"...I bless the rains down in Africa..."

.
.
.
Giraffes in the rain
Photo: © Daniel De Granville, 2009

The introduction to my first African safari could not be more instructive. While contemplating the savanna landscape from our bus’ window, a short while before arriving at Pilanesberg National Park, situated inside the crater of an extinct volcano, the local guide gives the instructions that I should pass on to my clients:

“During the safari you must tell your clients to remain silent and avoid keeping their bodies outside of the vehicle, or else...”

Remembering my work in the Pantanal, I mentally concluded the phrase and was about to say “the animals might get scared and go away”, but she was faster than I and completed: “... might cause them to attack the vehicle”.

Welcome to Africa, Daniel!

Our tour began through a landscape that, if I showed only the photos, with no captions or animals, many observers would be sure that I was in the Brazilian Cerrado. But the scene that followed came to show that we were at a very different place.

African Savana: any resemblances with the Cerrado
are not mere coincidences
Photo: © Daniel De Granville, 2009

A few minutes after we left the lodge, the weather changed abruptly and our fear of rain was justified, including a severe hail storm. Even so we decided to follow on, after all the chance of coming to Africa doesn’t happen every day... A couple of miles ahead, we saw some safari trucks stopping and pulling back. We thought that they had seen something by the road, as our guide talked over the radio and also began to pull back. Only then we noticed this enormous elephant walking towards us and not willing to change its route. We kept on playing this game of backing and stopping, until finally the animal decided to leave the road and followed on through the savanna, calmly starting to devour the leaves of a tree.

Make way for the elephaaaaant!
Photo: © Daniel De Granville, 2009

After this came gnus, impalas, jackals, rhinos, hippos, zebras. The twilight brought us the icing on the cake: a pride of ten lionesses climbing up the hill to hunt. Lightened up by our handheld beam, their twenty eyes shined pretty much like the caimans in the Pantanal. Unforgettable. Welcome to Africa, see you next time!

Impossible not to think of those
lion chases at Animal Planet:-)
Photo: © Daniel De Granville, 2009

To see the image gallery of these four days, two safaris and a lot of rain in Africa, please click on the "MONTH'S GALLERY" icon, located on the right-side column of Fotograma’s main page. If you experience any problems, please try this alternative link.

A lazy moment for this lion
Photo: © Daniel De Granville, 2009
.
.
.

Ecotourism and Volunteer Works

.
.
."Smile, you are at the Chapada!"
Photo: © Daniel De Granville, 2009

For the second time since the program was created ( first time was in January 2007), I have just returned from the field trip with students of Austin College (TX) during their Jan Term named “Brazilian Ecosystems”.

We spent almost three weeks visiting the Brazilian Savannas of Chapada dos Veadeiros, the Atlantic Rainforest of The Ribeira Valley and Lagamar and the city of São Paulo. Besides in-depth views of each environment, at the Chapada dos Veadeiros we developed socioenvironmental works with students from the “Escola do Sertão de Alto Paraíso”, resulting in a series of banners in English aimed at informing tourists who come to the National Park. A relatively simple task, but whose results are extremely important to grant proper orientation and safety for foreign visitors that come to the region in increasing numbers.

Among other institutions, the initiative was planned and supported by the board of Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, Ambiental Expedições and Travessia Ecoturismo.

My first Month’s Gallery of 2009 brings a selection of the best images captured during these works with the students.

To see the images, please click on the "MONTH'S GALLERY" icon, located on the right-side column of Fotograma’s main page. If you experience any problems, please try this alternative link.


A cicada has its body covered by fungi at the Atlantic Rainforest in Brazil.
Photo: © Daniel De Granville, 2009
.
.
.

Spiders in my Backyard: Part 3

.
.
.This spider uses its web to build a kind of tent under the leaf,
where it remains protected together with its egg sac.
Photo: © Daniel De Granville, 2009

Parts 1 and 2 of this story took place some months ago at the Japi Mountains, where I was living until recently.

This time both scenes were registered on the same day at our new home in Bonito, one effectively in the backyard and the other inside the house. These are my first shots of 2009!

This one has just found dinner
in my living room!
Photo: © Daniel De Granville, 2009
.
.
.