Southern Drakensberg in South Africa transformed after good rain.
Sun gently touching the mountain top, startling green valley at 07h11 in the morning. A cup of coffee in hand listening to serenade of a Jacky Hanger given name in South Africa for the Common Fiscal Shrike, patiently waiting for a worm or insect to pop up, Jacky Hanger will swoop down for a breakfast treat.
Eager to get out and walking beat the heat, breakfast did not take too long. Water bottles, walking stick to beat the bush ahead a good warning system for snakes, first day we planned a relatively easy walk to acclimatize from coastal living to higher altitude.
Warned about problems with baboons in the area we locked up tight and started out for a quiet two to three hours ambling around, more about the baboon problem later, it became very apparent on our second day in the resort.
To quote Elsa Pooley, “The dramatic broken landscape of the escarpment and the harsh climatic conditions of the highland of Lesotho account for the remarkably diverse plant life with about 2200 species and almost 400 endemics (plants found only on this area and no where else in the world)”. This area has been recognized as being of global botanical importance. Many flowers and plants are used for medical purposes by local people."
In the year 2000 the uKhahlamba-Drakensberg area was declared a World Heritage Site for its rich diversity of plant and animal life, beautiful landscape and San rock paintings.
Some wonderful surprises visiting at a different time of the year, flowers, grasses, mushrooms how on earth can anyone say they are bored with life, there is something different around each corner one turns.
Photo was taken of Hesperantha_baurii small wild flower at 08h35 F/3.5 1/320 sec ISO-80 - Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
Photo was taken of Helichrysum cooperi another wild flower at 08h35 F/3.5 1/320 sec ISO-80 - Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
I did mention we were ambling across the golf course keeping a wary eye out of golfers, all the water on the course was filled to the brim looking exquisite. Photo was taken of Helichrysum cooperi another wild flower at 08h50 F/4 1/400 sec ISO-160 - Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
Walking the Fairway 18 hole golf course, not knowing this mushroom I nicknamed it a golf ball mushroom - Photo was taken of wild mushrooms at 09h07 F/3.5 1/500 sec ISO-80 - Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
Beautiful sights all around practicing to use my little camera on manual settings, learning from many very accomplished photographers here, one is never too old to take advice nor learn something new every day, so many photo's had to be ditched when checking after this learning curve.
Rugged grasses with pretty flowers filling up a little stream passing through. Photo was taken of veld and vlei (South African for grassland, bush, scrub with seasonal or intermittent patches of water nature enjoys) at 09h010 F/3.5 1/320 sec ISO-80 - Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
With clouds hanging around early morning, the sun broke through and it became quite hot, around midday we decided lunch was needed, taken from the cottage verandah the clouds bubbling up. Photo was taken of clouds at 12h16 F/3.5 1/1600 sec ISO-80 - Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
Fortunately being part of the over sixties club my brother and husband decided onto an afternoon nap while my sister-in-law took her art work in hand while I watched the greatest show on earth, nature! People will tell you the Drakensberg can be dangerous with hiking, if ever you adventure into these mountains expect all four seasons in a day.
Around 16h00 it was apparent a big storm was swooping in, the guys were up and we all sat watching until it finally broke, I braved the fierce wind and hail stones belting into the verandah to do some video and photography while the rest of the gang hid inside the cottage.
Photo was taken of hail storm at 16h29 F/4 1/640 sec ISO-120 - Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
Some quickly covered their golf carts with special rain covers, others ran through those hail stones to get out of the driving wind being pelted with hail the size of marbles, as quick as it arrived, it was gone!
Photo was taken after hail storm at 16h43 F/4 1/250 sec ISO-160 - Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
Suddenly everything came to life, a rebirth, birds appeared from everywhere a party to be sure. Clever parents sent their children out to collect hail in plastic containers, most probably children from the coast who have never seen ice fall from the sky before!
Bokmakierie is a bushshrike, I have never seen one before a shy little bird appeared out of the dense bush as I was taking photo above of hailstones, what a treat to finally meet this beautiful bird in the wild.
Call of the bird sounds like bok-bok-mak-kik I suppose that is where it's name originates from. Photo was taken 16h44 F/6.9 1/160 sec ISO-800 - Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
Photo was taken 16h44 F/6.9 1/200 sec ISO-200 - Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
Photo was taken 16h54 F/5 1/50 sec ISO-200 - Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
Clouds dancing above against blue skies, bubbling over the mountains, ever changing moods between the sky and birds.... Life is vibrant, electric worth spending every minute enjoying nature at this kind of party!
Photo was taken 16h36 F/3.5 1/1000 sec ISO-80 - Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
Birds swooping over catching insects on high possibly, perhaps it is sheer joy of flight, surviving the storm. Photo was taken 16h59 F/3.5 1/1000 sec ISO-80 - Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
My buddy was back for his fair share, swooping down for his evening meal using a different tree this time. Photo was taken 16h56 F/6.9 1/200 sec ISO-100 - Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
Slowly many birds arrived to join in the party of live on the green grass, Hadida ibis, finch, cape sparrow and rock dove. Photo was taken 17h16 F/4.5 1/40 sec ISO-125 - Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
Start of sunset, everything changed once again giving a spectacular painted sky to enjoy another sun-downer and reflect on one of the most vicious storms we have witnessed up here in the Drakensberg. Photo was taken 18h00 F/8 1/100 sec ISO-80 - Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
Before night settles in, swing around and take a look what is on the other side, remember I am writing this a week later we were still heading toward the full moon, what an awesome sight next to massive cloud capturing the last rays of light. Photo was taken 18h09 F/4 1/100 sec ISO-80 - Canon PowerShot SX730 HS
Thanks for joining me the first part of the story began with Life's Road Trips Like Human Wings
Thought for Today: The moon moves slowly, but it gets across the town. ~ Ghanaian Proverb
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!steemitworldmap -29.8114 lat 29.3525 long Fairways Drakensberg Gardens D3SCR
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The landscape is so lush and beautiful! You have so many amazing shots here and your bird shots are superb!
The pictures of the Helichrysum cooperi look very much like one we have here called a strawflower, mostly because they are so dried, they appear to be fake.
Your photography is stunning! Thank you so much for sharing with us!
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This is really a breathtaking landscape with a great fauna and flora. At first one does not think of Africa, but rather of the Alps or the Rocky Mountains. Thank you for taking us on your journey.
Very different to going in Spring (September), very green, varieties of fauna and flora not seen previously.
Thanks for enjoying the content @ikarus56
A fabulous post Lady Joan.
Amazing how nature starts life after a thunder storm.
Blessings!
Still more to come, nature has so many surprises Stephen.
Absolutely and were you guys anywhere near Little Switzerland?
They have a farm reared Zebra there that even Marian could pat Lol
Looking forward to see more.
Blessings!
Little Switzerland is Northern Berg, we go to the Southern Berg more often than not.
Have visited along the whole range over the years my favourite spot would be Injasuti hutted camp in the Northern section of Giants Castle, very quiet off the beaten track.
Hi Joan. Looks like you all had a great time. I was trying to work out which resort you were at. I was up there awhile ago for a conference and try to get there every couple of years. Some great photos and a good story.
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Wonderful, you get many beautiful objects in your journey. South Africa is amazing place.
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Everything in nature is perfect @khaimi thanks for visiting.
Wow you Valley is green beautiful and full of nature..
You capture trees, Birds, Mountains, Sky, Clouds, Flowers almost everything..
Beautiful photographs.. nice post..
Thoroughly enjoyed this time of the year to visit, thought it would be too hot! Many surprises up in the mountains @tussar11
This looks like such a peaceful area ;)
Great place to get outdoors @adalger thanks for visiting.
I learned so much and absorbed it in. Not like the birds eating their breakfast of bugs and worms, but in a more intellectual way. It's funny that when I saw the picture of the mushroom it looked like a golf ball, then you said that's what you though. Spot on and really cool! Thanks for taking me on your journey!
So glad you enjoyed the region, yup that mushroom sure looked like a golf ball all ready lined up @bdmillergallery
I really enjoyed this, I love how you are focusing on all the little things as well as the big things :) Reading this post was very calming
Appreciate your kind comment @carlgnash
EVERYTHING there looks so beautiful!!! All the green.. the trees and those flowers!
Refreshing and clean up in the mountains, thanks for visiting @goldendawne
Hi joanstewart,
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What a wonderful surprise, thank you for selection @curie greatly appreciated!
Sure looks beautiful. Love it how everything comes out so fresh and rich after the rain.
Was alive to say the least, everything appeared to be celebrating life.
It looks wonderful @joanstewart! With a cup of coffee, looking at this view, the nature, the creatures, birds... I can imagine how much peace this could give to someone. I do need this kind of peace actually :) Especially now I have long work days. I have a colleague from South Africa, and he always tells about the beautiful nature there.
Thanks again for sharing!
We are lucky in that many of our areas are protected, animals roam quite free. As for the view I was either out walking about, or sitting watching the splendour day and night
Well that is very good! These areas should be protected indeed. Thanks for your comment!
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Thanks, Joan!
Reading your story, I seemed to be walking with you around these beautiful places. Very interesting observations.
Appreciate your feedback @eto-ka
Really powerful photos. Such serenity, amazing
Nice to get away and take a break @psyceratopsb
Beautiful greens natures colors and drama what a cool post, at first I thought those mushrooms were gold balls thats a good name for them
One of the worst storms I have encountered up there, it paid off with life popping up everywhere.
Isnt it funny with nature how extreme ad weather is rewarded afterwards with new life
What a truly beautiful post!! thank you for sharing your adventure with us!!
Thanks for visiting Marianne, hopefully soon I will settle enough to join in at #freewrite, take care and have a great day.
A very great transformation it is at your end. Enough water to make the plant flourish more and more. The various flowers and plants are so so lovely. I really enjoyed reading your blog and i loved the flow in there. Great post and i wish to meet more of your blogs soon
Appreciate you kind words @ferrate we are literally "Singing in the Rain", recent drought leaves one very worried about the state of nature on our small planet.
Photography is all about art
Always art in nature @arkkart thanks for comment.
Sure wish to have half of those storm coming over here to blow the heat waves away!
Glad we are going back into winter @joelai, perfect time of the year where I live.
That's so good to know @joanstewart.
Fantastic photography Joan! The colors are awesome! Your wonderful description of the location really makes me want to be there!
Home comforts in nature, a great visit Roger.
Excellent photos. I personally that mushroom photography which was zoomed to be more accurate. And pellets in the grass.
More still to come @kcherukuri a place to enjoy everything big and small.
Gorgeous photos. That sudden hail storm is very impressive. Is that common?
Proud member of #powerhousecreatives
Sudden storms can be treacherous in these mountains, normally going on hikes a guide is suggested.
Knowing the region, movement of clouds appearing out of the blue, a guide will warn hikers to move back down on long hikes.
Short day hikes, a register is signed on entry into Parks board land (SANParks), you sign out when you return, many hikers have been badly injured needing assistance to evacuate. Rangers in office keeps track on how many go into the mountains and come out. Ranger on horseback are patrolling the area, moving silently, keeping an eye out for safety. I wrote about them here White Knight Majestic Animal
Some stunning photos! I can totally relate to being able to spend endless hours just taking in nature! Especially when everything is so lush and lovely green!
Are you on a holiday - you mention that you are at a resort?
That would be a wonderful place to visit with all the diversity! So glad they made it a "World Heritage Site"!
Thanks for sharing!
Got back after a week away with no internet connection, now playing catch-up with posts once again.
Resort is in a heritage site, with home comforts. Rivers and streams coming off the plateau one of our catchment regions.
Life in the valley is ever changing, yes nature is a big part of living in Africa.
Sounds wonderful! But I hear ya on trying to catch up when you take a holiday with no internet!
Looks amazing! 😍
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Thanks for visiting @felt.buzz
We need to get away again soon to recharge, so glad you had this break after all the heartache!Oh wow @joanstewart, you really did justice to our magnificent Drakensberg, awesome post and well deserved curie! Those storms come from nowhere not so!
Visiting in a different season came with some nice surprises Lizelle.
Storms are scary up there, no wonder so many warnings go out to hikers, thanks for visit and kind words, now back to the grindstone and catching up.
I just love the nature, the sky, flowers and birds are beautifully captured @joanstewart, thanks for sharing so people from the other side of the world can view this too!
Reliving the week through photo's myself Rose, always reading posts about far off lands seeing life through another persons eyes and lens.
Couldn't agree more!
Wow, you are making great travel posts. It would be nice to see one of those linked to our map one day so we can feature them and upvote your post :)Hey here @lizanomadsoul swinging by.
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Thanks @lizanomadsoul I normally add #steemitworldmap perhaps I have code wrong again will check.
Appreciate your great site and visit.
Beautiful country you live in. Rain always cleans the air and makes everything look so much better. Thanks for all the pictures.
Not many venture so far down south to visit, many see the Cape and miss KwaZulu-Natal a different climate, in a relatively large country with lots to explore.
Hey great photos, a good camera seems to really help lol. Lovely to see the landscape of our country displayed so finely. What a good post, totally different from my usual choice which is news politics economics tech crypto etc, so i appreciate the quality visuals.
And then there is your kryptonia link, that made me curious, let me check it out???
Thanks for awesome feedback, Drakensberg rocked this time of the year, with many new things to see.
You are more thank welcome to test drive and see it you enjoy Kryptonia, it works very well with Steemit, blogging, marketing well anything on the www.
Beautiful Sunday, Sublimely So@dswigle wrote lately about: Feel free to follow @dswigle if you like it :)
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🎁 Hi @joanstewart! You have received 0.1 STEEM tip from @dswigle!Thanks @tipu and @dswigle appreciate your visiting.
Stunning natured images Joan! & congratulations on the curie 👏🏼❤️
Thqnks for the showcase
Thank you Joy.