This looks like a species that could have been featured in the Jurassic Park movies.
The Helmeted Guineafowl can fly, but it is predominantly terrestrial and often chooses to run rather than fly. I have had one of these run for more than 1km in front of a vehicle rather than just step to the left or right and vanish into the grass!
Guineafowl are mentioned in Greek mythology. Meleagros was the son of Oeneus, King of Calydon and according to legend, his sisters were transformed into guineafowl when he died.
It is NOT all about the large predators and their prey…
Although many visitors to a game reserve will not admit it, it is often the kills that entice them to visit.
Although not easy to watch, it is a necessary part of life in the bush that requires predators having to kill in order to survive.
But despite the best efforts of the many wildlife programmes on TV would have you believe, kills are not seen daily.
This cub was still finding its way around what remained of the wildebeest that its mother had killed.
Having just left the lion kill we drove a short distance when we discovered this. A most unusual sighting!
The ancient Romans domesticated guineafowl for food. And it seems that the Pale Chanting Goshawks are following in their footsteps.
This Helmeted Guineafowl fell foul ( pun intended) of a trio of these raptors.
Pale Chanting Goshawks are carnivorous, and their diet consists mainly of small mammals, reptiles, and birds. Their preferred prey includes lizards, snakes, rodents, and small birds such as doves and finches. These birds of prey have keen eyesight, which they use to scan the ground for potential prey.
Goshawks are intelligent – even calculating – in their ability to problem-solve and think ahead. Goshawks don’t worry much about making a clean kill, especially of larger prey.
I did notice that the bird closest to my camera had been ringed.
Goshawks have a reputation for ferocity and have been traditionally revered as a symbol of strength. This is probably why Attila the Hun chose the goshawk as his totem animal.
The name goshawk comes from the Old English word for “goose hawk,” a reference to this raptor’s habit of preying on birds. Falconers have trained goshawks for over 2,000 years; the birds were once called “cook’s hawks” for their success at snaring meat for the pot.
If I cover the prey then you cannot see it and perhaps you will leave me alone?
Did you know?
A group of hawks is also called a kettle when riding a thermal or in this case, a leash when there are three.
Time to fluff up the tail feathers to keep the competition away.
And if THAT does not work, I shall just shove my rear end in your face…
COME ON! SHARE SOME OF IT…
A truce while both birds catch their breath…
To the victor the spoils.
Left in peace to finish its meal.
And so the circle of life is complete. From predator to prey.
We found this individual near the camp and we took a moment to offer what might have taken this individual down.
We could not see any tracks so any suggestions were merely assumptions.
But we did figure that whatever had killed this had been disturbed as only the head had been eaten.
Click on the logo above to learn more about what the lodge offers.
Travel is the proud winner of this prestigious award from the digital British lifestyle magazine Luxlife. The award is in the category Best Travel & Experiences Blog 2024 – South Africa.
Check out the archived and current interviews… click on the image above.
“Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?”
Edgar Bergen
All images are the copyright property of
and may not be used without permission.
All images used in Travel & Things posts are edited using Ribbet software. To learn more about the product and what it offers both amateur and professional photographers, click on the logo above.
