Wild African Leopard Tortoises

RacingSnake · 18-04-2014, 09:42 PM

Just come back from a 3 week holiday to South Africa & Mozambique, and whilst we were out on Safari, I saw my first African tortoise(es)!

We were crashing through the bush and I saw him on the floor, I shouted to the driver to "stop stop stop", back , slow, stop! and he was just sat there amazingly blending in with the backgroud, I managed to fire off a couple of pictures before he scooted off into the undergrowth.

We did an excursion to an animal rehabilitation & breeding centre for endangered species, and just walking along the access road was this guy (or girl) - not part of the centre, just wandering around quite happily

This chap was crossing a track as we drove past, we had to back up and drive up to him, but he was already making progress off into the bushes.
You can see how they quickly blend in!

This guy was most unexpected - we were on a city-tour bus (like proper tourists!!) in Cape Town, and had a stop at the city botanical gardens.
On the edge of the car park was this little one having a feast, the car park wasn't fenced in, so wasn't captive.

An overall amazing trip, and once again we've been very lucky to see these in their natural habitat

becciwales · 18-04-2014, 09:47 PM

Wow. Great pics x

burnt toast · 18-04-2014, 10:20 PM

Wow what a treat. I particularly like the last dark one!

RacingSnake · 18-04-2014, 10:24 PM

Thanks

What was 'odd' about that one, was that all the ones in the bush seemed to have really smooth shells, where as this 'city-dweller' seemed a lot more peaky?! So I wondered if (given it was the fringes of the car park), that he had been affected by various scraps of not-the-usual tortoise food?

emma_mcraf · 18-04-2014, 10:33 PM

Gorgeous torts. You're so lucky to see them in their natural habitat. Thanks for sharing your photos. I'm sure it made your trip to see them.

RacingSnake · 18-04-2014, 10:38 PM

We were very lucky

On the first 'spot' I think the other guys in the safari truck must have thought I was crazy, being so enthusiastic about seeing the 'small' animals as well as the 'big five' which most people just want to see.

**egyptiandan64** · 19-04-2014, 12:22 AM

Great photos of Leopards in the wild.

The heck with the big 5, give me a tortoise safari any day.

Danny

Suze65 · 19-04-2014, 06:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by egyptiandan64

Great photos of Leopards in the wild.

The heck with the big 5, give me a tortoise safari any day.

Danny

I was gonna say just that, most people go to see the big five, but this would give me so much more of a buzz. How fantastic!

18-04-2014, 09:42 PM	#1
RacingSnake Member Hatchling Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Reading Posts: 582	Wild African Leopard Tortoises Just come back from a 3 week holiday to South Africa & Mozambique, and whilst we were out on Safari, I saw my first African tortoise(es)! We were crashing through the bush and I saw him on the floor, I shouted to the driver to "stop stop stop", back , slow, stop! and he was just sat there amazingly blending in with the backgroud, I managed to fire off a couple of pictures before he scooted off into the undergrowth. We did an excursion to an animal rehabilitation & breeding centre for endangered species, and just walking along the access road was this guy (or girl) - not part of the centre, just wandering around quite happily This chap was crossing a track as we drove past, we had to back up and drive up to him, but he was already making progress off into the bushes. You can see how they quickly blend in! This guy was most unexpected - we were on a city-tour bus (like proper tourists!!) in Cape Town, and had a stop at the city botanical gardens. On the edge of the car park was this little one having a feast, the car park wasn't fenced in, so wasn't captive. An overall amazing trip, and once again we've been very lucky to see these in their natural habitat __________________ Code: .~~~. _ .~~~. _ ./____/'_) ./____/'_) {_}-{_} {_}-{_}

18-04-2014, 09:47 PM	#2
becciwales Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: South Wales Posts: 3,438	Wow. Great pics x __________________ Becci 1:2:0 Testudo Hermanni Boettgeri - Darwin, Galileo, and Einstein. Archimedes (THB) RIP June, 2018

18-04-2014, 10:24 PM	#4
RacingSnake Member Hatchling Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Reading Posts: 582	Thanks What was 'odd' about that one, was that all the ones in the bush seemed to have really smooth shells, where as this 'city-dweller' seemed a lot more peaky?! So I wondered if (given it was the fringes of the car park), that he had been affected by various scraps of not-the-usual tortoise food? __________________ Code: .~~~. _ .~~~. _ ./____/'_) ./____/'_) {_}-{_} {_}-{_}

18-04-2014, 10:33 PM	#5
emma_mcraf Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Devon Posts: 11,365	Gorgeous torts. You're so lucky to see them in their natural habitat. Thanks for sharing your photos. I'm sure it made your trip to see them. __________________ Emma Testudo Hermanni 5.12.2:Theo, Tamara, Tabitha, Harriet, Isabelle, Clara, Oscar, Hugo, Oliver, Florence, Arabella, Esmé, Aurelia, Felicia, Claudia, Atticus, Celestia, Amaris, Tristan and Clementine Budgies: Jasper, Ivo, Otis, Henry, Louie and Luca Doggies: 1.1.0 Chester and Lottie

18-04-2014, 10:38 PM	#6
RacingSnake Member Hatchling Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Reading Posts: 582	We were very lucky On the first 'spot' I think the other guys in the safari truck must have thought I was crazy, being so enthusiastic about seeing the 'small' animals as well as the 'big five' which most people just want to see. __________________ Code: .~~~. _ .~~~. _ ./____/'_) ./____/'_) {_}-{_} {_}-{_}

18-04-2014, 10:20 PM	#3
burnt toast Senior Member Adult Join Date: Jun 2009 Posts: 5,245	Wow what a treat. I particularly like the last dark one!

19-04-2014, 12:22 AM	#7
egyptiandan64 Super Moderator Adult Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: USA Posts: 14,171	Great photos of Leopards in the wild. The heck with the big 5, give me a tortoise safari any day. Danny __________________

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