Archive | Wildlife preservation

Hippos or Crocodiles: Which are the most dangerous?

By SGAdmin on March 31, 2025 in Africa Safari, Wildlife preservation, Zoo

The popular YouTube blue water sailing channel Sailing Nandji-Frothlife of the small Australian family exploring the world have just posted a video about their arrival in South Africa. Next week they are going to visit Hluhluwe National game reserve where I recall my father worrying whether or not our car was fast enough to outrun a rhino! But for now they are exploring St Lucia wildlife refuge and talk a lot about the hippos and crocodiles on their guided tour. These animals are so fierce because their brains are so small and just focus on eating anything in their way. I agree with Jost that they are modern living dinosaurs.

African safari crocodile — My least favorite African animal – a giant crocodile, as seen here by Sailing Nandji.

Unfortunately they did not cover all the birds in as much depth as I would have liked, other than mentioning there are over 600 species to view. You can separately see many pictures on the internet on the giant flocks of pink flamingos that live there because not all African safaris are about lions and elephants. Here is a taste of the scenes I would love to experience one day – with thanks to St Lucia Birding Tours:

Birding tour safaris in South Africa — Flamingos in St Lucia estuary South Africa

Anyway, I look forward to following Nandji’s travels down the coast of South Africa. I am sure it will bring back many memories for me while showcasing the great contrasts between the incredible natural landscapes and wildlife of this country that hogs the southern tip of Africa, along with how large, modern and bustling the coastal cities have become.

YouTube link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRzW0olqMD8

Does Your Old Man Wander Alone?

By SGAdmin on May 28, 2024 in Africa Safari, Elephant Hair Knot Bracelets, Wildlife preservation, Zoo

I took this photo on safari in Botswana almost 50 years ago, yet I remember the moment very clearly. We took a break from viewing wildlife to photograph the incredible stillness, peacefulness and calm in the reflections of a magic spot in the Okavango delta. I had wandered off from the rest of the party in search of a better camera angle when suddenly this giant old bull elephant came out of the trees, took one look at me, and then simply started to drink a lot of water. Notice how disguised he is. While I never saw or heard him coming out of the trees, I am sure he knew I was there all along!

After viewing big herds of elephants many other times on the trip, it always seemed so strange to see such big creatures wandering around alone. It is almost sad because you know they were once welcomed into a big herd, especially at mating season. Now no one needed them, yet they are usually still strong and will live a long, lonesome life while the matriarchs run the herds and frolic with all the younger ones in the river. And you know they remember the good times since an elephant famously never forgets. Like humans, they have very big brains and theirs is also in two sections so as to increase the surface area where all the important receptors and memory cells interact.

Do take a moment every so often to remember your own father so he is not alone with his own thoughts, even if he lives in a communal environment. If he ever lived or visited Africa, maybe some elephant related message or product would be appreciated.

Elephant hair knot bracelets are great examples of such items as they may be worn daily by men or women and make great birthday and Father’s Day gifts. Nowadays they are usually made of silver or gold or artificial elephant hair. Just be sure to not support the poachers by purchasing real elephant hair or ivory products.

Martin Foden

Africans are going on Safari – at last

By SGAdmin on October 3, 2017 in African Wildlife Federation, Wildlife preservation

An interesting recent article on AWF.org, The African Wildlife Federation, is that now more and more Africans are themselves going on Safari. This makes me really smile, as a I specifically went on a safari trip before I left Africa. Yes I always wanted to do a real photo safari and not just a drive through a game park. But also when people asked me about wildlife in Africa I could talk with some confidence and tell stories about my few weeks under canvas. It was still the best trip of my life when I was single and I hope to take my now grown boys next year.

Of course, we were in Sout Join African Wildlife Federation hern Africa and had ready access to the Kruger National Park, the Lion Park, and many others. But for real wildlife we went off to Botswana where the wildlife is in such abundance and the natural inland delta is so magical. Ask me some time about the night the elephants came through camp. Not to worry, my tent mate had zipped up the little pup tent really tight to protect us from the lions. And even our ranger did not have a gun.

Anyway, fun to see the rest of Africa discovering what many a European, American or other tourist already knows. You can’t beat African for nature and wildlife. See full story.

Another great reason to join the Africa Wildlife Foundation is their fabulous pictures and videos of African. Award winning photos on every page of their calendar. So darn cute this picture on the cover. Now think what it took to capture such a shot out in the wild.

Cute little Meerkat collection makes its debut

By SGAdmin on June 3, 2015 in Meerkat Jewelry, Wildlife preservation, Zoo

When you think Safari and Africa, you usually think big and wild animals. But as the Nature Channel, Disney and National Geographic have show the world, there are also cute little critters like the Meerkats of Namibia and South Africa to amuse and entertain us. Found only in these South West parts of Africa, some have called them the weasels of Africa.

Well they are a bit bigger than you think, often standing up to 2ft tall when they come out to hunt and get some sun. They stand up on their hind legs and use their tails for balance, just like kangaroos do.

See our collection and select a simple pendant or earrings set for that person in your circle of friends who like cuteness. One lady even told me that seeing the meerkats was the highlight of her trip to the Seattle zoo many years ago.

These animals are very communal which makes us think of making a wider piece with a whole family or collection of them in different poses? What do you think? Any ideas or suggestions?

Also, would you like to see these in gold too?

Zoos have their place in conservation too

By SGAdmin on February 12, 2015 in Wildlife preservation, Zoo

While some of us are privileged to see wildlife in their natural habitat, that is not a blessing for all. But who can forget all those trips to the zoo as a child, or as a parent / grandparent with small kids in tow.

My parents even had to spell out the word to each other when they were preparing to set out, or us kids would jump around and go crazy if we heard the word zoo. I still remember the lions from our local zoo – and that was when I was barely of school age!

Anyway, CBS news has done us all a great favor by showing a collection of fine photos of zoo animal babies up close and in person. Something almost no one experiences out in the wild. And don’t worry, all these animals are well cared for day and night and are the best of the best educational resource – since people react so differently to live animals.

See https://www.cbsnews.com/pictures/zoo-babies/

Only an elephant needs an ivory tusk

By SGAdmin on January 25, 2015 in Elephant Hair Knot Bracelets, Wildlife preservation

No ivory poaching please
I have finally found a good picture and headline to illustrate what is an obvious story to some. And a big question mark for others. yes we sell elephant hair bracelets – but we mean “elephant hair style” not real elephant hair. We have never touched real hair and don’t plan to do it. Yes I know you can buy them on the street side in Africa.. but where does the hair come from? Unlike ivory it cannot be traced – so in most cases of big clumps of it the hair is from a poached elephant nowadays.

These lovely, grand, magnificent creatures need the support of all so that they may endure forever. The Vietnamese people (yes, in particular nowadays) seem to be able to breed prolifically anyway – without the superstitious powers and collection of ivory from elephants and also rhino horns.

You can just as easily celebrate their existence and the old magic sliding knots design from the old tribal herdsmen with a similar bracelet made from artificial elephant hair or copper, silver or gold wire.

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Archive | Wildlife preservation

Hippos or Crocodiles: Which are the most dangerous?

Does Your Old Man Wander Alone?

Africans are going on Safari – at last

Cute little Meerkat collection makes its debut

Zoos have their place in conservation too

Only an elephant needs an ivory tusk

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