the photograph-hare and the tortoise

This is a Padloper tortoise, Homopus areolatus, in the beautiful surrounds of Kirstenbosch Botanic Gardens. He was moving so fast when I first spotted him I thought he was a pangolin until I got binoculars on him.

Once I realised what he was I jogged up for a few close ups whereupon he decided to play hide and seek

before running off into the undergrowth.

I've written about Kirstenbosch previously here , here and here but since then Charlie has done a much better job of it.