Fantastic pictures!

Very nice pictures Kaye! When are you going back to MM? I'll be there 10/1-10/4.

What a treat to open up Fodor's this morning and find your amazing pictures. Thanks so much for posting them.

CW

Wow-those are beautiful photos! What kind of camera and zoom did you have?

Hi Kaye!

Your photos are absolutely beautiful!! Thanx for posting them for all of us! We are going to MM in October, first time. Of course, we are very excited!

Carole

Kaye amazing. We will be in MM June 5 thorugh June 8 and can't wait. First trip. Should I be requesting any particular guides. Also what camera and zoom.

Hi Kaye,

Just want to say."Welcome back" and that i enjoyed your photos. The Styx pride on the kopje stands out for sure. Glad you had fantastic safari moments and i'm sure you'll hv more of them on your next trip....

Rgds,
Hari

Just lovely. Your talent for the birds only grows. So many beautiful mother and baby(ies) shots. Not to mention the birth in process! Your photos uphold Mala Mala's reputation for leopard sightings. From lions to herds of rhino to cheetah, your shots are beautifully composed. The snakes, bees, and tortoises are treasures too.

Kaye

Great photos, our ranger was joking that the Tjellahanga male was half Lion, your pictures give some impression of his extraordinary size.
Great pictures of three kinds of rollers is wonderful. All in all so many memories stirrd by your photos.


Dennis - I will miss you by a couple of days!

Hi everyone,

hills27 - thank you

Dennis - thanks, unfortunately not until the middle of December

CW - thanks and you are welcome

moremiles - thanks and I have a Panasonic FZ30 and the lens is to 420 I think

Carole, thanks and who wouldn't be excited, the gameviewing is always exceptional and always something new and exciting to see

spiegelcjs - thanks, no I am happy with any ranger, all do a great job

Thanks Hari, you are right, I always have fantastic safari moments which I guess is why I cannot stop returning

Thank you Lynn - I get heaps of practice with birds at home as I take quite a few! The baby buffalo being born was fantastic and my first complete birth and I was a lucky duck to see it! I do like variety in my photos, definitely not just a big 5 photographer. You are right about MalaMala's leopards, this trip I saw 20 different leopards, which is my record.

Lastly Matt, Thanks, he is a huge male though the Jakkalsdraai female is very petite. Never did see those Eyrefield Pride cubs, so hope they are all OK.

Kind regards,

Kaye

20 leopards? That's a convention!

Kaye:
Wonderful pictures. The buffalo birth is fantastic. You also have the cutest hyena pictures i have ever seen.

Camera and zoom - "thanks and I have a Panasonic FZ30 and the lens is to 420 I think"
What? That's it? No Canon/Nikon with four kinds of lens, no RAW processing? Maybe there is something to the theory that it is the photographer that is important
regards - tom
ps - I will be at Mala Sep 14-20, anybody?

Tom, I'm there 20th - 24th. Are you in the 'single room'?

Cheers,
Gary.

What a beautiful collection you have here Kaye. I enjoyed them all especially the Rollercoaster male and the little ellie throwing his weight around. What a huge neck on that male kudu.

I am impresssed that you know these animals so intimately and hope those Eyrefield cubs are ok too. When was the last time they were spotted?

Kaye,

I'm correct in saying the Mala Mala 'Eyrefield' pride is the Londolozi 'Sparta' pride?

One of the Rollercaoster males (whose picture is one my living room wall) was mating with one of the lionesses when I was at Londolozi in Spetember 2006.

Cheers,
Gary.

Gary, yes in the "single room". I don't know if they actually have a "single room" or whether it is a regular room (any room) that they just put a single rate on. My last night is the 19th, I leave the 20th (first night is the 14th).
regards - tom

Tom

Right after you. We have a regular procession of Fodorites between 9/14 and 10/4

OK!!! First one in buys Cokes for everybody! No, wait, that's me
regards - tom
ps - just had to get in a dig about their charging for Cokes

Kaye,

What camera and what lenses did you use? Did you see the characteristic V-shape on the Bicycle Crossing Male's head?

I'm going for work experience(I'm 18) in July and will be able to go on all game drives with guests(sit next to the tracker etc.)

What leopard is your favourite?

Regards,

JP

Hi all,

Lynn - I was lucky - 20 leopards - the last about 20 minutes before I was picked up to leave!

Bat - thanks and the buffalo birth was a definite highlight as were the hyena pups. They were a joy to watch and there were 4 older pups but only saw them once at night for a very brief period of time.

Tom - I like to think that is true - it is the photographer not the camera!

Gary - yes, they are the "Sparta" Pride and not sure how they refer to the Rollercoaster Males, as the "Sparta" Males were the West Street Males of MalaMala, I think.

Thanks Carla, I am still working on the other 1900 odd photos I took over there. The cubs were seen the morning that I arrived (9 March). Saw the lionesses a few times, but they didn't have the cubs with them as usually on the hunt.

JP - I have a Panasonic FZ30. The Bicycle Crossing Male is certainly one good looking boy and I thinks he knows it and yes, I know the v-shape that you are referring to. I love all the leopards, but my absolute favourite would be the White Cloth Female and also love the Campbell Koppies Female and I have a soft spot for the Ngoboswan Female as well! Lucky you being at MalaMala for work experience - make sure you take lots of warm things as freezing in July and tell them all that Kaye says Hi!

Kind regards

Kaye

KayN
After looking at these pictures I am really reconsidering my "almost" purchase of the dSLR and lens for almost $1000. WEre you really able to get these shots only with the Pansonic Z30. I have really debated about the Z50 but my brother who is an admited camera snob says that the start up time is to slow and the time between shots is to slow for moving animals. Is this true from your experience. I am willing to spend the money but not be wasteful.

We leave on May 28 so Ineed to get going.

Great pix, thanks.

according to one site I looked at, the FZ30 are discontinued. Does anyone know what the closest replacement style would be?

Probably the Panasonic FZ50.
http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/panasonicfz50/
regards - tom

Kaye,

Have you seen the sighting/diary tv of Mala Mala of 25 March - 1 April. Your photos of the Selati female leopard looks exactly the same as Bruce Hedge's photos. Did you maybe give your photos to Mala Mala to put on the website?

In a time span of 8 months(July 2006 - April 2007) there has been 12 new rangers at Mala Mala. Comment? To bad you missed Raimund. Got to know him when I was there in July of last year. What a great ranger! A super cool guy. The jokes he cracks are hilarious!

Regards,

JP

"Some fantastic gameviewing"

Fantastic,amazing,extraordinary and more,you can say.

And you came back with a nice collection of pictures.
I specially like the very original composition of the kudu neck.

Thanks for sharing.

Hi everyone

spiegelcjs - I am very happy with the Panasonic FZ30 and yes, I did use it and it only for all my photos! Currently I am not prepared to spend the money on an SLR when I get the photos I do now, so yes, I myself consider it wasteful for me to spend that amount of money just to say that I use a canon or nikon! I do believe that camera equipment is not all that is needed for good photos!

hguy47 - thank-you!

PacoAhedo - Thanks for looking and you are right, it was all of that even though I had quite a few gamedrives that were raining or cold and overcast, when all animals disappear completely!

JP

That would be because my head and camera would have been approximately 6" away from Bruce Hedge's head, as I was lucky enough to be a guest in his vehicle, and I always try to sit directly behind the ranger! So no, MalaMala ranger's do not need me to supply them photos as they have many talented photographer rangers!
In my time, I have been with many rangers from MalaMala and they all have been fantastic and all seem to possess a fantastic sense of humour, but dealing with guests I suppose they need to! I am usually there a couple of times each year, and stay there around 3 weeks, so not too many go through that I have not met, at least. In regards to my comment about rangers coming and going, it happens, and when I return I always see many familiar faces so it presents me with no problems at all!

Kind regards

Kaye

Kaye,

Will you be there in July? I'm there from 1-15 July.

How are Tom and Nils doing? I see Leon has left Mala Mala after 16 years. He told me that in his 16 years at Mala Mala he never once saw an adult male cheetah! Can you believe that!

Regards,

JP

Thank you so much for sharing your wonderful photos. I also have the FZ30, so I'm thrilled to see what it can do.
What settings did you normally use to capture your shots? Manual, or the little red heart setting?

Thanks

Hi JP

Tom and Nils were fine - Tom still working when I left and Nils was on holidays. And no, I am not back until mid December 2007. And no, that does seem hard to believe, that Leon never saw an adult male cheetah!

Hi cruisinred

Thank you for your kind comments. I use the P setting but on birds in particular, I am going to try the manual focus, as that is where I have the most trouble - out of focus birds. I now need glasses for seeing if the camera is in focus, and I hate wearing them when I use the camera as I like it against my eye and do not use the screen. So until I get back to the room and check, I never really know if it is clear or not! I take plenty of shots and luckily I can see enough to compose my photos to my liking!

Kind regards,

Kaye

Hello Kaye,

I just want to know if you noticed a negative feeling between Mala Mala and Londolozi. Feud between the Vartys and Rattrays? Have you noticed that the Mala Mala rangers always refer to Londolozi as Sparta. Any reason for this?

I just love your photos! Have you sent a few to Mala Mala to put in their Guest Photo gallery?

Are you from Australia?

Regards,

Jp

JP

There is definitely a rivalry. MM rangers refer to some parts of Londolozi as Sparta and some as Marthly, this is a reference to the names of the farms that were turned into reserves. The land to the north of MM is called Gowrie.
Londolozi refers to Sparta itself and presumably to Marthly and any other of the original properties they own.

Napamatt,

I heard from a Londolozi ranger that Mr.Rattray shouted at a Londolozi vehicle for shining the spotlight on Mala Mala's side of a road that devides Mala Mala and Londolozi!

The ranger also told me that one morning she came across a dead Kudu on Londolozi's side of the road. The Kudu died of natural causes and no predator had found it at that time. She informed the Mala Mala rangers and told them that they could have one vehicle at a time at that sighting. When she came to the sighting that afternoon, the kudu was on Mala Mala's side of the road and 30 meters in. Very suspicious?

I love Mala Mala and visit it twice a year. I'm friends with all the rangers and management. But this feud between the two lodges is very interesting!

Are you from South Africa, Napamatt?

Regards,

JP

JP

English, lived in CA for 13 years.

The Rattrays and the Varty's dont like each other, plain and simple.

The spotlight thing works both ways actually. This January there was a Londoz sighting near the Skukuza road and because it was night we could not stop.

As for moving the Kudu, that sounds like the basis for an episode of a 30 minute sitcom.

Matt

Hi JP

As Matt as already explained to you, the names they use refer to the old farm properties, so nothing in that! I have been to MM quite a few times and I stay quite a bit of time, and I have never heard a bad word regarding rangers working at Londolozi - some of the rangers have friends there and needless to say they say that those rangers are great! A few rangers from Londolozi when I stayed there, were very negative, and I took that as sour grapes, for whatever reason!

I am sure MM rangers have enough to do with their time, without moving kudu carcasses from one side to another! When I am with MM rangers on the evening drive, they take their rules regarding other properties very seriously, as they should, because an agreement must have been decided in the past, and why shouldn't both parties stick to it! I go to MalaMala for their fantastic gameviewing JP, so any interaction between the properties is of no great interest to me - frankly I rarely see vehicles from Londolozi, more vehicles are seen from neighbouring properties to the north, on Gowrie, and information regarding cats is passed by both sides in a friendly manner!

I have sent photos to the guest gallery and yes, I am australian.

The things I learn, sometimes, from this, I was not aware Matt that you were an Englishman living in CA!

Kind regards,

Kaye

As a very regular Mala Mala visitor, I too will wade in with my two pence worth and second the comment that in all of my visits, I have never heard any representative of Mala Mala make a derogotary remark in relation to Londolozi. I'm afraid that I can't say the same from Londolozi's point of view. I have only visited Londolozi twice, but on both occasions, the rangers were quick to take any opportunity to 'knock' Mala Mala.

Kaye - as you so rightly say, I was definitely left with the impression of 'sour grapes'.

Glad you enjoyed your last trip, looks like the game viewing was as reliable as ever and great photos by the way! Off myself at the end of next week.

Kind Regards,

Carol

Hi Carol

Yes I definitely had some fantastic gameviewing with some quite times during the gamedrives, but looking back at the photos, I think I really do forget very quickly how lucky I have always been in the gameviewing department, and that is why I go!

As you say, I have also been at Londolozi and two rangers were very negative, which was so odd, as I said I was a regular and I have no idea why they kept it up, anyone with a bit of sense would have clammed up on the subject!

I wish you wonderful gameviewing and I am really hoping that someone soon sees the Eyrefield cubs - although not to date as I have just heard that no-one has seen them since I left - does not sound very promising!

They have just had very heavy rain so the river is running wildly for the moment and animals usually tend to disappear if too cold and windy, I would dearly love to find where they disappear to!

Kind regards

Kaye

Kaye, another great series of photos. I was in the Caribbean last week and had a dial-up connection, so I couldn't review, but now that I back to broadband I am glad I re-opened the link. I really liked the hyena pups -- I haven't seen those before.

Michael

Kaye, Thanks for your vivid pics - what a way to enjoy morning coffee, with cheetahs galore and cats of all sizes. What circle of life catches - the buffalo birth, the rhino baby, the ellie toddler tantrum, kudu babies, zebra baby. I can't wait to read the report, so far, so great. Deb

Kaye,

Thank you. I've never been disappointed to date, but it is very easy to take fantastic game viewing for granted there!

I too hope that the Eyrefield cubs make an appearance soon - fingers crossed that they are still around somewhere.

Kind Regards,

Carol

Mala Mala is wonderful. It is magical. You do not know what is waiting at the next turn. I hope to go back there one day...

Cheers,

JP

Michael, thanks - I also have not seen hyena pups before and it was one of my highlights - always something new to see no matter how often I am there!

Deb, thanks for your kind words - I probably will not do a report as for me the gameviewing is my report. I do not know how some people keep all those trip memories in such detail and there is really no need for me to share a minute by minute account of people with me- like most gameviewers I really like some fellow guests and I really dislike others! Please ask anything that you feel I may be able to answer otherwise my photos must tell you that I had a terrific trip with fantastic gameviewing and I shall do it all over again in December!

Carol, it really is easy to take it for granted, but I do know how incredibly lucky I have been since I started gameviewing.

Yes JP, that is part of the magic of any gameviewing, what will be around a corner? I thought you were going to MM in July for work experience?

Kind regards

Kaye

Kaye,

Thanks for your great photos. Such a wide array of subjects. Loved the hyena pups - I've seen pups before but not that young. I think my favorite though was the kudu's neck - how did you get that one?

I loved the birds especially the kingfishers with the full tummies. Wow! If I could get pics like that I would be thrilled!

Thanks for sharing.

How long did you stay at each location? I've been wanting to go back to Africa for quite some time. Are you going to do a trip report eventually? Can hardly wait.

Deb (another one)

Kaye,

Not going anymore. It's a long story. I am so jealous that you are able to visit MM twice a year.

Cheers,

JP

Wowww! what great photos! NOw I must get to go to MM. What are the best times? I would love to be able to do a green safari but work ususally has me needing to travel in late Aug or Dec/ Jan. What other times do yu think it good to go there? Also, having the reach to +400 sure lets you get great bird shots, doesn't it? I must see what I can do before I h ead off this summer. I have a Canon 30D with 70 -200 zoom but found it , even with an extender, a tad short. Do you find the reaction time on the Panasonice quick enough? And what about the smaller cameras?
Again, thaks for the photos. I so would love to see a leopard!!!!
Rhoda

Yes, and we, too, want to plan a safari. We have late December available with 4 teens - they have to go on their winter breaks. It's the last chance our family can be together, we think, and we've been wanting to do a safari at one of the BEST places.. we've heard Mala Mala and Singita are the most luxurious and best for wildlife viewing... so, any suggestions as to how many days to allow? Flying from the Eastern US.. how many days to allow for travel back and forth and how many days at the lodge? I think I may be a tad late in checking into accommodations, but I want to try!

Teadrinker

You can fly Dulles to Joberg overnight. Then spend a night in Joberg before transferring to Sabi Sands, December, particularly Christmas can be busy so check now for availability. Mala Mala is not as luxurious as Singita (much cheaper) but Rattrays is very lux. Mala Mala rooms are still more luxurious than most hotel rooms in the world, so everything is relative, plus the game viewing and guiding is excellent.

Hi

Deb, the other one - I love seeing all creatures, great and small and certainly not racing after the big 5 (my worst nightmare)! Kudu Bulls often walk from you once the vehicle stops, so it was pure luck the decided to stop and snack up high with his horns parallel to the ground - an enormous neck, isn't it? I was only at MalaMala - but I did have a 3 night stint at the luxurious Rattray's and the rest of the time at Main Camp. No probably not a trip report as I am really hoping my photos say what a fantastic trip I had and I would rather not dwell on the fact that I shared vehicles with some of the fellow guests from hell!

Rhoda, thank-you - I have now been to MM in the following months - Nov, Dec, Jan, March, May, June, July and Sept and I love gameviewing at all of those times. This trip in March had super rains about 2 weeks before I was there and the grass was dreadfully high but gameviewing in the hotter months is shorter as it is difficult to get fellow guests to be out in the heat! I prefer the heat to the cold, although if warm enough it is OK! Dec-Jan is the time frame I have also been using since 2003 and I have had some great gameviewing in that time, winter gameviewing always seems better because you are out for longer times, you stay out later in the morning and go out earlier in the afternoon. I am happy with the Panasonic and the reaction time is good - more likely to be me with the slow reaction time not the camera! Never had a small camera as zoom not enough, as you say, for the smaller things. The birds do need to be fairly close, if too far I am wasting my time. In the 25 days I had at MM, I saw 20 different leopards and most of those I saw more than once, so I have always had great leopard sightings at MM.

Teadrinker - I take nieces aged between 15 and 24 with me on most trips. Booking for late December 2007, and it being their high season it is a good chance that accomodation for 6 would be very difficult to get now. I booked Dec 2007/Jan 2008 in October 2006 and am about to begin booking for Dec 2008.
I am a huge fan of MalaMala and it is my only destination at this time. I have been to Singita in 2003/4 and 5 and because of the price I would not go back. For luxury accomodation I much prefer Rattray's, a second camp at MalaMala and I usually do 3 or 4 nights there to break up the time at Main Camp. I am a gameviewing addict and that is the reason why I return to MalaMala time and time again! Good luck with booking!

Kind regards

Kaye

Ah, come on Kaye, just one little story about the fellow guests from hell. It'll do you good to talk about it, pretty please.
regards - tom

Hi Tom

Sure - they were all american!

Kind regards

Kaye

Kaye - America is capitalized.
regards - tom

and so is American
Tom

Hi Kaye

From one fellow Australian to another........."Love your work!"

Cheers
Marc

Hi Marc

Thank you for your kind comment.

Kind regards,

Kaye

topping for a friend.

Kind regards

Kaye

Your pictures are INCREDIBLE. I am just starting my search for our first trip to Africa...your pics have convinced my hubby it's time to book!

Hi JennaJ

You are welcome. I am pleased your husband was so easily convinced and good luck with your planning!

Kind regards,

Kaye

After you read this, D S & C - I rest my case!!!

K

Kaye,

I agree that your photos are excellent and great composition. My husband and I just looked at all them and it makes us very excited to get to MM.

Hope that we will see some of the little babies that you saw. What fantastic pictures of the babies, birth, kills, and all. Excellent bird photos as well.

-Granny Joan

Thanks Granny Joan for your kind comments. I am totally obsessed with gameviewing and photography and I did have fabulous gameviewing in my time in March.

Unfortunately it seems the Eyrefield Pride has no babies now which is very sad. In March I got a distant sighting of one and audio of at least 2. The lion prides, Styx and Eyrefield are not having a lot of success with their cubs living to be adults, so I am hoping to see some lion babies in December. There is always something that I must see next trip!

Kind regards

Kaye

Kaye,

Really enjoyed your beautiful pictures. It seems that Mala Mala is hard to beat when it comes to gameviewing.

Kind regards,

Johan

Hi Johan,

Thank you, that is very complimentary coming from you! You are right, MalaMala is always fantastic gameviewing and I often do not realize how great it was until I return home and start looking at the photos I have taken. No matter how many times I return, I am always very lucky in what I see and I always see new and exciting things, the day will never never come when I have seen everything!

Kind regards,

Kaye

Utterly spectacular pictures, Kaye. And what amazing and varied sights you saw! I loved the variety of subjects.
I just finished watching your slide show - TWICE! Thanks for sharing.

Hi Panecote

Thanks for looking at my photos - twice. I love the variety and I get very cranky if we only race around looking for the big five! I love seeing everything, then you never have a quite gamedrive as always something to see!

Kind regards

Kaye

Kaye,

With regards to cheetah at MM.....i know from your pics that you have always had some fabulous viewing, but, have you recognized certain cheetah from one trip to the next?

Thanks

Rgds,
Hari

I have been looking for updates on those lion cubs, but so far no sightings. :'(

Hi Hari

The only cheetah that I know I saw a couple of times, were a female that had been attacked by a lion and her cubs. She was very distinct because of an leg injury, that looked dreadful but she obviously could still hunt very well. She started with 5 cubs, then 3 then 2 and it was with 2 that I last saw her. From stories told, I do believe a lion got her in the end. She was a character to be sure, but unfortunately she took on the lions once too often. But otherwise, it is subadults that move on or females with cubs passing through and very difficult for me to know if I have seen them before or not!

Hi Carla,

I think those cubs went missing in action when I was there in March and very beginning of April. The 6 were seen the morning of my arrival, 9 March and then I saw the eldest one from a distance in the middle of March, and heard at least one other little one, then not seen again, but saw the Eyrefield Pride a few times. So sadly, 6 lives have gone, without ever really starting! Luckily for the leopards, they seem to be doing very well at MM now and I am not giving up that I will see both leopard and lion cubs at MM this Xmas!

Kind regards

Kaye