Scenery Photography on a Southern African Chrome

When many people consider a safari' they routinely picture a Land Cruiser thundering over the hot and dusty African savanna chasing after the 'big-five' animals, yet a southern average cost african hunting safari can be much more, particularly if you are performing a self-drive safari.On a guided safari you are at the mercy of the driver and other guests while on a self-drive safari you're the boss and you determine where you'll go and the length of time you'll stay.If you want to photograph landscapes while on safari there are many possibilities but you might not move out your vehicle as there are dangerous animals around. We for that reason examine the best places to photograph landscapes in four of southern Africa's most famous game reserves.Kgalagadi Transfrontier ParkThe Kgalagadi draws 1000s of nature photographers not only for the incredible wildlife but additionally for the most strange landscape. You've the contrasts involving the blue African sky, heavy red sand dunes, carpets of orange and purple wild-flowers, white calcrete cliffs and the green trees and shrubs.The Auob and Nossob highways provide great prospects but therefore do the wilderness ideologies, since they're largely located together with high sand dunes. Our favorites are Kieliekrankie, Kalahari Tented Camp and Gharagab due to their height. Urikaruus, Bitterpan and Grootkolk ideologies aren't situated as high but can also provide great beautiful photographs - you just need to be a little more creative.Twee Rivieren, Mata Mata and Nossob could also provide scenery possibilities but just be cautious about phone poles and other disturbances that could make their way into your composition!The Kgalagadi is also the most effective playground to image star paths because of it being therefore far away from civilization and thus far away from light and pollution. Upington could be the best town, which will be 300 kilometers away!Kruger National ParkThere are several high view-points such as Grano Kop, Tshanga, Nkumbe, and Bobbejaan Krans that you may get to and where you're permitted to get out your car to setup your tripod. In addition, some camps provide exceptional scenery potential as they are found high on a slope, like Olifants camp or because they are alongside a lake such as camps like Skukuza, Shimuwini and Lower Sabie.You must look out for trees that it is possible to photograph contrary to the rising or setting sun while out on your sport push and for the wild plants that carpet some waterholes after great summer rains.Some camps provide better legend path photography opportunities than others. Crocodile Bridge, Berg en Dal and Pretoriouskop are too close to society so you have lamps from Komatiepoort, Malelane and White River/Nelspruit as well as pollution from the sugar factory spoiling the photographs.If you choose more adventure on your safari then you might go on a 4x4 walk or on a trail.The three 4x4 adventure trails are self-drive trails that enable you to get out of your vehicle but you must stay close to the vehicle. They last about 3-4 hours and can offer some great scenery opportunities.There are eight 2-day, 3-night wilderness walking paths in the Kruger Park. You remain in traditional, primitive camps and go through the African bush on foot - true wilderness with remoteness, tranquillity, peace and no other people - except the other people in your party and both armed rangers!There are four trails that provide exceptional landscapes:? Nyalaland Trail - is in the far north of Kruger and may be the most remote Wilderness Trail. The highlight could be the Luvuvhu gorges and spectacular Lanner. ?? Olifants trail - is in the main Kruger and you'll go to remote valleys and gorges and to the very lovely confluence of the Olifants and Letaba rivers. ?? Wolhuter Trail - is in the southern Kruger and is definitely an amazingly lovely wilderness area characterized by high stone outcrops with deep valleys. ?? Bushmans Trail - can also be in the southern Kruger and is characterized by large rocky outcrops and deep valleys with beautiful views. These high-lying outcrops are seen early each day so you can recognize the vastness of the landscape and the good photographic lighting.Etosha National ParkEtosha National Park in Namibia is extremely smooth however many of the waterholes make for good scenery photos. Waterholes such as Homob, Salvadora, Twee Palms and Chudop are very scenic and there's the view over the pan from the view-points or from waterholes that are found on the side of the pan such as Okondeka.The views from the camp waterholes, Moringa (in Halali Camp) and Okaukuejo waterholes, also make for good scenery photographs.The waterhole at Namutoni camp isn't very scenic but the fort in the camp makes for very successful landscape photographs. The views from on top of the Namutoni fort and from the top of the Okaukuejo declaration podium also provide 360-degree views of the encompassing areas.Pilanesberg Game ReserveThe Pilanesberg is situated in an extinct volcano whose surfaces flattened inward creating several little mountains that provide pleasing backdrops to your photos, so keep this in mind when photographing animals. Additionally you can find good views from the picnic sites and view-points found up on the slopes, which provide good landscape potential.Some of the bird skins, such as Mankwe and Rathlogo, also provide good potential - it all depends on the light and the subject.Landscape Photography GearFortunately the photography gear required for landscape photography isn't as expensive and large as what's needed for fauna and bird photography. You need a good tripod, a, some filters (a polarizer plus soft and hard graduated neutral density filters), a lens (for great views) and about a 200mm lens (for seductive areas). If you do not have a wide-angle lens don't fret - you can shoot several overlapping structures of the arena and then sew them together to create panoramas.If you do not have Photoshop again, don't fret, as you can download free breathtaking software including the Hugin Panorama Photo Stitcher.