South Africa – Oh, the Places We See . . .

Lens-Artists Photo Challenge 147: Kirstenbosch Gardens

If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere. Vincent Van Gogh It was in 2014 that we stumbled upon Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden with a group of friends visiting Cape Town. We had just completed a Habitat for Humanity house in Lesotho and wanted to see a bit of South Africa. Kirstenbosch wasn’t […]

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Lens-Artists Photo Challenge #139: Special Moments

It was early morning — as half our safaris were at Thornybush Game Reserve, South Africa. We climbed as agilely as newbies could into the open vehicle when there was barely any daylight at all. Chilled by damp air, we pulled up our blanket around us and grabbed hold of the hot water bottles given […]

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Boundaries in Soweto

Nowhere have boundaries seemed more present, at least in our limited travels through the world, than in the town of Soweto, South Africa. As we rode in a van with our guide on a Sunday afternoon in Soweto searching for the Nelson Mandela National Museum (better known as the Mandela House), we couldn’t help but […]

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Monochromatic

It’s just nature’s way, of course. But when you come upon one of these magnificent creatures carefully hidden in a monochromatic natural setting, you can’t help but suck in your breath as if you’ve seen a lion on safari or something! For more entries in the Weekly Photo Challenge: Monochromatic, click here.

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Travel theme: Trees

Long winding pathways lined with towering trees, some dating back to the early 1900s, form lasting images for those who visit Kirstenbosch National Botanical Garden in Cape Town, South Africa. For more lasting tree images, check out Ailsa’s blog Where’s My Backpack for Travel theme: Trees.

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Travel theme: One Colour

Nature’s plan to blend even the biggest, boldest of animals into the landscape works well. So well, in fact, that coming (surprisedly) upon this kingly fellow — mostly of one colour — had all of us in the safari Jeep scrambling for cameras while speaking in hushed tones. Better to let sleeping lions lie, right? […]

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Travel theme: Outdoors

One of the prettiest places to be in the great outdoors is Thornybush Game Preserve, South Africa. Our jeep pulled into an open spot on the plain so we could toast sundown with friends and revel in the fact that we were alive and traveling in beautiful South Africa near Kruger National Park. Such memories! For […]

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Converge

It seemed ordinary. An early-morning Jeep ride through a game preserve near Kruger National Park. Not much in sight. Not many sounds. But when the driver veered near this watering hole, something we’d never seen before unfolded in front of us. A convergence of buffalo. A gathering by the waterside. A find for those of us who […]

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Travel theme: Belonging

Our guide said it was unusual. Unusual to see a baby giraffe nursing from its mother. But we have no idea if it were an unusual sighting or not. After all, it was our first and possibly only safari. But regardless of how uncommon it might be to see one little giraffe grateful for its belonging […]

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Minimalist

While on safari near Kruger National Park at sundown, we came upon a cheetah quite unexpectedly. She was perched atop a grassy mound, seated above the top of our jeep, sensing our presence. Our driver turned the motor off, allowing us to snap away during this quiet afternoon. And we made not a sound, except for […]