Southafrica – Seite 2 – rene bauer photography

Birds Of Kruger Nationalpark/South Africa

Bird-photography is one of most challenging kind of photography, I heard recently. Since there are many different and beautiful birds in the Kruger Nationalpark, it’s worth a try anyway, I thought.

Krugerpark is famous for birdwatcher. No wonder with all these colorful and beautiful and feathered guys. Watching them flying over the water, catching their food or interacting with the partner. There are many cars with a sticker saying „bird watcher, please pass!“ Maybe I should get such one. Not to be disturbed by curious people who wants to know what I’m looking at even I just make a break for nothing 😉

I’m still far to know all the birds name. And often i’m too lazy to look up in a book, but over time i’ll learn more about them. Photography also helps me to recognize them later. So there are the #egyptiangoose, #lilacbreastedroller, #tawnyeagle, #kingfisher, #africanspoonbill, #greyheron, #africanfisheagle, #southerngroundhornbill, #southernredbishop, #africanhoopoe, #sattlebilledstork or the #redbilledoxpecker on the zebras back.

Eventually I start to catch birds by my camera. The first few shots wasn’t successful at all. The settings are different, the light was changing a lot and those flying fellows constantly on the move. However, I got some tries which I want share here with you…

Dezember 15, 2021 by Rene Bauer Categories: Africa, animal, nature, reportage, roadtrip, Southafrica, travel, Uncategorized, wildlifeTags: #africanfisheagle, #africanhoopoe, #africanspoonbill, #greyheron, #kingfisher, #lilacbreastedroller, #southerngroundhornbill, #southernredbishop, #tawnyeagle, bird, birdphotography, birdwatching, egyptiangoose, krugerpark, sanpark Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Wildlife Watching With Friends In South Africa

Most people coming to South Africa can’t wait to chase the „Big 5“ and capture them on their camera. The „Big 5“ means Elephant, Buffalo, Rhino, Lion and Leopard. On the downside of tracking them down is the danger to get attacked from them. That’s why one should stay always in the car, not daring to approach them or wandering around unprotected in their habitat.

There are also parks and wildlife farms with none of these dangerous, big animals. But it doesn’t mean it’s less thrilling to visit them. In the opposite, to walk trough the bush, jogging or riding a bicycle, and meet wild antelopes, giraffes or zebras on eye to eye is amazing. Well, bit difficult to look the giraffes on the eyes, but still.

My dear friends was planning to spend a weekend in such a private wildlife farm and invited me to join them. What a feeling to move free around, chasing the giraffes, going for a so called „game drive“ to find more antelopes, such as elands, wildebeest, oryx, blessbock, impalas, steenbok, waterbuck and so on. Off course also zebras, snakes and many kind of birds.

I felt so blessed to be there, enjoying nature, wildlife and good talks with old and new friends. Stopping midst in the bush and having a sundowner, before return to the base for a nice evening at the braai, the Southafrican barbecue.

Dezember 11, 2021 by Rene Bauer Categories: Africa, animal, culture, landscape, nature, reportage, roadtrip, Southafrica, tradition, travel, Uncategorized, wildlifeTags: animal, antelope, gamedrive, giraffe, impala, oryx, park, wildlife Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Back In South Africa

Many times I hear or read people saying, it feels like coming home, when they turn back to a favorite holiday destination of them. In my ears, it sounded often pathetic and unreal. But arriving at farm of my beloved friends, meeting all family members and seeing my Land Rover again comes this feeling very close. It’s not exaggerating to call my Land Rover my home, since it’s not only my travel car, but also my house on wheels for many months every year.

This time was a long waiting to get back, due the pandemic situation. Finally I landed in Johannesburg, had to spend a night in the city, but caught the first bus in the morning to the province of Limpopo. There was a warmly welcome by my friends and family, and much to talk about. Only one person was really missed, the head of family passed away, caught by that spreading disease and leaves a big void. The good memories remains and despite the difficulties, there shouldn’t be untried to collect more. In such a warmhearted family I have no doubt of it.

There it stands. My Land Rover is parked under a roof just next to the farmhouse. One of my friends was so friendly to replace the broken starter battery, and so it starts with the first try. A new journey can begin, actually. But first I want give my travel car a proper service and maintenance.

And despite my refuse over all these years, i consider again to give my Land Rover finally a name. I carry already a name for it with me since many years actually.

What are you guys thinking? Does it deserve a name?

Any recommendations?

Please give me your opinions in the comments below 🙂

Should my Land Rover get a name? Yes or No? Recommendations in the comments please 😉

Dezember 10, 2021 by Rene Bauer Categories: Africa, culture, reportage, roadtrip, Southafrica, travelTags: africatrip, backontheroad, Landrover, landroverdefender, overlandafrica, overlander, roadtrip 3 Kommentare

Morgens im Krugerpark

Leise brummend rollt der Landrover über die gute Strasse im Krugerpark gen Süden. Mein Blick heftet sich am heller werdenden Horizont während meine müde Gedanken dahin schweifen. Ob es sich wirklich lohnt morgens um 4 Uhr aufzustehen, um noch vor dem Sonnenaufgang auf Pirsch zu gehen? Der kühle Morgen soll ja die beste Zeit sein, um Raubtiere aktiv zu sehen. Zumindest ist dieser Morgen sehr ruhig und ich bin in den 20 Minuten Fahrt noch keinem anderem Fahrzeug begegnet.

Die Silhouette weckt mich aus meinen Morgengedanken. der charakteristische, sehnige Körper mit langem Schwanz lässt sofort den Geparden erkennen. Im Gegenlicht bewegt er sich erhaben auf eine steinerne Mauer zu und setzt sich darauf. Gelassen beäugt er mich, bevor er sich die Gegend anschaut und dann im hohen Gras verschwindet.

Für heute hat sich das frühe Aufstehen also gelohnt. Und es blieb nicht beim einzigen Highlight. So beobachtete ich später noch ein Rudel Wildhunde, junge, spielende Hyänen und kämpfende Impalas, neben Elefanten, Krokodile und Flusspferde. Ganz unerwartet tauchte dann mittags sogar ein Leopard neben der Strasse auf und rundete so eine Fotopirschfahrt ab.

Januar 3, 2020 by Rene Bauer Categories: Africa, animal, landscape, roadtrip, Southafrica, travel, Uncategorized, wildlifeTags: cheetah, elephant, hippo, hyena, krugerpark, leopard, safari, Southafrica, wildlife Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Zurück in Afrika…

Wie schlafend steht mein Landrover in der Ecke neben dem Farmhaus. Und da möchte er auch gern weiterschlafen. Die ersten Erweckungsversuche misslingen. Dank meinen Freunden auf der Farm ist schnell eine neue Batterie besorgt und dem Reisefahrzeug neues Leben eingehaucht.

Bevor’s aber richtig losgeht werde ich von meinen Freunden für’s Wochenende auf ihre ‚game farm‘ eingeladen. Sie erwarben diese privaten Wildtierpark etwa ein Jahr zuvor und nutzen ihn für ihre grosse Familie und Freunden. So kam ich ihn Genuss mit einigen Familienmitglieder und Freunde einige Tage dort zu verbringen. Mit einem aufmunterndem Lächeln wurde mir sogar der Schlüssel für das Safariauto gereicht. Natürlich konnte ich dem Angebot nicht widerstehen und führte die Gesellschaft durch den Busch auf der Suche nach wilden Tiere…