| Photographing from bird hides can be very rewarding | | | | sitting on the islands of sand. |
| but many people tend to visit the hides at the wrong | | | | Shipandani hide, near Mopani camp, faces east so |
| time of day and then wonder why their photographs | | | | afternoons tend to best for good light. The large |
| look horrible. The concept of a hide is basically a | | | | Pioneer dam is used by most animals in the area but |
| structure where humans can sit and observe birds and | | | | leopard tend to favor drinking near the hide. |
| mammals without the animals knowing they are there, | | | | Pilanesberg Game Reserve: |
| providing you with the opportunity to photograph them | | | | There are seven hides in this park of which three are |
| at closer distances without frightening them away. | | | | superb... |
| The Kruger Park, Pilanesberg and Kalahari (Kgalagadi) | | | | Rathlogo hide faces west so mornings are best |
| game reserves in South Africa all have hides - these | | | | but afternoons can produce nice back-lit pictures. We |
| are wooden structures, like a small house, normally built | | | | have seen many birds and mammals here including |
| on stilts that have openings where you can view and | | | | lions and wild dogs. |
| photograph wildlife. Keep in mind that when you go on | | | | Mankwe hide faces east but both mornings and |
| a safari game drive the motor vehicle is simply a hide | | | | afternoons are good as the hide has been constructed |
| on wheels! | | | | in a 'L' shape and you can shoot both east and west. |
| We have found, however, that most of these hides | | | | Mornings can also provide great silhouettes and sun |
| are NOT well designed in terms of nature | | | | reflections. We have taken our best bird photographs |
| photography. They are either located too far away | | | | from this hide but have also seen rhino, cheetah and |
| from the water and/or they face into the sun. | | | | lions here. |
| You can get some great photographs from hides if | | | | Kwa Maritane hide is accessed by walking about |
| you visit them at the right time of day, in the right | | | | 500 meters underground. The waterhole is very close |
| season (winter months are best) and have patience. | | | | to the hide so you don't need a long lens! The hide |
| Here we share with you which hides are our favorites | | | | faces north but large trees filter the sunlight. |
| and when to visit them for best photographic light. | | | | To us the Pilanesberg is all about sitting at these bird |
| Kruger National Park: | | | | hides instead of driving around the park for hours. |
| There are eleven hides located throughout the park, | | | | Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park: |
| excluding the hides within camps, of which these four | | | | There are just two hides in this park... |
| are our favorites... | | | | Nossob hide is located in Nossob camp and it |
| Lake Panic hide, faces east so afternoons are the | | | | faces east so afternoons are best. The waterhole is |
| best time to visit. Lake Panic has given us some very | | | | floodlit so night-time action is also a possibility. Lions |
| nice pictures so we rate it the number-1 hide in the | | | | often drink here! |
| Kruger Park. It has never disappointed us as it always | | | | Mata Mata hide is located in Mata Mata camp and |
| has some sort of activity be it hippos, crocodiles, fish | | | | also faces east so again afternoons are best and it is |
| eagles, kingfishers, or elephants. Lake Panic can get | | | | also floodlit. The waterhole has been moved about |
| busy as it is very near Skukuza camp and sometimes | | | | fifty meters to the south so it now lies in front of the |
| we have not been able to get a seat, so try and get | | | | eight new river-facing chalets but can still be seen |
| there after an early lunch! | | | | from the hide. |
| Sweni hide, near the N'wanetsi Picnic site, faces | | | | Some final advice: if you arrive at one of these hides |
| east so afternoon is the time to sit here. There are | | | | and you see 'nothing' please do not leave - give the |
| normally crocodiles sitting on the rocks and | | | | hide a chance. Sit and scan the area with binoculars, |
| sand-banks, hippos and water birds. We have also | | | | take a flask of coffee in the mornings or sundowners |
| seen zebras, impala, kudu and lions drinking here. Sweni | | | | in the late afternoon and see what happens. We are |
| is not as busy as Lake Panic so if you want peace | | | | amazed at how many people walk into the hide look |
| and quiet this is the place to visit. | | | | out for a few seconds and then leave. A few minutes |
| Ratel Pan hide, near the Timbavati Picnic site, | | | | later a rhino or lion steps out the grass and drinks - |
| faces west so morning is the best time to sit here. | | | | don't let this be you! |
| There are normally many crocodiles and water birds | | | | |