Lion and Dead Quagga, ZuluLand, 1874.
Matebele Warrior in Dancing Dress, 1870.
Rhinocerous by Thomas Baines, 1875.
The Battle of Blauwkrantz, 1838.
Gold and Ivory Elephants Charging over Quartose Country, 1873.
British Southern Africa Colonial Artist & Explorer: Thomas Baines
Lion and Dead Quagga, ZuluLand, 1874.
Matebele Warrior in Dancing Dress, 1870.
Rhinocerous by Thomas Baines, 1875.
The Battle of Blauwkrantz, 1838.
Gold and Ivory Elephants Charging over Quartose Country, 1873.
Barbara Jeppe: S. African Botanical Artist (1921-1999)
She was awarded two gold medals in 1990, one by the Botanical Society of South Africa, the Cythna Letty Gold Medal for contributions to botanical illustrations in South Africa and by the South African Nurserymen’s Association.
The Transvaal Horticultural Society awarded her with a silver medal in 1991.
iNkehli (Lucky Bean Tree) South Africa
Seeds of this tree are in great demand for ornaments and charms.
A root infusion provides a remedy for bilharzia and for certain eye complaints and bark is believed to bring huntsmen luck if they wash with it.
Powered bark mixed with one's own body oil is believed to ward off attacks and bad luck.
A root infusion provides a remedy for bilharzia and for certain eye complaints and bark is believed to bring huntsmen luck if they wash with it.
Powered bark mixed with one's own body oil is believed to ward off attacks and bad luck.
South Africa´s "Sengi": Karoo Rock Elephant Shrew
This species is confined to rocky or boulder habitats, against mountain slopes or on ridges.
South Africa´s Extinct BLaaubok
It disappeared after hunting for pelts and museum specimens.
The last one was killed in the 1800´s.
It was an upland grassland herd grazing herbivore endemic to the Swellingdam District.
Desiccated specimens exist in Paris, Leyden, Stockholm, Upsala, and Vienna.
The last one was killed in the 1800´s.
It was an upland grassland herd grazing herbivore endemic to the Swellingdam District.
Desiccated specimens exist in Paris, Leyden, Stockholm, Upsala, and Vienna.
S. Africa: Forest SwallowTail or Bush Kite ButterFly
The
South African Adventurer: Sibusiso Vilane
He has conquered the 7 highest continent´s summits: Denali/Mount McKinley, 2008 (Alaska, USA), Mount Ebrus (Russia), Aconcagua, 2006 (Argentina), Everest (SW route 2003, Nepal and NE route 2005, Tibet), Mount Kilimanjaro, 1999 (Tanzania), Vinson Massif, 2006 (Antarctica), Carstensz Pyramid, 2006 (New Guinea, Oceania).
He is the first black person to ascent Mount Everest and the first black South African to walk to the South Pole!
South African Nobel Prize: Desmond MpiLo TuTu
Listen to him and learn what was it like to live during the apartheid and how forgiveness helped south africans move on...
He has campaigned to fight AIDS, tuberculosis, poverty, racism, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia.
He was the 1st black archbishop of Cape Town and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984; the Albert Schweitzer Prize for Humanitarianism in 1986, the Pacem in Terris Award in 1987, the Sydney Peace Prize in 1999, the Gandhi Peace Prize in 2007 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2009.
Human Powered Energy: South Africa
The modern human powered clockwork radio was designed and patented in 1991 by British inventor Trevor Baylis as a response to the AIDS crisis. He envisioned it for poor people in developing countries without access to batteries.
He now runs Trevor Baylis Brands plc, a company dedicated to helping inventors to develop and protect their ideas and to find a route to market.
In 1994, British accountant Chris Staines and his South African partner Rory Stear, secured the worldwide license to the invention and cofounded Baygen Power Industries (Freeplay Energy PLC) which produced the first commercial model.
Martin Potter: Innovator Surfer
He became a pro in 1981 and in 1989 after 6 tour victories from 25 events he became "World Surfing Champion".
'Pottz' redefined competitive surfing with aerials and 360's only performed in free surfing.
He invented maneuvers like the “rock-n-roll", as done on a skateboard and promoted a new form of judging competitive surfing based on "risky surfing" (higher scoring being given to bigger and more critical maneuvering) presently standard on the World Championship Tour (WCT)
By the age of 15, he was surfing 20+ foot waves at Hawaii´s North Shore “Banzai Pipeline” surf break. At the time, he used a jet-ski as an alternative to paddling, becoming one of 'tow-in' surfing pioneers.
South Africa´s Endangered Species: Wild Dogs
They are also known as African wild dog, African hunting dog, Cape hunting dog, painted dog, painted wolf, painted hunting dog, spotted dog, or ornate wolf
South Africa´s Jewel Beetles
Buprestids love heat (thermophilous) and can tolerate very high temperatures so they´re active and alert in hot, sunny days.
The adults feed on pollen, foliage and nectar.
Julodis cirossa 27 mm
Julodis viridipes
The females lay their eggs in the bark and the larvae tunnel into wood and plant stems.
The adults don´t live very long but the immatures can take as long as 35 years to complete their development!
The adults feed on pollen, foliage and nectar.
Julodis cirossa 27 mm
Julodis viridipes
The females lay their eggs in the bark and the larvae tunnel into wood and plant stems.
The adults don´t live very long but the immatures can take as long as 35 years to complete their development!
Phlocteis exasperata Metal jewel beetle, 12mm.
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The West WinD GLadiatoR Namaqualand, South Africa
The scientific name Mantophasmatodea derives from Mantodea (praying mantis) and Phasmatodea (stick insect). The Gladiator, unlike the praying mantis, grabs its prey with both its fore and mid legs and in contrast to the stick insect its first body segment is the largest and it doesn´t feed on plants.
This insect, which over the past 45 million years became extinct in Europe survived in Africa.
The predatory insect was nicknamed ‘Gladiator’ because parts of it are covered with spiky armouring like the legendary fighters of ancient Rome.
After in-depth research it was established without doubt that this insect didn´t belong to any known Genus, family or Order.
The last time this happened was in 1914 and so another new Order was added to the 30 known ones!
This insect, which over the past 45 million years became extinct in Europe survived in Africa.
The predatory insect was nicknamed ‘Gladiator’ because parts of it are covered with spiky armouring like the legendary fighters of ancient Rome.
The last time this happened was in 1914 and so another new Order was added to the 30 known ones!
The Cape Dwarf Chameleon: South Africa
CLicK & Watch a VIDEO of it Hunting...
A juvenile specimen about 2 cm long!
They can´t survive outside of their natural environment and need to stay outdoors where they can regulate their body temperature using sunlight
South Africa´s ReeD Dance SwaziLand
- Listen to Holly Meadows Assistant Editor at Safari Africa Geographic's Digital Travel Magazine explaining this tradition
South Africa´s Endemic Spotted Harlequin Snake
Because the venom of this snake is non lethal, no antivenom is required, but it can cause swelling and severe headaches.
The Spotted Harlequin Snake can live for 10 years and grows to an average length of 40 cm but it can reach 65 cm in length.
The Spotted Harlequin Snake can live for 10 years and grows to an average length of 40 cm but it can reach 65 cm in length.
South Africa´s Pigmy Wolf Snake
This snake is only found in the extreme eastern corner of KwaZulu-Natal and a small part of southern Mozambique.
It is non-venomous and not likely to bite. It can live 15-20 years. It grows to an average length of 18 cm and a maximum of 30 cm.
It is non-venomous and not likely to bite. It can live 15-20 years. It grows to an average length of 18 cm and a maximum of 30 cm.
Shaun Tomson: South Africa´s Surfer
Considered as one of the 25 most influential surfers of the century and one of the 10 greatest surfers of all time. Watch the 1977 World Champion in action at Jeffrey´s Bay, South Africa.
In these two great interviews made by kids of the Santa Barbara Middle School, California (USA) you can find more about him...
South Africa´s Endemic Birds
The Orange-Breasted SunBird
Southern or Lesser Double-Collared SunBird
Greater Double-Collared SunBird
The Riverine Rabbit: - 250 Individuals Survive!
The Riverine Rabbit (Bunolagus monticularis) is South Africa´s most Endangered Mammal and the only place in the world it is found is near rivers in the central Karoo
Unusually for rabbits, its reproduction is very slow with females giving birth to only one or two kittens each year. They rarely live for more than three years, so only around four young are born during each rabbit’s lifetime!
The Jackass or BLack Footed Penguin
The (Spheniscus demersus) is the only penguin species breeding on the African continent!
Of the 1.5 million African Penguin population estimated in 1910, only around 10% exist at the end of the 20th-century.
The Great Penguin Rescue tells the story of the world's largest volunteer animal rescue, which saved more than 40,000 penguins after an oil spill off the coast of South Africa.
South Africa´s Cape Town TabLe Mountain NationaL Park
Cape Town and Table Mountain by Captain Cook´s painter William Hodges, 1772.
Table Mountain CableWay
Cardiac Surgeon Doctor Christiaan Barnard
He performed the first human heart transplant in the world in 1967, in Cape Town.
The operation lasted nine hours and used a team of thirty people, but the patient with the heart of another human being survived for only 18 days...
Before this, he experimented for many years with animal heart transplants.
The operation lasted nine hours and used a team of thirty people, but the patient with the heart of another human being survived for only 18 days...
Before this, he experimented for many years with animal heart transplants.
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