Pilanesberg & ShamwarI March 2022

An unplanned Day Trip to Pilanesberg

Even in the post-pandemic times it is not that easy to arrange the travel plans properly. This time British Airways (Comair) was grounded because of security issues for a short time (some days) in South Africa. I had to be flexible again and rearrange my plans. Because there was no direct connection to Port Elizabeth after my long-haul flight from Europe in Johannesburg, I had the choice to wait for about 7 hours in Johannesburg, whilst arriving in P.E. in the late evening - or to rebook my connection to the first flight on the next morning and do the best out of the day in Johannesburg. I‘ve decided to choose the second option. So I‘ve researched what I could do with this day and I‘ve found out, that Pilanesburg is a pretty nice place to be. And to save time to get to Pilanesberg (which takes around 3 hours by car), I‘ve decided to go there by a charter plane. Federal Airways made me a great offer for it. So I‘ve boarded the small plane about an hour after my landing in Johannesburg from Europe. And in this short timeframe I was even able to get a shower at the Federal Airways hangar and lounge.

Pilanesberg National Park - Why I went there

At Pilanesberg I‘ve met my former ranger Gerhard from Shamwari Private Game Reserve and his girlfriend Shannon. Further I‘ve invited my favorite driver Castro in Johannesburg and his wife Esther and their son to join me for this daytrip to Pilanesberg. It was their first flight in their life and the first safari as a whole family. It was heartbreaking to see, how they‘ve enjoyed this experience! I had the whole Cessna for myself and a few seats empty - so it was the right decision to take them along. Further it was so nice to see Gerhard and Shannon again in Pilanesberg. These guys means a lot to me and my family and I hope to see them very soon again. All in all: Wonderful quality time with wonderful people, who didn‘t even knew from eachother before of that.

Pilanesberg National Park in General

Pilanesberg was a different experience as I‘m used to. It is not a Private Game Reserve. So we had to remain on the roads - no off-roading was allowed. Further private cars shared the roads with our safari vehicle and usually it was difficult to get some nice private time with my beloved animals. The ranger and driver was an experienced one for sure. But he was not aware about photographers on the vehicle and he was not able to provide enough information about the animals, as I was used to be in the other locations I‘ve visited so far. The safari vehicle was an open one with a roof. But with a fixed windshield in the front and some closed doors on the sides. The space to look through was limited because of that - and as well the ability to handle a camera with a big lens. But I didn‘t expect something too special on this daytrip - so I was absolutely fine with it. We had anyway the chance to experience some great game sightings - and furthermore we‘ve really enjoyed the get-together of beloved friends there. Here are some shots from Pilanesberg National Park:

Shamwari Private Game Reserve

After my daytrip to Pilanesberg, it was time to get to Port Elizabeth and my beloved Shamwari Private Game Reserve. After a 30 minute flight from Pilanesberg Johannesberg, I‘ve spend a short night at an airport hotel in Johannesburg before flying to P.E. on an early morning flight. After a transfer by car of about 60 minutes, I‘ve arrived at Shamwari - and it was spectacular again - as usual. My favorite ranger Gerhard left. So I had to discover another ranger. So I‘ve requested Mino - the ranger, who was always first at all the sightings on my previous trips. This was a great decision! Mino - the „Indian Ranger“ - who lives in South Africa already in his third generation - was just fantastic! A great ranger who understands the behavior of animals so well - and who is furthermore a fantastic human being! He - and every other member of the staff at Shamwari makes the big difference. I don‘t name them as staff anymore - they are my friends now. I like to share some of my sightings there with you:

Watershed in Concert

On my two final evenings I had the chance to catch up with Watershed - a South African band, which is well-known as well in Germany, Austria and some far-eastern countries. For me it was an unknown band so far - but I did remember some of the tunes of them. It was a fantastic experience to see them playing in the wilderness - unplugged. On the second evening with amplified sound in the perfect and private setting of an African boma. This was beyond my imagination and I‘ve enjoyed it a lot. Under the line, I‘m looking forward to be at Shamwari Private Game Reserve very soon again! Further I love to share some photos of Watershed and my friends at Shamwari with you.

Thanks to all my friends at Shamwari! See you soon!