In all my years, I did not know that there were ostriches in the Kruger National Park. I am not sure why I did not think this, but it makes obvious sense that they are there as well. These birds are endemic to Southern Africa, so why would they not be there?
Either way, as we were on the lookout for lions and other bigger animals, we saw the ostrich head sticking out from the thick grass. In kind of a communal shock, the car stopped and we all looked at this bird. I think what we all thought was: aren't they easy prey? But then I remembered their feet, the long nails, and their aggressive nature. They are not birds that you want to mess with in any sense...
At first, we only saw the female, a lighter colour in her feathers than the male, but soon we also saw the dark black feathers of a male. It was for sure an interesting thing to watch, these birds walking around the Kruger so naturally.
The reason why I struggle to grasp their existence here is because they have become a kind of domesticated animal on farms. Various places farm these birds either for their eggs, meat, or feathers. So, seeing one in the wild is akin for me to seeing cattle walking wild in the Kruger.
But another aspect is their general look. They do not "feel" like or "look" like animals you will find in such a hostile and violent place. It is also why I always feel rather strange when I see a dove or pigeon in the Kruger. You are so used to see them in domestic situations that when you see them in the wild you for a moment need to realise that they are also wild even though they populate the streets.
That is probably just a strange way my brain works. I am not sure why.
But either way, it was fascinating for the moment to see them roam the wild, eating whatever they could find to eat. Sadly, we did not see a little baby, but that would have been interesting to say the least. Maybe there was one, because the grass was so tall we could obviously not see.
In the end, like all of the other adventures in the Kruger, we could not stay on for long. We needed to leave these two ostriches in peace, roaming the wild, probably with a small chick by their side.
For now, happy birding, and keep well.
All of the musings and writings are my own, albeit inspired by these beautiful and big birds. The photographs are my own, taken with my Nikon D300 and Tamron 300mm zoom lens.