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Safari Aquilla Game Park

March 18, 2014 by David Herd

Beauty & the Beast

Safari Aquilla Game Park

Safari Aquilla Game Park

Safari Aquilla Game Park Cape Town, a privately owned reserve 3 hours north of Capetown. Although there were not an abundance of animals & species it was still a great experience, our guide was very good and we were able to get very close to the magnificent animals. The lions were in a separate enclosure and contrary to what our guide said, I think they are kept there so they won’t eat the other animals.  😳

Up close & personal

Safari Aquilla Game Park

We were only 4 meters away from this beautiful beast in an open truck, however our guide said we were safe because they only ate at night.  😆

 This man would not lie to you.  🙄

Safari Aquilla Game Park

Reg was an excellent friendly guide, and if he says the lion won’t eat you through the day then I choose to believe him.


My favourites were the rhinos.

Safari Aquilla Game Park

I really loved seeing these beautiful animals up close. Living in Thailand means I get to see a lot of elephants, Tigers etc, however the rhino has always fascinated me.

They always sit facing the opposite

Safari Aquilla Game Park

 

It was fantastic to see these powerful beasts up close.

Such a powerful animal

Safari Aquilla Game Park

They look absolutely prehistoric.

Another evil eye

Safari Aquilla Game Park

I am told hippos kill more people in Africa than any other animal.

Young 18 month old hippos.

Safari Aquilla Game Park

These two were quiet shy, as we came closer they slid into the damn.

A great looking Zebra

 

It almost seemed like he was posing for the cameras.

Zebra & Springbok on Safari near Capetown

Safari Aquilla Game Park

There certainly doesn’t seem to be much to eat here.

Our safari truck

Safari Aquilla Game Park

As you can see there is not much protection from a wild animal attack.  🙁

Here come the big guys.

Safari Aquilla Game Park

As I said earlier, there may not be many animals at Aquila, but the guides do a terrific job getting you close so you can enjoy the experience.

Magnificent beasts at Safari Aquilla Game Park Cape Town

Safari Aquilla Game Park

One species of African elephant, the bush elephant, is the largest living terrestrial animal, while the forest elephant is the third largest. Their thickset bodies rest on stocky legs, and they have concave backs.  Their large ears enable heat loss. The upper lip and nose form a trunk. The trunk acts as a fifth limb, a sound amplifier, and an important method of touch. African elephants’ trunks end in two opposing lips, whereas the Asian elephant trunk ends in a single lip. Please click on Google + to help my page ranking.

What’s Gnu?

Safari Aquilla Game Park

The wildebeest, also called the gnu is an antelope in the genus Connochaetes. It belongs to the family Bovidae, which includes antelopes, cattle, goats, sheep and other even-toed horned ungulates.Connochaetes includes two species, both native to Africa: the black wildebeest, or white-tailed gnu (C. gnou); and the blue wildebeest, or brindled gnu (C. taurinus). Fossil records suggest these two species diverged about one million years ago, resulting in northern and southern species. The blue wildebeest changed very little from the ancestor species, while the black wildebeest took on more morphological changes to adapt to a habitat of open grassland in the south. Today, the blue wildebeest has five subspecies, while the black wildebeest has no named subspecies.  In East Africa, the wildebeest is the most abundant big-game species, both in population and biomass.

Ostrich

Safari Aquilla Game Park

The ostrich shares the order Struthioniformes with the kiwis, emus, rheas, and cassowaries. It is distinctive in its appearance, with a long neck and legs, and can run at up to about 70 km/h (43 mph), the fastest land speed of any bird. The ostrich is the largest living species of bird and lays the largest eggs of any living bird (extinct elephant birds of Madagascar and the giant moa of New Zealand laid larger eggs).

Aquila private game reserve

Safari Aquilla Game Park

The Aquila Private Game Reserve is a game reserve in Western Cape Province, South Africa. Aquila has animals such as the springbok, Lion, Cape Porcupine, Olive baboon, leopard, and African elephant.

Safari Aquilla Game Park Cape Town

Safari Aquilla Game Park

 

Well worth a visit to go on a Safari Aquilla Game Park Cape Town.

Thank you for visiting my post.

Safari Aquilla Game Park

 

Many thanks for visiting my Safari Aquilla Game Park Cape Town photo blog.


Please check out my post on Capetown’s wonderful V & A Waterfront. 

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1g Duck

What a Wonderful World

David Attenborough - Wonderful World - BBC - Full HD 1080p

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Plymouth South Coast Devon

December 19, 2013 by David Herd

Driving into the city

Plymouth South Coast Devon

Plymouth South Coast Devon

Plymouth South Coast Devon is a nice city and a unitary authority area on the south coast of Devon, England, about 190 miles south-west of London. It is situated between the mouths of the rivers Plym to the east and Tamar to the west, where they join Plymouth Sound.

Plymouth South Coast Devon

Plymouth South Coast Devon

The cities history goes back to the Bronze Age, when its first settlement grew at Mount Batten. This settlement continued to grow as a trading post for the Roman Empire, until the more prosperous village of Sutton, the current Plymouth, surpassed it.

Plymouth Hoe

Plymouth South Coast Devon

Plymouth is Devon’s largest city and a famous old port that played a key part in the defeat of the Spanish Armada in 1588 thanks to ex-slaver Francis Drake and the bad weather, waved goodbye to the Mayflower’s ‘Pilgrim’ passengers on their way to America in 1620, shipped out both Captain Cook and Charles Darwin and was bombed flat by the Luftwaffe in the 1940’s. Some of the old city survived but much of the rebuild was lacking in both style and sensitivity so the city is hardly packed with attractions and traffic can be terrible. However, the Hoe is calm, pretty and encompasses varied memorials and an outdoor pool (Tinside Lido), naval-gazing is popular with the National Maritime Museum and the Royal Citadel at the fore and Crownhill Fort at the rear, while a handful of stately homes offer sumptuous treats such as Saltram, Mount Edgcumbe, Elizabethan House and the Merchant’s House Museum.

Old building

Plymouth South Coast Devon

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Plymouth South Coast Devon

Plymouth South Coast Devon

Two days in Plymouth was quite enough for me, I think there are many more nicer places along the South coast.

SMEATON’S TOWER.

Plymouth South Coast Devon

 

Rated as one of the top attractions in the whole of Devon, a visit to Smeaton’s Tower is not to be missed. This eye-catching red and white lighthouse is easy to spot and is located in the Plymouth Hoe area. Dating back to the 18th century, Smeaton’s Tower was actually originally located some 14 miles / 23 km away, in nearby Eddystone Rocks and was painstakingly moved piece by piece to its current location in 1882. It is possible to climb the steep stone stairs to the very top and enjoy the spectacular panoramic views on offer.

Diving into the freezing  water.

 Plymouth South Coast Devon

You would have to be crazy, that water would be freezing.

Near the waterfront

Plymouth South Coast Devon

 That’s my friend Bill Austin from Trowbridge.

The Mission restaurant

Plymouth South Coast Devon

The Mission was an excellent restaurant with good food and a great atmosphere.

Cougers at the Mission bar

Plymouth South Coast Devon

Girls night out.

Sir Francis Drake at Plymouth South Coast Devon

Plymouth South Coast Devon

We stayed at the Travelodge in Plymouth, good price & location, book through AGODA for a great deal.

Thanks for visiting my Plymouth South Coast Devon photo blog.                       

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1g Duck

Europe before Covid-19 & mass immigration.

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South Beach Miami

November 22, 2013 by David Herd

Art Deco South Beach

South Beach Miami

South Beach Miami was the attraction for me, and the Clay Hotel 1438 Washington Ave, Miami Beach was the perfect location. Far less expensive being 3 or 4 blocks back from the beach.

Hotel Shelley South Beach

Art Deco South Beach Miami

One of the many iconic hotels on South Beach Miami.

South Beach Miami

Art Deco South Beach Miami

South Beach Miami is one of my favourite people watching locations in the world. The cars, the gorgeous women, the bikinis on the beach, its got it all, throw in lots of great bars & restaurants and what else do you need?

How many movies has this deli been in?

South Beach Miami

The Architectural District (also known as Old Miami Beach Historic District, and the more popular term, Miami Art Deco District) is a U.S. historic district (designated as such on May 14, 1979) located in the South Beach neighbourhood of Miami Beach, Florida. The district is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean to the east, Sixth Street to the south, Alton Road to the west, the Collins Canal and Dade Boulevard to the north. It contains 960 historic buildings. In 1989, it was listed in A Guide to Florida’s Historic Architecture, published by the University of Florida Press.

The famous life guard towers

South Beach Miami

The fabulous art deco towers are unique examples of this form of architecture, they along the eight and a half mile stretch of  Beach. All told there are twenty five towers guarding those who use the beach. At once functional and decorative, they contribute beautifully to the overall aesthetic of this Floridian resort city. A great example of Art Deco South Beach Miami.

Quintessential South Beach Miami

Art Deco South Beach Miami

Such well known landmarks that is quintessential South Beach Miami.

The local sheriff

South Beach Miami

He is exercising his 2nd amendment rights. 🙂

Beautiful white sand on South beach.

South Beach Miami

Certainly one of the world’s best beach scenes.

Lots of bars & cafes opposite the beach.

South Beach Miami

Lots of cafes and restaurants along the strip.

Finnegans Way.

Art Deco South Beach Miami

Finnegans Way 1344 Ocean Dr,  was a good lay back Irish bar, as it was on the way to my hotel I could never walk past without calling in for a drink.

Drinking JD on South Beach Miami

South Beach Miami

Drinks with the manager of Finnegans Way on South Beach.

South Beach Miami, river cruise.

Art Deco South Beach Miami

A good way to see the sights  including some beautiful homes is to jump on a boat and cruise around the harbour.

Open the bridge, we are coming through.

Art Deco South Beach Miami

A boat cruise is a great way to see the city and surrounds. 

Huge condo block.

Art Deco South Beach Miami

Luxury hotels and condos are everywhere in Miami.

South Beach Miami, condos on the beach.

Art Deco South Beach Miami

Living on South Beach Miami can’t be all that bad. 🙂

Nice little runabout.

Art Deco South Beach Miami

Beautiful classic timber runabout.

Nice big runabout.

South Beach Miami

No matter how big your boat is there is always somebody with a bigger one.

Very nice little shack.

Art Deco South Beach Miami

Obviously there is lots of money in Miami.

Nice big shack

Art Deco South Beach Miami

It seems like a small boat for such a huge home. 🙂

The Versace home

South Beach Miami

 Gianni Versace was shot dead here on the steps of his home in 1997.

Thanks for visiting my South Beach Miami photo blog, next stop Rio de Janeiro.
 
Pattaya Hilton

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This is the view from Horizons the amazing rooftop bar. A great five star hotel located opposite the beach & above the Central Festival shopping mall. Just book through THIS LINK for an excellent room rate. 

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 That’s all folks

1g Duck

 

 
 

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