Starting out this week here at CM Travels we want to give you a glimpse into what is is like going on safari! The focus this week like last week is to put you through a our lens when we were on site at our destinations! Starting out is this majestic male leopard. He was a stalwart of the area at Malamala Game Reserve where its all about the wildlife! His name is the Bike. Well rather nick name. His full name is The bicycle crossing male.

As research and wildlife goes we like to keep the animals as wild as possible and hence try not to give them “pet” like names. This amazing creature however captured many a guest and rangers heart. He lived a full life till his death earlier this year. Born February 2002. This male has been pictured and seen around the Sabi Sands for over a decade. Giving him his own personal Facebook page. Check out some more amazing images of him there and I highly recommend @fouchestudios! The Pastel Draws by Ingrid Fouche speak for themselves. Looking forward to this week in Southern Africa with us here at CM Travels.

When Out on Safari

When you out on safari you literally don’t know what could be around the next corner! As a guide you have a fairly good idea of where a lot of the lions, leopards and other predators might be as you are in constant communication with your other guides. As most of us know you sometimes can’t get to all the sightings but your guide will try his/her best to fulfill your dream sightings. Being a guide you get excited if you hear on the radio that an animal has been spotted that your guests would like to see. So in good spirit you start to make your way in that direction and perhaps moving slightly faster than normal often provoking questions from the guest as to why the “rally driving” … but we all like to keep you in suspense and want to give you a surprise!

African Rock Python

This beautiful African Rock Python was NOT the animal that I had heard on the radio but it turned out to be my guests highlight of their trip. Having done many safaris before they had been fortunate to see many of the larger animals but this reptile had been on their bucket list for many years. By complete chance I drove a route towards something else and bumped into him. These are the sightings that keep us returning to the bush here at CM Travels.

Safari Excitement

As the initial excitement of your first few days on safari starts to wear off we encourage you to look deeper. The impala and other general game are not as exciting as they first were and you try to find interest in other things. For any photographer experimenting with light becomes your focus. The essence of all photography is light. Slowly sneaking up to the sleeping rhino and capturing the early winter light in his breathe is a moment I will always remember. I have done small edits to this image. The colors you see we have not enhanced. This is literally what the light looked like!

Do not fear the lull will pass because you will realize that on every drive there is always something new to see. We have never been on a drive and not seen something new every time and we have sent years in the bush. It may not be as obvious as a new animal but open the box and look at everything from the dung beetles to chameleons or a different composition of your favourite animals!