nature Archives - Page 2 of 3

Wood statue in front of Glenfinnan Viaduct

Nov 09

by Nicola in Architecture, Back2Blighty, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Adventure, Architecture, Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, Exploring, Glenfinnan, Glenfinnan Viaduct, Harry Potter, nature, Scotland, Scottish Highlands, The United Kingdom

Glenfinnan Viaduct Made Famous by Harry Potter

Made famous by Harry Potter, Genfinnan viaduct is the longest concrete railway bridge in Scotland at 380m, and crosses the River Finnan at a height of 30m. The Hogwarts Express calls at Glenfinnan in the second and third Harry Potter books, Harry Potter and the Chambers of Secret and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. The impressive 21 semicicular spans of 15m mass concrete are built on a curve of 241m. An image speaks a thousands words and more…

Ben Nevis, Scottish Highlands

In Edinburgh, the day before my Ben Nevis adventure, a street photographer warned me about the hike. “It’s steep at the start, in the middle and at the end. And it’s mostly steps, steep slippery steps. It’s tough, tougher than you could imagine.” Nonsense, I said to myself. How bad could it be, really?! After all I’d whizzed up Sani Pass (starting at 1544m and rises 1332 vertical meters to summit at 2876m) and Table Mountain (1,086 metres above sea level). Ben Nevis stands at 1352m above sea level, not that much higher than Sani Pass. The gradient only being 15 percent steeper. What’s 15 percent in the grand scheme of things, right? Well… Only after reading the article discovered on Walkhighlands about the hike, I thought much better of it. Perhaps Steve, the street photographer, wasn’t exaggerating after all. And not training for the walk was perhaps a little unwise from my side. From Fort William, a town nestled along the shores of Lock Linnhe, in the western Scottish Highlands, we accessed Ben Nevis. The United Kingdom’s highest peak. With the ground wet, rocks glistening, and the mist lifting at the beginning of the hike, the two of […]

The Lady's Bridge, The Kennet & Avon Canal, Wiltshire

Aug 09

Kennet & Avon Canal, Wiltshire, The United Kingdom

Since my arrival in West Stowell, Marlborough of Wiltshire, a week ago, I discovered a pleasant walk to the Kennet & Avon Canal at Wilcot by avoiding all roads. Oh how I adore off-road! With the warm sun heating my bones and gilding everything in it’s path, beneath a bright blue sky, I set off on my journey of exploration: Over the fence at the end of the property; through the corner of the field with the heifers and a lone bull (must research how fast a cow or bull can run – anyone know?); a hop over the fence in to the next field, around the outskirt of lush grass; under a fence; another climb over a fence coated in barbs, in to a wheat field stretching for kilometres; along the bare meter-wide track through the middle of the wheat; over the final fence and on to the canal path. For at least an hour along the water’s edge, I hiked with many pauses in between to take photographs of all that caught my eye, hoping most of it’s the creative one. And we can all be the judges… Not long to go now… The row […]

May 11

Would you live in Cape Town?

After my recent trip to Cape Town someone asked me, Would you live in Cape Town? I answered immediately. Without a second’s hesitation, I said, “No!” Cape Town is unreservedly South Africa’s most beautiful city! Wholeheartedly, I agree. Cape Town is clean, visually pleasing; the government go out of their way to attract tourists; the people of Cape Town, the locals respect their government; the taxis are well behaved, road users stop at red traffic lights and are polite. Okay, perhaps the reason for such a well run province – the Western Cape – is because the ANC (African National Congress) does not dominate. The majority of the Western Cape are not black and so the DA (Democratic Alliance) are in power, which apparently says it all. However, when Cape Town experiences a cold front, it suddenly turns atrocious. The dreadful winters feel like they are as long lasting as the UK’s winters. And I would not know what to do with myself in a place that only offered cold oceans. Even a 20mm dry suit wouldn’t get me into such icy waters. And I don’t think I could survive without surfing, not again. Did you […]

Apr 07

Tala Private Game Reserve’s Gems: Five Adult Rhinos

With the craving gnawing at my heart, it had been thirty days plus since I’d last seen a rhino. Just under forty-five minutes from Durban we arrived at Tala, amidst the thick mist from the drizzling rain. Resistance is futile when a craving is upon thee… After paying our dues at the gate we headed up the hill to the right in search of Tala Private Game Reserve’s gems: five adult rhinos. Okay, we cheated a little and asked the guard at the gate where they were last spotted. And there they were… Five large, healthy rhinocerotidaes (commonly known as rhinoceroses) huddled together on a mound of earth, resting while the rain gently fell. We spent about thirty minutes watching them stretch and roll over, as though their comfort in the damp truly mattered. After exploring the reserve, relishing a packed breakfast at the Hippo Hide, a coffee at the restaurant’s veranda and bouncing along the 4×4 only tracks, we returned to the rhinos up and about munching their way through the grass. Such spectacular creatures! As I’ve previously published a post on Tala Private Game Reserve about a year ago, I shall keep this one brief. […]

Golden Gate Highlands National Park

The moment one witnesses the beaming sun-rays, either from a sunrise or sunset, softly gild the sandstone cliffs making up the Maluti Mountains, it becomes instantly apparent how the Golden Gate Highlands National Park acquired its name. Mr van Reenen, in 1878, spotted this sighting and named his new farm, wait for it – Golden Gate. From Kiara Resort, we drove approximately five kilometres to Glen Reenen Rest Camp within the Golden Gate Highlands National Park and parked the car. With the sun already casting a glow on to the distant cliffs, we crossed the road and embarked on our hike just after 6am. Desiring to knock off at least an hour from the four-hour Wodehouse Peak hike, we meandered via Mushroom Rock. In awe of its magnificence, we breezed around the mushroom-like rock formation, glancing up every few moments to absorb the scale of the mountain that loomed above us. Zigzagging up towards Wodehouse Peak, steeper and steeper we climbed. Feeling safe, we traversed along the extremely well maintained path with its perfectly carved sandstone steps, wooden bridge and iron rods strategically placed for hands to grab, to heave one’s body up the mountain side. Up and up we climbed, and […]

Kiara Resort, Maluti Mountains

This past Friday we drove an easy – with not one pothole in sight – four hours from Durbs to Kiara Resort nestled in the striking, sandstone Maluti / Maloti Mountains between the Golden Gate Highlands National Park and the charming village of Clarens in the Free State. From the moment we left Bergville we spotted herds of pure black wildebeest, small oribi antelope, eland antelope, blesbok antelope, springbok antelope, mountain reedbuck and zebra freely roaming the vast open scrublands at every meandering turn. The temperature reached 34 degrees Celsius before midday. The car’s air-conditioning turned up to maximum failed at providing relief from the incredibly dry heat. And this is autumn? With just over an hour to spare before check-in time at 3pm, we refuelled at the Golden Gate Hotel. While admiring the sandstone mountain range from the recently renovated hotel restaurant, we enjoyed a light, great value for money, lunch. Kiara Resort’s reception area appeared in great need of a spruce up. Fortunately, the apartment style self-catering chalet allocated to us wasn’t in the same state as the reception area. Clean, new and modern, the spacious chalet, comfortable for six adults, deserved a three-plus-star […]

Feb 21

by Nicola in 4x4, Nature, Safari, Wildlife 1 comments tags: 4x4, Adventure, BeanOn Photography, Big 5, Buffalo, Early morning, Elephant, Exploring, KwaZulu-Natal, lion, nature, Off-road, Rhino, Rhino River Lodge, Rugged Terrain, South Africa, Sunrise, Sunset, Wildlife, Zululand

Rhino River Lodge: a sacred retreat

For me, after being away from home for nine months, nothing beats time in the bush. I chose Rhino River Lodge for a second visit because the first experience, eleven months ago, stayed with me every day since. I simply had to return. Again, expectations exceeded. Less than 3 hours from Durban, just off the N2, Rhino River Lodge, home to the Big Five, warmly awaited us. Chelsea, Clair, Kyle and Alex to name but a few were all as welcoming as the African sun (not once have I complained about KZN’s amazingly humid heat). The day we arrived, the temperature reached thirty-six degrees Celsius, in the shade. What a greeting! A pity about the drought… I’ve been fortunate enough to experience the knowledgeable and highly amusing ranger, Kyle, on both occasions. He threatened to name a meal after me for mispronouncing a Zulu word. I refuse to even attempt spelling it here. Swiftly moving on… While on a game drive, a French tourist asked: “What’s the difference between impalas and springboks?” Kyle began: “Springboks are lighter in colour, and —” “Impalas don’t play rugby,” a fellow South African piped up. Well, that tickled me! An […]

Feb 14

by Nicola in 4x4, Adventure, Black & White, Nature, Off-Road 2 comments tags: 4x4, Adventure, BeanOn Photography, Exploring, Gwahumbe Game Reserve, KwaZulu-Natal, nature, Off-road, Rhino, Rugged Terrain, South Africa, Wildlife

Gwahumbe Game Lodge & Spa

Resistance is definitely futile when it comes to spending the day at Gwahumbe. Just over an hour’s drive from Durban, Gwahumbe Game Lodge & Spa is a favourite of mine to enjoy 4x4ing, game viewing and lunch all in a day. As I’ve previously published a couple of blogs on the reserve, the last fourteen months ago, I’ll limit my words this time and allow the images to speak louder. We only managed a distant sighting of the young male rhino, now grown in to an expert vehicle mock-charger. Bring it on! I secretly wished to experience such, but he didn’t even notice us with his head buried in the veld about twenty meters away from the vehicle, munching away on the lush grass. Never in my entire life have I tasted a more succulent and perfectly cooked piece of kingklip fish. This is no exaggeration. Compliments to the chef!

Jan 09

by Nicola in Back2Blighty, Hiking, Nature, Sunset, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, cattle, England, Exploring, fox, Guildford, Hiking, nature, semi-rural village, Sunset, Surrey, The United Kingdom, woods

A few moments worthy of photographing

As I was about to put on my trainers for a run through the woods, the heavens, yet again, released its floodgates. Over the past couple of weeks, during a rather damp festive season that’s crept in to the New Year, I’d managed to steal a few moments worthy of photographing. With five days left, my time here in this quaint, semi-rural village in Guildford is soon to end. If only it would stop raining until after the day I leave so that I may enjoy one, just one, mud-free run through the woods. I suppose I should carry on dreaming… But soon, so soon I can feel the heat already, I’ll be back in Durban with humidity warmer than an incinerator – the type of weather I’ve never found fault with. Having an ocean less than a kilometre away, solves many issues accompanying overheating.

Farewell to Windsor

On Friday, 13 November, I bade farewell to Windsor; my work assignment ended and I have temporarily returned to London. Until the next adventure! I spent a last few hours strolling along the River Thames, admiring the birdlife – the path I took to reach The Long Walk, from Windsor Castle, George IV gateway, along the double avenue of trees to The Copper Horse on Snow Hill. I didn’t quite make The Copper Horse as time eluded me, which caused a silent curse. I don’t know why I didn’t enjoy the 4.25 kilometers walk earlier, when I had more time. King Charles II had the double rows of Elm trees, over 1600, planted the entire length of the route. The king desired to remodel Windsor in a renewed style and The Long Walk was a tick from his lengthy list of improvements. In 1710, Queen Anne had a road constructed down the centre of the tree lined avenue to ensure the coaches enjoyed a comfortably smooth surface. The royal carriages still use The Long Walk every year as part of the route from Windsor Castle to the Ascot Races at the start of the summer social season. […]

Oct 11

Return to Namibia

Finally I get to visually return to Namibia… I thought I’d lost all my photographs from the first time I arrived in the UK, September 2000, until around 2012, just after I returned to South Africa. My external hard drive had crashed, devouring all my photos from every trip I’d been on while living in Europe: Thailand, Turkey, Morocco, Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Switzerland, Germany and the list goes on. Devastated was not the word… The other day my friend mentioned he had a copy of every photo I’d taken while we travelled together. Of course! I’d sent him a copy of our memories after every trip, and he’d done the same for me. Right now I couldn’t be more delighted. I’ve started going through our Namibia trip and the only problem is I want to return with my more professional camera kit – I, after all, upgraded from a Canon to a Nikon – and experience every moment again. Somebody twist my arm! The first time I visited Namibia was for a friend’s wedding in 2006 and I promised myself I had to return. Two years later, (I can’t believe it’s seven years ago) I […]

Sep 21

by Nicola in Back2Blighty, Nature, The United Kingdom 0 comments tags: Back2Blighty, BeanOn Photography, canal path, Early morning, mist, misty morning, nature, swans, the River Thames, The United Kingdom, Windsor

Misty morning in Windsor

First thing this misty morning in Windsor (yes, I have returned), I grabbed my camera and rushed out to photograph the sun breaking through the moist air. With hardly anyone around, I freely captured the dim, blurry freshness of the ending summer. A few days to go before autumn officially begins. Oh how I look forward to nature’s colours when the leaves change.

Quintessentially charming Windsor

As a recently self-appointed self-employed contractor – sole purpose to experience as much of Blighty as possible at every presented opportunity – I now find myself luxuriating in everything the quintessentially charming Windsor has to offer. Many years previously I’d before only visited Windsor Castle; drove to the castle, explored inside and out and then back to London. I missed the chance to discover further afield; however, now I have returned and, for a total of 3 weeks, I am making up for the miss. With less than a ten-minute walk to Windsor’s town centre and of course the castle, I absorb myself in the surrounding beauty, mostly along the river’s edge, at least two hours every day or evening. At weekends it’s a bit longer. This past Sunday, my friend travelled from London to join me on a hike amongst Maidenhead Thicket, a twenty-minute drive from Windsor town centre, through cool woodlands and golden wheat fields. Back to Windsor, we next explored Windsor Great Park that appeared to be lightning struck land. With dead silver bark spiking the threatening sky in such vast openness, I couldn’t help feeling connected to nature. And then the heavens […]

Jul 06

by Nicola in Architecture, Back2Blighty, Hiking, Nature 5 comments tags: BeanOn Photography, countryside, derelict, Exploring, Hiking, Kent, nature, Shoreham Village, Stockland's Retreat House, The United Kingdom, West Kingsdown, wheat fields

A haunted derelict, Stacklands Retreat House

Lately, I’ve been relishing hiking Kent’s countryside especially now while the weather has been warm with perfect blue skies and when discovering a haunted derelict, Stacklands Retreat House. This most recent exploration took place from Shoreham Village. At the start of the walk, just past the church and through green wheat fields, about 60 wide steps greeted us – not easy to climb when having to take extra large steps, sometimes two strides to get up to the next step. However, once upon the ridge the view of the village below and fields of poppies in the near distance made it worth it. Across an abandoned golf course, up another steep mound, through meadows with horses, cattle and working farms we reached the eerie building I couldn’t wait to photograph. Through thick shrubbery and trees I could just see the Stacklands Retreat House, a haunted derelict at West Kingsdown: Three large buildings close to each other sprayed with graffiti and strangled by ivy. Watch out for the broken glass, tiles and asbestos littered all over the grounds. “Apparently, this is where priests came to reform after sinning in the church. One of them – known to be […]