Crocodiles of Bandia Preserve

Almost like floating logs, their patience is legendary. 

These weaver nests were hanging on limbs over the crocodile infested pond. Dropping out of the nest would make a sure snack down below.

Lots of birds on the shore and above who didn't seem bother at all with the reptilian neighbors.

The crocodiles would slowly creep up the side of the bank as more tourists stopped by.

This very large crocodile is waiting at the water hole for the antelope to come get a drink. It looked like all water sources had crocodiles waiting. I do not know how the animals get a drink. 

 The pond near the border of the preserve had 12 crocodiles that we could see. The next pond had almost 70 that we could see. There were other ponds that we glimpsed through the trees. Every pond or source of water had a least on crocodile that we could see. Do they feed them? How do the animals get a drink of water? How did the ancient Africans get water without getting eaten?

Mischievous Monkeys

Monkeys from Bandia Preserve

 

This is the only monkey of this type that we saw in the preserve.

Looking for any opportunity - Nathan was looking too

Watching every move - looking for the treat

After having a great time in the preserve, we stopped to have lunch in the outdoor restaurant that was just outside of the gates of Bandia preserve. The Collette's warned us to watch our lunch and make sure the monkey's didn't steal it.

A few of us ordered pizza. Rebecca was sitting on the outside next to the crocodile fence and the out-railing of the fence. She got her pizza, cut off a piece to pick up with her fork and a monkey swooped down and took the rest of the pizza away. She was left with her fork raised and a shocked look on her face. It was hilarious! A waiter and Elder Collette stood chasing the monkeys away from the table.

More Bandia Preserve Animals

 Traveling deeper into the Bandia forest, we saw some iconic animals of Africa.

Nathan has amazing abilities to spot the birds! This one is beautiful in flight and resting.

Flying in for lunch

Nice for the warthog to get rid of extra flies and pests

We didn't see these red monkey's anywhere but inside of the preserve

Despite being together for 20 years, no baby rhinos

Female of the pair. We were about three yards away in the truck.

The weaver birds have little nests, but this apartment dwelling where they live close together.

Ostrich male on the nest

A lot of the trees are coated red, so this one struck me as odd. The Guide explained that a fungus grows all over the tree and protects it from the sun while having a nice place to live.

This is the typical color of the fungus covered trees

These gentle looking giants really melt my heart

These red monkeys just went around minding their own business. It was hard to get a picture of the babies as the mama's ran up the tree so fast.

The other monkeys deserve their own post. They were hilarious and full of mischief. The crocodiles deserve their own post too. I wonder what they feed them?

The ostrich is a very interesting bird. "The dominant female will lay around 7-10 eggs in the center of the nest, and the other females place their eggs to the outside. The communal nest may have as many as 60 eggs in it! Both the male and female ostriches take turns incubating the eggs. Each egg is 15 cm (6 in.)" curtesy of https://animalfactguide.com/animal-facts/ostrich/

Imagining Old Africa

Reading National Geographic my whole life, I have an idea of what the original Africa used to be. But living in Accra is a modern city with lots of color and variety. A very different idea and knowledge of Africa. Going to the Bandia reserve in Senegal was a great place for my imagination of the old Africa to come out. For a great description here is a link.

The hyenas are kept in their own enclosure so they don't eat up the other animals

With Nathan along we noted some really beautiful birds

This baobab tree is as close to an elephant that I have gotten

I am told the male ostrich will attack anyone in matting season

The hen is not as impressive. The interesting thing is they lay their eggs in a communal nest that the males take a turn guarding.

This is with a telescopic lens as these Impala's run at the least bit of movement

As we drove further into the reserve, we started to see bigger and more impressive antelope - that didn't run away from the truck.

If you have a good imagination, this could be a unicorn

But this one has bigger horns

Just look at the twists on those horns!

Ok, so its not a unicorn....

Lion King theme starts about now..

I think this is a hornbill. It seemed to follow us as I saw it all over the park. Maybe there are many of them or maybe this one flew along with us. But I kept thinking about Lion King every time I saw him.

I must have too many pictures in this post as it won't allow me to add any others, so....after the antelope come the bigger animals. Coming next.