BREAKING NEWS! 

To celebrate the Zoo’s 122nd birthday, it will be offering tickets at R22.00 per person on the 22nd of every month until February, 2027.

Mark those days on your calendar and in your diary.

 

 

This was on the playlist in my car as I headed towards the Johannesburg Zoo.

Listen to it while you peruse this post…

 

 

 

Hip, Hip, Hippo.

This one was particularly elusive, hiding in an alcove in the enclosure.

But guess what, the moment I turned my back, it reared out of the water, mouth agape. I shot that I had been waiting for, but had missed.

Persistence pays off…I should have waited.

 

 

 

An Oryx was doing what most of the antelope species at the zoo were doing. Nothing.

Just prone and chewing on their food supply. However, this one had let food go to its head.

I wonder if the individual antelopes realise how different their lives would be in the wild, where their waking hours are spent worrying about predators.

But having said that, it begs the question, do prey species in the wild even worry? They go about their business, seemingly unconcerned. Because if they were, they would hunker down where they would be impossible to become a meal and would probably die of starvation.

How different from some Homo Sapiens that believe that everyone is out to get them.

 

 

 

I searched the giraffe enclosure before I noticed this individual peering over the fence at me.

You would think, given their size, they would be easy to spot, seeing that they are in an enclosure rather than galloping across the African plains. But no, it took me several minutes and almost leaving the enclosure before finally spotting it.

 

 

 

 

Does this ring make my butt look big?

Unlike some animals with more colourful or unusual collective nouns, most antelope species—including waterbuck—are simply referred to as a herd, which reflects their natural social structure in the wild.

Could you come up with a more specific noun? Given the white ring on their butts that looks like they have recently sat on a freshly painted toilet seat, perhaps they could be referred to as a  “flush” of waterbuck?

This marking, which looks like the animal has sat on a toilet seat, is, in fact, a follow-me sign.

 

 

 

An Asian Water Buffalo… Doing what Water Buffalo do…

One of the major differences between the Asian and the African species is their temperament.

Asian water buffalo are usually calm and manageable (yes, they can be domesticated). It can be dangerous if wild, but rarely aggressive without cause.

The Cape buffalo is highly dangerous and unpredictable. It is responsible for numerous injuries and fatalities each year.

It is known to charge without warning and, even more importantly, it holds grudges when injured.

Now you know.

 

 

 

These squirrels seemed to co-inhabit most of the open grassy enclosures.

The inhabitants did not seem to bother them, and their antics certainly kept the visitors entertained.

 

 

 

Simitar Oryx, similar to the Gemsbok

 

 

 

A moment of contemplation in the chimp enclosure.

 

 

 

Female Mandrill with her offspring.

 

 

 

This herd of Ankole-Watusi cattle was congregated in the corner of their enclosure, enjoying the food that had been supplied to them.

Fun facts:

Their most defining feature is their enormous, sweeping horns, which can span over 2.5 metres from tip to tip.

The horns are not just for show, as they contain a network of blood vessels that help regulate body temperature.

In the heat of East Africa, the horns act like natural radiators, cooling the animal as blood circulates through them.

Ankole-Watusi cattle are closely associated with the pastoral cultures of East Africa, particularly in Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi

For groups like the Tutsi, these cattle are a symbol of wealth and status and are central to ceremonies, dowries, and identity

Historically, kings and chiefs measured prestige by the size and beauty of their herds.

To find out what is on offer at the zoo, click on the logo above.

 

 

 

 

Travel & Things is the proud winner of these prestigious awards from the digital British lifestyle magazine Luxlife.

The awards are in the categories:

Best Travel & Experiences Blog 2024 – South Africa

Best African Game Reserves & Lodges Travel Review Site 2025.

Best African Resorts and Retreats Award 2025.

And the most recent accolade… Most engaging Travel & Lifestyle Blog 2026.

 

 

To see who the guests have been since this YouTube channel launched, click on the logo above.

 

 

Looking for something to read? Click on the logo above to visit the Off the Shelf YouTube channel for interesting and up-to-date interviews and book reviews.

 

 

“Hard work never killed anybody, but why take a chance?”

Edgar Bergen