Pilgrim’s Rest

Ah, then there is Pilgrim’s Rest. This is a historical Museum. The town has been kept very similar to what it was about a 100 years ago. The views of the pass going into the town are just incredible. The buildings of Pilgrim’s Rest, give a feeling of long time ago!

From Kruger to the Blyde River Canyon

From Kruger to the Blyde River Canyon! This includes, Burke Luck Potholes, God’s Window, Wonder View and the Pinnacle. Various Waterfalls, including Lisbon Falls, Berlin Falls, Bridal Veil Falls, Horseshoe Falls. It was at Lisbon Falls that I managed to shoot the photograph with the rainbow in the waterfall. After returning to the falls for a second time, which really made the trip worth it! The views from God’s Window and Wonder View are just amazing. This is also a place that I could spend some time shooting panoramic. I have taken many sunset pictures in South Africa and will always enjoy the splendor of the African Sunset!

Kruger Park: A little bit of luck

I managed to see again the big five and took some nice shots.
President Paul Kruger established a protected area for the wildlife of the Lowveld Region in the late 1800's. The area was developed during the 1900's stretching 352 kilometres from north to south along the Mozambique border and eventually became the Kruger National Park we know today. The Johanesburg to Nelspruit route takes around 3 - 4 hours by car through beautiful scenery that's a landscape photographers dream. The best time to visit is during the winter season as the grass is low and the animals more easily visible. Winters are dry and the best time to spot the animals are in the morning and evenings when they come to the waterholes to drink. There is a range of accomodation to suit all budgets, from camping to lodges to guest cottages. Safari's can be arranged from Johannesburg often with a pickup/drop off from the airport and the Khoka Moya Camp has a child friendly program that provides shorter game drives for their younger visitors while parents can go on 3-4 hour safari's into the bush. For more information visit http://www.krugerpark.co.za

Kruger Park

Well, it’s on to the Lowveld, and Kruger National Park. After spending 2 days viewing game in the park, I have discovered that photographing wildlife is not an easy task. Lighting is seldom correct and unfortunately the subject does not comply with a verbal request to please move a little closer! I have found this to be incredibly challenging and would love to continue shooting wildlife. I have been very fortunate in having observed all of the Big 5. As well as rare species as the African Wild Dog, which I was able to get a couple of shots of using my Canon EOS1DS Mark3 with a zoom Canon 70-200 2.8L IS and an extender Canon 1.4. Unfortunately, due to wildlife not participating in my request for them to move closer, I have not been able to photograph all of them. I realize that the standard lens for a wildlife photographer is a 500mm. As in the Drakensberg, the game parks of Africa hold plenty of challenges for me.

From Cathedral Peak to Giant' s Castle

Passing through a rural village on route to Cathedral Peak I took some really good shots of the village in the morning light. At Cathedral Peak I hiked to Doreen Falls which was a short hike through magnificent scenery. Next on to Giant’s Castle; where I managed to capture pictures with the ray of the sun through the mountain peaks. I have not had enough time to photograph all that I have wanted to in the Drakensberg Mountains of Kwa-Zulu Natal. It could take years to do this.