Articles on Africa, wildlife and photography
Kumbali Lake Retreat A breath of fresh air in the warm heart of Africa It’s fair to say that, by just about anyone’s standards, I travel a lot. Some of it is for work and some of it is for pleasure. Actually that is misleading. I love Africa and that is where my work takes me, so really all my[…]
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Zambia’s South Luangwa Valley is one of Africa’s most outstanding wildlife viewing areas. With a mixture of woodland and riverine forest, it is home to an amazing variety of animal and bird life. Best of all, you can enjoy South Luangwa without breaking the bank. A bed’s a bed. Spend your money on the important things Sure the lodges situated[…]
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Farne Islands, open air classroom There is no doubt that the more you practice something the better at it you become. This is as true for wildlife photography as it is for anything else. It is very common for people to spend the first few hours in Africa just ‘getting their eye in’; familiarising themselves with the way animals move[…]
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It’s late May in Botswana’s Linyanti Marsh, the bush is thick and green. The waterholes created by last season’s rains are dwindling, but the currents in the swamps are flowing strongly as water flows in from the north west. We’ve spent hours following tracks, hoping to catch sight of the lions that made them. Another vehicle from the camp is[…]
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We’ve worked with African Bush Camps (ABC) for a few years now and I’ve had the pleasure of staying in a number of the company’s camps in Zimbabwe and Botswana. One of the key reasons I like ABC is that, for me at least, their camps manage to strike the right balance between comfort and authenticity and their guides are[…]
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8 nights / 9 days Experience the biggest mammal migration in the world at Kasanka National Park.This once in a lifetime safari combines the spectacle of the bat migration with time in the renowned South Luangwa NP and the less well known Luambe NP. The range of photographc opportunities is mouth-watering. Days 1-2, Kafunta River Lodge, South Luangwa NP After[…]
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Special events for 2017 If you needed any more reason to visit the magnificent Gonarezhou NP in Zimbabwe, the folks at Chilo Gorge Safari Lodge have some wonderful events planned for 2017. 13-17 July – Wine and Wild Dog Weekend. Wine tasting with award winning wine maker Jeremy Bourg from Painted Wolf Wines combined with wild dog conservation presentations by[…]
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What kind of safari can you get for US$4,000? A short while ago we were contacted by some professional photographers from the USA. They wanted to go on safari in Africa, in particular they wanted to witness the great wildebeest migration, but their budget was tight; the cost must not exceed US$4,000 per person. Now, I can hear some of[…]
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Camps & Lodges with the WOW! factor Someone just asked me “What is your favourite camp in Africa?” How do I pick just one? I’ve been fortunate enough to stay in so many amazing places. Faced with this challenge and a few idle hours over the festive season I thought I’d try and at least narrow it down to a short-list.[…]
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Each year, attending World Travel Market in London becomes less of a pleasure and more of a chore. I spent ages prowling the aisles in search of something original and inspirational only to be disappointed. Rising costs and diminishing returns have driven away most of the small (for small read, ‘interesting and original’) tour operators and the show is[…]
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Today’s a day that many of us will remember for a long time. Today is the day that Donald Trump was elected to be the 45th President of the United States. His election has caused a lot of people, me included, to feel rather gloomy about what lies in store for us over the coming years. Certainly the values he[…]
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Wildlife Photography Africa and Imvelo Safari Lodges This is just one of the reasons we are so happy to be working with Imvelo Safari Lodges. KIDS ON SAFARI! We welcome children from 7 years old and above at all Imvelo camps and have crafted a wonderfully fun and informative booklet that kids can work through during their stay with us[…]
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A leopard is without doubt one of the animals I enjoy watching most on safari, along with cheetahs and wild dogs. So there was a real sense of excitement in our vehicle when our guide said one had been sighted quite close to where we were. It was hard work ploughing along the dry river bed, for our 4×4 that[…]
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Make 2017 the year you visit Zimbabwe For each of the past three years, one of the absolute highlights of my year has been the time spent in Zimbabwe. Despite the politics – and let’s face it the politics suck – Zimbabwe is the place to go for an authentic African safari. It’s got the wildlife, it’s got the scenery,[…]
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The Look Up A visit to the Look Up is always a highlight of a stay at Bomani, so we were all excited to be spending the afternoon there. We got there early so we could get inside before the elephants started arriving to make sure we didn’t deter them from coming to the pan. Once inside it was just[…]
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Gonarezhou, ‘Gonners’, as it is often referred to by those who love it, had been right at the top of my wish list for quite some time and now I was finally going to discover for myself why this park is so revered amongst safari purists.
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A juvenile African Hawk Eagle had launched an attack from its perch in a tree on the opposite bank and saw the Queleas as his next meal.
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With lions and leopards proving elusive, we went in search of something easier to find and likely to be more active. Hyaenas.
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