Insider’s Guide – Top Wildlife Photography Spots in South Africa
by Shem Compion
(Jacana Media, R195.95)
If you are planning a holiday and like to capture the wild with your camera, this book is for you.
It is a wonderful reference book detailing the best wildlife hot spots for photography oppor-tunities around South Africa.
The book highlights national parks and reserves where you will find specific animals to photo-graph.
For instance, Marievale in Gauteng boasts one of the best wetlands in the country for photographing our magnificent birdlife.
Compion sets out his book cleverly. He describes the reserve in question – explaining the history and animals that you most likely will see there.
The type of landscape and vegetation of the area is detailed, so you will know what terrain you will have as your photographic backdrop.
Quick reference tabs at the top of the pages will indicate the availability of landscape, birds, mammals, predators and the big five, indicating how each reserve compares.
A photographic rating out of 10 is given for each reserve.
Impressive full-page photo-graphs give you a hint of what you can expect and there are recommendations on what lenses and equipment to use.
A list of highlights per reserve will persuade you to visit an area most appealing to your photo-graphic vision. There are detailed directions with maps on how to get there and how much you may have to pay for accommodation.
Useful advice on what time of day you could encounter specific photographic opportunities, with technical information on how to take your shot, makes this book an essential travel partner and guide.
The real eye-opener is how close some of these places are to our main cities. It would be well worth getting to know these “nature islands” with their varied fauna and flora.
As Compion comments, you could do two hours of early-morning photography and still be at work by 9am. A stress-buster of note.
The stunning pictures in the Insider’s Guide make this book most presentable as a gift – possibly as a hint to your spouse to go on a certain holiday, or to an overseas guest as a keepsake. – Ed Lemke