Kaye's Photos from MalaMala 9 March to 3 April 2007
Apr 8th, 2007, 02:19 AM
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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
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
Apr 8th, 2007, 04:14 AM
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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
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
Apr 8th, 2007, 03:14 PM
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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.
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.
Apr 8th, 2007, 06:22 PM
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Apr 8th, 2007, 11:33 PM
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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
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
Apr 9th, 2007, 12:08 AM
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"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.
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.
Apr 9th, 2007, 12:51 AM
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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
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
Apr 9th, 2007, 04:20 AM
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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
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
Apr 9th, 2007, 06:51 AM
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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
What settings did you normally use to capture your shots? Manual, or the little red heart setting?
Thanks
Apr 9th, 2007, 07:28 AM
#32
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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
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
Apr 11th, 2007, 11:43 PM
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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
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
Apr 12th, 2007, 05:15 AM
#34
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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.
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.
Apr 12th, 2007, 05:30 AM
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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
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
Apr 12th, 2007, 02:47 PM
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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
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
Apr 12th, 2007, 10:59 PM
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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 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
Apr 13th, 2007, 01:32 AM
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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
Apr 13th, 2007, 06:34 AM
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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
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
Apr 13th, 2007, 06:46 AM
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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
Michael
