Getaway Gallery
AFRICA’S PREMIER PHOTOGRAPHIC COMPETITION
Amazing prizes to be won in our photo competition
FINALIST
The Final Moment
I woke early in the morning at Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge with one thing on my mind… leopard! Graeme and Petro (my guide and spotter) asked why I was grinning and I responded: ‘You are going to find me an impala this morning.’ Confused, they looked at each other and before they could say anything I concluded: ‘With a leopard around its neck.’ We had a good chuckle and set off. These guys clearly knew what they were doing because within 20 minutes we came to a sudden stop. An animal was moving slowly in the grass...and there she was, standing proud like a statue, focused on something. Suddenly she charged through the grass and everything went quiet. All we could see was a bit of dust. The next moment she reappeared, making her way to a tree with a smallish impala in her mouth. I started laughing as Graeme asked: ‘Is this what you were looking for?’ She dragged the bewildered impala all the way up the tree, away from a hyena that had suddenly appeared. Knowing she had breakfast safely out of the hyena’s reach, she delivered the final bite.
FINALIST
Going Under
I was at Gwarrie waterhole in Addo Elephant National Park early one morning to wait for the hyenas who usually drink at this time. To my surprise they came past at high speed chasing a one-horned kudu bull into the water. It was a cruel sighting as the hyenas started to feast on the kudu while it was still alive – it only died after a lengthy struggle.
I realised this was the natural chain of survival and I managed to capture the whole event without becoming too emotional.
FINALIST
The Charge
After a fair amount of time photographing jacanas hopping around their resident lily pads on the Chobe River, our skipper fired up the outboard motor and began to move the boat away. Once we got into more open water, a hippo started charging us through the water like a dolphin, without warning. Luckily my reflexes were on point and I managed to stand up and capture this scene as the hippo breached the surface of the water.
By Tim Prettejohn, White River
Canon 80D; Sigma 150 x 600; ISO 1600; f5,6; 1/2500
FINALIST Nest Builder
Cattle egrets are often dismissed as photographic subjects as they are so plentiful. However, in fading light their white feathers against a dark background offer fantastic opportunities. This particular bird flew constantly between a pile of twigs and the nest he was building above a lake in the Lowveld. As the sun set and plunged the background foliage into darkness, I set up my equipment to capture a fleeting moment showing the dedication this bird had to building the best nest for his mate. I suspect she was suitably impressed.
By Rob Smith, Plettenberg Bay Nikon D850; Nikon 200-400mm F4; ISO: 400; f/4; 1/800
First prize:
Six nights for two people on a dream safari in Botswana with Natural Selection valued at R75 000
The winner and a partner will enjoy two nights at Little Sable, two nights at Hyena Pan (both in Khwai Private Reserve) and two nights at Meno a Kwena in Makgadikgadi National Park. Includes air transfers between Maun and Khwai Private Reserve and a two-hour road transfer to Meno a Kwena. Offer valid any time except August and December peak seasons.