One rainy afternoon, while sorting through thousands of safari photos, I decided to take a much-needed break, indulge in my love for Harry Potter, and have some fun.
Being a huge fan of both the books and the movies, I couldn’t resist the opportunity to immerse myself again in the magical world of witchcraft and wizardry, even if for a few hours.
The King.
As you may have seen from my Instagram stories, I went on a safari in South Africa, a truly awe-inspiring experience. We spent ten incredible days first in the Marakele National Park, Thabazimbi, and then in the Lapalala Wilderness Reserve, where we were privileged to witness animals in their natural habitat, a sight that never ceased to amaze us.
A lion strolling leisurely through the Lapalala Wilderness Reserve bathed in the gentle glow of the early morning light.
Captivated by the serene beauty of the wilderness. Witnessing this majestic lion immersed in the soft morning light was truly an unforgettable experience.
Chasing giraffes and zebras! 🦒 Spotting giraffes in their natural habitat is always the highlight of any safari for me. I absolutely love animals with spots or stripes, so this was a dream come true. While some people rushed to look for the Big Five, I went after giraffes and zebras, LOL.
I captured this photo in Marakele National Park, Thabazimbi, our first stop. During our visit, we spent a few days at the Marataba Mountain Lodge, featuring only five suites and offering a breathtaking view of the nearby mountains. Situated in a privately managed area within Marakele National Park, the lodge is approximately a 3-hour and 30-minute drive from Johannesburg.
Imagine the thrill of spotting a young male cheetah on a beautiful golden afternoon while walking just a few meters behind him! It was just my husband, our experienced guide Brendan Vorster (IG: @brendans_wildlife), and me alone in the long grass; the quiet scene occasionally interrupted by the calls of birds and the sound of the wind rustling through the tree leaves. It was an unforgettable experience that we’ll always cherish.
The cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus), the fastest land animal, can sprint at an astonishing 93 to 104 km/h (58 to 65 mph). Its body is uniquely designed for speed, with a slender build, long, thin legs, and a lengthy tail. The semi-retractable claws, a distinctive feature not found in other cats, play a crucial role in its remarkable speed.
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Lapalala Wilderness Reserve was our second safari destination. We were incredibly fortunate to be accommodated at the Noka Camp, one of the renowned Lepogo Lodges. The five villas, perched on a striking 100-foot clifftop, not only offered awe-inspiring views over the Palala River but also provided a lavish and cozy stay. The lodge, a few hours’ drive from Johannesburg, is completely malaria-free, a key factor in our decision to choose it.
Brotherly love at its finest. These two cheetah brothers always have each other’s backs.
Double trouble. Two young cheetah brothers walk gracefully in the Lapalala Wilderness Reserve on a golden afternoon, the epitome of grace and speed. They moved effortlessly at a seemingly slow pace, yet we could barely keep up with them.
Mesmerized by the gentle strength and protective nature of this beautiful female elephant with her adorable baby following closely behind. 🐘💕
An elephant breeding herd in the breathtaking Marakele National Park, what an awesome sight! The mother in front was very protective of the baby, stirring up dust, flapping her ears, and trumpeting vigorously to keep us away.
Stay tuned, because I’m bursting with excitement to share more from this unforgettable adventure with all of you!
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I’m feeling grateful and honored as Canon Romania chose my photo to be their Facebook cover for the month of July. I am so excited to share my passion for photography and travels with a broader audience!
This is what the Canon Romania Facebook page looks like now; I’m so proud!
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The sun is finally out, and the gardening season is in full swing! I’m either busy in the garden or capturing its beauty, which leaves me with little time for photo editing. And let’s be honest, who wants to be cooped up indoors when the sun is shining? I guess I’ll have to wait for a rainy day to catch up on some editing, ha, ha!
Here are a few photos I managed to edit from May: first out, the delicate cherry tree flowers in Kungsträdgården. I go there every year to photograph the pink fluffy flowers of the Japanese cherry trees, and this year was no exception. It’s such a joy!
A playful red squirrel because, you know, squirrels 😍.
Vibrant pink peonies from my garden. These peonies are from last year, and I can’t help but look forward to the magical moment when this year’s blooms grace my garden in a few weeks.
I hope you enjoyed these photos; there are more to come next month.
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Warning: cuteness overload! This little joey has got me wrapped around its tiny paw. Just look at those big eyes and fluffy ears! 🦘❤️ And that golden light! I feel so blessed to witness moments like these.
A Kangaroo Island kangaroo female (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus) tenderly grooms her suckling joey 😍. Incredibly, the mother kangaroo can carry joeys at different development stages in her pouch. She can also provide different nutritional content milk in her four teats to cater to the various joeys’ ages!
This is the same joey as in the first photo. How cute?
All kangaroo photos were taken at the Ecopia Retreat wildlife sanctuary in February 2024.
Squirrel on a mission: curiosity never looked so cute! 🐿️💕
Always looking ahead, even when the view seems a little bit nutty 🐿️🌳.
I hope you enjoyed these photos; there are more to come next month.
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When you and your mate have a disagreement and need to settle it like true Aussies 🇦🇺🥊😂. I always wanted to photograph boxing kangaroos, and one February evening, I was finally lucky enough to find a pair of joeys sparring playfully while the sun was going down. (And the light disappeared quickly; I had to bump up the ISO to 12.800 to freeze the action in low light).
Another joey, grooming itself, same magical evening. So cute!
White-faced heron (Egretta novaehollandiae) photographed at the wildlife sanctuary created by Ecopia Retreat on Kangaroo Island, South Australia.
A wild bottlenose dolphin emerges from the sea to breathe, expelling stale air through the blowhole on top of its head before inhaling fresh air.
This is the first time I’ve photographed dolphins, and it took me a while to figure out the best way to do it. Unfortunately, they disappeared before I could perfect my newfound technique. Nevertheless, I’m grateful for this fantastic experience!
Photographed off the North Coast of Kangaroo Island, South Australia.
I was fortunate enough to come across this rare eastern osprey (Pandion haliaetus cristatus), also known as the fish hawk, on Hanson Bay beach in Kangaroo Island (South Australia) in February 2024.
Unfortunately, they are a rare sight nowadays. They are listed as vulnerable in South Australia, and only 50 breeding pairs are estimated to be left in the region.
Sadly, human activities such as coastal development and competition for food with fishing production negatively impact their nesting sites and breeding.
I hope you enjoyed these photos; there are more to come next month.
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I’m thrilled to announce that my photo of this adorable Kangaroo Island kangaroo and her joey was a finalist in the 2023 Pangolin Wildlife Photography Challenge‘s “Animal Behaviour” category.
I captured this photo while on a trip to Kangaroo Island, a beautiful and unique place in South Australia. It is my absolute favorite photo of the year, and it’s an honor to have it recognized among so many beautiful entries.
Watching the mother take care of her little one was amazing; they had such a special bond! Witnessing moments like these is what makes wildlife photography so special to me.
The kangaroos in the photo are Kangaroo Island kangaroos, a subspecies of the Western Grey Kangaroo (Macropus fuliginosus). Because of their long period of isolation from mainland Australia, the KI kangaroos are pretty different from the Western Grey kangaroos. They’re shorter, darker, and much cuter if you ask me!
This was my first time entering a photo contest, and I’m thrilled to have made it among the finalists. So many talented photographers and beautiful photos were submitted, and I’m honored to be included among them. Thanks to everyone who supported me!
I hope this photo helps remind people of how important it is to protect and preserve our wildlife and helps to raise awareness and appreciation for these amazing animals. Every animal has a unique story and deserves to be appreciated and respected.
Here are all the finalists; my photo is at 5:31 minutes in the video. And on the video cover 😉.
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Two young Kangaroo Island kangaroos (Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus) practicing their boxing skills.
Wait, what? Kangaroos? Does it mean that I’ve been to Australia again?
Indeed I was, and too short a time it was! Three weeks on Kangaroo Island flew by in the blink of an eye, and now I’m back home, sorting through thousands of photos. I’ve just started, so it’ll take some time until I’m done and can begin processing the best photos.
I love this photo because it was the first time I’d seen boxing kangaroos, and managed to take a few pictures in that golden light.
We were on our way to Seal Bay for a 7am appointment with the research team when we came across these sheep grazing peacefully as the sun rose. Everything was bathed in gold; it was breathtaking.
Unfortunately, we were in a hurry and couldn’t afford to stop for too long. I literally jumped out of the car and quickly took a few photos, hoping some would be good enough 😅.
This may not be a masterpiece, but I love it. It has so many things I love: the golden light, the kangaroos, the grass tree to the left, and the flowering eucalyptus to the right.
The composition could be better, and I did move around a lot, trying to get a better angle, but the roos were skittish, and this is the best I could do.
I hope you enjoyed these photos; there are more to come next month.
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You see a car wash.
I see beauty.
All art is a point of view.
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Photography takes an instant out of time, altering life by holding it still.
Dorothea Lange
Dorothea Lange (1895 – 1965) was an American documentary photographer and photojournalist. She is best known for her work for the Farm Security Administration during the Great Depression.
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