Trips 2016

The last year has been a hectic year. I am supposed to be be retired, but what is that exactly supposed mean?  A figment of one’s imagination, a mirage! Thankfully, I am able to continue working in my investments at my pace and fortunately we had the time and resources to visit some exciting places. I have added some words, but the pictures tell the real story.

1. Mashatu: November 2015.

It is already a long time ago, but we visited Mashatu in the southeast corner of Botswana at the end of November 2015. This is a land of Baobabs and history as well as interesting geography.  This was the main route followed by the likes of Rhodes to his Utopia and there the Jameson raid came through here. The area  even had some skirmishes during the Boer war. Today three countries meet in a remote corner that is thankfully reserved mostly for game viewing and in the Tuli Block sadly some hunting.

We drove through the dry Limpopo and did not need to use the cable car. We arrived in heat of over 36 degrees Celsius and after lunch did our first delightful game drive. We saw some big trees and a lioness as well as a python! A first for me.

Overnight the weather changed and it was as cold as 16 degrees the following day. No game in the hides, or anywhere else. We end up shooting the huge colony of southern masked weavers building their nests and finding cover from the rain and cold….

The following day is more exciting as we find an elephant carcass with hyena, jackal and vultures. The elephant met his unknown final end and now provided a huge feast for the local scavenger community. We get some interesting shots despite bad overcast light. We also find a leopard with an aardvark in a tree. This is quite a unique case as it is almots looks human

We visit the elephant carcass the evening and at sunset one of the deceased elephants come and perform a vigil and touching tribute. All very riveting!

The next day we are on our way back, but we find a giraffe carcass and another group of hyena feasting. Mashatu is worth a visit for sure. We were in the good hands of a very capable C4 guide.

2. Seychelles

In December we spent time at out second home in Eden. We had two sets of guests. Firstly, son Fred and  his friend and their girl friends for two weeks. A good time was had by all.

This team was followed by Ronelle and Steve and the grandchildren, Chloe and Sebbie.

A good time was spent until tragedy struck when I slipped on a rock and had a very deep cut on my shin that needed 14 stitches! I had just arranged a dive for me and Steve and I decided to walk back along the rocks at the end of Beau Vallon beach. The bad part was not being able to swim for two weeks in the sweating heat and humidity, especially with grandchildren. No diving this time. Walking with crutches was also not pleasant ,but thankfully and thanks to the good doctors at Euroclinic the wound healed well with no nasty after effects.

Sue and I visit Seychelles again over Easter and this time we have time to dive. We do two wonderful dive sat Johnnies and Brizare. Conditions cannot be better and it reminds us why we love the underwater so much. We see some great sightings including dolphins and great white tip reef sharks.

In the meantime, we enjoy our second home on Eden Island which now has become a wonderful place to visit on its own. It has four beaches, three swimming pools, about eight restaurants, super market, micro brewery, gym and many fabulous shady walks and or bicycle lanes. Have I mentioned the snorkeling. Anse  Bernetier is to die for my man. World class!  Where can you snorkel and expect to see shark, turtle, barracuda, forty species of  fish including lion fish, squid etc., all within 50m from beach in  an exquisite environment.

3. Madikwe

Madikwe on the border of Botswana was established about forty years ago mostly from farmland. Today it hosts the big five and a multitude of upmarket lodges. We visited there the end of February for Sue’s Birthday.

Accommodation and viewing was fine and we saw the big five save for leopard. We did see some cheetah and the elephant bathing in front of our rooms were sublime. The vehicles sadly were not set up for photography, but we made a plan. Madikwe has good game but it is quite bushy making good sightings and photography a challenge. Nevertheless, we got good elephant, cheetah, lion and rhinoceros shots.

4. Zimanga

Zimanga is a private game farm near Mkhuzi. Sue and I know the area well as it is along the way to Sodwana, one of our favourite places. Zimanga is known for its wonderful and very comfortable reflection hides. It also has an overnight hide. The reserve boats the big five, but also is quite bushy so the hides are the best spots.

We visited Zimanga the end of May. Apart from the fabulous shots of birds taken in the hides, the highlight of the trip was the den of wild dogs with 13 puppies. This was a unique experience to savour with some memorable shots.

5. Giant’s Castle

Our trip to Giants Castle was mid July. We spent two days on the famous lammergeier hide. We took great shots of both the bearded vulture and the Cape (Griffen) vulture. This remains a uniquely initiate experience with two of our endangered large birds. No jackals this time!

The accommodation is adequate as is the food but the environment makes up for that. The scenes from the hide remain forever.

6. Steam Trains, Bi-planes, Vintage cars and Pretty Maidens

In Johannesburg we are fortunate to have some steam train fanatics known as Reefsteamers! They arrange various annual activities that involve trips to Irene and Magaliesberg. Some of these have old vintage cars and biplanes in attendance. They also arrange open days at their Germiston den and after an early (cold) morning start some models join in and the fun begins…..

7. Botswana and Namibia:

The trip planning started when we booked with Albert and Marietjie Froneman to visit Kalizo and the southern carmine bee-eater breeding colony. We decided we could not moss Kasane and also to add Savuti to the itinerary.

• Kasane

Kasane is my second favourite destination after Sodwana. The water mass and river boat rides getting you close to a variety of wildlife remains one of natures’ wonderful spectacles. We spend the weekend mostly on the water although I take a trip into the Chobe park. We find some lions and a few raptors, but that was the highlight. Results on the water was much better as saw the usual suspects and some good sunsets. The birdlife and game viewing superb as always. We did our trip with the friendly team from Pangolin. Photography only gets better when you and your camera with long lens is comfortably perched.

We stayed at Mowana lodge and also did two further activities after our return from Ghoha Hills described below. Accommodation can be described as fair.

• Ghoha Hills

We discovered this gem in the Southern Chobe bordering the famous Savuti region. Perched on a granite hill amongst baobabs and other large trees the rooms and lounge/dining area provide a great view over a water hole and the surrounding kalahari bush. We had comfortable rooms and the fans assisted well with the heat. Yes, we visited in suicide month, so it was comfortably hot, thank you.

We were blessed during the visit with some wonderful sightings. We flew to Ghoha from Kasane along the Chobe, over the Linyanti and then onto the hills and Savuti. We had  a great flight despite the bad viz thanks to the smoke and dust in the air.

Close to the main lodge is a second large water hole with an open hide. The hide is not ideal for photography as it is not placed sympathetic to the evening or morning light. Despite that there is some wonderful activity at this hole both in the morning and the afternoon. We spent four wonderful sessions there. Some of the activities are:

1. Tawny eagles and yellow billed kite targeting the many doves;
2. Roan antelope
3. Elephant,
4. Honey badger
5. Leopard
6. Pelican
7. Lion, including extensive mating session
8. Elephant
9. Buffalo
10. Giraffe
11. Eland
12. Zebra
13. Kudu and many other birds and smaller antelope

We took a trip to Savuti channel and had some good sightings but nothing to beat the resident hide.

Finally one cannot write about Ghoha and not mention the majestic baobabs near the lodge and vicinity. Last but not least one must mention Abraham and Nanette and their wonderful staff who went out of their way to make our trip and stay a memorable one. Food was great and accommodation luxurious with no detail to small. Ghoha Hills is definitely worth a visit if not only for that water hole!

The evening with the mating session was sublime as we had a tawny eagle kill, the long mating sessions, a wonderful sunset with a very large elephant herd and even a pelican! One of those wonderful moments you can only have id you get out there. To cherish for sure!

• Kalizo

We were a team of eight photographers including our hosts. We spent fours days at Kalizo lodge. The accommodation is basic and the food simple, but very tasty and well prepared with breakfast a daily highlight.

The trip is made special however by the (annual) visiting colony of breeding southern carmine bee-eaters. Thousands of these colourful birds congregate and make their nests in the soft riverine sand on the banks of the mighty Zambezi in this part of the (in)famous Caprivi strip about 20km east of Katima Mulilo.

We all try and capture the birds in action, in flight and hopefully in focus. This is not an easy task and it takes patience and some luck to “get it”. We do that every morning and in the afternoons we go an try for African skimmers and other water birds. We also shoot fish eagle action shots by strategically “dropping” some artificially  inflated fish with mixed results (for me at least). Sue gets some much better shots, but then she has always had the fastest finger in the family.

Altogether one to knock off your bucket list even if you are not an avid birder.

8. Bird Island

October definitely was a bird month as you will agree after my Cape Town visit described below. We travel to Mahe for ten says and we end up for tow days on one of my favourite places, Bird Island in the Seychelles with some old friends, Peter and Rene. We go back long time, too long to state publicly as then this may be classified as a museum piece. Peter’s family own Bird island so we are immediately more than welcome and at home.

This our third visit to Bird Island and as Seychelles islands go very manageable on most budgets. The family owners have now taken over the management and there is a distinct improvement in the food we discover that evening after some good “imported” wine.

We start the first day with a walk and discover that the sooty terns are still there albeit in lesser numbers. After breakfast we had long wonderful drift snorkel. We see many turtles, eagle rays and normal rays. We then wait for what I came for, the elusive long tail tropic bird! These beautiful creatures come out to fly and or feed their young every morning. Catching them in flight close-up is a challenge at the best of times and need a fast and sure trigger finger. Results are mixed and patience and much luck is needed. Some of my best ones are attached below.

In the afternoon I go and shoot the sooty terns and also the lesser and greater frigate birds. There is also some time to fit in some brown noddies and  Madagascar Fodies and I also find a blue breast pigeon and of course the ever present giant tortoises.

We try again the next day before we return and get some more shots. We also take the fairy terns who start flying a bit earlier than the tropic birds. They are a bit easier to take, but as colourful against the natural blue and green backdrop.

We leave and sadly this time we missed the turtle nesting season, but  we have some good footage from a previous visit.

9. Cape Town

My wife had some family business in Cape Town and I also had some normal business the Monday so we left for Cape Town for a quick weekend. I decided to make a photographic weekend as described but also find time to have breakfast with my old friend Rod. I then go to Stoney Point and end up for lunch in Hermanus with my old school friend Bobby, described elsewhere. After that I drive back have fun with the family.

• Stoney Point

Stoney Point is one of the two colonies of endangered African Penguin on the continent. I end up visiting both in tow days to complete both a Bird Month and Penguin weekend.

The light is not great when I visit the colony just outside Betty’s Bay after a picturesque drive along Gorden’s Bay, Koeel Bay, Hangklip etc.  Jirre Marie Kaap bly Mooi!

The penguins are tame and apparently well protected. The colony looks to be in good shape and there are a number of tourists confirming the importance of protecting these delightful creatures. Against the large stony rocks and breaking waves with different flying and resting cormorant breeds the experience soothes the soul and calms the mind. Enjoy my images below depicting these sanguine moments.

• Boulders Beach

I leave after breakfast on my way to Boulders Beach. I have now definitely decided to do the second colony today as the weather she is fantastic and as well know Cape Town on a good day is unbeatable and Simons town was even better on this last weekend of October. Given the better light, the photos are better albeit that the light might have been a bit harsh s the photos were taken all after 11pm. After lunch I return for a quick rest before my next adventure.

• Bo-Kaap

I had decided to arrange a guided photographer as I have never taken good photos of Cape Town. I meet Rob mu guide at 3 and we start in the colorful historic Bo-Kaap. We spend the next two hours there enjoying the sublime colors, beautiful people and cultural atmosphere. Enjoy. Although not cheap it saves time and you get to places you probably will not get to on your own.

• Leeukop

After the Bo-Kaap we planned to go onto table mountain, but there was a cloud and we decided to go up Leeukop. I did not expect a climb, but we almost climbed to the top to a cave and took some photos from that unique vantage point.

10. Walter Sizulu

One of Johannesburg’s hidden gems is the Walter Sizulu Botanical Garden. I visited this spectacular garden Mid-November with brother Marius to shoot the main attraction, the Verreaux Eagle (Black eagle). Not the most spectacular shots, but I will go again.

11. Cape Town, Big Wheel

I love City Ferris wheels and always wanted to shoot the Cape waterfront wheel with Table Mountain as lighted backdrop. Sadly the mountain lights are not always on, but I got a few images just after sunset.

12. London

I almost forgot I also attended the African Energy Forum for the 17^th time in London this year. I took some time off during the long summer evenings to indulge in one of my passions, night photography. I took a guided tour on two occasions with Hairy Goat. The one was round Tower Bridge area and the other around London Eye and Westminister.