South Africa Archives - Photo Tips, Creative Photography + Travel Guides - The Wandering Lens

Photographing the Kings of Madikwe Game Reserve

Lisa Michele Burns — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 02:47:10 +0000

Visual Hotel Review: Madikwe Safari Lodge Five years ago, I photographed the King. The Lion King to be precise. It’s a moment I remember so intensely, even shedding a tear or two at the time. The gazing eyes of a male lion, peering directly into my lens, were so overwhelming, all-consuming and wildly wonderful. It remains one of my favourite images to date and was taken in the wilderness of Madikwe Game Reserve, in the North-West province of South Africa. As luck would have it, I was invited back to photograph the reserve with Adventure World and South Africa Tourism, only this time, we stayed at the luxurious Madikwe Safari Lodge, a collection of private villas perched above the expansive plains. With 75,000 hectares to explore again, what do you think my chances were of photographing the same lion? Within moments of touching down on our charter flight from Johannesburg with Federal Air, I was taking photos of Giraffe, Impala and warthogs (I find them extremely cute). I’m talking mere minutes of stepping off the plane with the safari jeep still on the runway. The feeling of adventure strikes instantly. From my previous trip, I knew the photography opportunities commence...

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A Luxurious Coastal Escape in Cape Town: The Twelve Apostles Hotel

Lisa Michele Burns — Thu, 01 Aug 2024 02:16:36 +0000

Visual Hotel Review: The Twelve Apostles Hotel Warm hues were already glistening across the Atlantic as I checked into my room at the Twelve Apostles Hotel before quickly changing for evening cocktails at The Leopard Bar. When I know the sun is setting though, I don’t faff about getting fancy. With the Atlantic Terrace pool located between my room and the bar, I had the ideal opportunity to stop and photograph the sunset before meeting the group. Sparkles shone across the ornately tiled mermaid mosaic and the deep navy deckchairs and umbrellas were illuminated with one last dose of daily glow. Between shots I took a moment to stare out to sea, stopping to smell the thick salty air and listen to the waves as they crashed against the granite boulders dotting the coastline. Located within Oudekraal Nature Reserve just outside of Camps Bay, the towering cliffs of Table Mountain National Park are also a photogenic aspect of the hotel’s location, acting as a dominant backdrop to the meandering shoreline. Inside The Leopard Bar, the gorgeous light continued, highlighting the décor and artistic concepts which carried through to pair with stunning views from the deck toward Lion’s Head. Style and...

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A Quick Guide to Durban’s Photogenic Experiences

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 13:13:31 +0000

Durban – KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa Waves, wildlife and a diverse heritage are found beyond the shores of Natal Bay, where Durban sprawls along a stunning coastline in KwaZulu-Natal province. Now, I’ll be honest, Durban is a city I’ve skipped by on numerous occasions when flying in to photograph wildlife on safari in South Africa. A recent trip to Africa’s annual tourism conference, Indaba, held in Durban, revealed what I’d been missing and I want to share a peek at the photogenic experiences I had, so you know what to add to your itinerary when visiting. Photograph Sunrise Over the Sea at uMhlanga Lighthouse The uMhlanga Lighthouse, a prominent landmark overlooking the Indian Ocean, was established in 1954. Most photographers can’t resist a good-looking lighthouse and this one is a beauty with distinctive red and white paint. It’s a striking subject to photograph in the morning light as waves roll in and crash onto the surrounding rocks. To ensure you’ve got the best spot to photograph sunrise, you can book an ocean view room at an iconic hotel, The Oyster Box, to shoot from your balcony, or be sure to arrive nice and early to capture the glow as it...

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Where Wilderness Meets Wonder: Bushmans Kloof, South Africa

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 12:57:04 +0000

Visual Hotel Review: Bushmans Kloof – A Wilderness Retreat in South Africa Rarely does somewhere surprise me in the way Bushmans Kloof did. Knowing little about the Cederberg Mountains, my research before arriving conjured up expectations of an isolated luxury lodge where I’d be relaxing to the sweet sounds of silence and gazing upon a rocky wilderness. What greeted me was a botanical wonderland, visually diverse and vast, with a soundtrack of birdsong and a welcoming waddle of ducks outside my villa. It lived up to the expectations, and went beyond, about as far beyond as the visible galaxy of stars painted across the sky each evening. Don’t even get me started on the fluffy zebra foal, two days fresh with floppy ears. As the sun rose on my first day, weaver nests were illuminated in the swaying willows over the pond as a chorus of morning birds had me running to set my audio recorder. Leaving it to sit by the reeds beneath a tall tree, I grabbed my camera bag and wandered to the meeting point. It was sunrise safari time. The Location Three hours’ drive north of Cape Town, Bushmans Kloof is a wilderness reserve cradled by...

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Sea Breezes, Style and Skabenga: A Stay at The Oyster Box

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 12:02:52 +0000

Visual Hotel Review: The Oyster Box, South Africa Arriving late in the evening, the attention to detail was obvious as I glanced around the lobby, taking mental snapshots of the art, décor and architecture I wanted to photograph during my stay. Like stepping onto a film set, it felt timeless, charming, and so very welcoming, there’s even a resident cat, Skabenga, slinking around the halls. Heading straight to bed after the 22-hour travel day from Australia, I settled into the plush pink pillow and set my alarm for sunrise. I didn’t want to miss a moment of what The Oyster Box’s location promised, after all, I could already hear the waves as I drifted to sleep. Waking slowly to the alarm, my mind still thinking it was back at home, it took a moment to realise the glow appearing across framed art on the wall was filtering through from sunrise over the sea, in South Africa. As soon as I connected to where I’d woken up, I jumped out of bed, unzipped my camera bag and dashed onto the balcony, not even caring that anyone walking by may get a shock from the smiling zombie stumbling into the scene. It’s...

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6 Photogenic Experiences in Cape Town, South Africa

Lisa Michele Burns — Wed, 31 Jul 2024 09:31:15 +0000

Photographing Cape Town from Prison to Peak Southern seas meet a coastline of beaches, bays, and boulders while towering sandstone peaks rise as a backdrop over this South African city. Of course, I’m talking about Cape Town, a city I’ve longed to visit and finally got the chance to photograph this May while exploring with South Africa Tourism and Adventure World. The light, the fog, the waves, the culture, the penguins, the fynbos…there’s so much to see, experience and photograph and I’m going to share my highlights and the most photogenic experiences I had below. If you’re visiting Cape Town for the first time, I believe it’s important to have a variety of adventures planned that not only cover the natural wonders and landscapes but also delve into the history. During my trip, I spent three nights at the Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa near Camps Bay, and had two full days to venture all over the city, sea, and coastline. A short, but jam-packed trip that you can replicate if you’re visiting before, or after a safari experience. Photographing Sunset Over the Sea It took me a while to get my bearings as I’d assumed Cape Town, located...

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Trunks, Treasures and the Jabulani Safari Experience

Lisa Michele Burns — Fri, 27 Jan 2023 11:59:10 +0000

NOT YOUR AVERAGE HOTEL REVIEW – JABULANI SAFARI, SOUTH AFRICA Where wildlife is welcome to wander on up to the deck, a resident hippo hides in the water hole and there’s 15 other trunky good reasons to visit. Jabulani Safari reminds me of the Swiss Family Robinson jungle house (the movie version from 1960) albeit it with many more plush furnishings, antiques, better food and of course switching out an island for a private South African game reserve. Okay so maybe it’s the atmosphere that’s similar…a unique lodge that blends in with its wild surroundings and offers a soulful safari experience. Naturally toned interiors meet thatched roofs and wooden decks with plunge pools that appear to merge into the surrounding scenery, ideal for gazing out in the hope of spotting a Giraffe or Pumba (warthog). Sunrise will shine through your window offering the perfect chance to pour a cup of Rooibos Tea and stare into the distance to see what’s waking up with you. At night, lie within your four posted bed and listen to the sound of hyenas in the darkness, one of the few places where sounds in the bushes outside your window is exciting rather than scary. ...

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Visual Hotel Review – Kapama Karula, Wild Luxury at its Finest

Lisa Michele Burns — Mon, 30 Dec 2019 08:06:36 +0000

Lodge: Kapama Karula, South Africa Whisked away in a safari vehicle minutes after arriving to Hoedspruit airport we were immediately on safari. Bam, an impala, next up a Zebra…there’s no shortage of wildlife sightings and this is just during the twenty minute transfer to the lodge. As Kapama’s flagship lodge, Karula is a total sanctuary of relaxation, offering chic suites that feel at one with their surroundings, perhaps one of the most beautifully designed properties I’ve ever seen. Wandering down the path it feels like you’re the only person there, that is except for the Nyala that spend their days happily foraging around the property. Upon opening the door to my suite (#9) I was struck down with “mouth open, can’t speak” syndrome as I was overcome by how spacious, stunning and absolutely breathtaking the room was. As you’ll see in my visual hotel review archives I’ve been lucky enough to photograph some insanely beautiful properties but there’s something special about the rooms at Karula, they’re just impressive in every sense of the word. With a sun filled deck offering the ideal vantage point, you can plunge in the pool and watch as animals roam across the Klaserie river. It’s...

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Photogenic Experiences around Hoedspruit, South Africa

Lisa Michele Burns — Fri, 08 Nov 2019 08:34:45 +0000

Blend Conservation + Wildlife Photography As the plane descends closer to the ground the air of anticipation rises…is that an elephant or a rock? Ooo zebra, nope…road grate. Perhaps I was a little too eager to spot an animal from the flight but the landscapes you fly over on the way to Hoedspruit inject a sense of adventure, even if you’re jet lagged and a little weary. Hoedspruit is located on the edge of Kruger National Park in South Africa and landing here provides access to so many photography experiences. There’s a large focus on conservation efforts and it’s by getting involved with these programs that helps provide unique opportunities to photograph wildlife while also contribute to protecting it. Capture Elephant Portraits Once you’ve experienced the presence of an elephant up close few things will compare to the power. Their mighty size and demeanor feels so calming yet obviously unpredictable however at Jabulani Safari, these cuties are used to humans and as such you can feel a little more comfortable while taking their photo. While staying at Jabulani Safari you get to watch the elephants on their daily adventures but the most special of all (in my opinion) is when...

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Photographing South Africa’s Marine Big Five

Lisa Michele Burns — Mon, 23 Sep 2019 12:13:02 +0000

A Cruise to Dyer Island, Gansbaai Peering south it’s a seemingly never ending landscape of blues. A gentle swell rolls through the glassy sea as morning fog slowly lifts to reveal a coastline as diverse as the marine life we are here to encounter. The big five are a well-known draw card for visitors to South Africa hoping to experience a safari, but did you know there’s also a marine big five!? The coastline is abundant with wildlife and from Gansbaai you’ve got the chance to see them all in a single day! Those who find the idea of jumping in a cage to see a Great White Shark can skip the fear factor and get onboard one of Marine Dynamics Dyer Island Cruises. Because they also offer cage diving, you’ll board a customized whale watching vessel and float on over to watch the sharks from a safe distance before continuing on to explore the other four super stars of the sea. Any guesses as to what species the marine big five includes? Well to get started, there’s hardly a bigger beauty in the water than whales so our eyes were peeled and cameras ready to seek out spouts in...

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Behind the Lens – Rhino Notching in South Africa

Lisa Michele Burns — Sun, 22 Sep 2019 11:24:38 +0000

Conservation Efforts in South Africa – Kapama Private Game Reserve *Please note – The photos within this article may be distressing for some but please know this is a method of conservation and everything is done to ensure the safety and well being of the rhino not only during the notching, but to protect it in the future and help stop the decline of the species. September, 12th, 2019. Dust clouds dispersed and speckled morning light shone through the acacia trees as a helicopter hovered above the white rhino we were aiming to tag. It’s moments like this that humble you to the core. To witness a notching is an absolute privilege; one that’s emotional, a little confronting but so very inspiring to see the efforts being made to save such beautiful yet vulnerable creatures. With rhino populations under constant threat of poaching and habitat loss, rhino notching has become a necessary method of conservation. Trained vets, volunteers and anti-poaching units are coming together to help save the rhino population that’s been threatened since 2002. Just one rhino was killed in South Africa back in 2001 however that number rose to 1,349 in 2015 after the poaching crisis peaked, seeing...

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