Michael van Rooyen Creative

24/06/2025

Full moon over the Tankwa on a balmy evening in April - one of the best months of the year to visit the Karoo. On assignment for with our wonderful friends .rising and .thefree.

20/06/2025

A cosmic safari in the Tankwa, on assignment for . ✨🌟

13/03/2025

The Sperrgebiet, or "Forbidden Zone," is a vast diamond mining area in southwestern Namibia, along the Atlantic coast. Established in 1908 under German colonial rule, it spans 26,000 km² and remains one of the most restricted and inaccessible regions in the world.

Abandoned structures scattered across the landscape tell the story of the diamond rush of the early 20th century. Once-thriving towns were abandoned as richer deposits emerged elsewhere, leaving ghostly, sand-filled structures that starkly contrast with the barren, surrounding landscape.

Despite its harsh conditions, the region hosts a surprising diversity of life, with many endemic species, leading to the creation of Tsau ǁKhaeb National Park. While access is limited, guided tours provide rare glimpses into this remote and hauntingly mysterious region.

View the full photo story in the Journal section of my website:
www.michaelvanrooyen.com/journal

05/03/2025

Part 2: Madikwe Hills is situated near the Botswana border within the vast Madikwe Game Reserve in the North West province of South Africa. The reserve boasts a rich diversity of vegetation and topography, offering ideal game viewing opportunities, including from your very own ultra-luxurious suite, perched amongst giant boulders and Tamboti trees.

I was commissioned by FocusOnlineTravel, on behalf of Seasons in Africa, to shoot a comprehensive photo library to be used across the client’s marketing channels, such as website, social media and online booking platforms.

See my website (www.michaelvanrooyen.com) for the full portfolio entry and other resorts, lodges and hotels.

03/03/2025

These photos were taken on a five day trek up Mount Kenya, the second highest peak in Africa after Kilimanjaro.

My guide's name was Caesar. He'd been leading people up Mount Kenya for over thirty years on an almost weekly basis. Although well into his fifties, he showed no signs of slowing down.

I took the Sirimon-Chogoria Route and can highly recommend it. Pure mountain magic.

You can view the full story in the Journal section of my new website: www.michaelvanrooyen.com/journal

28/02/2025

Madikwe Hills is situated near the Botswana border within the vast Madikwe Game Reserve in the North West province of South Africa. The reserve boasts a rich diversity of vegetation and topography, offering ideal game viewing opportunities, including from your very own ultra-luxurious suite, perched amongst giant boulders and Tamboti trees.

I was commissioned by FocusOnlineTravel, on behalf of Seasons in Africa, to shoot a comprehensive photo library to be used across the client’s marketing channels, such as website, social media and online booking platforms.

See my website (www.michaelvanrooyen.com) for the full portfolio entry and other resorts, lodges and hotels.

10/01/2023

I hope everyone had a restful and fun summer holiday break, although I'm assuming we could all do with another week at an island like Cosmo, a far-flung, luxury Robinson Crusoe vibe in the Seychelles...

05/01/2023

06/01/2022

Check out this giant baobab, nicknamed The Teapot, situated in the Reniala Nature Reserve on the southwestern coast of Madagascar - part of the "spiny forest" ecoregion, which boasts incredible biodiversity and endemism.

Reniala means "mother of the forest" and is the nickname of the baobabs endemic to this area.

This particular baobab is believed to be over 1000 years old and has a perimeter of about 13 metres.

20/12/2021

Taking it way back to 2009, when we shot a short film called Wandering & Wondering, in the arid Northern Cape of South Africa, about man's constant search for meaning and awakening.

This film was a finalist in the international Louis Vuitton Journeys Awards. Contestants were asked to make a 2 minute film using the provided script.

The jury included award winning film makers Wong Kar Wai Anthology (Happy Together), Sofia Coppola (Virgin Suicides, Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette), and musical composer Gustavo Santaolalla (Amorres Perros, 21 Grams, Babel, Brokeback Mountain).

Check out https://vimeo.com/18530058 for the original video (although it's a bit old now 😬 😅 )

Writer, Director & Cinematographer: Michael van Rooyen
Editor: Jonathan Cornelius from Wagtale
Sound Designer: Gustavo Stutterheim
Actor: Harrison Khumalo
Costume & Props: Delaray @ Afrikanus
Equipment kindly sponsored by PhotoHire
Special Thanks to: Craig, Ezra, Stan, David, Rob, Rohan & Khamkirri