We stayed at the Cheetham's house in Phalaborwa this time for several days and, as usual, Tony had planned several places for us to see.  We went to a reptile place, which was very interesting, but not good for taking pictures.  We were able to identify a snake that we had seen in the road several times, as an olive snake.  But for great picture taking, we went to Maholoholo, a rehabilitation center, an educational site, and a place for wounded birds and animals to stay with good care.

On the way this was typical of the scenery--a gorgeous escarpment.

After an interesting lecture about environmental issues and also how each vulture has a different role in scavenging, we were taken around the whole place and shown the various birds and animals kept at Maholoholo.  The first was a black eagle, who is unable to be returned to the wild.

What a great face on this bird!

The yellow-billed kite has a gorgeous head also.

Tony had taken some other guests to Maholoholo a few weeks before and showed us a picture of the yellow billed kite sitting on his head.  When we were there, the kite flew to Tony's head again.  I asked our guide if the bird remembered Tony, and he said possibly, but more likely, he just went to the tallest person in the group.  He then flew off of Tony's head and grabbed the hat of another person in the group with his talons and took it to the other end of the aviary.

There were several small bok/antelopes wandering around the area and as we approached the end of one area, some children blocked the escape path of this red duiker.  The guide was very upset--said these animals become so frantic when they feel trapped that they will run into a wall killing themselves.  We got the children to back up and this little fellow escaped.  They are about 16 inches tall and very little is known about them in the wild because they are so shy and secretive.  I don't know what made the light reflection in its eye so wide.

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