Collected Moments of Survival

2010 was a year in which not much planning was done so scouting for new locations was high on the agenda because all the popular photography destinations were fully booked. In 1986 we were privileged to have lived in Windhoek, Namibia for two years and ever since then whenever I am asked the question “where would you like to live if you could choose”  I would have to say that I would pack my bags in a second if the right opportunity came along and hightail it to Namibia.  So, while watching good old National Geographic Channel one lazy Sunday afternoon an episode of Into the Pride was screened. When I realised I was looking at Namibia my interest was naturally piqued. Dave Salmoni the “lion tamer” was irritating to say the least and I found the pride of lions much more fascinating. Then, when I researched the reserve and found that it is a mighty 70 000 hectares with only one Lodge on it – I was more than interested. An email asking for rates revealed that becaus...

A new adventure stretches ahead and with great anticipation the kilometers of tar are metered off. Finally, there between the koppies and the acacias lies the border post. Botswana is ahead! Park the car away from the grass and the rats that may decide to make a meal of the electrics and head for Passport Control. Then it is a patient wait for everyone to make their appearance while I desperately scurry around for a cool spot under a tree. One by one the group arrives and we transfer down to the river crossing. Pontdrift is an experience all on its own. During the rainy season it is always a gamble as to how one would cross but this time it is in the cable car. A painstaking experience with luggage and one or two people crossing at a time and then finally the rest of the bunch. Back into passport control and onto the vehicle which while standing still is a searing experience that the ice cold bottles of water do little to assuage. Finally the vehicle starts out and th...

The year started with a cancelled holiday to Australia and New Zealand resulting in a desperate trawling of the web looking for a break. We had to get away for a break!  We turned to one of our favourite destinations that we hadn’t been able to visit for at least ten years. Zimbabwe. Naturally, with wildlife being the real destination, the criteria for the destination takes on a whole new meaning.  No fences are high on the agenda, while large tracts of land and some water do not hurt the scenario at all. The indicators all pointed to the Zambezi.  Further indicators such as very favourable rates for accommodation sent us hurtling through the skies to end up at Matetsi River Lodge. &Beyond lodges are well known for their excellence and the rates we got for a 6 day stay were amazing (being in January and last minute booking did help here). On arrival we were collected at the drop off point amid a thunderstorm that managed to turn the vehicle’s roof into a catchm...