I love wildlife and it’s one of the reasons I get so inspired by life itself when on a safari. Frankly, I miss having safari opportunities in my backyard like I did when I lived in South Africa. Having experienced bush life in a few countries in Southern Africa as well as Kenya and Tanzania, I’ve come across a few unusual animals in my time.
The Elephant Shrew
For example, how about the Elephant Shrew, which is a cross between a rodent and an elephant except that it’s small. The name is derived from the fact that the Elephant Shrew has a long trunk-like nose as well as unusually long legs that are disproportionate to the size of their bodies.
Photo credit: e Elephant Shrew – https://www.flickr.com/photos/gustible/9085402451
They’re amusing to watch as well since they hop around like a rabbit and while they are small and not so easy to see, you can find them in a variety of places throughout Africa.
The Pangolin
I’ve never seen a Pangolin however nature lovers I ran into (in the bush) brought them up, largely because I think they are apparently threatened to the point of extinction and sadly there’s only a few of them left in the world.
Pangolins have scaly bodies that are made up of keratin — yup, the same stuff our nails and hair is made up of, which is both unusual and interesting. Apparently the way they adapt and protect themselves is by rolling up in a ball. They almost look pre-historic up close, but further away, they blend so well with the environment, you could easily mistake it for something else.
The Royal Flycatcher
How about this beauty? They call it the Royal Flycatcher.
Credit: Lifebuzz
They apparently build their nest on tree branches hanging over the water. Although I’ve never seen one, I have to say they seem to be as colorful and as exotic as the Quetzal, the bird everyone couldn’t stop talking about when I landed in Costa Rica. You know, how rare it was to see them? Bird lovers would head to Costa Rica just for the opportunity to see one and somehow I lucked out and saw one on my first hike and within the first hour.
The Ninja Lantern Shark
The Ninja Lantern Shark is an odd-looking creature found in the eastern Pacific Ocean off the coast of Panama and Costa Rica.
Photo credit: Victoria Vasquez, Moss Landing Marine Labs
The Pink Fairy Armadillo
So much wow in this all things pink Fairy Armadillo which apparently is only found in Argentina. As odd as it looks, as odd as it functions, which is as a portable radiator, meaning it can cool down or heat up depending on the temperature of the soil it happens to be in at any given time. Pretty cool right?
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Renee Blodgett is the Founder and Managing Editor of We Blog the World, a global travel, culture and lifestyle publication exploring the world through the lens of meaningful experiences, human connection and cultural depth. Having lived in 10 countries and traveled to 95, Renee has spent much of her life immersed in the people, traditions, landscapes and ideas that shape how we experience the world.
Since launching We Blog the World in 2007, she has written and produced extensive editorial coverage spanning boutique and luxury travel, culinary experiences, arts and culture, wellness, adventure, technology, spiritual traditions and transformative travel. Her work is rooted in the belief that travel is about more than where we go—it is also about what a place, culture or encounter awakens within us.
Renee brings more than three decades of experience across journalism, photography, media, brand strategy, technology, wellness and global storytelling. She has worked with companies and organizations around the world on brand positioning, communications, product launches, media strategy, speaker positioning and storytelling. Through Blue Soul Media, she works with authors, entrepreneurs, thought leaders and purpose-driven brands to clarify their message and expand their impact, which includes speaker coaching/training for high-profile stages such as TED and bringing authors’ work to market while retaining authors rights.
She is also the co-founder of Blue Soul Earth, an educational platform exploring consciousness, ancient wisdom, spirituality, healing and the intersection between science and the nature of reality. Renee is the producer and host of the award-winning Blue Soul CHATS, a conversational series bringing together leading voices in science, technology, consciousness, wellness and spirituality.
Her growing body of work also includes Blue Soul Living, which extends her interest in consciousness and well-being into the spaces we inhabit, exploring how intentional design, energy and environment can support greater harmony and connection.
Renee is the award-winning co-author of the bestselling Magdalene’s Journey and founder of the Magdalene Collection, inspired by women’s voices, stories and wisdom across cultures and generations.
A longtime photographer and storyteller, Renee has documented people, places and cultures around the world and produced photographic collections focused on destinations including the Galápagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome and Ecuador. She also co-founded Traveling Geeks, an international initiative that brought entrepreneurs, journalists, creators and technology leaders together with their counterparts in other countries to exchange ideas and explore innovation across cultures.
Renee’s work has been recognized by Forbes, the United Nations and others for her influence in media and social storytelling. Across her work in travel, media, consciousness and culture, a common thread remains: curiosity about the world, the stories that connect us and the ways meaningful experiences can change how we see ourselves and one another.
