AUGRABIES NATIONAL PARK

Although there was still much water thundering down the waterfall and roaring through the gorge to mesmerize me and give a feeling of being sucked down into it. I chose different scenes to illustrate our recent visit to this part of the world. I guess my new long lens was instrumental in isolating some cameos of the 'Cubist' rock formations or observe the unpredictable, turbulent air movement rising from the bottom which sends the steam up in continuously changing patterns, some of it rising high enough to filter the light of the sunrise into a mysterious golden shroud.

This lunar landscape stretches for ever and the black mountains and red rocky outcrops, still fringed by gold grass, make for breath taking views from the top of the Swart Rante. 

We discovered that there is a glass fronted cottage tucked under the viewing platform of Oranjekom Gorge and we have promised ourselves to stay there one day to enjoy the incredible view down the canyon where the colours of the rocks change dramatically through the day.

 

 

 

KGALAGADI NATIONAL PARK / LANDSCAPE & ANIMALS

I love the very early light turning the grass into gold fields and filtering through the trees transforming the Nossob riverbed into a soft romantic landscape before the heat takes over. I have photographed many of these twisted sculptural forms and don’t tire of their sprawling aspects, inspecting them carefully as they often hide the treasures of the day.

A welcome break, a cup of coffee and a bite to eat is most necessary after hours of intense concentration looking for mammals, birds, reptiles etc.

Then comes the quiet, hot period

It's still, not an animal and not even a little bird twitches in the midday sun. Just clouds of dust lifted by the occasional passing vehicle and not the slightest breeze to disperse it from the road. The sleeping feeling of the bush is infectious, becomes harder to keep our eyes open to scan the dune crests in the hope of spotting a sentinel Cheetah looking over its territory.

The memory of the early morning start in icy temperatures with the birds perched in sunny spots warming themselves up has long faded away. The light is harsh, the golden fringe of fluffy grass lining the road in the sunrise is replaced by a multitude of textures in browns and beige. But we don’t give up, we know a treat is around the corner.

Eventually, tired and happy we get back to Kieliekrankie, our favourite Dune Camp and watch, from its height, the visitors to the little water hole in front of the cabins and enjoy the sun set from the deck while preparing our evening braai in the last light of the day.