Just wanted to thank you for all the work you've put in on these videos. We have been planning a long trip to Kruger next year, and we have gleaned a lot of valuable information from your work.It would be nice to know what gear you used at some point.
Thanks for your appreciation and I hope you found some things useful for your own trip. As far as gear goes I used a GoPro Hero 5 mounted on the windscreen, quality on that can be a bit hit and miss. I think the later ones are better or the DJI Osmo Action. For talking to camera and some side shots I used a DJI Pocket 2 and for the wildlife video a Canon M50 with a 500-200mm lens. Finally for still photography I use a Canon 7D Mk II with a Sigma 150-600mm lens. A lot of gear but acquired over many years!
Many thanks. I tried to make the videos so that the viewer could share the experience rather than just watch me enjoying myself. It's the wildlife and scenery that matters not the guy filming it. Glad you appreciated that.
Thanks for the beautiful shots! They are really useful. I am planning a trip to South Africa for next summer and will be spending a few days in Kruger. I was thinking of visiting two camps: Skukuza (as I've read it's ideal for a first time visit) and another one (Lower Sabie inspires me but Talmati and Satari are closer to where I'll need to go next). I will do some solo safari but add some organized activities (Bush walks?). Is it also advisable to book the activities in advance, or can they be chosen on site? Thanks again for the videos that I will finish watching these days!
Thanks for the comment. Personally I'd choose Satara over Lower Sabie for the chance to head further north from the camp. It's not a long way between Lower Sabie and Skukuza and you can easily drive between the two in a morning. We booked activities in advance but only because we had some credit from previous cancellations, it's just as easy to book at the camps and I've never known the drives to be fully booked. I think at the bigger camps they just add another vehicle if they have sufficient bookings.
Really appreciate the time you put into to do the videos. May I ask whether the scenes with animals are filmed from the car from the road? It is very good and think you have a good camera. Is it easy to sight those animals without long lens as thinking if there are four of us in the car, whether those without good cameras can still see animals easily and that would be useful to know for planning our trip to Kruger.
Everything was filmed from the road as you are not allowed to get out of the car or drive off road. A telephoto lens was used (up to 200mm) but all animals can be seen easily with the naked eye. Zebras and wildebeest will often be standing right next to the road, elephants will cross right in front of you and you may have to reverse if they get too close. Young hyaenas will come right up to your car and look at you from a couple of feet away or even go under your car! Lions walking along the road will walk to within a few feet of your car and you might want to shut the windows! Of course all this won't happen all of the time but there will be times when you are within a few feet of the animals to compensate for the times when they are just a speck in the distance.
It would be lovely to have just the sounds of nature but it simply isn't possible with much of the audio containing other people's car engines and the noise of the wind on the mic. Where I can get decent natural audio I drop the music so it can be heard but without music to tie it all together it wouldn't flow. There would be clips with sound followed by clips with total silence (unless you like car engines!) and I don't feel that would work.
@@oldcodgerwithacamera the more I watched your videos, I realised that your presentation of it is good, I don't mind the music in-between and it's actually nice, I got used to it lol.
The purpose of getting pole position on the gates was good in the past, but it has been destroyed since the introduction of the morning drives. Anything on the roads is cleared by this drives that disturbs the animal into the bush. Also some of the staff and delivery trucks arrive before the gates are open and, again they scare the animals away. Kruger is not what it was because if this and many more factores unfortunately. Too many "Ferrari Safaris" and idiots on the road. Orpen camp is a prime exemple of this, as trucks go by from 5am. I have been visiting the Kruger since 1996. I love the park, but it is not being well managed at all for a long time now. I hope not all camps still have that horrible Mug and Beans chain of restaurants. They even destroyed the camps unique identities with the F&B.
For this reason, large camps, or camps near the entrance gates, like Skukuza, are mostly affected. Smaller, remote bush camps are not affected, so one can plan to get around it. But I agree, it's a shame, I particularly detest the fact that the morning drives are out before everyone else.
Another great episode. Love this series. Thanks for all the hard work producing these videos.
Many thanks for your kind words, much appreciated.
What a treat those wild dogs and the leopard just WAUW. Thanks
I just love wild dogs and a Kruger visit without them is almost disappointing!
Thank you so much for sharing this beautiful video of your adventure, be safe, enjoy, God bless
Many thanks for your comment and appreciation.
Great series! Your photographs are amazing as well!
Many thanks!
Just wanted to thank you for all the work you've put in on these videos. We have been planning a long trip to Kruger next year, and we have gleaned a lot of valuable information from your work.It would be nice to know what gear you used at some point.
Thanks for your appreciation and I hope you found some things useful for your own trip. As far as gear goes I used a GoPro Hero 5 mounted on the windscreen, quality on that can be a bit hit and miss. I think the later ones are better or the DJI Osmo Action. For talking to camera and some side shots I used a DJI Pocket 2 and for the wildlife video a Canon M50 with a 500-200mm lens. Finally for still photography I use a Canon 7D Mk II with a Sigma 150-600mm lens. A lot of gear but acquired over many years!
Great video with superb scenery. What I like most is that there are so few selfies which is much appreciated.
Keep up the wonderful videography.
Many thanks. I tried to make the videos so that the viewer could share the experience rather than just watch me enjoying myself. It's the wildlife and scenery that matters not the guy filming it. Glad you appreciated that.
Thanks for sharing, it's nice to share your Skukuza trip. We really enjoyed our time here as 'newbies'
And next time you'll enjoy it even more!
Thanks for the beautiful shots! They are really useful. I am planning a trip to South Africa for next summer and will be spending a few days in Kruger. I was thinking of visiting two camps: Skukuza (as I've read it's ideal for a first time visit) and another one (Lower Sabie inspires me but Talmati and Satari are closer to where I'll need to go next). I will do some solo safari but add some organized activities (Bush walks?). Is it also advisable to book the activities in advance, or can they be chosen on site? Thanks again for the videos that I will finish watching these days!
Thanks for the comment. Personally I'd choose Satara over Lower Sabie for the chance to head further north from the camp. It's not a long way between Lower Sabie and Skukuza and you can easily drive between the two in a morning. We booked activities in advance but only because we had some credit from previous cancellations, it's just as easy to book at the camps and I've never known the drives to be fully booked. I think at the bigger camps they just add another vehicle if they have sufficient bookings.
@@oldcodgerwithacamera Tank for the reply! I'll let you know what I'll do. Satara sounds good. It was already on my list. Thanx again!
Really appreciate the time you put into to do the videos. May I ask whether the scenes with animals are filmed from the car from the road? It is very good and think you have a good camera. Is it easy to sight those animals without long lens as thinking if there are four of us in the car, whether those without good cameras can still see animals easily and that would be useful to know for planning our trip to Kruger.
Everything was filmed from the road as you are not allowed to get out of the car or drive off road. A telephoto lens was used (up to 200mm) but all animals can be seen easily with the naked eye. Zebras and wildebeest will often be standing right next to the road, elephants will cross right in front of you and you may have to reverse if they get too close. Young hyaenas will come right up to your car and look at you from a couple of feet away or even go under your car! Lions walking along the road will walk to within a few feet of your car and you might want to shut the windows! Of course all this won't happen all of the time but there will be times when you are within a few feet of the animals to compensate for the times when they are just a speck in the distance.
Lovely videos. I think it would be better without background music, and just nature sounds...but that's just me.
It would be lovely to have just the sounds of nature but it simply isn't possible with much of the audio containing other people's car engines and the noise of the wind on the mic. Where I can get decent natural audio I drop the music so it can be heard but without music to tie it all together it wouldn't flow. There would be clips with sound followed by clips with total silence (unless you like car engines!) and I don't feel that would work.
@@oldcodgerwithacamera the more I watched your videos, I realised that your presentation of it is good, I don't mind the music in-between and it's actually nice, I got used to it lol.
The purpose of getting pole position on the gates was good in the past, but it has been destroyed since the introduction of the morning drives. Anything on the roads is cleared by this drives that disturbs the animal into the bush. Also some of the staff and delivery trucks arrive before the gates are open and, again they scare the animals away. Kruger is not what it was because if this and many more factores unfortunately. Too many "Ferrari Safaris" and idiots on the road. Orpen camp is a prime exemple of this, as trucks go by from 5am. I have been visiting the Kruger since 1996. I love the park, but it is not being well managed at all for a long time now. I hope not all camps still have that horrible Mug and Beans chain of restaurants. They even destroyed the camps unique identities with the F&B.
Hadn't thought of that before. Thanks for commenting.
For this reason, large camps, or camps near the entrance gates, like Skukuza, are mostly affected. Smaller, remote bush camps are not affected, so one can plan to get around it. But I agree, it's a shame, I particularly detest the fact that the morning drives are out before everyone else.