Collected Moments of Survival

Before we have everyone wondering if I have become a heathen who worships the sun god Ra ......let me explain. It started at Easter in 2009 on a trip to Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana on one of our photographic expeditions when the skies simply opened and we had a flash flood tear through the Mashatu Tented Camp. (cf. AFRICA IS NOT FOR SISSIES post of February). Since then the rain has relentlessly followed me on almost every break I have taken to the bush bar my visit to the Serengeti which was thankfully, rain free. My friends have dubbed me Modjaji (the African rain goddess for those of you who don’t know) and so it was to be that when we arrived at Chichele Presidential Lodge in South Luangwa that another conglomeration of cloud had followed me there. There is nothing as sad as seeing a bunch of enthusiastic photographers on the back of a safari vehicle at the break of dawn – and dawn fails to break. The optimist will of course declare that this is a CHALLENGE! Defy the n...

Those of my photo friends with whom I have travelled will know that I am lucky enough to have a “camera caddy” to help carry my gear, assist me with changing lenses and if on our own, drive the vehicle. My “caddy” is of course my other half Paul, who on our recent trip to Luangwa was inspired to write the following piece about a photographic trip from a different perspective. I hope you enjoy his reflections on life in the “bush”. My trip to South Luangwa as a “camera caddy” Monday 06h00 on my way to work listening to Joe Cocker’s “now that the magic has gone” set me thinking (slightly depressed) about the week before. Then I smiled as I began to reflect on just what a great week I had just had.My designation on our bush trips is the camera caddy (recently promoted from camera ghillie). This is an old Scots term for a fisherman/ anglers attendant...to do this, do that, change this, charge that, clean this, download that…and carry everything…and no you can’t use my camera to take a ...