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About Andy

 

I am an avid adventurer, conservationist, teacher, and outdoor photographer whose photography celebrates the African landscape and its rich wildlife, people, and culture. My photographic safaris allow my travelers to not only enhance their understanding of photography, lighting, and wildlife, but to develop a life-long admiration for Africa ‘s beauty and culture.

Banana Republic recently used my photographs as the cornerstone of their Urban Safari campaign, and my images were seen in all 750 stores around the globe, as well as in their billboards, catalogs and annual report. I was also the winner of the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year in the ‘Wild Places’ category in 2008 and a highly commended in the ‘Creative Visions of Nature’ category in 2007.

I launched Gura Gear in 2008, in an attempt to deliver lightweight camera bags to the market. I was looking for a lightweight camera bag to hold all of my photographic gear, and there was nothing desirable on the market that suited my needs. After spending 2 years with many prototypes, the Gura Gear Kiboko bag was born. More products are now available on the Gura Gear web site.

 

 

 

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« Day 23 – Tuningi Safari Lodge, Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa | Main | Day 21 – Tuningi Safari Lodge, Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa »
Thursday
Sep092010

Day 22 – Tuningi Safari Lodge, Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa

Today was a little warmer than the past 3 weeks, and it was very welcome. The sun came out in full force, and the morning warmed up into the 70’sF rather quickly. I had forgotten what it was like to wear shorts, even though back home I haven’t worn long pants to the office in at least 4 or 5 months.

This morning was a little on the quiet side, so I am focusing this entry on the afternoon’s sightings. I really enjoy the winter’s dining schedule, because morning brunch is typically served around 9:30 or so, high tea is at 2:00 and game drives leave around 3:00 or 3:30. Dinner is usually at 7:30, which tends to be within 15 to 30 minutes after getting back from the afternoon game drive. This is great, because I am typically wiped out at the end of the day and there isn’t too much time to mess around after getting back from the game drive.

This afternoon we took off around 3:30, and headed back to one of the more productive watering holes. We were joined by Gerry Van Der Walt and his wife Adele, so it was nice to have a casual drive with friends today. Gerry is a great photographer, and he also runs Photo-Africa.com, a great web site for photo enthusiasts who also love Africa.

Immediately after our arrival at the dam, we found numerous family groups of elephants. There were two large families, one small family and then some sparring bulls scattered throughout. It was a virtual playground of elephants today! I really enjoyed sitting back and just watching their behavior, and how they organize themselves when drinking water. What I mean is that adult female elephants really do look after their young, especially when a family is clumped up together and drinking from a small water source.

My attention quickly went towards two sparring males, and I really enjoyed watching just how gently they pushed each other around, because when they fight for real it can be quite violent.

After the fight, we moved around and noticed three lions deep in the mud. They had obviously taken down an impala, and were ripping it apart. This was definitely a fresh kill, and the challenge was that they were a little far away and not at a good angle for us. We couldn’t get a better angle, so we just sat and waited for them to finish their mud-crusted meal. It took some time, but they moved off the carcass after a while and made their way into the thick bush. I was able to grab one quick shot of one of the lions up on a hill, and the lion was about as muddy as a lion could ever get. She quickly hurried off into the thick bush, and we headed for sundowner drinks after we lost them a few hundred meters into the bush. 

What a great day!

 

Bull elephants sparring at the watering hole

 

Bull elephants sparring at the watering hole

 

Three lions eating in the mud

 

The lioness, all covered in mud from head to tail. Only her eyes and a little bit of her whiskers were showing

 

..and she scuttles off into the bush

 

Adele, Gerry and Leslie take a break

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Reader Comments (6)

Andy,

Really like the muddy lions - what a unique capture!

September 10, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterLaurence Norton

I took this picture a bit more than one year ago in Madikwe. Wonder whether they are the same elephants, still sparring ;)

September 10, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterUgo

Amazing lions. I have never seen lions covered in mud or at least never that much. The lions I have seen last week (I am lucky enough to live in Tanzania and went to see the migration in Northern Serengeti) were also busy eating on wildebeest but they were... less muddy... despite the not so great weather!
thanks for sharing!!

September 10, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterKarine Ardault

Was awesome spenfing time Andy! We gonna have to do it again!! :)

September 10, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterGerry

Was awesome spending time Andy! We gonna have to do it again sometime!! :)

September 10, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterGerry

The lion covered in mud sitting on the hill has to be one of the most unique shots I've ever seen.

September 29, 2010 | Unregistered CommenterAngie

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