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 18 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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Wow–amazing photos, Robbie. Wishing you and your family a happy holiday season! xx
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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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All handsome creatures and we would love to see them turn up at your house.
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A VERY enjoyable post, Robbie, and great photos!
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Bravo! Merry Christmas, Robbie. 🙂 ❤
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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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Wonderful Robbie !
So enjoyed.
Thank you and Merry Christmas to you 🧑🎄🥰
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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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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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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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