Mashatu Photo Workshop July

Words and images by Andrew and Lucy Stephens.

My wife and I were looking for somewhere special to spend our first anniversary. We share photography and the natural world as our passion. We also belong to the Edenvale Photographic club where we participate in sharing our hobby. Its through the club that we were introduced to C4 Images and Safaris where Shem came to give a talk on wildlife photography. There were also club members who had been to Mashatu and highly recommended it for a trip. So, we booked and our trip began on the 18th of July 2013.

Entry to Botswana is through the Pontdrift border post, where we were then escorted by the Mashatu Rangers and C4 Workshop lead to the luxury tented camp in Mashatu.

There are two buckets of activity daily centered around the best morning and evening light for photography. In the morning you leave before sunset to get closer to the game by the time the sun rises, only coming back for brunch at about 10:30 AM. For the evening you leave mid afternoon, after a delicious tea. Staying out until all light has faded before making the way back to the camp. We really appreciated this, as we could stay at a sighting if required with the assistance of spot lights. The rangers and C4 team really make sure that the clients desires, in terms of time spent at sightings, are met.

The rangers also do their utmost to get the best possible photographic opportunities, by going off-road whenever it is needed. We probably spent 50-60% of the game drives off road at sightings or tracking animals! I found this extraordinary as it allowed us some of the rarest and most precious sightings we have ever had. The drivers also made sure that the vehicle stopped at the best spot for photographic opportunities.

In terms of game viewing, Mashatu really delivers, below are a few highlights:
Sighting # Quality in terms of photography
Lions 2 ****
Leopard 3 *****
Hyena 5+ *****
Elephant 6 *****
Jackal 5+ *****
Baboon 3 **** (Baboon eating a Guinea fowl)
Steenbok 2 ****
Bee Eaters 3+ ***** (White Fronted)
Meyers Parrot 1 *****
Namaqua Doves 3 ****
Namaqua Sandgrouse 3 ***
Francolin 4 ****

One of the main reasons we chose to go to Mashatu was to visit the sunken Elephant hide to get close to these giants. We spent one and a half days in the hide. The first day was really quiet, however the second day did not disappoint at all. The bird life visiting the water hole in between mammals gives you lots to focus on. I did some time lapse movies using my iPad to show the main sightings. See the links below:

Impala, Kudu and Baboon come to drink: http://youtu.be/9IhwuKz9q50
The Elephants arrive: http://youtu.be/BO5Ac77SS2E

The other really special sighting (besides leopards in tree’s, Bee Eater Colonies, and 2 lioness with 9 cubs) was being able to spend about 5 hours with 4 hyena cubs and their parents. It was pure joy watching these curios naughty pups evade their babysitters. It also provided many great photo’s. I also decided to try my hand at SLR video to share these special moments. Below is one of my favorite images plus the links to the 2 videos I put together of the sighting.

Night time playing: http://youtu.be/6b1DDjTIS0M (Skip to 2:45 to hear the caretakers moaning at the pups!)
Day time adventure: http://youtu.be/l8fVWH96aaA

The game viewing and sightings were really great. From a photographic workshop side the C4 team were always on hand to lend advice, answer questions or share stories. We spent the time on the workshops (between game drives) looking at the use of flash photography as a supplemental light source in nature photography, as at times there were shadows or even low light photography challenges to contend with. Then also by request we looked at the technicalities of star and star trail photography as this was an interest that some of the photographers shared. Some valuable lessons learned.

As they say all good things come to an end, and after a magical 5 days at Mashatu with C4 it was time to head back to reality.
What a magical trip! We look forward to coming back!!!
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Mashatu July Feedback

Words and Images by Johan Kloppers.

In 2012 the PSSA National Congress was hosted at Club Mykonos, Langebaan. Cameron Ewart-Smith from Getaway very kindly presented a sponsored C4 Images and Safaris, four-day Photographic Workshop Safari to Mashatu as one of the prizes at the congress. I just could not believe my luck when my panel of 5 images won the top prize. I must say that I was overwhelmed with joy. My biggest frustration was the time that I had to wait before taking up the prize.

I was asked to get in touch with C4 Images and Safaris to confirm my booking. From the very first minute I was so impressed with the absolute professional and friendly way in which things were conducted. Minette van den Berg was outstanding in sending all relevant information through and her follow up to make sure that there was nothing missing. It immediately gave one such confidence that one is dealing with a company that knows exactly what they are doing.

The day eventually arrived for us to be met by the very friendly people from Mashatu at the border at Pont Drift. After about a 45 minute drive we arrived at the Mashatu Tented camp and welcomed again by the friendly staff from Mashatu. After a short briefing we were shown to our various tents. The accommodation was absolutely magnificent and made one immediately felt at home. The hospitality experienced was overwhelming and warm. After a short rest and high tea we went on our first game drive and what an experience it was. To have outstanding sightings of lions and leopard on your first game drive was really mind blowing and so it also proved to be on all the game drives that followed. The drivers and game trackers were really amazing, their knowledge of the environment and wildlife was really outstanding. We were taken very close to the subjects we were about to photograph and it was done with such care as not to upset any of the animals. Very important was the positioning of the vehicles for the correct angles of the light.

One of the biggest attractions at Mashatu was the Elephant hide where it is possible to photograph elephants standing just a few meters away. This was maybe one of the most spectacular and exiting experiences in my more than 40 years of photography. Then most important was Isak Pretorius and Mike Dexter. These two gentlemen were absolutely outstanding and also their knowledge and insight were very impressive. As mentioned I have been involved in photography for many years and can regard myself as experienced, and listening to Isak and Mike as they teach and helped the other less experienced photographers getting their exposures and camera settings right showed that they were in good hands.

I have in the past been to many game parks and one could always regard yourself as very lucky if you could after a trip bring back home 4 or maybe 5 real winners, but on this outing I have more than 50 great shots and that due to the fact that we have been with C4 images and Safaris, people who know their trade to the fullest.

It was indeed a sad moment when after 4 very inspiring days we had to say goodbye to all those wonderful people who helped to make this dream of going to Mashatu come true. There was the old saying: “See Venice and die” then came Laurence Green and said: “Not before you have seen Port St Johns” and I will even go further and say: “as a wildlife photographer not before you have experienced the magic of the Elephant Hide at Mashatu”

Again I would like to thank C4 Images and Safaris for hosting such a wonderful and inspiring experience. You have certainly changed my life forever.
Thank You, Johan Kloppers. FPSSA, APSSA(Vers) PSSA Regional Director, Western Cape.

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Perfect setting for a leopard photoshoot.....

This image from C4 client, Prakash Bhika, was taken on our Mashatu Photo Workshop in June. Golden light, a open scene, dark background and perfect positioning for our clients of a leopard cub grooming resulted in some beautiful images.

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Mashatu Photo Workshop Client Images

Below a collection of images taken by C4 client, Deepak Daya, whilst on our June photo workshop at Mashatu.

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Mashatu Photo Workshop - June 2013

C4 Images and Safaris recently returned from another photo workshop in Mashatu. Here is some feedback and images from client Prakash Bhikha. "A quick note to say thank you for the amazing time I had at the Mashatu Game Reserve. Here are some of the images I had managed to go through. It was great company, the lodgings were comfortable, the food was fantastic and the rangers really went out of their way to get us close to the opportunities that presented to us for photographing these magnificent specimens."

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Revisiting Mashatu

Text and images Albie Venter

The year seems to rush past and its amazing to think that this would have been the fourth time that I visited the Tuli Block this year already. What was amazing for me was the fact that I got to see all its drama's from drought to heavy rains and the worst floods in 25 years (which nearly washed my car into Mozambique!!) to a spectacular verdant bush teeming with life. All of this during the first four months of the year. What made our last visit so spectacular was not only the quality of the sighting but also the quantity of creatures, something rarely found on a photographic trip. Here are a few images that I chose with a few ideas of why it stood out for me. As always a bug thanks to Shem for a fun time guiding together and not least a great group of people joining in the photography.

 We managed to link up with these two cubs just as it got dark, a time when they start getting active. Just as the light from our spotlights and the last remaining ambient light balanced out the male yawned.

 One my favorites form the trip. I chose this image as it epitomize the Tuli area as well as the social life of elephant. I love the comforting touch of the older calf, possibly a sister, on the back of the second youngest one in the group.

 We had some Crazy Leopard encounters!

  During the course of our time there, no less than 6 individual leopards were seen. We managed to spend quite a bit of time with the two, seven month old cubs. Because I already had a great shot of both of them in the same frame in the bag, I went for the trickier motion blur image

  Our first sighting of lions were quite tricky photographically as all twelve of them were in dense vegetation. As the light faded some (mostly youngsters such as this one) crept into the sun.

  This is just a fun shot of a Saddle billed Stork loosing its meal. "Lucky Fish" :)

  Lions interacting in golden Light! What more can a photographer ask for?

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May Trip Report Mashatu - Mike Dexter

Mashatu has donned her autumn cloak. The green vistas and fields of yellow flowers have slowly yielded to the cold, the dry and the shortening daylight hours and have turned to rich yellow and golden hues. Needless to say on the recent workshop we were greeted every morning with spectacular landscapes sweeping to the horizon.

 

Scenery aside, Mashatu delivered exceptional game viewing as always. On our first afternoon we spent some time tracking a group of 9 lion cubs. After some perseverance we were rewarded with a great sighting of all 9 cavorting in some long grass as they waited impatiently for their mothers to return, hopefully with dinner. 

  

To me the sighting of the trip was with the 2 leopard cubs, now 6 months old. We found them lying in the shade of a Fever Berry tree on the banks of the Majale river. They weren’t doing much at first so we turned in our seats to photograph a saddle billed stork and some cormorants that were fishing in a pool behind us. Used to being the centre of attention the male cub was not going to be outdone by the birds so decided to put on a show. As the stork turned his back on the cub, who was 50m away, the young leopard surged forward in true feline form. Low to the pebbled river bed, shoulders hunched he advanced on the unsuspecting bird until he was a mere 5m away. This must have been a lesson in perspective because on seeing the actual size of the stork and the water between them he soon lost interest. 

 

3 banded plovers on the other hand were not too large to handle and he proceeded to stalk, pounce and chase the tiny birds who seemed to be mocking him, taking off at the last second and landing behind him. He was distracted by this game when an adult male impala crossed the river 100m upstream. This was just too good to be true for the young cub, the perfect opportunity to impress mom! He darted off into the thick riverine bush in the direction of the impala where the terrain prevented us from following. I look forward to seeing the future of this overly ambitious little leopard! 

 

 In the meantime the mothers of the 9 cubs had killed a wildebeest. By the time we saw them much of the carcass had been consumed but it was still great to watch the squabbling of the cubs under the ever present and tolerant gaze of the lionesses. All in all the workshop was a resounding success and I can’t wait to have a closer look at more of the images from these wonderful few days in one of the most spectacular corners of Africa.

 

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Predator action - Images by Stephen Cheek

Below are some stunning predator images from regular C4 client, Stephen Cheek. Stephen, a good photographer dedicated to capturing action images, took these on last years Masai Mara exclusive tour and this years Serengeti tour in February. View our 2013 Masai Mara Exclusive tours here and 2014 Serengeti here.
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Mashatu Workshop Trip Report - Mike Dexter

The first post-flood Mashatu Workshop has come to an end. The 5 day period was a resounding success with excellent general game sightings, fantastic birding and some special moments shared with the predators that put this amazing place on the map.

 

From the outset we were all very keen to see and photograph the much spoken about female leopard and her 2 young cubs. We didn’t have long to wait as a few hours into our first evening game drive we came upon them in a narrow gully. One cub was suckling when we arrived, a tender moment that we were privileged to witness, while the other was concealed in a nearby bush feeding on a guinea fowl carcass.

  

The Tuli Block is known as ‘The Land of Giants’ and for good reason. Elephants were plentiful and we had many excellent photographic opportunities in perfect morning and afternoon light. The elephants of Mashatu are particularly relaxed, more so than any I’ve come across elsewhere in Africa. Their easy-going attitude is a photographers dream as we were able to manoeuvre around to get the best possible angles in relatively close proximity to the herds. 

 

The other stars of the show at the moment are 2 lionesses that are raising 9 cubs. Having so many cubs to look after makes hunting difficult as their self-discipline and patience are lacking so they often give away their position at key moments. We witnessed a female eland make a very narrow escape after a cub gave away its mother’s presence.

  

The reserve is still proudly baring the rich greens of the wet season and in certain areas there are reeds tall enough to hide an elephant. All in all this was a very different Mashatu to the one photographed in last year’s workshops and only time will tell what the environment will reveal in the seasons to come.

 

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