Bufflesfonteine is a game and nature reserve in the West Coast of South Africa, near Darling.
It is much less expensive than some others, and close enough to Cape Town to be practical.
We didn't stay overnight, just went on a safari.
Inside the restaurant, where we were served mango juice or tea.
The safari bus awaits us.
The ostrich was supposed to be walking home with the man,
but when he wasn't looking, she sneaked over to snoop in the lady's trunk.
Her keeper is coming to fetch her and apologize.
Driving out of the parking lot
The interestingly-put-together gnu and his group.
The dominant male collects his harem and they become a herd.
Paul asked how one can tell which is the dominant male;
the tour guide replied, "By the smile on his face".
Abandoned ostrich eggs. This guy stood on one to show us how strong the shells are.
An ostrich, as well as South Africa's national animal, the springbok,
running away from the nosy tourists.
The guide explained the mating procedure of zebras.
A bachelor comes to a herd, picks a female,
then "fights" the dad for six months until he has proved himself,
then he can "adopt" his chosen. "Adopt"? Ha.
Marry for life is more like it. Anyhow, Paul got a kick out of it.
The sheer size of these South African white rhinos impressed me.
I had noticed spoor that made me think of elephants,
which I knew weren't supported by this reserve (no ripped-out trees, etc.);
then when I saw these huge creatures, I realized it was they, not elephants.
But they are not as aggressive as the black rhino,
who, we were told, would attack the safari bus itself.
Lynxes are pests to farmers, but this one let me pet him, and so did the female.
But they are jealous, so giving one attention
meant the other would come hissing at him/her.
And I discovered that I shouldn't be downwind from their spats (punintentional),
because I would get lynx saliva on my person, worst of all, my lip. Ick!
Feeding time with the big cats.
Josh even was allowed to drop a plucked chicken through the top fence.
Their growls are scary.
A few of us were brave enough to come into the cheetah's yard, one at a time.
After Buffelsfonteine, we drove to Good Pastures, to visit our friends the Johnsons,
who are caretakers. The surrounding mountains are very high, and I wonder if anybody ever climbs them.
The sheep were curious, but not terribly brave.
Notice the bee hives. Bee swarms are prolific here, so no need to order bees for the apiary.
Honeybees are essential for food production; crops will not produce without pollination.
The flower gardens are a lovely splash of color on the property.
The scenery is beautiful there.
A horse completes the farm look, posing gracefully by the fence.
Ryan and Tim learning to use the X-box for exercises
The Johnson Family members turn their smiles toward the camera.
And last but not least, baboons by the highway as we make the journey home
