Our first four nights on safari in South Africa were spent at the beautiful Kambaku River Lodge. One of the highlights of staying there was the incredible underground hide overlooking a waterhole. The hide allowed us to photograph animals and birds at eye level as they came down to drink.
Although the recent rains meant we did not see any larger animals at the waterhole, the birdlife more than made up for it. A variety of colourful and fascinating birds visited each day, providing fantastic opportunities for wildlife photography.
Many of the birds seemed to favour the branch leaning out over the water. Others preferred feeding on seeds scattered around the edge of the pool. Sitting quietly in the hide and watching the different species come and go was an experience in itself.
Challenging Light for Bird Photography
The lighting conditions around the waterhole could be difficult at times. Bright sunlight behind the birds created strong contrasts. To capture detail in the birds rather than ending up with silhouettes, we often chose to overexpose our images to create a softer high-key effect.
The results were worth the effort, especially when the birds perched perfectly on the branch above the water.
Birds Seen at the Kambaku River Lodge Hide
During our stay, we photographed a wonderful variety of birds including:
- Egyptian Goose
- Fantailed Widowbird
- Giant Kingfisher
- Pied Kingfisher
- Hadeda Ibis
- White-fronted Bee-eater
- Magpie Shrike
- Natal Spurfowl
- Masked Weaver
- Wire-tailed Swallow
One amusing fact we learned during our stay was that the Egyptian Goose is actually classified as a type of duck rather than a true goose.
A Paradise for Bird Lovers
For anyone interested in bird photography or wildlife photography, the hide at Kambaku River Lodge is an incredible place to spend time. The eye-level perspective creates intimate images. The constant movement of birds around the waterhole means there is always something happening.
Even when the larger safari animals stayed away, the birds provided endless photographic opportunities and made every visit to the hide worthwhile.
All the images in this post were taken using my Lumix G9II. If you have any questions or feedback, feel free to contact me through my website, or follow along on Facebook or Instagram.