Durban Botanical Gardens

Birding / Champion Trees / Featured / Holiday Destinations / Interesting Places / Landscape Photography / Nature / Trees / Uncategorized

Durban Botanical Gardens

15/07/2026

Durban Botanic Gardens:

Africa’s oldest surviving botanic garden – The gardens were established in 1849, making them the oldest surviving botanical gardens on the African continent.

Birding / Birds / Featured / Holiday Destinations / Marion Island / mountains / Nature / Pelagic Birding / Photography

Flock to Marion again (2025), including Durban Botanical Garden meander and the warm embrace of Giants Castle, Maloti Drakensberg Mountains.

08/02/2026

Flock to Marion 2025, flock to marion, Mouse free Marion, Alex Aitkenhead, Prince Edward and Marion Island, Marion Island, Southern Ocean, Wandering albatross, Pelagic Birds, Birding

Flock to Marion 2025 voyage and the much-anticipated Mouse-Free Marion Project — a bold and globally significant effort to eradicate invasive mice from Marion Island and secure the future of one of the world’s most important seabird populations.

Animals / Holiday Destinations / Interesting Places / Madagascar / Nature Reserves

Giant Chameleons of Madagascar

20/12/2025

Madagascar is home to approximately half of the world’s 150+ chameleon species, spanning both subfamilies: typical chameleons (Chamaeleoninae) and dwarf chameleons (Brookesiinae). These reptiles exhibit an extraordinary range of adaptations, making them some of the most distinctive lizards on the planet.

African Countries / Animals / Bird Hides / Birding / Holiday Destinations / Interesting Places / Landscape Photography / Nature / Nature Reserves

Mokala National Park, best of the best: “Where Endangered Species Roam”

21/06/2025

Mokala National Park, Sanparks, Alex Aitkenhead, alexaitkenhead.co.za, Rare Species, Arid Parks, getaway, roadtrip, Holiday Destination, Best Park, Mokala, Roan Antelope, Sable Antelope,

“Where Endangered Species Roam”… Mokala is SANParks’ newest park. Nestled in the hills, Mokala’s landscape boasts a variety of koppieveld (hills) and large open plains.

Birding / Featured / Holiday Destinations / Interesting Places / Landscape Photography / Lifers / Nature Reserves / Raptors / Rare Birds

Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier), Maloti Drakensberg Park: Giants Castle

19/05/2025

Bearded Vulture

Throughout their range, Bearded Vultures, or Lammergeiers as they are sometimes known, are associated with high mountain ranges, among them the Himalayas (where they have been observed at altitudes of 7,900 metres above sea-level), the European Alps (from where the last birds disappeared in the 1880s but to which they are now being reintro-
duced) and the various African highlands – from those in Ethiopia, where they are common, to the Maluti Mountains and the Drakensberg in southern Africa, where they are much scarcer.

Featured / Holiday Destinations / Interesting Places / Landscape Photography / mountains / Photography

San Rock Art, Ukhahlamba / Maloti Drakensberg park a UNESCO World Heritage Site. ( Kamberg Rock Art Centre, Game Pass Shelter and Giants Castle Main Cave)

23/04/2025

The Maloti Drakensberg region is a treasure trove of some of the most outstanding rock art found anywhere in the world. The unique style of the paintings is instantly recognisable by children and adults alike, and San’s techniques to achieve this visual distinctiveness are genuinely remarkable. Even if you have seen examples of some of this rock art in museums or photographs, nothing can quite prepare you for the wonder and excitement of seeing the real thing close-up.

Featured / Holiday Destinations / Interesting Places / Landscape Photography / Lifestyle / mountains / National Parks / Nature Reserves / Rare Birds

Golden Gate Highlands National Park: Ukhahlamba / Maloti Drakensberg Park

23/03/2025

Golden Gate Highlands National Park, Drakensberg, Sanparks, Alex Aitkenhead, Barrier of Spears, Maloti Drakensberg, Ukhahlamba / Maloti Drakensberg Park, Cathedral Cave, Brandwag Butress, Vulture restaurant, Bearded Vultures, Cape Vultures, Bald Ibis, Clarense, Red Mountains, Van Renen Rest Camp

This awe-inspiring scenery is characteristic of the Drakensberg, and in many places, it is still in the state an ingenious creator might have spawned it in. Poets have not yet discovered the Berg and its praises have yet to be sung. Still, more and more disciples recognise the therapeutic value of its solitary silence, only rarely interrupted by rolling thunder or spoilt by development.

Bird Hides / Birding / Featured / Holiday Destinations / Interesting Places / Landscape Photography / Lifers / Nature Reserves / Rare Birds / San Rock Art

Lammergeier Hide, Giants Castle Park Drakensberg ( A Unesco World Heritage Site )

21/02/2025

Bearded Vulture, Lammergeier, Drakensberg, Critically Endanged, Maluti Drakensberg, Ezemvelo Wildlife Giants Castle, Giants Castle Park,

According to the African Raptor Centre, there are estimated to be 100 breeding pairs and 320 birds remaining in the wild in the southern hemisphere. This makes it one of the most threatened vultures in South Africa. The decline in numbers has been caused by less food availability due to the expansion of human settlements, electrocution by overhead power lines, collisions with wind turbines, and farmers poisoning bait to kill Jackals. Bearded vulture body parts are also used for ceremonial and traditional medicine purposes.

Beaches / Birds / Flowers / Interesting Places / Landscape Photography / Lifestyle / Panorama / Rare Birds / Seabirds / Shore birds / West coast National Park

Jacobsbaai Blooming Gorgeous and a few Rare Antarctic Terns along the way

21/09/2024

Jacobsbaai spring Flower adventure, Jacobsbaai, Mauritzbaai, West Coast, Weskus, Antarctic Tern, Birds in Flight

With its breathtaking spring flowers, enchanting Pixie Village, and rare wildlife, Jacobsbaai promises a unique blend of natural beauty and cultural charm. Whether you’re seeking outdoor adventure, artistic inspiration, or simply a peaceful retreat, Jacobsbaai has something to offer every visitor. This hidden gem on the West Coast invites you to immerse yourself in its stunning landscapes and rich biodiversity, making it a must-visit destination in South Africa.

African Countries / Animals / Birds / Featured / Holiday Destinations / Interesting Places / Landscape Photography / Lifestyle / Namaqua National Park / National Parks

Namaqualand Birding

11/08/2024

Namaqualand, Northern Cape:
Escape to this land of contrasts, where the rigorous climate has created
myriad life forms superbly adapted to their specific habitat.
Fields of flowers, star-studded nights, quiver trees, enormous granite outcrops and the icy Atlantic are but a few wonders that await the visitor to what is genuinely the Creators’ playground.

Featured / Holiday Destinations / Interesting Places / Landscape Photography / National Parks / Nature / Nature Reserves / River / Trees

Nature’s Valley on the Garden Route captivates with its pristine beaches, lush forests, and breathtaking mountain vistas, creating an unparalleled harmony of natural splendor.

12/07/2024

Beaches / Cape Town / Cape Town Prominade / video / Waves

From Camps Bay to Mouille Point: Experiencing Cape Town’s Weather Chaos

09/07/2024

Cape Town Extreme Weather Wild Ocean Adventure Aitkenhead Family Camps Bay Maiden’s Cove Clifton Beaches Bantry Bay Sea Point Promenade Sea Point Swimming Pool Mouille Point Storm Chasing Nature Photography Coastal Scenery Waves Crashing Mother Nature Outdoor Exploration Family Outing Weather Conditions

This exhilarating day showcased the raw power and beauty of nature, allowing our family to appreciate Cape Town’s stunning coastline, come rain or shine.

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Durban Botanical Gardens

Flock to Marion again (2025), including Durban Botanical Garden meander and the warm embrace of Giants Castle, Maloti Drakensberg Mountains.

Giant Chameleons of Madagascar

Mokala National Park, best of the best: “Where Endangered Species Roam”

Bearded Vulture (Lammergeier), Maloti Drakensberg Park: Giants Castle

San Rock Art, Ukhahlamba / Maloti Drakensberg park a UNESCO World Heritage Site. ( Kamberg Rock Art Centre, Game Pass Shelter and Giants Castle Main Cave)

Golden Gate Highlands National Park: Ukhahlamba / Maloti Drakensberg Park

Lammergeier Hide, Giants Castle Park Drakensberg ( A Unesco World Heritage Site )

Jacobsbaai Blooming Gorgeous and a few Rare Antarctic Terns along the way

Namaqualand Birding

Nature’s Valley on the Garden Route captivates with its pristine beaches, lush forests, and breathtaking mountain vistas, creating an unparalleled harmony of natural splendor.

From Camps Bay to Mouille Point: Experiencing Cape Town’s Weather Chaos

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