trunk Archives - Page 8 of 14

Last light

Segaia – a name you’re not likely to forget once you’ve visited this charming lodge. One of the jewels of Northern Gauteng, it offers an escape to the magic of the bush that reminds of areas far more remote. Our Conservancy is well stocked with game, blessed with prolific bird life, and is infused with that unique African magic found only in the bush. Segaia Bush Retreat has a watering hole right in front of the lodge where wild game come to drink. Enjoy, therefore, stunning African sunsets on the deck whilst watching zebra, kudu, impala and warthog wandering the grounds of the Lodge. A lucky few may even spot the reclusive leopard. A paradise for birdwatchers with more than 450 bird species, many of which can be spotted from the lodge itself. Alternatively, you can follow the walking trails through the Conservancy and seek the rarer birds on foot.

18 February 2019Landscape, Picture of the day

Slumber

Slumber
Bonobos and chimpanzees diverged from each other around 2 million years ago and differ in morphology, behaviour and perhaps even emotions and cognition in important ways.

The Bonobo – Bonobos are female dominant, with females forming tight bonds against males through same-sex socio-sexual contact that is thought to limit aggression. In the wild, they have not been seen to cooperatively hunt, use tools, or exhibit lethal aggression.

The Chimpanzee – Chimpanzees are male dominant, with intense aggression between different groups that can be lethal. Chimpanzees use tools, cooperatively hunt monkeys, and will even eat the infants of other chimpanzee groups.

17 January 2019Nature, Picture of the day, Wildlife

Sedate

An elephant’s skull needs to be physically large in order to support the heavy tusks and powerful trunk. To minimize weight, the huge skull has a thick wall but contains large honey-comb like spaces. Male African elephants have a curved forehead. Females are more square in profile. Elephants have short necks and cannot turn their heads completely sideways. Elephant eyes are almost identical in size to those of a human. They are normally green or hazel in colour and are protected by long eyelashes. Elephants do not have tear ducts. In bright sunlight, elephants have poor eyesight. They can see best in dim light. An African elephant’s impressive ears are not just used for hearing. They help regulate the animal’s body temperature and may also be spread out wide in threat displays. Elephant ears contain a large number of blood vessels which are covered by very thin skin. When the ears are flapped, air flows over the blood vessels and the animal loses heat from them. Measuring up to 2m high and over 1m wide, 12 litres of blood can flow through each ear every minute and the animal’s body temperature can be reduced by three degrees. An elephant’s average body temperature is 35.9 degrees Celsius, just below that of a human (37 degrees). Elephants have excellent hearing and are thought to be able to communicate with other individuals several kilometres away. They can hear low-frequency sounds which are not audible to humans. The distinctive tears and nicks in elephants’ ears are used by scientists to help identify individual animals in the wild.

13 December 2018Picture of the day, Wildlife