I do know a spot…
The place the animal kingdom roams so far as your eyes can see…
The place stars have an additional twinkle and the picture voltaic exudes a blanket-like heat…
The place roars, quacks and trumpets kind a day-to-day soundtrack and the place eyes glow from shrubs at nighttime…
Sawubona, welcome to the wilderness of Madikwe Sport Reserve in South Africa.
It’s precisely the kind of place ‘The Lion King’ depicts on present show display screen. These sprawling African plains hiding any variety of animals as you look all by way of an expansive panorama. A spot that feels oddly like residence nevertheless remotely wild and rugged on the identical time.
Unsure what to anticipate as I took my first steps in route of the safari vehicle, I had my fingers and toes crossed that over the approaching days I’d get to {{{photograph}}} an elephant or a lion. That was the extent of my want doc, one thing is perhaps a bonus and I used to be alongside for no matter experience was about to occur.
Driving from the rocky airstrip down a mud monitor in route of Tau Sport Lodge, inside a mere half-hour we had already seen a dazzle of zebras, a giraffe, solitary male elephant, herd of wildebeest, springboks and impalas.
The subsequent 4 days had been going to be one loopy journey…
Travelling with fellow Olympus Visionaries from all by way of the Asia/Pacific house, we had been visiting Madikwe Sport Reserve to return again once more collectively as a gaggle with the widespread aim of gathering and producing inspiration whereas photographing wildlife. I’ve been utilizing Olympus gear for 2 years now however since I primarily journey solo, assembly fully completely different skilled photographers utilizing the an an identical devices, furthermore benefiting from how simple the OM-D E-M1 MKII is to journey with was unbelievable. Till now it’s been random run-ins on travels or collaborating with fully completely different Olympus photographers (see my video with visionary Michael Hurren proper right here and moreover proper right here), however this was the primary time we’d be collectively as a gaggle and the jolt of inspiration upon assembly everybody was speedy.
Madikwe Sport Reserve is positioned roughly 4hrs drive north of Johannesburg merely on the border of Botswana. Masking a formidable 680km2 of land designated to conservation, the reserve is for the time being the fifth largest in South Africa and is residence to the huge 5 together with over 300 chook species and a bunch of smaller mammals.
Having definitely not skilled a safari before I used to be taken by the sudden. Definitely not figuring out when or what we’d come all through subsequent, it was a thrill to have the digicam prepared for nearly one factor. Our unbelievable ranger Ernie had been driving by the use of Madikwe for bigger than ten years and I had full notion that each time he was slowing down, one issue specific lay all through the nook. Even the 5am departure occasions for our morning recreation drives seen me awake and keen with pleasure, 5 phrases I’ve hardly related to myself before 8am…
Whereas it was fleeting, it was 4 days I’ll always take note. Not solely witnessing the marvel that could possibly be a safari in South Africa however travelling with fully completely different photographers, a address that many people hardly get to expertise since we journey and work solo.
I can’t wait to disclose additional of this journey with you over the approaching months together with ideas for wildlife photographs and composing ingenious photographs whereas working with shifting issues.
For now although I need to share solely a bit snippet of my time at Madikwe.
A glimpse into the wildlife, their patterned fur and personalities plus the relationships between mom and cub/calf which caught my consideration all by way of my go to. The best means they wander collectively, eat collectively, defend an eye fixed mounted fixed out collectively…anyway, I’ll let the images do the remainder of the speaking.
All photographs beneath had been captured hand-held with the Olympus OM-D E-M1 MKII digicam + the M.Zuiko 40-150mm f2.8 PRO lens or the super-telephoto (magic lens) 300mm f4 for the pictures which will likely be good and shut.
Howdy! I’m the founder and photographer behind The Wandering Lens.
With 17+yrs expertise as educated journey and panorama photographer, all recommendation discovered on this site is from my private expertise on the street. I hope it’s helpful in your non-public travels and wish to take heed to contained in the recommendations about your journeys and experiences throughout the globe.
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