From baboons to warthogs, animals are aplenty in South Africa

Sept. 6, 2014
My time in South Africa has allowed me to see and interact with animals I had only previously seen in books or at zoos.

And of course,  I encountered a few species in grocery store meat counters and restaurant menus as well as in the wild. Welcome to Africa.

Just as visitors in the United States gawk at moose and bear, I came to appreciate the diversity of all the living, breathing animals on the earth.  I also came to an even stronger understanding of the need to preserve and protect that broad range of life.

Will this experience turn me into a vegetarian? No.  But I will support the efforts to stop the poaching of rhinos and elephant horns. I will also question efforts at unfettered development that cuts down the wild open spaces. And, I will continue my growing hatred of plastic shopping bags.   They are a blight.

I will do all those things so that the future generations of Africans can take their natural variety for granted.  Here is just a few photos of the other animals besides lions, elephants and penguins make South Africa so interesting.  Maybe next time, I’ll be able to see a hippo, cheetah and rhino.   But considering I did not go to a game reserve or on safari, I think I saw quite a few wonders of the world.

Here’s a slideshow of just a few other animal encounters:

http://www.photosnack.com/FFDD7AC7C6F/ptc9ynj9