We were warned repeatedly in South Africa that baboons were animals that should not be fooled with. In Sabi Sands we were told to keep our doors locked against them as possible intruders at all times. They had apparently figured out the standard door lock so an elaborate system consisting of multiple steps had been devised to keep them out.
I brought home one of the laundry slips from our room as it talks about not leaving your dirty clothes outside the cabin to be picked up as the baboons had been known to pilfer people's underwear.
There were numerous signs in Table Mountain National Park warning not to approach baboons as they could be violent. Apparently they had been fed one too many times and now expected humans to be a source of food. Leaving your car doors unlocked could mean returning to find a whole family of baboons inside destroying everything in sight.
In Botswana we were also told to keep our doors locked against the possible intruders but the baboons there were obviously much less accustomed to people and showed some fear of us. Several times I heard them clamoring about on our roof but as soon as I opened the door they were gone in a flash.
The fellow in these photos was a bit of an exception. The mangosteen trees were full of ripe fruit and he was so involved in getting his snack that he was willing to put up with me watching.
In the end he shoved the whole fruit, peel and all, into his mouth before taking off to find another treat.
This black-headed oriole had a nest in a tree near our cabin.
The collared sunbird, right, was feasting on the flower of the fig trees.
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