September 21

Reasons Why We Love Our African Mothers

0  comments

September 21, 2017

A mother. One person (or animal, in this case) who does the work of twenty for free.

With many of the submissions of Africa’s Photographer of the Year, here are 37 reasons why we love our African mothers:

1. She is ever so patient.

A lion cub and its mother
Photo credit: Natasha Alden

2. Even when you are unreasonably demanding.

Baby hippo calling to its Mom.

3. Or when you get yourself into unusual and silly predicaments.

Baby elephant getting some help from its mom.
Photo credit: Nadja Zoe Landert

4. She loved you when you were small and adorable.

Baby hyena
Photo credit: Mariska Nortje

5. And continued to, even through your awkward phases.

Lemur climbing up a branch in Madagascar

Lemur in Action
Photo credit: Shannon Wild

6. She made sure you ate nutritiously.

Baby hyena eating

Baby zebra suckling from its mom.

7. And that you drank your water daily.

Elephant and their calves drinking
Photo credit: Sabi Sabi Private Game Reserve
Cubs and mother about to drink
Photo credit: David Cox

8. She’s forever lifting you from place to place.

Photo credit: Jennifer Sawicky

9. And sometimes lifts your friends around too.

Mother lemur and her and babies
Photo credit: Eric Gevaert

10. She encourages you to take risks.

Baby buffalo swimming with its mother.

11. But is understanding when you’re too scared to take them.

Elephant drining water and its calf under her legs

12. You’re lucky you inherited her genes and not your father’s (just kidding! Dad’s are great, too).

Cheetah with her cubs.
Photo credit: Hilton Kotze

13. Because she is beautiful!

Lion resting on a tree in the Kruger Park

14. Some of her genes you are thankful for. Others, you embrace.

Mother and baby rhino walking together

15. Somehow she puts up with you and your siblings.

Baby elephants playing.

16. And with your screaming during hair brushing.

Photo credit: Andrew Watkinson

17. And all those times you made a fuss during bath time.

Bbay elephant taking a bath with its mother
Photo credit: Moïra Leyder

18. She makes a fantastic pillow.

Photo credit: Doug Croft

19. And she makes the best bed.

Mother gorilla with tiny baby in Central Africa
Photo credit: Erwin F.

20. She embarrassed you when she made you wear ‘cute’ hairstyles as a child.

21. She has a silly and fun side to her.

gorilla mama and her baby

22. But also tells you when you’re out of line.

Meerkat mother and her baby

23. She’s always watching… even when you think she isn’t.

Leopard hiding behind a tree
Photo credit: Londolozi

24. Did we mention her patience?

Photo Credit: Ulrich Eberl

25. She’s gentle.

Lion cub and mother
Photo credit: David Dennis

26. And she’s fierce.

27. And you hope to be as brave as her one day.

Photo credit: Heste de Beer

28. She’s your role model, and someone you can always look up to.

29. And someone you can hide behind.

Monkey baby on mothers back

Baby elephant hiding behind its' mother.
Photo credit: Julie Roggow

African child hanging onto mother

30. Or hang onto.

Samburu monkeys drinking with baby
Photo credit: Saruni

Monkeys in Uganda

31. She’ll comfort you after a bad day.

A gorilla sleeping with her baby
Photo credit: Jennifer Sawicky

32. Even when you think you’re too old to be comforted.

Two cheetah showing affection

33. Those moments when you see eye-to-eye are great too.

Mother and baby warthog seeing eye to eye
Photo credit: Alex Hill

34. She’s a guaranteed friend.

Rhino mother and baby

35. And, she’s not that bad to spend time with.

Baby zebra and its mother
Photo credit: Moïra Leyder

36. She’s irreplaceable.

Warthog and baby standing in grass.

37. And she’s simply one of a kind.

Photo credit: Sally Hinton

Tags

Africa, Big 5, Wildlife


You may also enjoy 

The Okavango Delta in Pictures

The Okavango Delta in Pictures

Make a Hot Date With Africa

Make a Hot Date With Africa

About the author 

Jemma Brewitt

Jemma's love for nature and culture grew while growing up on her family's dairy farm in the Natal Midlands. Since then she has been a ski lift operator in the Sierra Nevada, an Au Pair in London, an English teacher in Vietnam and is now writing about her favourite continent - Africa.

{"email":"Email address invalid","url":"Website address invalid","required":"Required field missing"}
>