Solitude

The Umhlanga Coast is characterised by long stretches of sandy beaches that promise stunning backdrops against which to swim, surf or sunbathe. The Indian Ocean has particularly warm waters, averaging 24 to 26 degrees during the summer. The Umhlanga Coast is a magnificent stretch of the South African shoreline. It shows off the splendour and wonder of this country in a tranquil display that remains extremely powerful. This is part of KwaZulu-Natal and is very close to the city centre of Durban, which is the province’s main city and one of South Africa’s major metropolises. However, the Umhlanga Coast whisks you away from the bustle of city living and to the peaceful prettiness of the Indian Ocean as it lazily dances onto the sand.

Solitude

Glow

Embark on a floral journey of discovery at the Pretoria National Botanical Garden, a treasure chest of South African flowering plant species and trees and definitely among the more beautiful of the tourist attractions in South Africa. The Pretoria National Botanical Garden, located in the suburb of Brummeria in east Tshwane, was established in 1946 after the University of Pretoria’s experimental farm and private properties were acquired by the Department of Agriculture. The garden was formerly known as the Transvaal National Botanic Gardens and was primarily a research facility under the management of the Botanical Research Institute, which dates back to 1903.
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The photo was taken during May 2014 in the Pretoria National Botanical Garden, Pretoria, Gauteng, South Africa.
Info source: https://www.gauteng.net/…/pretoria_national_botanical_garden

Glow

Paired

The Cape starling is a gregarious bird and forms large flocks in the non-breeding season. It usually feeds on the ground often foraging alongside other species of starlings such as the pied starling, the common starling, the greater blue-eared starling, the lesser blue-eared starling, the wattled starling and Burchell’s starling. It is habituated to humans and its diet includes fruit, insects and nectar. It sometimes feeds on ectoparasites that it picks off the backs of animals and it sometimes visits bird tables for scraps. It nests in crevices such as holes in trees and out-competes other birds seeking to use these holes. It is a host to the greater honeyguide, a brood parasite that lays its eggs in other birds’ nests.

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