Martin Meyer

Lion queen

Fri, 18 May 2012 11:50 +0200

One of the three females forming the incredible machatan pride located in the Timbavati.
Spending time in their presence is always inspiring as they teach the 7 cubs the important life lessons, for the future.

Enough already

Wed, 16 May 2012 11:00 +0200

"2011 has come and gone, leaving in its wake 448 known rhino carcasses despite the best efforts of so many. One day, when the syndicates are exposed, I wonder if we’ll ever know the depths to which these greedy and sick individuals have sunk at the expense of these magnificent creatures. According to acclaimed rhino scientists, if poaching continues at its current rate South Africa’s rhino herd will go into population decline by mid-2012. " via http://www.stoprhinopoaching.com/

Magpie Shrikes - masters of disguise

Fri, 11 May 2012 08:50 +0200

The Magpie Shrike (Urolestes melanoleucus), also known as the African Long-tailed Shrike, is a wonderful subject to photograph.
Found often out in the open grass plains whilst on safari. One of the most remarkable assets is something we call vocal mimicry and include the calls of many species including lapwings, cuckoos and squirrels in their song. Thus creating confusion as to their true identity and improving there chances to hunt prey without being dominated by larger species in the avian kingdom.

Long-tailed Shrikes take a wide variety of animal prey. On occasion, they have been noted capturing small snakes. It sometimes indulges in kleptoparasitism and takes prey from other birds. It also captures flying insects in the air.

Location: Mana Pools, Zimbabwe
Camera Settings: f6.3 | IS0 800 | 1/1600

Stuck in a rut

Wed, 09 May 2012 09:37 +0200

'At the end of the wet season (May in Southern Africa) when the days become shorter and the nights cooler, male impala enter a period of "rut". Individuals of four years or more challenge each other in noisy, boisterous challenges in a struggle to gain and hold a territory.
The explosive barking call of the rutting males has frightened the wits out of more than a few trailists and campers, for it is often mistaken for the roar of a lion! The competing males put all their energy into the rut, often loosing condition (less time is spent eating) and many preoccupied individuals are taken opportunistically by predators.' research via wildwatch.com

Location: Timbavati
Camera settings: f6.3 | ISO 400 |1/640

Emotional Intelligence

Tue, 08 May 2012 09:14 +0200

Hwange National Park is home to one of the largest elephant herds on earth who utilise Hwange National Park as well as Chobe National Park for feeding (population thought to be anything between 20000 to 75000 and up to 110 000 in Chobe during the peak dry season).

With these large migrating herds, it is a thrill to watch and photograph their intimate social structure's within the herd and their often amusing antics. Here a young elephant takes shelter under her mother while learning the art of using her trunk to suck up the water and the spray it into her mouth.

Location: Camp Somalisa | Hwange | Zimbabwe

Hwange's herds

Mon, 07 May 2012 11:04 +0200

This unbeatable wild elephant sanctuary is known for its large herds of elephant and the Somalisa concession in Hwange National Park affords you with your private African wildlife encounters from the minute you step out of your tent. One of my favourite safari destinations.

Location: Camp Somalisa, Hwange National Park, Zimbabwe
Camera settings: f5.6 | ISO 800 |1/640

The Martial of the African skies

Thu, 03 May 2012 17:08 +0200

The Martial Eagle can be found in most of sub-Saharan Africa, wherever food is abundant and the environment favourable. It is never common, but greater population densities do exist in southern Africa, especially in Zimbabwe and South Africa. Generally, these birds are more abundant in protected areas such as Kruger National Park and Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park in South Africa, or Etosha National Park in Namibia.

With a weight of 3–5.7 kg (6.6–13 lb) and a wingspan of 188–227 cm (6.17–7.45 ft).[1] This is the largest eagle in Africa.

This species is currently experiencing a major decline in numbers, due to the over killing from hunters. Its conservation status was listed to Near Threatened in 2009.

part of the family

Wed, 02 May 2012 10:57 +0200

A typical day for infant elephants comprises mainly of feeding, resting, learning and traveling. As the calves get older (12-60+ months), they spend less time resting and traveling and much more time feeding. As can be expected the time spent suckling decreases with age. Elephants typically are fully weaned at around 5 to 6 years of age.

Up to two years, the calf is very nutritionally dependent on the mother. After two years of age, the shift of emphasis is upon independent feeding despite the fact that the mother's milk remains an important part of a calves diet.

Location: Timbavati
Camera settings: f5.6 | ISO 400 | 1/250

Rockfig jnr shares her marula tree with us

Wed, 25 Apr 2012 16:12 +0200

Afetr a wonderful morning of tracking Rockfig jnr, we finally catch up with her, she's panting and out of breath. Jumping to her well used perch in a Marula tree, she surveys the impala herd off to the east at a distance. Comfortable that her new cub is safely concealed from our view.

In the name of love

Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:00 +0200

“ According to figures released by the Department of Environmental Affairs on April 19, the number of rhinos poached so far this year now stands at 181. Tourism Update reported on April 17 that the figure stood at 171, meaning that a further 10 rhinos have been killed since those figures were published.

The Department of Environmental Affairs has welcomed the Matsulu community's capture of a suspected rhino poacher earlier this month. “The DEA believes that the public’s active involvement in fighting rhino poaching can lead to more arrests and contribute to addressing this scourge. This united approach can result in South Africa winning the war against rhino poaching,” said Department of Environmental Affairs Spokesman, Albi Modise.

Modise once again urged all South Africans to report incidents of rhino poaching or any tip-offs that could lead to arrests and the prevention of illegal killing to 0800 205 005."

Article via Tourism Update