give us a kiss, then.
Mwah!And here’s an interesting bit of giraffe information gleaned on our early morning bush drive – and it’s not a tall story! Giraffes always have to be upwind from the acacia trees on which they are grazing. Evidently, as soon as the giraffe begins to feed on a particular acacia tree, the tree starts to pump alkaloids into its leaves - which taste nasty and are poisonous to the giraffe. In addition, the tree releases a chemical “signal” into the air, which tells all the other acacia trees downwind that it is “injured” and all those trees then start to pump alkaloids into their leaves to deter “attack”. So giraffes have learned to graze upwind of the trees and to graze against the wind. Who’d have thought getting a bit of leafy dinner could be so fraught!
Hmm, which leaf?
Nibbling delicately...
Which way is the wind blowing?
Slurp!Unless you want to see some of the landscape shots – you tell me – tomorrow will be the last day of safaring with a peek at the Park’s “fast food”! And then it will be a quick whizz along the Parorama Route before regular (or in my case irregular!) service resumes…
All grace and elegance
Here's lookin' at you, tourist...
15 comments:
They always make me feel so lilliputian,lol!
Great pictures dear :)
Giraffes are stunningly beautiful, graceful animals. How lucky you are to see them up close and personal, Vanilla.
I love your acacia facts. Nature is amazing.
Awww . .you're stuff is so bloody good! I've been on Flickr and you're a champ. Lovely stuff. I took the kids to an 'open' zoo years ago about 3 hours from Sydney and one of the early morning delights of staying overnight was feeding giraffe in the morning. I'll never forget 'Tiggy' who had the longest blue tongue and took food from the kiddywinks by wrapping that monstrous thing around the apples and bananas they were holding. They were so gentle and so elegant! You are a lucky, lucky chook to have such wonders at your doorstep! Naughty Acacias to start gossiping at dinner time!
They definitely make one feel a bit small, don't they, Sameera! ;-)
Yep, very lucky indeed, MD - and yes, nature is totally amazing - and I think I read somewhere that there are other plants that have learned to do the same sort of thing.
Awww - thanks Baino!
Well, I can't say I've had the privilege of feeding giraffes, but I have fed ellies - and reeked of ellie breath for hours afterwards! ;-)
Yep, I am a very, very lucky chook indeed! I'm just glad I get the chance to appreciate it, many don't and many just don't care.
Stunning pix. Thanks for being our eyes and sharing with us all.
Giraffes really are a treat to the eyes. I especially like the shot of the one having a drink. And, I didn't know that about the wind/leaves. Great stuff!
My pleasure, Debi!
Thanks, Kyklops - cunning old trees, eh? :-)
I'm sad we're nearing the end of the virtual safari. I love the Giraffes. I once saw a baby that was only a couple of days old. I could not believe how big it was. Nature really isn't kind to her mothers!!!
Pretty pretty pictures too xxx
I've only seen them at the zoo, of course - but I like them.
So beautiful.
Great pics. Giraffes are my sister-in-law's favorite animal.
More please. I've loved your photos and even learnt about acacia trees today. Who'd have thought it.
Giraffes are so beautiful. I was amazed when I saw them (only in a wildlife park sadly) and the keepers give them bales of stinging nettles to munch at night.
Giraffe's are the best! I love them.
We had two baby giraffes here at the zoo last year; big draw. SO CUTE!!! The littlest one was taller than me. Ha.
You got lovely photos, of course.
It's so nice to see all these animals in their natural habitat.
YES let's see the scenery; your tour wouldn't be complete without it!
Scarlett & Viaggiatore
Lovely photos. Thanks for sharing them with us.
Beautiful animals - and the pictures are a feast for the eyes!
Nature will never cease to amaze me.
I never knew that about the giraffes needing to feed upwind. It's quite amazing really that, at some point, the species figured it out.
If, for instance, a platoon of soliders went into the jungle and some got sick and died after eating a strange fruit, the rest of the platoon would say "Hey keep away from those man, they're poisonous." But would anyone check to see if they were always poisonous? I doubt it.
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