South coast Natal | The Photographic Journey of bulldog.

The Purple-crested Turaco (Tauraco porphyreolophus) is a species of bird in the Musophagidae family. It is found in South Africa, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe.

This bird has a purple coloured crest above a green head, a red ring around their eyes, and a black bill. The neck and chest are green and brown. The rest of the body is purple, with red flight feathers.

They live in moist woodland and evergreen forests. They eat mainly fruits.

The Purple-crested Turaco is the National Bird of the Kingdom of Swaziland. The crimson flight feathers of this and related Turaco species are important in the Ceremonial Regalia of the Saswati Royal Family.

It was listed in 2006 IUCN Red List of Threatened Species… It is quite common on the South Coast of Natal, where I managed to capture these photos.. but it is a shy bird and although you hear them they are difficult to capture in flight and in the trees as they choose dense foliaged trees to sit in… In five years these are the only photos I got.. although they spent a lot of time in the trees on our property..

Oribi Gorge is situated along the spectacular forest-cloaked ravine of the Mzimkulwana river just west of Port Shepstone which itself is 120 km south of Durban. Oribi Gorge is the eastern gorge of two gorges that cuts through the Oribi Flats (flat sugarcane farmlands), southern KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. The western gorge was formed by the Mzimkulu river. At the base of the cliffs of both gorges there are rocks over 1000 million years old while the cliffs themselves are formed from sandstone deposited about 365 million years ago.

The road through Oribi Gorge was built by Italian prisoners of war.

the Oribi Gorge, which is approximately 27 km long, 4 km wide (widest point) and 400 m deep. In 1950 it was proclaimed a protected state forest.

This is from an excerpt from a local business in the gorge…”Lose all senses of self preservation and experience the ultimate rush of the Wild Swing at Oribi Gorge. Launch yourself off Lehr’s Falls, 100m into the abyss of the Oribi Gorge on the world’s highest gorge swing. Leaves you feeling breathless and exhilarated!” Also shows if you are sane or not….

Instructions are given….