Around the Campfire – Bird Photography

The Madikwe game reserve is a real mecca for bird lovers, and particularly bird photographers. We have recently seen an increase in people that want to photograph birds!

So, what makes the Madikwe Game Reserve special for bird lovers? The answer is very simple, it’s where the game reserve is, that makes it special. Madikwe lies in the western bushveld ecotone, but right on the western side of the western bushveld, almost bordering on the Kalahari Semi Desert. As a result, the birdlife is a massive variety of both bushveld and the more desert variety, and as a result, more than 350 species of bird have been recorded on what is actually quite a small area of 75,000 hectares or 185,329 acres. The diversity in habitats from grassland to riverine forest, mountains and bushveld. This all increases the offering for the avid bird lover.

The lodge also caters for those that love to photograph birds, offering rental equipment that is able to create some phenomenal images to take home. The Canon 7d camera and Canon 100-400mm lens are light, easy to use and take great wildlife and bird photo’s.

Some of favourite birds to find and photograph on Madikwe are the Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, Carmine Bee-eater, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, a large collection of birds of prey and several Roller and Kingfisher species. Most are colourful and charismatic, and a lot of fun to try and get that perfect snap!

Text by Darren Donovan