Blue crane: South Africa’s national bird. Orange sky: Part of South Africa’s natural beauty.

The Savanna – and the Gondwana Game Reserve – at its glorious best.

Mom’s in the back, close enough to referee if needed. The disdainful teen is up front, leaning ever-so-slightly away. The baby? Apparently stirring things up.

Everybody knows a giraffe’s famously long neck allows it to eat from the tallest of trees. Another use? PHOTO BOMBS!

In long periods of drought, elephants have been known to dig their own waterholes – and allow other species to reap the spoils. And sometimes they just chill at the water’s edge.

Baboons are cunning and fearless, and they’ll get over on anyone unwise enough to leave their snacks unsecured. (They’ve torn through roofs!)

Newborns don’t really have the luxury of easing into life in the wild. This zebra is no more than a day or two old, and already Mom has nudged it to its feet for a jog.

Unique among big-cat species are the majestic manes rocked by male lions, and they’re not just for show. The big boys with thicker, more lustrous ‘dos tend to do better with the ladies.

With one unmistakable roar, lionesses call their cubs to meal times. They’re usually not far; cubs stay very close to mama, and vice-versa.

The hunt can be exhausting–but don’t let Big Daddy fool you. For lions, it’s the females who do most of the hunting and “bring home the bacon.”

Elephant ears are as distinct and unique as a zebra’s stripes. Every edge tells a story.

The vegetation in which this big guy is roaming is called “fynbos” which is shrubland native to the Western Cape and Eastern Cape provinces of South Africa.

Barn owls who see so well they can catch a mouse in total darkness, are about the size of a small cat but only weigh about a pound.

While a lot of animals get their own holiday, owls were clever enough to snag a whole week! That definitely deserves a cheeky wink at the camera.

Many types of owl – this handsome specimen is actually called a Dopey Owl – can rotate their necks up to 270 degrees. “The Exorcist,” anyone?

The beautiful, aerodynamic design of Sable antelopes delights people every day at the Gondwana Game Reserve, but the synchronicity of a moment like this can inspire even a veteran photographer.

The spectacular wildlife is the main draw at South Africa’s Gondwana Game Reserve, of course, but the scenery and particularly the sunsets are every bit as special.

African elephants only get one pair of tusks, which are unrooted – similar to human baby teeth – and can’t regrow.

We all have bad days. Car won’t start, kids won’t stop, you name it. You’re being bugged, and you just want to be left alone. These everything-annoys-me days happen in the wild as well.

Hippos are pretty peaceful plant-eaters, but they frequently flash their very large, very sharp teeth with a massive jaw that opens up to 180 degrees and four feet wide as a reminder…

When a pride of lions polishes off a big meal, its members typically wander off into the bush for a nice, quiet nap of digestion, to “hide and sleep it off.”

Giraffes are the tallest land animals on the planet – up to 19 feet! – but that famously long neck has only seven bones, same as humans. Just WAY bigger.

Despite being called a “waterbuck”, this beautiful animal is not actually a deer.

As those big boys in the back trudge off, this waterbuck turns its attention to getting some camera time.

Black Springbok are rare today, but they used to gather in groups of a million or more – and they can run up to 55 miles per hour!

Fabulous mohawks aren’t entirely unique to zebras. Other “equids” have them too, like wild donkeys, Asiatic onagers, and Przewalski horses.

Elephants will often coat themselves with mud or dust as a form of protection from insects and the elements.

After assisting with a documentary about aliens, photographer Roy Zetisky spotted this lion staring up at … what?

This “End of the Week” has a nice “ring” to it that our waterbuck is proud to show off.

Unlike domestics, who have slit pupils, lions have round pupils that help them see better at night, and the white stripes directly below their eyes help reflect in low-light conditions.

Elephants such as this one, photographed at Addo Elephant Park in South Africa, weight about 250 pounds and are three feet tall at birth.

Pangolins are the most heavily trafficked non-human mammal in the world. Even though they are federally protected, poaching for their scales and meat are at an all-time high.

Baby elephants come together to show their heart at Addo Elephant Park. “This shot has love written all over it. Elephants really care for each other. We can learn a lot from them.”

Does anyone NOT think of hearts when flamingos are on hand?

Just like kids who don’t want to get out of the pool, hippos spend up to 16 hours per day in the water.So for photographers at Gondwana Game Reserve, shots like these are rare.

Even though these hippos are fighting, their mouths form together to make a heart. I guess they know that World Hippo day is the day after Valentine’s.

Hippos can stay underwater for five minutes on a single breath, and they spend so much of their day in the water, they even nap there. They’re very aware – and protective – of their surroundings.

Not to gossip, but when elephants engage in this kind of friendly “trunk wrestling,” it’s often a sign of courtship behavior. It’s really about being connected and relationships. Elephants really are gentle giants.

The utility of an elephant’s trunk is incredible.
This youngster is actually using his to shield his eye from the blazing sun.

“She’s literally carrying the load on her back,” says photographer Roy Zetisky, adding with a laugh, “This isn’t exactly a small baby, either.” This is why there are no Baby Bjorns for carrying teenagers.

Most of the time, photographer Roy Zetisky goes to the animals. On occasion they’ll come to him, however, as was the case when a group of five or six giraffes visited his villa to nibble on some nearby trees.

Life in the wild can be rough, especially for the youngsters learning the ropes – and the lessons – of survival. But all work and no play would be a borderline-tragic waste of all this cuteness, right?

The week has ended, so we’ve decided to bring a couple of ends ourselves. Have a great weekend, WYLD ones!

Photographer Roy Zetisky thought he had seen it all when he came upon this unlikely duo on a recent trip to the San Diego Zoo Safari Park.