Africa Unlocked - Private Guiding and Photographic

Laikipia Wildlife

2012-01-16T23:40:00.000-08:00

The feature full Laikipia Landscape

Over thepast two years I have been fortunate to spend some time in Laikipia’s Westernregions and have really come to like the area a lot. Except for hosting the bigfive (reputedly

Kenya

second largest Elephant herd after Tsavo) its also home to a wide variety ofother unique wildlife. Sosian, the area where I work has no fences and are thusopen all the way to the

Sudan

!Add the fact that the total area encompasses more than a million hectareseasily places it firmly in the league of best wilderness areas in Africa.

Endangered Grevy's Zebra

Reticulated Giraffe

A widevariety of animals such as this Reticulated Giraffe and Grevy’s zebra are onlyfound in Northern Kenya. Only 3000 of theseanimals are left in the wild and about 30 % are found in Laikipia.

Beisa Oryx in the mist

A great albeitunusual sighting of Beisa Oryx in dense mist on the plateaux.

As we were lying on the ground one of the wilddogs stalked us. In the end it was less than 10 metres away.

A healthypopulation of Africa’s second most endangeredcarnivore, African Wilddogs occur and play a very important role inrepopulating the region. I focussed a lot on these animals and have been veryfortunate to document their breeding cycle. On the last trip they were denningand it was very special getting the first glimpses of the pups.

Nearly independent Striped Hyena pup.

On thetopic of predators, except for all the big and small cats the very elusiveStriped Hyena are found and we were very fortunate to photograph these highlyevasive animals at a den.

Gabar Goshawk stretching

For Birdersthe variety is mind boggling as the northern species is well represented. Moreto follow later.

Searchingout the reptiles and amphibians of an area adds another dimension to any safarias it opens up a hidden but very interesting world.

Leopard Reed Frog, Hyperolius glandicolor (viridiflavius)

Side Striped Chameleon

I’ll leaveyou with what guests David and Robin Reid had to say about a few days spent inthis remarkable place:

Robin and I are safely back in Hong Kong. We really enjoyed spending time with you.Sosian was a real surprise in terms of the photographic opportunities. Thatexperience lying on the ground with an inquisitive wild dog less than 10 metresaway was really special. We are also still amazed to have been able tophotograph a striped hyena.We will definitely be back again next year in earlyJanuary.

Photographing Kenya

2011-10-20T06:30:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from hosting 30 days safaris for C 4 Images and Safaris. The majority of time was spent in the predator rich Maasai Mara in Southern Kenya but I also “slipped away” with the Diskin family to Lake Nakuru and Bogoria where we caught up with thousands of Pelicans and flamingos before setting off to the stunningly beautifull and drier northern reserves of Buffalo Spring and Samburu. In stead of doing the normal “we went there and saw that” bit, I decided to share some thoughts on the actual photography that happened on these action packed days. For you interested in catching up with the actual day by day account of the safaris please vistit the C4 blog here: ( http://www.c4images-safaris-blog.com/2011/10/your-daily-dose-of-c4-masai-mara-action.html).

So if you would forgive a somewhat lengthy post here are some of my admittedly personal views on how to make the most of your east African trip.

Being so well known for its predators its understandable that most people would like to concentrate on the cats. The open horizons and abundant predators of the area allows photographers to get classic images of the big cats.

This year the wildebeest have depleted the grass which made for great Serval viewing. For Southern Africans it’s a great treat to photograph the ever elusive Servals and during our time there we managed no less than 5 individual sightings of these cats. So the above two images are almost standard Mara sightings and can be bagged quite easily.

Now for the first trap and one I fall in way too regularly. Going in too tight. As you can see from the first two images its just too easy to go in too tight. In order to try and capture the essence of the Mara one must go wide. Its difficult enough seeing these highly endangered animals in the first place let alone seeing them out in the open. So to show its unusual open surroundings I opted for the pano.

Two lionesses sleeping in a tree was quite an unusual sight and knowing that they would start getting active at around sunset we waited it out. Again the wider angle proved more rewarding as tight shots of them in a tree would fail to convey a true sense of space. And it only took two hours wait for one minute of action!!

Speaking of patience! We spent another afternoon waiting for two male cheetah to wake up only to have the sun set on their innate bodies. On our way back we serendipitously stumbled on this fantastic scene. The last remaining sunlight streaming into the valley to illuminate this Black Bellied Bustard. Sheer luck that the bird decided to stretch at exactly the right time. Despondent as we were after the cheetahs, if we had packed away our gear we would have missed one of the most photogenic scenes of the trip.

Which brings me to the next point. Everyone is always so determined to capture the big cats on camera that they drive away from other interesting scenes. I am of the opinion that a picture of Impala in good light far outweighs a lion or leopard image in harsh or poor light. So make the most of any subject when the light is good especially in this case when two animals are engaged in interesting behavior.

My favourite is the soft back lighting one gets during the very first and last minutes of the day. If applying the principle of utilizing good light, before long ones luck changes and you do in fact find the more interesting subjects, in this case a group of foraging Bat eared foxes, another favourite of mine.

Lion portraits though are of course hugely popular and even though it has been done millions of times it still remains a hit. Here positioning is key. Due to the fact that most guests are shooting from a vehicle the vast majority of portraits are shot down into the background. In this case the lion was lying on an elevated piece of ground while a storm developed in the background. All features that would help create a great portrait. Prefocussing on the male and checking exposure while just waiting for something to happen allowed for this portrait.

Light is of course everything in Photography and many people pack their gear away once the sun sets. With today’s technology photographers can photograph well into the dusky evenings. We also made full use of the fact that one can get out of your car in Lake Nakuru National park to get this image of a Great White Pelican at eye level.

Amongst the many appealing factors of the north of Kenya is the unique array of wildlife of the area. And because we have been photographing predators in the Mara the week prior to this trip we could concentrate on the unique animals of Samburu such as this highly unusual Gerenuk. So in stead of repeating the usual pictures of animals encountered all over Africa, research an area before your safari and focus (excuse the pun!) on the specials.

And then much to our surprise we caught up with Africa’s second most endangered carnivore. African Wilddogs hunting Gunthers Dik-dik in the late afternoon! No one could see this one coming.

Back in the Mara for the last two weeks of exclusive safaris I caught up with Shem and Greg where we discussed at length how to up ones game in photography. One of the topics was how to capture the essence of an animal. Jokingly we decided it should be the leopard. So whether we succeeded or not here is the best that I would manage?

For any wildlife photographer, animal behaviour is key. And there is very little one can do but do your best to predict what an animal is going to do and be ready to capture the scene as it unfolds. This lioness was seen carrying a cub no more than a few days old to a new den site. Anticipating that she may have more stowed away we positioned the vehicles in the correct spot and waited. We didn’t have to wait long before she went to fetch the next two. All we had to do was sit, enjoy the sighting….and of course photograph like crazy. A most fitting end to a very exciting safari. See you in the sticks.

Sabi Sands Wildlife Photography Workshop

2011-02-21T05:07:00.000-08:00

Nothing beats daybreak in the bush.

For the past few months we at Africa Unlocked have presented the very popular C4 Images and Safaris wildlife photographic courses in Hoedspruit in the Lowveld. This past weekend we have had the wonderful opportunity to host the course on a private concession in the Sabi Sand Game Reserve adjoining the Kruger National Park, an area encompassing more than 2 million hectares! This acclaimed region didn’t disappoint as within the first two game drives we managed to log up all of the big five!! Quite a feat considering the course only officially started on the Saturday morning, well after our second game drive!

A group of White Rhinos mud wallowing in perfect light.

It’s always such a pleasure hosting likeminded and very enthusiastic photographers and from my side a huge thank you to you all who made the stay in the “Sands” so enjoyable. In order to maintain our high level of personal attention all future courses will be limited to small groups only.

The apex of any safari - An elusive leopard only metres away from the vehicle.

Night drives creates the perfect platform to view the big cats in action.

Some comments from the participants:

The course was very educational and I found the subjects help full. The course material was also very use full afterwards.
The instructor has excellent knowledge of the subject. - David Bertram

The course was very educational and I found the subjects helpfull. The course material was also very use full afterwards and the instructor has excellent knowledge of the subject. - Christiaan Willemse

I can honestly say that the course was very helpful especially the following subjects:1. Light and types of light helped me a lot2. Different functions of the camera especially when shooting a fast moving subject3. I learnt a lot about the camera that I use, functions that I never knew exist or have never used before - Neels de Kock

We will be hosting another course during the first weekend of April. Click here for more details or contact us directly for more info and to secure your place.

Praying Mantis Eating Spider

2011-02-03T21:52:00.000-08:00

Some birds are supposed to eat spiders and spiders eat insects, right? Well seems like they don’t always follow the rules. After witnessing a very unique scenario almost a year ago of a spider eating a bird I thought it was quite interesting yesterday to witness another instance of this spider in an example of predation. Unfortunately this time the poor arachnid was the one being scoffed by a very ambitious Praying Mantis. So there you, go another example albeit on a small scale, of the complete opportunism of predators.

Coypu. An alien in East Africa

2011-01-26T00:11:00.000-08:00

Who has ever heard of a Coypu? I certainly haven’t. This water dwelling rodent originates from South America. It was introduced to Kenya for the fur trade in the 1050’s and, guess what, they escaped. Now they are digging up river bank and dams and eating away reedbeds and other aquatic vegetation. It is also thought that they may have been responsible for the periodic collapse of Lake Naivasha’s waterplants. It’s not only in Africa where feral populations exist but also in many other parts of the world. This is a habituated animal which I was able to get close enough to photograph with a wide angle. I wanted to capture, without sounding overly emotional or anthropomorphic, the essence of what so often happens. An almost sad looking creature just doing what it’s intended to do, yet with man’s influence it became unwanted in a foreign country far from its native home.

Make hay while the sun isn't shining

2011-01-18T22:46:00.000-08:00

Intricate patterns in a tree frogs eye.

Here are a few pics from around my local patch, Mariepskop, in the Lowveld Drakensberg. Over the past few weeks it has been raining heavily, normally a time to put the camera away and, well, wait for better weather. But its also a time when numerous other creatures make an appearance. So I got out the camera to see what I could can find in the garden.

An excuisite Leaf Mantis in the forest undergrowth.

A painted Reed-Frog clambering about.

Perched on a branch, a Grey Tree-frog or Foam-nest frog.

Mashatu in Springtime

2010-12-02T01:23:00.000-08:00

I cannot believe how much time flew. I was still thinking of putting these pics up about a month ago. Well in the meantime Christmas has come and gone and I already need to process the last Kenya pics. It has been almost a full year now since I have been guiding C4 Images and Safaris trips to Tuli and in the process have come to know the many and varied moods of this remarkable wilderness.

What striked me most of this last trip to Mashatu was how everything has come full circle since my first trip in April 2010. During April the area had excessive flooding and we almost got washed down the river.

On our last visit the last of some of the pools had dried up completely leaving the hundreds of Tilapia and Side striped Barbs stranded. .

A feast for the numerous storks, kingfishers and Herons. We even noticed tracks of Black backed Jackals frequenting these easy pickings

Velvet mites responded to the rains and could be seen scurrying about on the wet soil.

And when the rains kept us indoors, or at least camp bound, a stroll through camp revealed numerous other interesting inhabitants like this Lynx spider.

Fortunately the rains were not far and several millimetres fell during our stay bringing much needed respite, especially to the fish! The area transformed from dry dusty stubble to a parklike environment in a few days and I cannot wait to get there soon to witness the next stage of this ephemeral region.

The thought then came up that as photographers we are always so focussed in getting the ultimate shot that at times we miss the dramas in nature unfolding everywhere around us. And it is often only when you are really aware of the area when the decisive shots present themselves.

Chiefs Camp Okavango Delta.

2010-11-10T00:33:00.000-08:00

Quintessential Okavango!!

It seems like the bars are continuously raised on the C4 safaris. Not even the heat of Chiefs Island could dampen anyone’s adventurous spirit as we disembarked the Cesna Caravan at Chiefs Camp’s bush airstrip in the middle of absolute supreme wilderness.

Nothing beats a sunrize with lion cub in the forground!

Birding is always phenomenal in the Delta. Slaty Egrets on every drive, Wattled Cranes and Black coucals to name but a few.

A Slaty Egret, rare in SA, on the hunt.

What better position to photograph this amazing place than from the frog's eye perspective of your Mokoro!

Once settled into our quite spectacular rooms it now feels like the adventure never stopped until our return to Jo’ies four days later. Everything from leopards carrying new born cubs to intricate painted reed frogs kept everyone busy with photographic opportunities jumping at you around every corner (if you’ll excuse the wisecrack).

The wish that came true.

Every photographer has a wish list, often not the easiest of subjects. But when Trevor wished for a leopard on a termite mound you can’t help smiling when one actually peer straight at the lens from atop one. Surreal stuff! The only real problem everyone had was not finding enough time to capture it all and unanimously everyone wished for more time in the Delta. Hopefully this will come in the not too distant future. All of you, who made our time so much fun, as always from Isak and me, thanks a mill!! It can never be fun without great guests and we are looking forward hosting you all soon when we catch up in the sticks.

Now for some arty black and white shots of familiar subjects.

A lion cub and his sibling staring at the motordrives going berzerk on our vehicle parked closeby!

If there's two things you'll see a lot of its water and elephants!

And then I made it a bit of a pet project to photograph the hundreds of reed frogs around camp.

Hyperolius forgotitsnameius? Slender reed frog or something?

Birds of the Mara

2010-11-01T22:22:00.000-07:00

We all head for the Mara because of the fantastic predators and the legendary migration. But the excitement doesn't stop there. Here are just a quick selection of pics of the birds of the area, and believe me this doesn't even start to do justice to whats around.

The many kill sites creates the perfect area to observe the antics of up to five different species of cultures.

The enormous Kori Bustard strolling along the plains.

While a Saddle Billed stork puts up a display for the cameras.

A Highly unusual sighting of the normally forest dwelling and secretive Black Sparrowhawk out in the open with its kill.

And not to be outdone by the heavies, beauties such as the Purple Grenadier (above) and my personal favorite, the Brown-throated Watlle-eye (below) also put in regular appearances.

Maasai Mara in Action

2010-10-22T02:58:00.000-07:00

A crocs view of a herd of wildebeest crossing the Mara river in front of camp

In my opinion October must be the best time to go to Kenya’s Maasai Mara. The weather is generally much drier that a few months earlier while many of the concentrations of people that came to see the migration have already gone. It does however also mean that the chance is good that the migration herds have also gone. But on our approach to Ol Kiombo airstrip it became apparent that the herds are still around – probably as a result of some late rains on the Mara. Meaning that we get the chance to see crossings! Although there are much more to the Mara than just crossings its understandable that it’s a highlight for many. And none better than a private crossing right in front of camp. In two years living in the Mara and never having this view I made sure to get the eye level perspective I always wanted. The highlights are really too many to mention but one worth mentioning is spending the week there observing the adventures of a mom cheetah and her six cubs. Indeed a privilege to get the chance to spend time with these animals to see what they get up to and not just a mere glimpse as can be the case in other parts of Africa. Here follows some pics from the trip and I hope it can convey in a small the wonder of this fantastic region. Then lastly to everyone who joined us – thanks for all the laughs!! Below follow some pics of the last C4 images and Safaris trip.

PS Jan I am really sorry I nearly lobbed elephant dung on you and Chris I am really sorry I missed you.

Zebra stallions battling it out on the plains.

A Black Backed Jackal pup at first light.

Aggressive Lioness.

We were privileged to follow the adventures of this family of cheetah throughout the week we were in the Mara.

Cheetah cubs in playful mood.

Mashatu Photographic Workshop

2010-09-28T21:20:00.000-07:00

What a blast! The latest C4 images and Safaris Mashatu workshop could hardly have been more fun. And again, credit to everyone who made it such fun for us all. Amorien and Johan, Melissa and Graham, Gary and Paula, Ed and Nicky, David and Judith, you made our trip most memorable. And also a special thanks form me to Villiers. It was great working with you and your knowledge of the Tuli area proved invaluable. I am looking forward to many more trips in future. Thank you everyone.

Dappled shade can prove difficult to photograph but even this was overcome.

As normal the workhop was packed with action and after an initially slow start the predator sighting started filling our drives and it wasn’t uncommon to find more than two of the apex predators on a single game drive. In the end we managed to photograph Lion Leopard, Hyena and Cheetah (with a kill on our last drive as cherry on top) under various conditions ranging from the most fantastic evening light to dappled shade, all of which posing its own range of photographic challenges. At the end I am happy to say that everyone managed to overcome these challenges and walk away with some striking images

Although predators are always the indisputable highlight of any photographic safari no one passed on the opportunity to photograph Birds, Impala and even the enigmatic Boababs that dot the landscape of Northern Tuli. Again thank you guys and we are looking forward seeing you all in the bundus sometime soon.

Even with all the predators around the birds never disappoint.

The big guns in action!

Richard our local guide is very well experienced in getting into the best position for photography.

Anyone interested in booking their Lowveld workshop in Hoedspruit click on the below Logo.

Wilddogs Up Close

2010-09-22T07:41:00.002-07:00

Portrait of a wilddog.

After spending more than a decade in the bush and hardly having seen these animals, let alone photograph them, it was indeed a privilege to get to know Africa's second most endangered carnivore. These highly social carnivores never fail to impress and must rate as the most interesting of animals to view. It was quite a surprize to know that after all the publicity they have received over the past few years many if not most tourists were hardly aware of them. Many thought that they were mere feral dogs from the neighboring village quite likely as a result of them being referred to as "dogs". Anyway we did manage to swing that opinion. Below a few pics from Northern Kenya.

We often had sightings on foot.

To view the drama of a kill from below eye level at ten metres is just surreal.

Only in Africa

2010-07-19T07:30:00.000-07:00

Make sure you take the right offramp.

Yield to oncoming traffic!

Its always a good idea to get a good vantage when searching for wildlife.

Once you find them you'll feel like a kid in a candy store.

More of the Mara

2010-07-18T11:51:00.000-07:00

Some pictures just have Mara written all over them!

Birding the Mara.

One may be forgiven to think that when you are in one of the world’s wildlife hotspots why take the time to look at birds. Well even when looking at the feathered variety the big game is never too far.

Quintessential Cat
One wouldn’t like to be caught one the wrong side of this glare. For the most part of its life an average lion remains inactive for the major part of its day. However when hunger awakens them they mean business and it all start with a determined stare.

On the hoof.

In single file the herds move past on a journeys that never actually starts or ends anywhere. Mating only occurs on the day when female wildebesst comes into oestrus.
When the herds reach the northern limit of their march male wildebeest joust and jostle amongst one another in order to secure dominance and their access to mate. In a march stretching thousands of miles much of the rutting takes place on the hoof. Even at a gallop one male takes the opportunity to ascertain his dominance over another.

Thief

Probably not even properly cold this fresh Thompson’s gazelle carcass is stolen from a Cheetah by a Spotted Hyena.

Maasai Mara

2010-07-15T05:36:00.000-07:00

Elephant Plain
Probably the most photographed animal in Africa, elephant still remain a real tricky subject to me to do justice on camera. Yet sometimes all one has to do is press the shutter. When a weak sun filtered through the clouds and lit up the bull against an approaching storm it just begged to be photographed. It was only after the image was reviewed on the computer screen that I realized how both the colours and textures of the landscape are perfectly mirrored in the animal.

Eye to eye.
From beneath the vehicle a few metres away from the kill I slowly crawl into position to photograph this primeval scene.
Having chased off hundreds of vultures the Spotted Hyena moves the carcass away from the scavenging birds and jackals nearby. At one point during its determined slow retreat away from its competitors the predator suddenly focuses on the strange horizontal shape in the grass, its piercing eyes in stark contrast to the inert gaze of the departed stallion.

On the hunt
Although not unheard of it is indeed unusual to meet up with celebrities on Safari. More impressive is the fact that it’s not just one but the whole ensemble. In this case the cast of the BBC’s Big Cat Diaries. And unlike others in the same business they were equally impressive even when the cameras were not rolling. Just after sundown we caught up with the marsh pride hunting warthogs, which after only one unsuccessful attempt managed to secure the first meal of the evening.

Big Sky Country.
Herds thousands strong, fantastic diversity of wildlife and some of Africa’s largest and most charismatic animals are all a dayly feature of this evocative place. Personally however, to me even more impressive is the fact that all of this is dwarfed by the vast ancient landscape. Clichéd it may be, but this is undeniably Big Sky Country.

Grassland Jewel.
A much unexpected jewel in the grassland on an early morning drive was this Malachite Kingfisher uncommonly perched on level ground adjacent to a muddy pool in the grassland. Again, on my belly I slowly inched towards the perfect photographic position only to see the bird fly off. Short-lived was my disappointment (and very unusual in photography) when he returned to the exact same spot where my camera was aimed with a tadpole in its bill. From here it proceeded to give it a proper bashing, positioned it head first in its bill and consumed it.

Cloak of concealment.
With its fantastic light, uncluttered backgrounds, and subjects of every conceivable shape and size the Mara must rate as one of the best wildlife photographic destinations on earth. Add the perpetual dust kicked up by millions of hooves you have a natural photo filter more often imitated these days in photoshop. A lone Thompson’s gazelle salutes the breaking day as darkness retreats, dragging her cloak of concealment away from the numerous predators.

Kruger Campsite Birding

2010-05-03T06:00:00.000-07:00

I recently spent two days in Satara Camp in the Kruger National Park. For a change there was no work involved so I decided to take it easy and just enjoy the park with a friend. Probably a good bet as the park received unusually high rainfall over the past few weeks and as a result the bush was incredibly dense and subsequently yielded very few photographable subjects.

Natal Francolin pair approaching the lens.

Just for the fun we whipped out the cameras one afternoon before the actual game drive and played around with the birds in camp. The fact that they are so habituated made it possible to shoot them at point blank range with wide angles. At times the birds were literally only centimetres away from the lens.

Birding in camp is very productive and in addition to Gabar Goshawk, little Sparrowhawk and Verraux’s eagle owl, surprizingly this Bennet’s Woodpecker also joined the crowds.

A Greater Blue Eared Starling Scans for scraps.

Some actions as two Burchell's starlings quarrel over something unknown to us.

Tuli Photographic Workshop

2010-04-07T06:13:00.000-07:00

This male leopard was attacked by a lioness seconds after this photo was taken.

After crossing the Limpopo in a cable car at Pont Drift border post you head into the 70 odd thousand Tuli wilderness in south east Botswana. Here, Isak Pretorius and I were to be hosting photographic workshop for C4 images over the next five days at Mashatu Tented camp. I admit that I had some preconceived ideas about Tuli. Fears that it may be a drought stricken region devoid of significant wildlife densities were soon put to rest on our first Game drive. The first bouts of camera fever were soon treated with some portraits of a lioness in the riverbed. When sundowners followed everyone thought it a fitting end to a first day. However, as we were getting ready to leave the distinctive rasping call of a leopard came from the nearby woodland. No sooner had we dumped the drinks in the vehicle and dashed off in the direction of the sound when we bumped into this incredibly relaxed young male leopard and followed him into the riverbed. What could possibly beat this? In the meantime though the lioness of earlier caught wind of the intruding predator and unbeknown to us had snuck up on the unsuspecting leopard in the meantime. In an explosion of growls the two cats clashed behind dense riverine bush.

A nervous stare from the top of a Nyala Berry tree.

Fortunately the lithe spotted cat made good its escape and dashed up a Nyala berry tree out of the eager lionesses reach. And finally that brought an end to our first day.

Numerous lion sightings tested the photographers abilities under different lighting situations.

Within the next 24 hours two more top predators in the form of Spotted Hyena and Cheetah with three cubs were ticked off from our photographic wish lists.

The soft muted light allowed great for longer photographic outing. This Natal Spurfowl was photogrpahed during the middle of the day.

The photographic opportunities didn’t stop there though and great shots of a pair of Giant (Verraux’s) Eagle owls, a variety of herbivores and landscapes were covered.

The large numbers of elephants allows for a wide variety of photographic interpretation.

Tuli of course is elephant territory and one is guaranteed of their presence throughout your stay. I do find them quite a challenging subject to portray in a new way but the sheer numbers present every conceivable opportunity to hone one’s skills.

Funky Chameleon.

And then the rains came! Although the area is known to be a dry region, during our stay more than 160mm fell changing the face of the placid little stream in front of camp.

Not to be cheated out of any photographic opportunities we all set about photographing this dramatic event through everything from wide angles to macro shots of the now prolific frogs and the dramatic lightning in the skies!

And this is where the spirit of the group came to the fore. I cannot recall a single objection, not even when the stream turned into a raging torrent that came crashing through our tents and dumping the veranda furniture some way off.

Waiting out the rain.

No trip can ever be a success without great guests and I would personally like to thank Piet, Tanya, Paul, Christine, Peter, Jane, Wessel and Wentsel for your contribution, whether an impromptu geology lesson or a quick joke that made this such a truly memorable trip for me. Thanks also to Isak for presenting such a great workshop where everyone, including myself learnt so much about photography. I am looking forward catching up with you all again.

Nesting Chameleon

2010-03-29T22:04:00.000-07:00

Sometimes the most remarkable sightings happen in the least expected places. The garden for instance. Now I must add that I do not live out in the absolute wilds anymore but I have the likes of Egyptian cobra, Narina Trogon and a wide variety of other creatures in my garden and in the hills at the back, even Leopard.

A few days ago I stumbled onto this scene. A Flap Necked Chameleon in the process of laying its eggs. To say that this animal was inching forward as it dug its nest would be optimistic; they’re not exactly known for their speed, are they? From the time I observed it the first time it took about 24 hours to finish the job of digging its hole in rain soaked soil to laying the eggs and covering up the hole again and departing, never to see its own young again. Now in about 220 odd days they eggs would hatch and the youngsters will emerge. Its marked on my calendar so watch this space.

A very tired chameleon covering up its nest with soil and plant material the following morning.

Where all the action took place. Slap bang in my garden.

Kruger National Park

2010-03-27T10:43:00.000-07:00

As I have said before the Kruger National Park must be by far one of the best, if not the best, value for money wildlife destinations on the continent. Yes there may be areas where you will be overrun by tourists (same as many other African destinations) but if you know where to go it is easy to avoid the crowds. For instance the many secondary roads that offers great game viewing with very little traffic and there were times that I drove for miles without seeing any other vehicle. Here are some pics from one of our recent visits.

Daybreak announces a respite from the dangers of the night yet this male Impala remains vigilant.

Spotted Hyena shortly after a mid morning drink and bath.

Although it was the end of March and nearing the end of summer many of the migrants such as this European Roller were still present in good numbers.

And I always find it very encouraging to see the large raptors - an indication of a still (largely) intact ecosystem.

A delicate male Steenbok.

A sleepy Black-Backed Jackal before the start of his nocturnal foray.

Obiquitous throuhough the park, a Burchell's starling announced nightfall.

Unlikely Nemesis

2010-03-23T21:51:00.001-07:00

An incredible sighting we had a while ago of some very rarely seen predation. Although it is known that small birds can get stuck in the webs of the Golden Orb web spider I cannot find any confirmed report that the spider actually fed on it. We found this freshly dead little Blue Waxbill one evening entangled in the web of the Spider and was astounded to see the large female actually bite into the wing of the bird and proceed to feed on it.

When we visited the site the next morning the female was still in the same position and a large wound had formed at the site of the bite. At the same time the feathers also seemed to fall out at the site of the bite.

As a photographer I always try to capture the mood of events and try to steer away from just straight forward documentation. In this instance I photographed against the greying sky while using a slow shutter speed to enhance the sinister mood of the events. The flash was held off camera as always to increase detail.

Karongwe Sightings

2010-03-09T20:31:00.001-08:00

Some of the latest images from Karongwe. In just over two weeks we encountered five different Leopards, one of which was during a Game Walk.

Portrait of a male Leopard in prime condition.

This scruffy looking female gave us a most indignant stare as we unknowingly disturbed her attempt at hunting Impala.

Hyena visited camp every night and even the activities at the sleepout in the bush got the better of this cubs curiosity who came to investigate.

One of the Hippo dams. A great spot for sundowners.

And curiosity even gets these behemoths to pop around for a closer look.

As allways, striking birds such as this woodland Kingfisher are never far.

A Yellow Billed Stork in interesting pose.

A Magnificant male Lion obligingly becoming active just as the sun filters through the clouds and grants us wonderfull photograhic opportunities

And just to round off the predator sightings, two male Cheetah decided to hunt down a young Wtaerbuck around camp only to settle for Impala later that afternoon.

Animal of potency and power.

2010-02-10T21:46:00.000-08:00

An obscure cave in the Cederberg. Note the “hooved” human figures and the horselike figure in the background, possibly a “rain animal”.

For a people who had to rely largely on veld food such as Geophytes (Bulbs, etc) meat was indeed a much sought after commodity. And these to a large extent were in the form of smaller mammals and birds such Korhaan (Bustards) which they ensnared. Thus one can imagine that a large animal such as Kudu, Hartebeest or Eland were indeed a rare treat. None more so that the majestic Eland, unusual in that its meat had an unusually large quantity of fat. But what is more interesting is that the Bushman not only regarded the Eland as a source of protein but also as the animal of potency and power. In regions rich in a wide variety of antelope it is obvious that the distinctive Eland shape dominates their art, often in association with dance scenes – another reason why the art should not be viewed as mere documentation of their life.
When entering the trance like state during the well documented rhythmic dance people are said to “become” an animal – often the Eland. Next time you view rock art notice how the human figures often have the heads and feet of animals (the Bushmand were not known to wear masks). In this trance they would perform rituals like blessing a hunt, cure the sick or bring rain.

For years I tried to depict the enigmatic Eland from the mysterious point of view of the Bushman. Subconciously I had already given up when one afternoon I managed this shot. To me it seems like the pair of Eland are running off a stone age rock art site into reality.

Images of Power

2010-01-13T06:50:00.000-08:00

I just returned from a photoshoot in the Waterberg, an area rich in history both recent and, well … not so recent. In fact several thousand years ago the first inhabitants of Africa walked these hills. The legendary Bushman or San. Except for the Egyptians, these eloquent people are one of the few African tribes who left a rich legacy of their spiritual lifestyle on the rocks of predominantly southern Africa.

Incredible detail for late stone age artists.

One can be forgiven for viewing these as merely decorative. Indeed these beautiful paintings do add a certain flair to the harsh rock faces but that’s not where it ends. More commonly, many just assume that these paintings are a documentation of animals and events that occurred during their day to day life. To a certain degree both ways of looking at the paintings are not wrong. Aesthetically they are beautiful and often one can discern animals such as Eland, Giraffe and the like which the bushman may have encountered and or hunted. It is when one views the fascinating array of dots, lines, circles and weird unidentifiable animals adjacent to the more easily recognized drawings that things start fitting more difficultly into our western mould.

Studying the art.

Also many, if not most painting are in areas not suited for habitation such as a small inaccessible ledge.
Enter the spiritual realm of the bushman. The well known rhythmic dancing induces a trans-like state of consciousness and it is when certain members (i.e. the shaman) enter this realm that rites are performed. Rain making, blessing a hunt or curing the ill occurs during this state. Important also to note is that no paintings were ever done during this state but rather afterwards when the mind clears again. Space just doesn’t allow a more in depth discussion but for those interested David Lewis Williams’s Images of Power is sure to fascinate.

Selati Private Guiding

2009-12-22T21:08:00.000-08:00

I spent this past week in the Selati Game Reserve. A fantastic 30 000 hectare reserve between Hoedspruit and Tzaneen in Limpopo. It is privately owned with no commercial lodge on the property. Habitats range from mopane bushveld and riparian woodlands to spectacular Granite outcrops. In addition to the great numbers of wildlife associated with the distinct habitats, the reserve is also home to a unique variety of plants. In my opinion one of the most interesting reserves in the country and, unlike what many tourism brochures advocate; a true best kept secret.

We spent the week at the elegant Nyala Lodge overlooking the Selati River.

Lounge Interior.

Veranda overlooking the Selati River.

I always find it interesting that whenever one embraces nature in its entirety the sightings just piles up. A notable sighting was that of a caracal during an extended night drive - a first for me in the Lowveld.

A very rare vagrant to the area, A Sooty Falcon

The highlight however was in the form of a sooty Falcon. Accoring to the Field Guides only a few stragglers of this rare species have been recorded in the area and this one may constitute the fourth sighting!

More images below:

White Rhino in an open clearing in glorious afternoon light.

A friendly encounter with a scaly friend.

Ellies

Selati's pride and joy.

Beautifull charcoal sketch of the vervets, our neighbours in the fig tree in front of the lodge.

Private Lives of Pygmy Falcons

2009-11-23T01:42:00.001-08:00

A sight as distinct to the Kalahari as the enormous Sociable Weaver nests they commandeer as nesting sites is the diminutive Pygmy Falcon. The tender colloquial name of Sneeuvalkie (Snow Falcon) given by the locals to this, the smallest African Falcon is harshly juxtaposed against the realities of the thirst-land wilderness it calls home.

Whilst leading a photographic safari for C4 images and Safaris we were very fortunate to observe a pair of Pygmy Falcons in the vicinity of a large Sociable Weaver nest in the Rooiputs campsite on the Botswana side of the park.

As it was approaching the breeding season these birds were very active around the Sociable Weaver colony in anticipation of spring. Both birds would arrive at the weaver colony and sit in close proximity to the nest chamber. The female, easily distinguished by her chestnut back would then enter one of the chambers from where she would give regular, albeit feint calls. A few minutes later she would exit the chamber and return to the awaiting male perched outside. At this stage he would mount her and proceed to mate with her, a sequence of events that they repeated regularly throughout the day. During one of their escapades a second male suddenly arrived on the scene. The attending male immediately acted aggressively towards him and at one stage they nearly tumbled to the ground, all of which was in line with my existing knowledge of an intruding male.

"A" male presented the female with an agameaas a nuptual gift...

At a later stage one of the males presented an agama to the female, a nuptial gift she happily accepted. After feeding on the reptile for quite some time with the male close at hand the second male arrived on the scene. The female immediately took off with the two males in hot pursuit. All of this still behaviour that can be expected in a situation where an immigrant male is trying to usurp breeding rights but not tolerated by the resident birds.

...which she readily accepted.

During one of the mating rendezvous described above the second male arrived on the scene and perched very close to the mating pair. Much to my surprise the impostor was tolerated by the resident male, even as the resident proceeded to mount the female. Imagine my surprise when shortly after the male dismounted, the “impostor” casually mounted the female and proceeded to copulate with her as well!

The female Falcon allowed both males to mount her.

The reversed sexual dimorphism, the fact that the female is more brightly coloured than the male is in line with Polyandrous birds such Painted snipes and my guess would be that this is in fact what is happening with Pygmy Falcons. However only detailed studies and genetic analysis would reveal any shared paternity.

The Kalahari Landscape

Guide Training

2009-11-17T02:20:00.001-08:00

A Big and Hairy!

I spent the first two weeks of November assisting Eco Training courses in the Selati and Karongwe conservancies. As always it is very encouraging to see enthusiastic (and fun loving) people joining the industry.

Group pic at one of the scenic dams in Karongwe.

What surprised me of this specific time was the amount of small and interesting creatures we encountered during the two weeks. Many guides rely on the glory of the “Big and Hairies” to get by. However, knowledge of the small stuff and - very importantly - the ability to communicate this to their guests will reveal the true wonder of nature. The highlight undoubtedly was the discovery of a gynandromorh Emperor moth. This is a dual sex moth that is laterally devided between male nd female. In other words, in this case the left hand side of this individual is female and the right hand side is male. You can’t really compare this to a needle in a haystack. Rather a needle in a wheat field!

Seces in moths are easily determined by means of their antennae. The feathery ones indicating male and the slender ones indicating females. Here both are present indicating an extremely rare gynandromorph. Also note the eyes are different. This difference runs through the symmetrically through the length of the body

Photographing Cheetah.

Inspecting a delicate panted Reed Frog.

This Bushveld Rain Frog avoided the hundreds of foul tasting soldier termites but gorged himself on the much larger and tasty emrging alates.

It still remains one of Nature's Unanswers questions why scorpions glow neon green under UV light.

Isn't it encouraging to know that this bunch of professionals who take everything so seriously are entereing the guiding industry?

Photograpic Ethics

2009-11-15T21:12:00.001-08:00

Pro photographer Shem Compion posted something on Photographic ethics a while ago. Have a look at it here. Ethics are something I feel strongly about and although time limits an in-depth discussion here I would like to share a though or two. There are many angles attached to ethics from Photoshop techniques such as cloning which alters the actual image as it happened in nature to the unethical handling of animals. Then there are grey areas such as baiting animals (ever photographed birds around a feeder?) or the sticky issue of photographing captive animals. Personally I have no problem with some of these such as baiting or even photographing captive animals but when such techniques are employed I feel it must be disclosed by the photographer.

Just before heading to the bush these past two weeks I had the opportunity to photograph this Caracal in the process of being rehabilitated to be released back into the wild. I could have declined to chance to photograph this confiding cat or used the opportunity to get close this beautiful animal. These pics may also come in handy when having to illustrate a conservation talk at some stage in future especially as these animals are facing dire persecution in large parts of Southern Africa’s farming community. Maybe images like these will ensure this species remain in the wild longer, enhancing our chances to get better images of wild ones.

The Purpose of Play

2009-10-22T22:36:00.000-07:00

It is cited by science that play in young animals mirror behaviour vital for survival or the lifestyle as an adult. Lion, Leopard and other predator cubs play with their mother’s tail or chase one another, activities that will enable them to make a successful kill as adults. Antelope youngsters in turn would dart across the plains dodging and swerving, honing skills that will allow them to avoid a predator in hot pursuit. I photographed this week old White Rhino calf early one morning in a boisterous mood. If one goes with the above logic, what adult behaviour would this then reflect? In more than a decade I have never witnessed adult Rhino’s behaving in any similar way. The question then begs: Do animals sometime not just play for the fun? What is your opinion?

It contunued backwards and forwards throughout the morning in a playfull canter.

If such a thing is possible I am sure I can see a smile on this ones face.

Forest Landscape

2009-10-13T22:39:00.000-07:00

As I waited for the gate to open the most incrdible light filtered into the gorge. As they say make hay while the sun shines!

Landscape photography has always been my least favourite part of photography. The simple reason being that through a wide angle lens I always seemed to loose the detail in the background as a result of the distorted angle. There are some stunning forests in the Canyon at the back of our house, yet still, I could never seem to do any scenes justice in the six months that we lived in the Canyon. That is until I experimented with some panoramic shots using a 35 mm lens and stitching the pics together afterwards. That gives me a 50mm equivalent which is pretty much the magnification through normal vision. In my admittedly limited experience I find that, because you cannot view the scene through a viewfinder you have to envisage it before you and imagine how it will look like once stitched. Lots of tricks I am still learning but here are some sample pics.

A forest stream through a normal 12 mm lens.

Forest footpath. I find that the cleaner the image the better it displays. Clutter kills these kind of shots for me. One must try and image the scene withou the benefot of a viewfinder.

Dilapidated Bridge. Note how you loose the effect once the scene becomes too cluttered.

Another shot of the Bridge. The Cleaner shots works better in my opinion.

Africa Photographic Awards

2009-10-05T03:47:00.000-07:00

Click on the banner to go to the website.

Nikon’s Africa Photographic Awards has hit the Photographic world by storm. Dubbed the “most lucrative photographic competition in the world” this competition with over R 3 000 000.00 ($ 300 000.00) is sure to attract the attention of the world’s top photographers. The photographer of the year is also chosen based on a portfolio of 12 images covering 9 diverse categories. Indeed a realistic reflection of true photographic skills.

The below image have been selected as a finalist in the Animal Portraits category and appear in the October issue of Africa Geographic magazine. Below is a brief description of my thoughts behind the image.

On safari I am often faced with the fact that the big stuff doesn’t show themselves and as a result I need to pull every trick out of the hat to ensure that guests still have a great time and are introduced to the innumerable other fascinating inhabitants of the bush. One of these insiders’ tricks is the ability to find chameleons at night. These are the most endearing of the reptiles and can be the best way to introduce guests to the otherwise “revolting” world of reptiles. For many years I have tried to capture that aspect of the bush but with, to say the least, uninspiring images to show this intriguing animal in context. I photographed this chameleon late one afternoon in the last rays of sunlight. As the sun set, I was about to pack it all in when a full moon rose behind the chameleon. I realised I might have a shot here. All I had to do was wait for the moon to rise sufficiently and I had this shot. I used a double exposure to ensure I get sufficient detail in both the Chameleon and the moon and I employed off camera flash to accentuate detail on the animal.

Brown Hyena Release

2009-09-29T23:13:00.000-07:00

Seconds after the drug Zoletil takes effect the Moholoholo vetirinarian monitors the animal to ensure a safe procedure.

Threats to wildlife and habitats are very real. These have many different faces and range from topsoil erosion and alien invasive species competing with local ones to direct poaching. In much of Africa snaring for meat is the prevailing method and is targeted at animals that can provide meat. Poaching in itself a topic with deeper socio economic roots but we’ll keep that one for another discussion. The problem with snaring is that it is indiscriminate and may capture non-target animals. Because the large predators are at the apex of the food chain, they are at most risk and their disappearance indicates the collapse of the system. This brown Hyena was snared a while ago in the lowveld region (an area I would never have thought they occur) and brought to Moholoholo Rehabilitation centre near Hoedspruit to be treated under renowned conservationist Brian Jones and his team.

Often overlooked, the Brown hyena is a secretive species with a minimum global population of around 5 000 to 8 000 animals and possibly does not exceed 10 000 in total.

The snare, deeply cut into the animal’s neck as it tried to free itself and subsequently broken off, was removed and after carefully nursing the animal back to health the animal was ready to be released. I was invited by Moholoholo to document this procedure. Indeed a wonderful success story to see this top predator returned to the wild.

Eyedrops are applied to prevent the eyes from drying out.

A collar is fitted that will allow the hyena to be tracked by both telemetry and satelite readings.

Measure ments are taking. The volunteers at Moholoholo get unbelievable experience and are involved during all stages of the procedure.

This photo shows how the wound has healed.

The dedicated Moholoholo team.

Once recovered from the drugs the hyena is released into a holding boma where it will be monitored before final release back into the wilds.

To view more of the remarkable conservation work at Moholoholo or to book accomodation at some of their stunning camps click on the image above.

Serious about Safari

2009-09-26T23:46:00.000-07:00

Cheetah at Karongwe

Here are a few images of what happens behind the great images and adventures. Many of these are donated by guest Markus Eichelberg. For more of of his work please click here to go to his blog or visit his website http://www.mae-fotodesign.de/

Serious about Safari?

Follow these guidelines!

To all serious photographers...

...your best angle is vital.

Take time to smell the wild sage.

Meditate in the ancient African way.

Always maintain a balanced approach.

Dont forget to eat healthy (even if it is made of Elephant dung!)

And ... smile every once in a while.

Cheers to a great Safari!!

A Day in the bush

2009-09-22T05:33:00.000-07:00

Some more images from our time in Pafuri.

Crested Francolin shout at the breaking day and their raucous duets replace the ever present, prolonged churring sound of Square tailed nightjars and the distant hoots of African Wood Owls that kept us company throughout the night. Smoke blows in from Zimbabwe to the north and filters the suns first rays.

Night time holds numerous dangers. Glad to survive the darkness an Eland calf keeps a low profile in its unusually open hideaway where its mother had left it for the night.

Pafuri is elephant country where numerous breeding herds and mature old bulls make their home. In the woodland adjacent to the Limpopo floodplain we find this majestic bull as he fed in the last rays of light.

Even though this is early spring, midday temperatures soar into the mid-thirties. All but the baboon troop at the waterhole take refuge in the shade until the sun sets to a more tolerable angle.

As the sun sets again the night is reclaimed by the predators. A Spotted Hyena voices its claim to darkness from the nearby den as a full moon rise behind the familiar shape of a Lala Palm.

Pafuri - Land of Legends

2009-09-16T07:24:00.001-07:00

Iconic Boababs Tower over the Landscape

I have just returned from co instructing an Ecoquest Course. Eco Training, the leader in field guide training in South Africa has designed this course based on the FGASA level 1 syllabus for anyone interested in gaining deeper insights into the functioning of ecosystems without having the stress of formal exams. The first part of the course was held at the Pafuri region in the far northern wilderness of Kruger on the banks of the Limpopo. What a place! Ancient Baobab’s tower over the tropical landscape where hunters, traders, poachers and other eccentrics (including the infamous Bvekenya Barnard) followed the Ivory Trail from their headquarters at Crook’s Corner where Zimbabwe, Mozambique and South Africa meet.

Elephant Cows Sparring on the Limpopo Floodplain.

This time of the year Kipling’s immortal Great Grey- green Greasy Limpopo has been transformed into a sandy stretch of almost a kilometre in width at certain places and the once mighty current now reduced to a trickle. Even though September is a dry month, it still remains a spectacular area and wildlife and birdlife are abundant. Amongst the wide variety of antelope, large herds of Buffalo and Elephant are around. Even though the migrants have not arrived back from the wintering grounds, birds were equally spectacular. Specials includes Meves’s Starling, African Yellow White Eye, Black Throated Wattle Eye and Bohms Spinetail. During the next few days I will add more snippets about our time there.

A wonderful group of enthusiastic guests made the course so much fun.

Hide Photography

2009-08-30T23:23:00.001-07:00

Top of the Log, a recent article in Birds and Birding documenting Red Billed Oxpeckers, click on picture to follow link.

Some of my most rewarding bird photography is hide based. As it is often in the breeding season and thus nest photography you are guaranteed action. In particular I enjoy the fact that you really get to know your subject when spending a considerable time with them, something not possible when photographing opportunistically. An article of mine have appeared recently in Africa Birds and Birding that documented the breeding cycle of endangered Red-Billed Oxpeckers. Due to its endangered status I paid extra care not to do the birds any harm. I am often asked how to go about photographing birds without doing them any harm so below follows a few guidelines that I employ when photographing sensitive (and all nests are sensitive!) situations. These I have gathered both from personal experience as well as speaking to some of the countries leading bird photographers. Notably Dr Warwick Tarboton.

Action and interaction are allways guaranteed and offers the photographer the chance to document very interesting behavior!

Place the hide a respectable distance away from the nest.
Reduce the distance by 50% each day.
Move the hide into the right position over several days.
Ensure that all flaps are securely tied up. Loose flaps will scare the birds away from the nest.
In very sensitive cases, move the hide in at night.
When photographing, always go to the hide accompanied and let the other person walk away from the hide once you are inside. That will give the impression that you have come and gone. Apply the same tactic when exiting the hide.
I try never to stay too late into the evening at the hide as a disturbance at the nest too late may prevent the birds from coming in to roost.
Once in the hide:
Place camera gear in position and do not move unnecessarily.
Remain as silent as possible.

If the birds are stressed in any way move away! No photographs is worth a dead chick – no matter the species.

Picture of a well placed hide.

Kalahari Birding

2009-08-27T23:06:00.000-07:00

Two Male Namaqua Sandgrouse enjoying a much needed drink.

Still in the Kalahari, I thought to pay a bit of attention to the birds in particular. As a birding destination the Kalahari has few equals. Although a semi arid region (some even refer to it as a desert) a short time spent at a waterhole observing birds may indeed produce more numbers and species diversity than walking through a tropical forest for the same period of time. Although we were hosting a photographic trip for C4 images and Safari’s I couldn’t resist indulging my ornithological interest, albeit on a very casual pace. En route there we already ticked off Martial eagle, Lappet Faced and White-backed Vulture. In Twee Rivieren the regular Kalahari species showed themselves. Chestnut-vented titbabbler, Dusky Sunbird, Scaly Feathered Finch and Black Cheeked Waxbill to mention but a few.

In terms of raptors the Kalahari probably has no equal and regular sightings of Lanner falcon, African Pigmy Falcon and Greater Kestrel were all on the menu, as well as the localised and sought after Red Necked Falcon. In camp were both Verraux’s Eagle owl and Pearl Spotted Owlet, the former putting on a great display with its recently caught prey in the dead tree right in front of our chalet. Except for the charismatic Kalahari beauties such as Swallow tailed bee eater, Crimson Breasted Shrike, and Marico Flycatcher, Kori Bustard and Secretary Bird numerous others made the trip more than worth while.

Kalahari Specials: An enornous Verraux's Eagle Owl and Dusky Sunbird

The highlight of the trip though was a pair of breeding African Pigmy Falcons but for more information on them I can only say “Watch this Space”.

Mating Pair of African Pigmy Falcons

Male Sandgrouse such as the Burchell's Sandgrouse were all "belly wetting" in order to provide their chicks at the nest with much needed moisture far out in the desert.

Back in the Kalahari

2009-08-27T10:36:00.000-07:00

A young male Cheetah surveys his domain from the crest of a dune.

I recently co-hosted a photographic workshop with good friend and Pro photographer Greg du Toit in the Kgalagadi for C4 images and Safaris. What a blast! The Kalahari is such an amazing place and the photographic opportunities were plentiful. Having spent a considerable time visiting the Kalahari when growing up, it was indeed like a homecoming in many ways. A great bunch of lively guests ensured that even the time away from the cameras was loads of fun. The first two nights we spent in Twee Rivieren from where we explored the Auob riverbed.On the second game drive we had already seen and photographed two of the Kalahari’s famous big cats, the only one eluding us was (not surprisingly) leopard. Other wildlife was abundant with numerous antelope, smaller predators and innumerable birds. The last two nights in Rooiputs campsite added greatly to the wilderness feel of the Kalahari where we were serenaded to sleep by the countless jackals and the occasional Lion.

The numerous Black Backed Jackal of the Nosob Riverbed provides ammple opportunity to practice your photographic skills under any lighting conditions.

One of my favourite stake outs of the trip. A herd of Springbuck on the crest of the riverbed in incredible Kalahari light.

A Swallow Tailed Bee Eater enjoying the Kalahari as much as we are!

Field Guiding

2009-08-03T05:07:00.000-07:00

Field Guides getting maximum exposure at a lion sighting.

I have just spent a few days at EcoTraining’s field guide course doing some FGASA level 1 field guide assessments. All guides gave a very good account of themselves and I was happy to sign them all off as competent. Well done and welcome to this amazing industry. Credit to Rob and Jaco for the high level of student competency.

The Karongwe camp is situated in the big 5 Karongwe conservancy north of Hoedspruit and traverses more than 10 000 hectares. This provides students the opportunity to enter their bush career under the guidance of highly capable trainers within a very authentic and exciting environment. The campsite itself is situated within riverine forest on the banks of the Karongwe river and when not on a practical outing or studying offers the students a wonderful setting to experience bush life.

Abundant wildlife of all shapes and sizes are guaranteed and incredible photographic opportunities presents itself to the aspirant guide.

Wonderful sighting up close and personal...

...including the best of the big stuff !!!

And at the end the day await nightfall under an ancient Jackalberry as the scent of woodsmoke fills all your senses.

Caught in the Act

2009-07-23T05:04:00.000-07:00

A while ago I stumbled upon and photographed this fascinating scene. The story was accepted as an article in Africa Geographic but subsequently I entered it into the Caught in th Act competition. A good call I suppose as it was then awarded first prize.
My whole approach to photography is to use it as a tool to communicate the wonder of Nature. Thus I am presenting the sequence to those who care to read the somewhat lengthy blog post. Hope you enjoy and please feel free to let me know of your comments.

With its yellow belly clearly visible, I initially mistook the drama unfolding as a misplaced toy.
I soon enough realized that this was in fact a Stripe bellied Sand snake caught in the act of procuring its next meal, in this case a Turner’s Gecko Pachydactylus turneri.
The whole scenario played off not where one would expect to find these reptiles but on a recently stacked pile of bricks at a construction site This incident bears testimony to the fact that we do not necessarily have to travel the great African wilderness to observe nature’s dramas unfolding but it may happen in the unlikeliest of places – quite literally in our own back yards!
Initial interest and curiosity was rapidly replaced with a Paris-Dakar-like rush for my camera. Suffice to say the camera and me made it back in good enough state to capture the following images.

When threatened, the gecko’s first line of defense is the well known shedding of its tail in order to fool predators, a distraction strategy known as autotomy. Sadly evident it proved ineffective and the only evidence left of its desperate attempt at escape is the blunt termination where its spiny tail used to be.
In addition to its venom it is interesting to note that in order to aid capture the snake coils around its prey constricting it. This killing method is more associated with primitive snakes which lack venom such as pythons and house snakes.

Knowing that these interactions can last a mere few minutes I was struck by the time it took for the snake to kill its prey. A closer inspection from a different angle revealed the reason. The gecko, ever willing to bite managed to get hold of the snake’s neck preventing it from injecting its venom. It is difficult to imagine a more uncomfortable stale mate!

With its neck touching the base of its tail the gecko is holding on for dear life. The snakes determined constriction however finally pays off and the gecko’s grip starts to weaken. This allows the snake to deliver a proper bite to the gecko’s hind leg even though the gecko is still firmly locked onto the snake’s neck.

At this stage the two have literally been at one another’s throats for more than an hour and a half. Satisfied that his opponent is sufficiently immobilized the snake starts searching for the head of the gecko from which it would start swallowing it.

Once the snake gets hold of the gecko’s head it lifts its prey’s entire body off the ground and disappears without any apparent harm into the nearest shrubs from where it would no doubt enjoy its hard earned meal.

Fun with Frogs

2009-07-09T06:09:00.001-07:00

Forest tree frog, Leptopelis natalensis

Another pic from the past. We are often in search of wildlife in the most far flung reaches of the continent yet miss the remarkable beauty right on our doorstep. Last summer we were blessed with wonderful rains and although this is the time many photographers put their cameras away there are indeed a very interesting suite of animals that emerge during such conditions. Frogs! Judging by their raucous cacophony one would imagine them to be easy to locate yet these tiny, nocturnal amphibians are easily overlooked. Such was the case a while ago when visiting family in Durban, I went on nightly sprees to look for these beasties only to return night after night frogless. I would move towards a specific call yet time and again as soon as I am close enough the calling would stop and the caller mysteriously disappear. I eventually gave up until the last evening of our stay when we located one in the garden of a complete stranger. Looking at the picture now, one can be forgiven for thinking that it originated in some exotic tropical forest and not slap bang in the middle of suburbia.

Art in the Park

2009-07-06T01:09:00.000-07:00

An arty motion blur image capturing the atmosphere at the buffalo sighting.

In the previous post of our trip to Kruger I mentioned the remarkable herd of Buffalo we encountered. Unfortunately from a photographic point of view the great morning light already disappeared by that stage. One thing played in our favor though – action!! Whenever one can predict any action it makes matters so much easier in wildlife photography where cameras, notoriously often, pop out only after the decisive moment. As mentioned in the previous post, when the younger buffalo realised they were lagging behind, they made a dash for mom. This happened time and again thus enabling us to predict the action. Because they were filing past at right angles to us, the situation called for a motion blur image. Important when getting these kind of shots is to have some part of the subject sufficiently sharp (its head in this case) while the rest of the image is artfully blurred in order to lend the image an atmosphere of movement.

Although it was incredible to witness, the fact that we photographed them late morning resulted in harsh light and subsequently limited photographic appeal. For that reason I decided to convert the image to black and white and in doing so still have a usable image that to me, artfully captures the atmosphere of that sighting.

For all my fellow photo nerds out there, the technical details are F29 and 20TH/sec, ISO 100 and a 80-400 mm lens at 105 mm. The camera was hand-held.

Kruger 02 July 2009

2009-07-03T01:52:00.000-07:00

The black maned lion headed straigh to where we were parked.

A Belgian couple from Spain joined us yesterday for a day trip into the Kruger National Park. Although we were searching out the big game, high on the list of priorities was also the wide variety of birds Kruger has on offer. Setting off in the pitch darkness of July we arrived as Kruger opened its gates for the day.

What proved to be a slow start wildlife wise soon changed as we encountered the first of many breeding groups of elephant. Mid morning we stumbled upon a pride of four lions (three females and a male) feeding on a Buffalo killed the night before. Luck was on our side as we anticipated the path of the lions after the feast, resulting in the big black maned lion coming straight at us offering wonderful photographic opportunities.

Next up was possibly the biggest herd of Cape buffalo I have seen in years and as we watched hundreds of them pass it was interesting to see the younger ones loose face as they fell behind and made a dash for the rest of the herd. A quick stop at Satara camp had us searching out some more birds and the highlight was a Veraux’s (Giant) eagle owl perched in a huge Fever tree.

Other noteworthy birds for the day was Saddle billed Stork, Lapped faced vulture, Stierlings barred wren-warbler, Bushveld pipit and numerous Bateleurs and other large raptors. The rest of the afternoon produced more Elephant sightings and we were seen off at last light by another lioness and one of Kruger’s huge elephant bulls.

A Stunning Burchell's coucal making the most of the first rays of sun.

Wide Angle Croc

2009-06-28T23:49:00.002-07:00

As I am stuck in the office at the moment and do not see myself getting out for at least a few days I thought to go through some pics in our library and share the info on how it was taken and some other interesting snippets over the next few days. A while ago I met up with fellow photographers in the Limpopo province for a short photography trip. One of the most interesting subjects we encountered was this 1.5 meter crocodile. Initially we just snapped away and got the usual portrait shots that one expects when normally photographing a dangerous animal at a distance. Unlike every crocodile I encountered before, this one however didn’t seemed too worried with our presence and allowed a very close approach. Swapping the longer lenses for wide angles resulted in great pics of the animal in its environment. The cold temperatures might have had something to do with its lethargic responses as it slowed down the reptiles movements and at 1.5 meters the reptile looks much bigger through the wide angle than it really is. I never approve of gung ho attitudes where guides endanger the lives of animals, themselves or his guests yet the combination of all the above circumstances played in our favour that day.

Change of scenery

2009-06-17T11:01:00.001-07:00

The Swadini dam and Blyde River Canyon

We have recently relocated from the west of Limpopo to the east and are now settling into a great village on the edge of the foothills of the Northern Drakensberg. With the Blyde River Canyon, the third biggest of its kind in the world in our back yard and the expansive lowveld stretching out in front of us as far as the eye can see, I get a distinct “kid in a candy store” sensation when it comes to the potential for adventure and wildlife. Work is keeping us quite busy at the moment but whenever time allows I am hoping to explore our own home patch. So hopefully as time goes by we will be able to post all the updates of any interesting adventures in the canyon.

Shrike Strike

2009-06-08T08:41:00.000-07:00

A grey headed Bush shrike lands near its prey in the leaf litter.

Bush Shrikes are undoubtably one of the most exciting and sought after bird families. Surprisingly they are not closely related to “real shrikes” and are a retiring group of birds. For this reason they are highly sought after by bird watchers and indeed some of the most enigmatic of birds in Africa such as the Bulo Burti bush shrike for instance are known from only a single specimen caught and released in Somalia. The Grey headed Bush shrike on the other hand is probably one of the easiest of the species to see but nevertheless still remain a very exciting bird whenever encountered in the wild. Chances for photographing these birds are even less likely. Imagine our luck when we stumbled upon this scene of it struggling with its oversized chameleon prey. The shrikes killed the reptile early on a winters morning but due to the large size they could not manage to remain in control of their prey and repeatedly dropped in onto the ground. A perfect arena to place a portable hide, set up camera and flash and photograph this seldom seen spectacle.

It locates its reptilian prey and briefly scans the surroundings.

It then proceeds to peck at an open wound...

...gripps it by the neck and disappears into the tangle above.

Mountain Magic

2009-05-26T23:35:00.000-07:00

Scanning the mountains for the magnificent Black Eagles.

Marekele National Park in South Africa’s Limpopo province to me must rate as one of the most scenically beautiful National Parks in the country. Except for the wonderful mountainous terrain and the largest Cape Vulture breeding colonies in the world of 800 birds, it is also home to the big Five and refuge for the rare Black Rhinoceros. Our aim wasn’t to seek out the big game of the area however but rather a trip to the top of the mountain to view the Vultures and other interesting birdlife occurring up here.

An unusual sight of four Klipspringer together.

The trip up was punctuated by regular sighting of the remarkable Klipspringer antelope which, in order to survive in its rocky domain have evolved to walk on the tips of its hoofs, enabling it to negotiate the stony terrain. These otherwise skittish antelope are used to the traffic in the park and allows wonderful photographic opportunities. It was quite a treat viewing up to four individuals at a time, They normally occur in pairs and the reason we were seeing four together was the fact that the previous seasons youngsters of almost adult size were accompanying their parents. Soon they would seek out a companion and leave their parents. The vultures were present by the dozen albeit at a distance, not allowing any decent photography and a pair of Black eagles glided past on rapier wings. Other interesting birds were the Buff streaked chat, a South African endemic and a Gurney’s sugarbird, a genus confined to Southern Africa.

Southern African Endemic Gurney's Sugarbird (left and SA endemic Buff Streaked Chat (right)

Hippo Rush

2009-04-21T00:45:00.000-07:00

Welcome to this, the first blog post at Africa Unlocked where you will get to share in some of our adventures.

Juvenile Hippo cuddling up to a companion

Even though Hippos are one of the largest land mammals around, the only parts of their bodies ever visible are their nostrils and ears sticking out of the water. They do at times lounge around on sandbanks during the day but during this time their inert bodies do not make for the most exciting viewing. . If you do not know when and where to look for them, you might be excused for considering them a bit of a disappointment. They emerge from the water at night to feed on the adjacent grass and re-enter the water early the next morning. That is the best time to view these behemoths in action and to capture some great images. Take note however that even though these animals look so immobile, they easily outrun humans, are very dangerous and should never be approached without an experienced guide present. Before the break of day we scampered down the Olifants river bank, cameras in hand, to the spot where we viewed them the day before.

After the Hippo caught our smell they made a mad dash for the safety of deeper water.

A slight embankment allowed a safe and close approach and with a slight wind in our faces knew that they wouldn’t smell us which would send them into the water. There were twelve of them with two youngsters present and the pod was frolicking in knee deep water. We all got into position and started getting our camera exposure right while we waited for the rising sun to filter though the huge Sycamore figs to cast its golden light onto our quarry. You can’t get everything right, every time and with everything set in place for stunning photographs, the Hippos caught smell of us and they started their dash to the safety of the water. Shutters started clicking over the noise of water rushing over two ton bodies and some amazing images were captured of these animals. Even though they reacted before the golden light painted them, the action photography of a few seconds had all of us excited and more than happy with wonderful and unusual images.