15/10/2024
POV:
I am woken up by my 5:30am alarm. I kick off the sheets on my bed which is less than just meter from the ground level shooting windows of the Lala Limpopo Sleep Out Hide, my cameras had been set up and left there when I took a nap around past 1 am.
Still in my pyjama bottoms and my leather jacket on, I open the long aluminum windows to let in the cool air coming from the pond just a few centimeters away, the magical colors of dawn are painting the eastern skies in shades from lavender, turquoise to rusty orange. There isn’t much animal activity at the pond, save for some pigeons, and a group skittish Blue Wildebeest at a distance which seemed to be weighing the risk of coming in to drink.
I dashed to the next side of the building, which houses the much needed bathroom and our kitchen for some caffeine fix. The espresso machine was already hot and running, so i pulled a strong shot and had it lean before heading back to my set cameras & adjusted my comfortable ergonomic chair that could have easily been in some high finance office building. Less than 5 mins into sipping my coffee, the boys started sounding some excitement from the back, “there’s a hyena approaching from the back of the buiding”. Those who were still in bed kicked off their blankies and in less than a minute we were all set up infront of our cameras and shutters clicking away as this huge hyena leaned into the pond and started slapping at the water. He was eventually joined by a second hyena and they both got into the pond for a morning bath before disappearing into the thicket.
PhotoMashatu created a marvel with the Lala Limpopo Hide and paid attention to detail, comfort and convenience required for a 17 hour overnight stay and shooting. I together with BWsFinest was one of the priviledged wildlife photographers who were invited to try out this new hide development.
Mashatu Game Reserve Tuli Safari Lodge Mashatu
