Tag: green

Creased

An elephant’s skin is generally very tough, at 2.5 cm (1 in) thick on the back and parts of the head. The skin around the mouth and inside the ear is considerably thinner. Elephants typically have grey skin, but African elephants look brown or reddish after wallowing in coloured mud. An elephant uses mud as a sunscreen, protecting its skin from ultraviolet light. Although tough, an elephant’s skin is very sensitive. Without regular mud baths to protect it from burning, insect bites and moisture loss, an elephant’s skin suffers serious damage. After bathing, the elephant will usually use its trunk to blow dust onto its body and this dries into a protective crust.

Creased

Picture of the day, Wildlife

Patrol

The alpha is the dominant male in the baboon troop. He can weigh up to 40 kg and has earned his position by aggressively fending off other male contenders for the crown. He displays his long, sharp canines, longer than a lion’s, in a “yawn” and a loud “wahoo!” bark to communicate his social position. He is a gentle and caring father and will watch over and fiercely protect the females and infants in his troop. He jealously guards his right to mate with receptive females. He keeps strict discipline in the troop – when alpha males are killed in the mistaken belief that it will stop a troop raiding, it causes chaos within the troop and can result in smaller, less manageable splinter troops forming raiding parties. Troops are more stable and less stressed if the turn-over of males is less frequent, with long-standing alpha males.

Patrol

Picture of the day, Wildlife

Striking

Lisbon Falls is the highest and most dramatic waterfall at a striking 90m high, forming part of the “Waterfalls Tour” to the north of Graskop, along with the Panorama Route in Mpumalanga. The waterfall is named after the Portuguese capital of Lisbon, which is also the name of a large farm in the area. The other waterfalls along the route include Horseshoe Falls, Lone Creek Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, MacMac Falls, Maria Shires Falls, and the Berlin Falls. The Lisbon Falls lies within the Panorama Route where you can visit other popular attractions like God’s Window, Blyde River Canyon, the Pinnacle, and Bourke’s Luck Potholes.

Striking

Landscape, Picture of the day