Amboseli, Kenya
by Michael Lorentz
Having spent a couple of hours in the afternoon with a herd of about sixty elephants on the edge of Lake Amboseli, I took this photograph just after five in the afternoon. The light was magical as the wintry sun set, casting long shadows on these majestic animals as they crossed this dry lake bed towards a nearby waterhole.
Thank you to all of our July photo contest participants! We had some stunning images submitted and have chosen the following winners:
Professional Winner: Grant Atkinson
Amateur Winner: Marlize Vosser
Under 17 Winner: Jamie Holmes (11yrs)
Each month's winners will be posted to our Passage To Africa facebook page along with image details:
We look forward to seeing your "People & Cultures" entries for August. Don't forget, entries must be received by August 20th to be considered for the August competition. For complete photo competition details see below...
By Richard Coke
Virunga National Park was getting back to normal after a terrible period of instability that saw Hutu rebels taking refuge in the park. Unfortunately the problems have flared up again. We feel very fortunate to have had a window of opportunity to visit at the time that we did.
By Michael Lorentz
The highlight of my trip to Virunga National Park was this encounter with mountain gorillas. I’ve always said that if I only had five days left on earth, I’d spend one of them trekking gorillas.
Cape Town, one of the most beautiful cities in the world - an urban treasure, combines wonderful interactions with nature in the heart of a thriving metropolis against the backdrop grandeur of Table Mountain.
Historical attractions in and around the city include the Cape Malay Quarter, with its cobbled streets and brightly coloured houses; van Riebeeck’s Company Gardens, museums and galleries and Kirstenbosch Botanical gardens. The Victoria and Alfred Waterfront, Cape Town’s working harbour, offers a vibrant atmosphere and an abundance of experiences, including Robben Island, the isle of banishment that held Nelson Mandela captive for twenty-seven years.
Our very own, Michael Lorentz, is proud to report the launch of his latest venture – SAFARIOUS. This online community introduces the serious wilderness professional to the curious adventurer in a networking forum designed to unite all those who share a passion for the beauty and conservation of the natural world.
Birkenhead House & Birkenhead Villa
Hermanus, South Africa
Birkenhead House
A short distance from Cape Town, set high on the magnificent Hermanus cliffs overlooking Walker Bay, is the stately Birkenhead House. This stunning residence is named after the HMS Birkenhead, once the largest iron ship of the Royal Navy it sank in Walker Bay in 1852. Since its inception Birkenhead House has demonstrated such incredible standards of luxury, service and dining that it has been consistently nationally and internationally acclaimed.
Lioness in Water
By Michael Lorentz
Mombo Island, Botswana
I returned mid morning to watch this lioness feeding on a giraffe killed two days before on the edge of a floodplain. As the day warmed up and her belly got full, the lioness retreated to the shade of some nearby trees.
Sea kayaking along South Africa's scenic coastline is exhilarating; the sense of freedom experienced while self propelling through the waters of the vast ocean expanse in unrivaled.
From June to December, Walker Bay is the kayaking hot spot. A truly magical experience as the Southern Right Whales have left their Antarctic feeding grounds to frolic in the warmer waters of the Western Cape shoreline.
We love Cape Town! A world-class city destination offering an extravagant array of wining, dining and adventure experiences within a hub of culture and history.
At a glance, here are PTA's "Top 10 To-Do's" a well-rounded insight into the diversity of the Mother City.
After PTA’s March trip to the Democratic Republic of Congo and more specifically experiencing the extraordinary Virunga National Park, we were incredibly touched by this video from the Chief Warden of the Virunga National Park, Emmanuel de Merode.
Virunga is truly the crown jewel of Africa’s national parks, containing over 50% of sub-Saharan Africa’s biodiversity and home to about 200 of the world’s last 720 critically endangered mountain gorillas.