The Uganda Meander

The Murchison National park is suited in the northern part of Albertine Rift Valley. A place where the massive Bunyoro escarpment amalgamate into the enormous plains of Acholi land. It’s well known to be one of Uganda’s ancient conservation areas. In 1926, it was known as a game reserve set up to protect the savannah grassland that was talked about by Winston Church chill in 1907.

Uganda Meander by Corne Schalkwyk 

I wanted to ensure that I get a photo that reflects these vast grasslands that the area is known for, and this buffalo made for a great accent to show the wildlife as well. 

 

Ground level Lizard

Photography can become a great adventure at times. This was one of those adventures along the Kazinga channel in Queen Elizabeth national park in Uganda.

I spotted this Nile monitor also referred to as a water leguaan from the boat as we passed an enclave on the banks of the channel, and hopped off into the shallow water to get a closer look. I decided that this would be a great opportunity to use a smaller lens and get up close and personal. The lizard had incredible colouration and patterning on its skin and I wanted to bring that out.

Nile monitor by Corne Schalkwyk

This in turn meant getting closer that I would normally do in the wild, especially since the water was full of crocks, undeterred I sneaked up (basically crawled) up to the monitor lizard, that surprised me by holding his position. I’m very happy with this photo that really brings out the colour and skin texture as I played around with focus points. 

If you want to visit the area contact Premier Safaris at reservations@premiersafaris.com or have a look at the western wonderland trip on their website at www.premiersafaris.com   

First Sight of the “hairy People”

This photo of the black back of the Mubare Family has become one of my favourite photos. In part its due to the fact that it was taken on my first ever encounter with a Mountain gorilla family. But its more than that.

We had a very difficult trip up the mountain to reach this family and I really had to work for this one. The photo also shows the difficulty in photographing these critically endangered animals or “hairy people” as I love to call them in the wild.

First sight by Corne Schalkwyk 

 The photo achieved international acclaim that is ongoing and was featured in different magazine articles and will also be part of DHL’s calendar of 2014.

It’s become the face of Premier Safaris gorilla focused Safaris and – you can also see more of the photos and my account in the official magazine for the Bidvest Lounges at the airports in Southern Africa (Interestingly also called Premier Magazine) 

http://www.premiersafaris.com/sites/default/files/files/blog/gorillas.pdf 

www.premiersafaris.com if you wanted to see these animals up close and personal 

The misty covered mountains

Bwindi Impenetrable National Park lies in south-western region of  Uganda on the edge of the Rift Valley. Its mist-covered hillsides are blanketed by one of Uganda's oldest and most biologically diverse rain-forests, which dates back over 25,000 years and contains almost 400 species of plants. More famously, this “impenetrable forest” also protects an estimated 320 mountain gorillas – roughly half of the world’s population, including several habituated groups, which can be tracked.

Misty covered hills on route to the rain forests  by  Corne Schalkwyk 

 This biologically diverse region also provides shelter to a further 120 mammals, including several primate species such as baboons and chimpanzees, as well as elephants and antelopes. There are around 350 species of birds hosted in this forest, including 23 Albertine Rift endemics.