Cape town

Off on another Safari, this time to Aquila, a 2.5 hour ride from Cape Town. The countryside changed from urban to agricultural. There were acres of vineyards. Then into low mountains and valleys. The animal preserve looked like Big Bend-- high desert, scrub brush, rocks and low mountains.

I saw plains zebras in both Aquila and Sibuya. There are 3 different subspecies of zebras: plains, Grevys and mountain. Coloration is black with white stripes, not vice versa. Also the plains zebras have faint orange- brown on hind quarters. Why do zebras have stripes? Current theory is that it is for temperature and insect control. The different colors create temperature differences between the stripes and generate air circulation. This cools the animal and also makes it more difficult for small insects to land.

Our guide told us there were many Aloe Vera plants. Pictured is a big one.Read more