safari – rene bauer photography

Leopard In Krugerpark/South Africa

It was at one of the picnic spots I made a break to brew myself another coffee. While my water was boiling, the engine of the car next to me was heating up too. The driver filled up cooling water in the system, when I asked I could help in any way.

That’s how the conversation started. In like every talk in the Kruger Nationalpark, it’s leading to the latest sightings we encountered. That nice guy was telling me about a young, male leopard hiding in a tree. The location was in my direction I planned. Without wasting any more time I’m heading to that spot.

Two other cars was parked in front of that huge jackalberry tree. The lush, green branches blocked the view to the big cat. I tried to get another angle, next to the other cars. And luck was with me, as the leopard stood up and changed to the branch in front of me. Despite the dense foliage we could look each other straight in the eyes …and camera lens.

Dezember 16, 2021 by Rene Bauer Categories: Africa, animal, nature, reportage, roadtrip, Southafrica, travel, wildlifeTags: bigfive, gamedrive, krugerpark, leopard, safari, tree, wildlife, wildlifephotography Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

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

Ziwa – Rhino Sanctuary

Rhinos were distinct in Uganda during the „politically instability“, as the ranger stated it. With funds from overseas the breeding project started. Over years the group of white rhinos increased from two to four to nineteen animals by now. New borns are expected within the next few months. There’s a good chance those unique animals spreading again trough Ugandas landscape and enrich the wildlife. Let’s hope for a durable „politically stability“.

When i arrived the main building, i’m told a ranger get in my Land Rover and shows me the way to the rhinos. But then he changed his mind and asked me to walk there. Of course i liked a hike in the bush. Some other ranger tracked down the rhinos already and directed us by radio to the place, where we found a mother with child. A short while later, four more rhinos came along the way to graze in this area. I was excited to observe those huge, strange looking creatures so near by foot.

März 6, 2017März 6, 2017 by Rene Bauer Categories: Africa, landscape, nature, reportage, travel, uganda, Uncategorized, wildlifeTags: Africa, animals, bush, guide, hike, nature, renebauerphotography, rhino, rhinosanctuary, safari, Travel, uganda, wildlife, ziwa Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Murchison Falls National Park

The tremendous costs to visit the Murchison Falls National Park on my own was doubting me to visit the park. But then i got the offer to take a local car with driver to enter the park cheaper. At least to have a glimpse on the spot where Ernest Hemingway crashed with his plane, survived and got picked up by a tourist boat. To be close where Audrey Hepburn was staying and acting for the „African Queen“. Seeing the ruins of one of the residences of Idi Amin, the cruel dictator of prior days. But yes, also the wildlife, although i kept my expectations low. And there is still the waterfalls, after which the park is named.

Driving trough a huge, dense forest with big families of baboons and monkeys, we heading towards the Victoria Nile. Many colorful kingfisher birds flying off when we passed by. A ferry brings us to the other side with different landscape. A savannah with high dry grass. Buffalos glancing at us, antelopes grazing, hippos chilling in the Nile while socks and other birds stalking in the water. Many animals just given birth and keep their babies closely. On the way back we stopped by the great falls. Tons of water squeezed in a narrow valley, fall over several cliffs with big spray and get quite again on the way to Lake Albert. At end of the day, i have to admit it was worth the visit.

März 6, 2017März 6, 2017 by Rene Bauer Categories: Africa, animal, landscape, nature, reportage, travel, uganda, Uncategorized, water, wildlifeTags: Africa, animals, birds, buffalo, eastafrica, forest, hippo, kingfisher, landscape, murchisonfalls, murchisonfallsnationalpark, nationalpark, renebauerphotography, safari, savannah, storck, Travel, uganda, waterfall, wildlife Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Zanzibar – Jambiani Beach

At least one of these famous beaches of Zanzibar i have to explorer. I choose Jambiani at east coast of Zanzibar. Many kite-surfers had the same idea, as a school class and football players too. It became a lively spot, despite the low tide, when i arrived.

Januar 16, 2017 by Rene Bauer Categories: Africa, landscape, nature, reportage, tanzania, travel, Uncategorized, waterTags: Africa, africaoverland, beach, beachlife, boat, fun, island, jambiani, kite, kitesurfer, overland, overlandafrica, people, photography, safari, sport, sun, tanzania, tourists, Travel, zanzibar Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Lake Naivasha Impressions

Despite the many, noisy people who shared the campsite, i enjoyed the long weekend at Lake Naivasha. A few photo impressions:

Dezember 13, 2016 by Rene Bauer Categories: Africa, animal, kenya, landscape, nature, portrait, reportage, travel, Uncategorized, water, wildlifeTags: Africa, animals, birds, boat, fishermen, forest, fun, hippo, kenya, lake, landscape, monkeys, mood, naivasha, nature, photography, safari, sunrise, sunset, Travel, wildlife Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

times of repairs

On travel, there are times of joy ..and there are times of repairs. Happy to see my Land Rover again, but there was quite few things to repair, to improve and to test again. The clutch must be replaced, as the pedal didn’t work properly too. To replace the word battery seemed to be an easy thing, despite the narrow place under the seat, that’s why i also put some switches and wiring in different places. Wondering why the new board battery won’t charge lead to a problem on the controller of the dual-battery-system. We took it out and put a manually switch between the batteries instead. Now the fridge didn’t work anymore. A few coffees later, and after i took some cash in hands, Gabriel could fix my precious fridge. There was more small things to fix, including a photo lens (fixed quick by Nikon Service in Thika Road Mall), but meanwhile i learned to be patient on traffic jam too. There seems only one rule on Nairobi’s streets: no rules! The start of rain season didn’t make it easier to navigate trough the city, especially at night. On the camp of Jungle Junction soaked the terrain to a muddy flat.Just right to test the couple new Maxxis off-road tyres i got here. 🙂

Dezember 5, 2016 by Rene Bauer Categories: Africa, animal, food, gastronomy, HOPE, kenya, landscape, reportage, travel, Uncategorized, urbanlife, water, wildlifeTags: 4x4, action, Africa, africaoverland, animals, car, carbattery, cars, cash, coffee, daily life, fridge, fun, kenya, Landrover, landy, lens, money, mud, nairobi, nature, nikon, nikonlens, Offroad, overland, overlandafrica, overlander, people, photography, project, rain, rainseason, repair, safari, skyline, traffic, trafficjam, Travel, tropic, tyres, waeco, work, workshop, zebra Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Fun Group Hiking At Mt.Longonot

Mount Longonot a quite volcano about two hours drive out of Nairobi, is the destination for a group of friends for a hike. I got invited and joined it with pleasure. Too long time i didn’t hike, and with that funny, open minded and nice people it’s pure pleasure too.

There’s many photos in purpose of giving the people of the group the chance to see them and download it. Have fun along the „photo story“ …and many thanks for the group letting me join in for that day!

Oktober 22, 2016 by Rene Bauer Categories: Africa, flower, food, gastronomy, HOPE, humansofplanetearth, kenya, landscape, nature, portrait, reportage, tradition, travel, Uncategorized, urbanlife, wildlifeTags: action, Africa, food, friends, fun, group, hike, hiking, holiday, kenya, longonot, mountain, nationalpark, nature, party, people, photography, safari, sport, sun, Travel, volcano Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

Solita’s Fashion Shooting

We had to talk with the guards, but then they let us to the roof top for a photo shooting. The location was perfect, my model Solita (instagram: @solitacruz) has been once more enthusiastic and the afternoon light just came right.

Oktober 14, 2016Oktober 14, 2016 by Rene Bauer Categories: Africa, HOPE, humansofplanetearth, portrait, reportage, tanzania, travel, Uncategorized, urbanlifeTags: action, culture, daily life, Fashion, friends, fun, girl, location, model, people, photography, photoshooting, safari, sun, Travel, urban, urbanlife, work Hinterlasse einen Kommentar

with Solita at hot springs

Early morning gives us a clear sight of Mt Kilimanjaro, while the natural hot springs are still deserted. Perfect condition for a photo shooting with Solita (instagram: @solitacruz), the queen of selfies, as she called herself. And indeed, she put herself in great poses and i just had to push the shutter. But yes, you wanna see the results now…