South Africa
Tag archives for South Africa
Update Your Southern African Bird Guide Collection
Posted by Greg Laden on November 26, 2012 When traveling and working in South Africa, I’ve always used Newman’s guide to the birds of Southern Africa, and more recently, I found the Sasol guide to be helpful as well. (I discuss both briefly here.) Now, I’ve got on my desk a copy of Princeton’s Birds of Southern Africa: Fourth Edition by Ian Sinclair,…
From Ladysmith to London: A Harrowing Escape
Posted by Greg Laden on August 11, 2012 
In late November, 1899, a British military unit which included an embedded reporter was ambushed by an Afrikaner unit in what is now Natal Province, South Africa. This was during the Anglo-Boer war, which was to be the largest military adventure to date in the history of the United Kingdom. The British had been traveling…
Wild angry baboons on the high cliff
Posted by Greg Laden on May 31, 2011 We three had somehow wound our way down into the canyon without experiencing any really steep slopes, but having walked for several miles in the sandy dry riverbed, Trusted Companion, Young One, and I were now looking rather hopelessly at unsafe-to-climb cliffs on both sides, covered with imposing vegetation of the kind that sports a…
Into the bush
Posted by Greg Laden on April 8, 2011 … Continued … Obsession can be a good thing. And I’m not talking about some dumb-ass perfume.
Africa. Some time in the early 1990s.
Posted by Greg Laden on April 7, 2011 … Continued … I started out walking a good six feet behind her, to avoid the sand she was kicking up and the occasional thorn-lined branch that might swing back in the wake of anyone walking through the African Bush. We were traversing open country in the Kalahari, in an area sealed off from people…
Happy Day of Reconciliation!
Posted by Greg Laden on December 16, 2010 Formerly known as Day of the Vow, as South African holiday, and a time of reflection on dramatic historical and cultural changes.
Social Justice in the Tea, Chai, Rooibos, Aardwolf … Everything is connected to everything else.
Posted by Greg Laden on April 2, 2010 CHAI RANT!!!11!! It is time for another Chai Rant.
From Fit to Fat to Fit and Back: Exercise and Weight Loss
Posted by Greg Laden on January 10, 2010 Did you ever watch cattle? I mean, really watch them, for a few hours? Mostly they just sit or stand around munching on grass, chewing their cud, or snoozing. But every once in a while a handful of them will stand up and point in one direction. And they may take a few steps in…
The meme of honourable death
Posted by Greg Laden on September 25, 2009 The Anglo Boer War (in what is now South Africa from October 11th, 1899 to May 31st, 1902) was a turning point in European style military history. Previously, infantry would operate in large blocks that would move forward, turn and open or close ranks, and winning an infantry engagement would involve getting your columns around…
A true ghost story: The Slide Show
Posted by Greg Laden on July 20, 2009 The McGregor Museum is a complex building with several wings surrounding an inner court yard, a multi-layered roof, balconies everywhere, and numerous trees in the court yard close in to the building. So, a cat can spend the heat of the day in the shaded crown of a tree, and the cool of the evening…
A true ghost story: The Footnotes
Posted by Greg Laden on July 19, 2009 As promised, the footnotes for A True Ghost Story.
A True Ghost Story Part 7: How I captured the Ghost of the McGregor Museum
Posted by Greg Laden on July 19, 2009 … continued Finally, without any further interruption …
A True Ghost Story, Part 6: But first, since we’re talking geology …
Posted by Greg Laden on July 18, 2009 … continued … Since we are talking about geology, I do not want to give up the opportunity to bring up one of the coolest stories of geology ever, given the present day discussion of science and religion. You will be asking for a source for this story. Look it up in Wikipedia, where all…
A True Ghost Story Part 5: The Grave on the Hill
Posted by Greg Laden on July 17, 2009 … continued … One of the main reasons we were staying in Kimberley at all was to assist the museum staff with a particular, and rather singular, survey and excavation. The location and circumstances of this field project were quite remarkable.
A True Ghost Story Part 4: I see dead people. Hey, It’s my job!
Posted by Greg Laden on July 16, 2009 …. continued … I wrote earlier about the graves that were dug daily to receive the dead. In truth, the details of this procedure are still being worked out by archaeologists at the McGregor Museum in Kimberley, but when we were there on this particular trip, part of the grave yard to which I refer…
A True Ghost Story Part 3: Who is that kilted man with the big gun?
Posted by Greg Laden on July 15, 2009 … continued … Well, we were living with this ghost who would walk up and down the hall in the middle of the night, invisibly leaving behind only the sound of its footsteps. But before I tell you how this all came out, I want to tell you a related side story. As I had…
A True Ghost Story Part 2: The Ghost In the Hall
Posted by Greg Laden on July 14, 2009 … continued … So there we were in the Haunted Guest Quarters of the Old Infirmary, and I had already heard the ghost once. In the morning, my colleague and BFF Lynne who was staying with us for a couple of days noted that she had heard the mysterious footsteps as well….
A true ghost story. Part I: A City of Death and Misery
Posted by Greg Laden on July 13, 2009 Everything I’m about to tell you in this story is true.1 This is a long story, so it may span more than one blog post. You might not want to read this story while you are alone or while sitting in the dark.2
Wednesday Cat Blogging: King Cheetah
Posted by Greg Laden on November 20, 2007 My best photograph of a cheetah. View Larger image I took this photo of a cheetah at De Wildt’s in South Africa. It is a “King Cheetah.” Although there was a period of time when some thought the King was a new subspecies of cheetah, it turns out to be a simple color morph. Although…
What is this giraffe doing?
Posted by Greg Laden on November 13, 2007 The one on the right:
, which is now available for the 
