by Editor | Mar 16, 2009 | Accomodations, Audio, Ecotourism
Duncan MacLarty, manager, Tree Camp
While in South Africa, one of our teams stayed at Tree Camp at Londolozi Private Game Reserve, an upscale bush property within the world famous Sabi Sand Reserve near http://simonandbaker.com/kruger. They enjoyed their visit and as a result we published a dedicated feature on Tree Camp and a newsletter article with video a few weeks ago. During their stay Elena del Valle had an opportunity to chat with Duncan MacLarty, the manager at Tree Camp about the property.
Click on the play button below to listen to their conversation.
by Editor | Mar 9, 2009 | Ecotourism, Luxury Travel, Products
Article and photos by Gary Cox
The Wimberley Head Version II
While on safari in South Africa last year, a ranger who was a fellow photographer, introduced me to the Wimberley Head. Mounted on a standard super clip, this piece of equipment revolutionized my game viewing photography. The super clip securely holds my 100-400 millimeter telephoto lens comfortably mounted onto the bars on the Land Rover or other game viewing vehicle. The telephoto lens is fitted with an Arca-Swiss style plate purchased separately from Wimberley.
The Super Clip with Tripod Screw Head
The Wimberley tripod head uses a gimbal-type design to balance the camera and lens in all three dimensions. This greatly reduces the strain and potential shake of using it free hand, and the flexibility of movement is a big improvement over bean bag solutions I have tried. It is well engineered, with a solid feel, easy to use adjustments and clean lines. One notable issue, because it is mounted on the vehicle, other people moving around can cause the vehicle to shake, which can be quite annoying at the wrong moment. It is best suited for private to semi-private game drives because the camera extends over the seat in front of the photographer.
The full rig in the field
The photo above shows the full rig, including the external flash mount bar (sold separately). The flash extender completes the telephoto game viewing setup. This configuration, combined with the lens’ image stabilization, provides a great platform for wildlife photography, reducing the annoying windows of downtime in the early morning and late evening when some of the best viewings occur, but the light is too low for a telephoto shot. When the vehicle is moving from sighting to sighting, the flash unscrews from its mount with a thumb wheel and the clamp releases the plate on the camera to avoid shaking the equipment apart on the dirt roads.
The Wimberley Head travels with me whenever the telephoto lens is in the bag. It is now an indispensable element of my camera support equipment.
Wimberley, located in Winchester, Virginia is a small business owned by a father and son team, David and Clay Wimberley, both mechanical engineers dedicated to designing and making professional photography equipment. The company offers a 60-day unconditional money-back guarantee on all of its products and has loaners available through its Free Trial Program. For details visit Tripodhead.com
by Editor | Feb 16, 2009 | Accomodations, Ecotourism, New Articles
Article and video by Elena del Valle, photos and video editing by Gary Cox
Leopards at Londolozi
Our Tree Camp experience at Londolozi was outstanding. The boutique lodge, set in a prime area of the famous Sabi Sand Reserve next to South Africa’s http://simonandbaker.com/kruger, offered luxury accommodations in a lush bush setting. We thoroughly enjoyed the gourmet fare including a surprise tasting menu with wine pairings, boma dinner with staff dancing and singing, the handsome and spacious suite with private plunge pool, and creature comforts.
“You’re coming to Londolozi because you’ll have one of the best animal viewing experiences in South Africa and you’re going to be with a ranger who has a huge amount of knowledge which he will unfold for you,” said Duncan MacLarty, camp manager, Londolozi Tree Camp. “On the Tree Camp side you will have an experience which is very personalized.”
Sunset at Londolozi
We found that Duncan’s game viewing promise was fulfilled. Over the years, prior to our stay at Londolozi we stayed at dozens of bush properties in multiple African countries and had many, many outstanding game viewing experiences. In spite of that, our four-night stay at Londolozi Tree Camp stands out for the extraordinary game viewing we enjoyed.
It wasn’t just that we saw animals, including the Big Five and wild dogs. It was the quality of the game drives and sightings that stood out. Also, our guides were knowledgeable and enthusiastic about the bush, making our game viewing special.
Leopards are solitary animals, infrequently seen in groups or pairs. On our last morning we encountered mating leopards relaxed enough to allow our company. We spent six hours following, viewing and photographing the amorous couple. Click here to read a dedicated feature about Londolozi Tree Camp.
Click on the play button below to view video of some game we encountered at Tree Camp in the Londolozi Reserve.
by Editor | Feb 9, 2009 | Accomodations, Audio, Ecotourism, Luxury Travel
Nicholas More, co-owner, Lion Sands Private Game Reserve
While in South Africa, one of our teams stayed at 1933, an exclusive rental villa within the Lion Sands Private Game Reserve, part of the world famous Sabi Sand Reserve near http://simonandbaker.com/kruger. They liked the property and as a result of their visit we published an dedicated feature on 1933 a few weeks ago. During the visit Elena del Valle had an opportunity to chat with Nicholas More, co-owner and operations director, Lion Sands Private Game Reserve about 1933 and the Lion Sands Private Game Reserve.
Click on the play button below to listen to their conversation.
by Editor | Dec 29, 2008 | Ecotourism
Andre Morgan, field ranger, formerly at Lion Sands Reserve
During a visit to South Africa earlier this year our team stayed at 1933, an exclusive rental villa within the Lion Sands Reserve, part of the world famous Sabi Sand Reserve near http://simonandbaker.com/kruger. During their stay, they were assigned a private guide and tracker. This allowed them ample time to chat with Andre Morgan, their experienced South African field ranger and guide, who spent some time sharing insights about game viewing and the African bush in an audio recording.
Click on the play button below to listen to their conversation.
by Editor | Dec 15, 2008 | Accomodations, Ecotourism, Luxury Travel, New Articles
A feisty junior elephant lets visitors know how he feels
A lion at Mashatu
Although many travelers think of the Botswana Delta, the salt pans or the Chobe area when contemplating a game viewing trip to Botswana, there is a little known area in southeastern of Botswana called the Tuli Block which is also worth a visit. Part of the attraction of that area, as with many parts of Botswana, is the possibility of seeing elephants roam freely in their natural habitat, unhindered (mostly) by the increasing land constraints that affect animal movement everywhere in Africa. The Tuli Block, near the Limpopo and Shashe rivers, shares borders with South Africa and Mozambique; this allows elephants to follow some of the seasonal patterns into wilderness areas many of their ancestors walked.
To reach Mashatu from South Africa it is necessary to cross over the Limpopo River in a basket and clear customs and immigration
Our team’s suite at Mashatu Main Camp
For travelers who like a dose of luxury with their game viewing, Mashatu Main Camp offers luxury Botswana style, including exclusive accommodations, Big Five game viewing and an opportunity to discover the remote reserve while sharing it with only 12 other guests in the main area and a few others in the reserve. All inclusive rates include dawn and dusk game drives, three buffet meals a day and suite accommodations.
In addition to sighting elephants and the attraction of and off the beaten location, magnificent star filled skies, optional elephant and predator educational drives with on site research staff, and volunteer opportunities are some of the attractions of this well managed property owned and run, in part, by the owners of the famous Mala Mala Reserve in the Sabi Sands Reserve near http://simonandbaker.com/kruger in South Africa. Click here to read about our Simon and Baker team’s impressions when they visited Mashatu Main Camp earlier this year.
