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Day 3 and final morning of August ODP Elephant Plains Photographic Safari 2

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The morning drive started off once again very well in great weather and some fantastic light. Not long after leaving the lodge we found lion tracks and started tracking, while on the tracks we came across 5 hyaena walking along the same tracks as the lions which made us think the lions had make a kill and the hyaenas are on the scent. After about half an hour of tracking and following the hyaenas we found the Tsalala pride of lions and as soon as they got wind of the hyaenas following them we had a great sightng of lions chasing hyaneas but no photographic opportunities arose. However shortly after dispersing the hyaenas they made their way into a large open area and proceeded to chase each other around and play as young sub adults do, this produced some fantastic photographic opportunities in some amazing light!

After leaving the lions, we herd that Karula the female leopard had been found, so we headed off towards her. Although the light was already quite harsh we managed some decent images.

The afternoon safari was quite quiet and we only found the Tsalala lions in the evening but managed a great shoot using spotlight both in front of the lions and behind to create some back lighting effects.

Our last drive this morning had a change in weather as the begining of a cold front moved into the area, but despite the off weather we still managed to find the Tsalalas again this time stalking a small herd of Zebra, which was very interesting to see but no fantastic photographic opportunities arose.

Well all in all this safari has been fantastic with a total of 9 different leopards being seen as well as some fantastic Lion sightings. All our guests are leaving extremely happy and all with some great images, we look forward to seeing them up on the ODP site in the near future.

Cheers for now, but remember to keep updated on the ODP blog with the action from the upcoming safaris!

Brendon & Hilton

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Brendon was born and raised in Zimbabwe. He was exposed to wildlife and the outdoors form a young age, he could hardly be kept in doors, nature already had a big place in his heart and life. Brendon went to school a Peter House in Zimbabwe, where he built on his passion for nature, he was involved in and eventually headed up the Falconry club as well as being very much involved in the conservation and research of the school own game reserve. Brendon work in the kariba area and in matusadona national park during his school holidays, building on his knowledge of wildlife.



After Brendon completed his school he went to work in matusadona national park where he studied all aspects of wildlife and the African bush, from plants to insects, birds and mammals. After completing his apprenticeship and becoming a professional guide Brendon worked for a company that conducted walking trails in the matusadona national park, tracking and stalking big game and learning animal behaviour was a big aspect of his day to day activities. After spending a few years guiding in some well known areas and reserves in Zimbabwe such as mana pools national park, lower Zambezi and hwange national park as well as in Zambia and Botswana, Brendon eventually settled in Victoria falls where he worked in the kazangula area along the Upper Zambezi and in chobe national park, conducting big game walking trails as well as birding and fishing safaris. It was here that Brendon started his photographic obsession, never wasting any opportunity to be out photographing



On the onset of political strife and the collapse of the Zimbabwean economy Brendon returned to his families native land South Africa. Here he met his lovely wife Michelle. Brendon and his wife went to work as a Lodge managers in the world renowned sabi sand game reserve, Brendon spent 4 years in the game reserve capturing on camera everything the reserve has to offer, but paid special and close attention to the big cats of the reserve, Brendon has an extensive knowledge and understanding of big cats, their habits, and habitats and is one of Brendon's big passions.



Today Brendon is an adventurer, conservationist, tour leader and wildlife photographer, based in Nelspruit. As well as hosting photographic safaris for ODP, Brendon offers photographic workshops in Nelspruit and personalized photographic tuition. Brendon's photography has been published in a number of prestigious outdoor and wildlife magazines.

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Guest Wednesday, 19 June 2013