Here is a Mountain Tortoise – also commonly known as a Leopard Tortoise (Stigmochelys pardalis) I came across on the edge of a country road. This one required no assistance crossing the road at all.
It moved with surprising swiftness to get out of the way and tackled the climb up the steep (for it) edge of the road with surprising ease. Their rear legs are well developed while the almost paddle-shaped and pigeon-toed front legs with a row of small nails are used to move very fast and easily manoeuvre over rocky terrain – as this one is doing.
First one back leg stretched out behind it and then the other as it gained traction.
It soon hauled itself to the top.
From there it could make its way quickly through the grass … and disappear!
Something Over Tea 
And was the hare far behind?
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I suspect so 🙂
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A small all-terrain-vehicle with a beautiful carapace! 🙂
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Well expressed, Eliza 🙂 🙂
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Vuurklip beat me too it 🙂
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One has to be quick off the mark for such a riposte.
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Exactly 🙂
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I expect that every reader thought of the hare. 🙂 Good captures.
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Thank you very much.
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We don’t have tortoises, only turtles so it’s interesting to see one of their athletic cousins. 😊
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I enjoy seeing your turtles.
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Always a moment of holding your breath when they scale that verge – will it fall over, or won’t it!?
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This individual was faster than most: it had an appointment to keep!
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I love tortoises – such fascinating creatures and it is indeed amazing how fast they can move. They are all over the place in Struisbaai at the moment and with all the holiday makers many, sadly, are being run over.
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PS Ours are angulate
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We used to have an angulate tortoise in our garden for a few years until he felt the need to move on.
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So cute
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It is 🙂
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Chalk one up for the tourist.
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Right 🙂
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The angulate tortoises here also amaze me by how fast they actually move!
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They are very quick on their feet 🙂
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