ODP Safaris - Trip report of our last safari to Duba Plains by Wim van den Heever How does one begin to describe and share the amazing feelings, experiences, drama, beauty, sightings and photo ops that make up a safari at Duba Plains? The answer is you cannot! But let me share just a few snippets from one of our last safari with you: Besides the huge selection of animals and birds to photograph one of the biggest reasons we visit Duba Plains is to photograph the ongoing interaction between Lion and Buffalo. The relentless daily struggle between these two species has been captured on movies and documentaries by world famous cinematographers and mentors Derek and Beverley Joubert. Who can forget the incredible scenes we have seen such as in the 'Last Lions' and 'Relentless Enemies'. With this in mind, I cannot really describe that phenomenal feeling of tension, awe, some...
ODP Safaris - Trip report of our last safari to Duba Plains by Wim van den Heever How does one begin to describe and share the amazing feelings, experiences, drama, beauty, sightings and photo ops that make up a safari at Duba Plains? The answer is you cannot! But let me share just a few snippets from one of our last safari with you: Besides the huge selection of animals and birds to photograph one of the biggest reasons we visit Duba Plains is to photograph the ongoing interaction between Lion and Buffalo. The relentless daily struggle between these two species has been captured on movies and documentaries by world famous cinematographers and mentors Derek and Beverley Joubert. Who can forget the incredible scenes we have seen such as in the 'Last Lions' and 'Relentless Enemies'. With this in mind, I cannot really describe that phenomenal feeling of tension, awe, some...
(click on image to view bigger) Our recent ODP Safari to Ngorongoro, Ndutu and Serengeti in Tanzania was one of my personal highlights of my photographic career.East Africa just kept on delivering one unbelievable scene after another. The almost unbelievable migration story unfolds before our eyes as we watch these animals struggle with life on a daily basis.A simple task such drinking water becomes a potential life threatening act for these animals.Here this Wildebeest together with thousands of other animals in the background are in the mix of a stampede as they escape the perceived dangers of a waterhole.Photography at its best..!...
(click on image to view bigger) The Carmine breeding season on the banks of the Zambezi River is a highlight in any avian photographer's books. This year ODP has arranged for the Nguni Voyager, our house boat we use every year, to be at one the biggest breeding colonies on the Zambezi River for the last 5 safaris. This is bird photography as never seen before... Have look at our ODP Safaris page for more details on this new safari destination. ...
(click on image to view bigger) The East African landscape is truly beautiful. Breath taking scenes of animals mixed with Sheppard trees and sunsets to die for greeted us almost daily. Not only did the Mara deliver the wildlife spectacle we all hoped for but it also dazzled us with its natural splendor and astounding natural beauty..! Our ODP 2012 safaris just cannot come soon enough..! ...
(click on image to view bigger) The wildebeest crossing the Mara river is a sight to behold. Although we have all seen the numerous documentaries on this subject, actually seeing it with your own eyes is a sight to behold. The unfolding drama is almost unbelievable as these animals are driven to cross this ferocious river. 40 000 Wildebeest die trying to cross each year....! ODP Safaris had a good year this year. We had a total 20 crossings in 2 weeks. Two of these were massive crossings of over an hour long. The big one was a total of an hour and 40 min with thousands of animals crossing the strong flowing Mara. Crocs as big as submarines were having a feast, as the panic stricken Wildebeest fought for their survival. The photography was off the scales and I personally flattened a 32GB CF in this big crossing...
Today is Wold Rhino day! And it is almost fitting that I have made the front cover of the new BBC Wildlife magazine with an image of a Rhino. See the following link for my contribution to the World Rhino day: Our Rhino's are being decimated for their horns and it is nothing short of a world wide tragedy what is unfolding here in Southern Africa. These majestic animals are being slaughtered in the most inhumane manner for the so-called medicinal value of their horns. Lets all work at stopping this tragedy...! Wim van den Heever ...
Our Masai Mara safaris have now come and gone... It was with a very sad heart that we left this unbelievable natural spectacle on Saturday afternoon. Two weeks had come and gone in the blink of an eye. The sightings were off the scales and the memory cards all took a thorough beating. I cannot wait to get back...! I will be posting a trip report shortly, but in the interim here is a pic of the chaotic Mara migration. (click on image to view bigger) These Wildebeest were leaping off the vertical banks of the Mara river some 4-5meters up in the air. It was unbelievable to witness. It was as if these animals had lost all fear and were driven by some unnatural force. Our human logic cannot comprehend what we were witnessing. One cannot help becoming part of the chaos that is the Wildebeest Migration of East...
(click on image to view bigger) Our ODP Safaris on the majestic Chobe river have been spectacular this year.The Skimmers, Kingfishers, Bee-Eaters and just about every stork you can think of in huge amounts.We also concentrated on a few smaller avian subjects such as this Lesser Striped Swallow.Patients was well rewarded with mind blowing results...!We look forward to the second part of our Chobe safaris kicking off just after the Masai Mara safaris.Keep your eyes on the blog the next two weeks as we at ODP Safaris head off to the Masai Mara...!...
(click on image to view bigger) Our first safari on board the Nguni Voyager has kick-off this year. The Chobe region is looking fantastic and the bird life is even better than before. The African Skimmers are unbelievable this year with some breath taking opportunities coming our way...! We almost spent our entire 4 days hunting these elusive and highly prized gems of the avian world..! The result... Spectacular..!! Look out for some more hot action from the banks of the Chobe River!...
(Click on image to view bigger) It's almost Chobe season again...! I really am looking forward to our ODP safaris on the Chobe and Zambezi rivers this year. Bird life is simply unbelievable with the first of the migrants arriving later in Aug when we kick off. The Skimmers will keep us nice and busy with huge herds of Elephants and Buffalo to add to the amazing spectacle. This Yellow-Billed Kite was from last years safaris. Watch this space for more updates later this season..! ...
