💛 In summer I always enjoy an early-evening walk on our smallholding. No need to get in my car to find nature, I have 8.5ha right here to explore, hoping to see the Barn Owl or some Guinea fowl, but always enjoying the Bluegum trees and beautiful grasses and wild flowers along the way.
Kiep, my little pet hen, comes from Bantam stock, though clearly mixed
with a variety of other chicken breeds, and she actually looks like a
miniature Leghorn.
Here she is in her nest box in my studio
(Tarlton, Gauteng, South Africa), laying her very first egg! Scratching
around in her nest box, trying to settle in, all her feather’s erect and
a glassy-eyed expression until the egg finally appeared! Kiep was
reared in my studio, straight out of the egg, and to this day, 9 years
later, she still wanders into my studio too spend some time with me.
Bantam
chickens have been domesticated for centuries. In fact, they are one of
the oldest known domestic animals. Marco Polo wrote about banties in
his journal. While all bantams are chickens, not all chickens are
banties.
All bantams are smaller than regular chickens and they
share some unique personality traits. I personally think they have more
personality than chickens do, are more able to care for themselves, and
find more of their own food. They seem to keep the grasshopper
population down better than other types of poultry! I haven’t seen a bug
in my garden for ages since introducing chickens to my garden (Tarlton,
Gauteng, South Africa) again early this year.
Healthy bantams
are curious. They will check out anything that seems unusual and loudly
announce the arrival of visitors. I do not keep them locked in the pen,
they roam as much as possible (a chicken’s raison de etre!) and have
access to fresh, green grass, insects, and whatever else they find in
addition to the feed I give them.
Camera : Kodak EasyShare C195
Taken in my previous garden, Tarlton, Gauteng, South Africa.
We’ve been having extremely hot weather and even my chooks have been
gasping in the heat. My chickens have no problem with winter, but every
summer you can find them listless in the shade, trying to cool off.
Unfortunately chickens don’t bath in water (they have sand baths)
otherwise that would be a quick solution to cooling off! But they do
find shady spots for a bath in the cool sand leaving my garden looking
like a volcanic eruption has taken place!
Here Chi-Chi, the youngest of my pet hens, takes a break amongst the Leopard Lilies and ferns.
Camera : Canon EOS 550D
Taken in my garden (Tarlton, Gauteng, South Africa)
There is nothing more exhilarating than checking up on your
garden plants just as the sun is rising. Everything is smiling in
anticipation of another glorious day!
And two Aloe ferox eagerly await their turn in the sunshine!
Taken in my previous garden in Tarlton, Gauteng, South Africa
Camera : Canon EOS 550D
After months of drought, few experiences can match the sound and smell
of falling rain – unless it is the exhilaration of being caught in it
while working in the garden!
Camera : Canon EOS 550D
Tarlton, Gauteng, South Africa
Situated in the heart of Tarlton, The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site region in South Africa is approximately 90 minutes' drive from the Johannesburg city centre and offers visitors the opportunity to learn about stones and bones, wine and dine in tranquil surroundings, try out a range of adrenalin-pumping activities, have a beautiful wedding, discover a range of wonderful wildlife and experience culture and craft.
The Cradle of Humankind World Heritage Site is one of eight in the country. It's the world's richest hominin site, home to around 40% of the world's human ancestor fossils.
The area is also home to a diversity of birds, animals and plants, some of which are rare or endangered.
The striking Tumulus building, which houses the Maropeng visitor centre, greets you as you arrive for your journey to discover Maropeng.
In one of the passages inside Maropeng
In one of the passages inside Maropeng
Outside in the gardens
The impressive entrance to Maropeng
One of the passages inside Maropeng
The largest collection of human hominid fossils are on show right
now, but not for long - go meet Naledi and learn about the awesome
cavers Rick Hunter and Steven Tucker who discovered the fossils, the
incredible all female anthropologist/archaeologist team who retrieved
them, and (my favourite) Professor Lee Berger who led the team 
😍 also, their latest addition of an Experience Lab is awesome. Kids got things lucky these days.
Maropeng is not just a showcase for old bones and history. You can also take an awesome boat ride through the "depths of the earth", traversing ice tunnels and erupting volcanic chambers. Be sure to hang onto your hat for this exciting trip!
The drive to Maropeng offers beautiful vistas. Discover the Cradle of Humankind and the Sterkfontein Caves all in one day.
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