In Touch With Nature – 12 Days of Christmas in Southern Africa
Posted: December 24, 2025 Filed under: Holidays, In Touch With Nature, Photography, Poetry, Wildlife | Tags: #InTouchWithNature, #RobbieCheadle, In Touch With Nature, Nature Photography, Robbie Cheadle, South Africa, Wildlife, Writing to be Read 50 CommentsI am ending my “In Touch With Nature” year with a Southern Africanised version of 12 Days of Christmas.
12 Days of Christmas in Southern Africa
On the first day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
A leopard in a great tree
On the second day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the third day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the fourth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the fifth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the sixth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the seventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Seven marching elephants
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the eighth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Eight gemsbok a-resting
Seven marching elephants
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the ninth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Nine wildebeest prancing
Eight gemsbok a-resting
Seven marching elephants
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the tenth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Ten impala a-watering
Nine wildebeest prancing
Eight gemsbok a-resting
Seven marching elephants
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the eleventh day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Eleven buffalos drinking
Ten impala a-watering
Nine wildebeest prancing
Eight gemsbok a-resting
Seven marching elephants
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
On the twelfth day of Christmas
My true love sent to me:
Twelve guinea fowl running
Eleven buffalos drinking
Ten impala a-watering
Nine wildebeest prancing
Eight gemsbok a-resting
Seven marching elephants
Six grazing zebras
Five feeding cheetahs
Four playing wild dogs
Three hartebeest
Two lion cubs and
A leopard in a great tree
Happy Holidays!
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[…] In Touch With Nature – 12 Days of Christmas in Southern Africa […]
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wow, thanks for this very different and amazing version! happy holidays to you and yours as well!
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I’m so pleased yours enjoyed enjoyed enjoyed this post, Beth
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Wow–amazing photos, Robbie. Wishing you and your family a happy holiday season! xx
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I’m so pleased yours enjoyed enjoyed enjoyed this post, Merril. Some things are just fun to create.
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You’re welcome, Robbie!
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💚
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What a fun post! We have none of these animals in the US except guinea fowl (which are noisy but beautiful).
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That’s, Priscilla. The IS has its own amazing wildlife 💜
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All handsome creatures and we would love to see them turn up at your house.
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I will see them over this holiday period but not at home 😊
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A VERY enjoyable post, Robbie, and great photos!
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Thank you, Dave ❤️🎄❤️🎄
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Bravo! Merry Christmas, Robbie. 🙂 ❤
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Thank you, Kaye. Merry Christmas to you too. I saw your emails and will look at them tomorrow 😁
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💜😊
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Wonderful photos and creative post Robbie! Merry Christmas! 🎄🌟
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Just wow, Robbie! All those wonderful photos. Tee-hee, Happy Christmas and with 12 guinea fowls (I know them).
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These twelve days of Christmas in South Africa are wonderful, Robbie! Merry Christmas to you and your family. 🎅🎄🎁😍
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I’m so glad yours enjoyed enjoyed this song, Tim. The pictures were fun to find.
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Wonderful Robbie !
So enjoyed.
Thank you and Merry Christmas to you 🧑🎄🥰
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I’m delighted to know you enjoyed this post, Maggie. Merry Christmas
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Thank you Robbie
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🧡
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What a brilliant way to sing in the holiday! Thank you for sharing all these wonderful animals with me!
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My pleasure, Violet. I’m glad yours enjoyed this song and the pictures.
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Two lion cubs are my favorite! Merry Christmas, Robbie!
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They were really cute. Just like kittens.
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I love your version of the twelve days of Christmas! Perfection!!
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Thank you, Liz 😊
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You’re welcome, Robbie.
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💛
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Very clever, I love it!! All the best for a very Merry Christmas!!
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Thank you, Darlene. Finding good photographs was the tricky part. Enjoy your day tomorrow.
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And you!! 🎄🎁
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💓
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Oh I love this Christmas ode to the beautiful wild ones. Nice Robbie!!
🎄❤️🎄
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Thank you, Cindy. Have a wonderful day
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Thanks Robbie! You too!❤️🎄
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🥰
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An enjoyable read. Thank you for sharing.
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Thank you 🙏
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I love this version, Robbie. So different from the usual one, and evocative of South Africa!
Merry Christmas to you and yours.
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Thank you, Viv. I hope you are enjoying the festivities.
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I love it! I was anticipating the next day all the way through. Wonderful images to go along with the fun song.
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Thank you, Carla
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Incredible, Robbie! I bet it was so much fun to find photos of the right number of animals.
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Haha, yes, it took me ages to go through all my pictures looking.
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I can only imagine!
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😊
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