When most people think of a Photographic Safari they think of heading out into the African savanna in a land cruiser with the game guide up-front and the guests sitting in the back with their long lenses protruding from the windows and out the sun roof.
Yes, this is exciting but some days you just want to rest at the camp or, like us, you still want to photograph after the sun has set. Â
If you are visiting African wildlife parks such as the Kruger, Kgalagadi, or Etosha you will be able to take photographs day and night.
What can a visitor photograph from their camp by day?
By day you have hundreds of different birds to to photograph from the comfort of your bungalow or tent. In addition there are small mammals such as squirrels and vervet monkeys, reptiles such as lizards and snakes, and many insects from praying mantids to the big, colorful Mopani moths.
In addition to these small creatures we have also photographed the âBig-fiveâ from the various campsâ¦!
We photographed a lion chasing an impala into the river from our bungalow in Olifants camp. The impala was caught by a crocodile and the lions promptly went after the crocodile to try and steal the impala away â exciting wildlife action from our bungalow!
We have also seen elephant and buffalo from most of the Kruger camps and we have seen both rhino and leopard from Berg-en Dal camp in the southern Kruger. We even photographed a crocodile kill from our tent in Lower Sabie camp!
What can a visitor photograph from their camp by night?
At night in the Kruger we have photographed bush babies, civets, genets and other nocturnal creatures such as owls, porcupines, crocodiles and hippos.
If you are staying at Halali or Okaukuejo camps in Etosha you will be spoilt at night as both camps have flood-lit waterholes and there is a constant procession of animals coming to drink. We have seen lions and leopard at Halali and elephants, black rhinos and a lion kill at Okaukuejo waterhole.
The Kgalalgadi Park has unfenced wilderness camps each with its own waterhole and here you get to photograph many different animals drinking at night. In addition, the Kalahari is so remote and dark you are able to photograph the moon as well as superb star-trails.
Just remember to bring your tripod, torch and flash with you!
Marion Michael is a Fish Out of Water in Liane Jungle Goddess DVD (1956) Also Starring Hardy Kruger, Irene Galter, Peter Mosbacher, Rudolf Forster, and Reggie Nalder.
Cosmos Global Documentaries EAST AFRICA Kenya, Tanzania
