Breathtaking Sunset

No words required....self explanatory. Sunset over the Cockscombe Mountains from River Bend Lodge on Sunday 23rd September 2012.

                                          To see a larger version please Click on the Image.

Meet our new Manager at River Bend Lodge

We have a new Manager at River Bend Lodge…..

It is our pleasure to introduce Jayne Barlow, our new Manager at River Bend Lodge.

Jayne has experience many facets of the hospitality industry….sales, marketing, reservations and management. She was born and raised in Bindura, Zimbabwe (3^rd generation) but has been living (with her husband Bruce) in Dubai for the last 4 years. Jayne has a daughter at school in Grahamstown in Grade 10.

Jayne looks forward, on behalf of all at river Bend Lodge, to welcoming you and her message to prospective Guests and Clients is….”I want you to experience 5 Star hospitality and to have a memorable stay that will make you want to come back again and again, and become a part of the ongoing River Bend Lodge experience”.

The Elephants at River Bend on canvas

An Australian artist....Christelle Grey contacted us to enquire whether she could use a photograph of the Elephants at River Bend to do a painting.
This is her version...we love it!

(This photograph may not be reproduced.)

The original photograph is in a Competition...and a Vote (Like on Facebook) for it will create awareness of our Elephants.

Click on this Link and Like the photograph on Facebook and your Vote will count. Please note...only a Like counts as a Vote....Share and Comment don't. You can Share and ask your Friends on Facebook to Vote! Your Vote is much appreciated.

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=441033012608587&set=a.441032742608614.97784.307582625953627&type=3&theater

Red Billed Ox-Pecker update

On the 4th of April we posted a Blog about a sighting of Red Billed Ox-Peckers. On that occasion we saw two of these birds listed as near threatened.
Well we have some great news!
On Wednesday last week we had an early morning sighting if a herd of Buffalo....and counted no less than 10 of them with the herd!!! There is a strong possibility that there could have been more...but with all the activity an accurate count wasn't possible.

We enclose some images of the morning's sighting.

From Nikiwe Street to London 2012...Addo's own Olympian!

                                     FROM NIKIWE STREET TO LONDON

Whilst Addo, in the Eastern Cape, South Africa is most famous for one the greatest Conservation stories in the world (Elephants)…the inhabitants of Nomathamsanqa, the Township which shares a fence with the Addo National Elephant Park, will be huddled around TV screen’s in the local tavern’s….eSircleni, Crossroads and Kilimanjaro or in their homes, cheering on Lusapho ‘Lover’ April in the Olympic Marathon London 2012 on Sunday.

Entering Nomathamsanqa

Lusapho was raised by his Grandparents, his mother having died soon after he was born, in Nomathamsanqa Township (the inhabitants call it the City of Nomathamsanqa) Addo. I went to visit his Grandmother…Georgina Notati April….. (Grandfather died 6 years ago) and she recalled some stories and proudly showed me his medals.

Up Dora Street

A warm welcome from maKhulu

The Medals rack

Lusapho, known as Lover (but not for the reason that springs to mind, but because he is so well liked) by his peers came to visit his Grandmother last month before heading of to London. Upon his arrival he found her getting ready to go to ‘eTown (Uitenhage) to do some shopping.  He told her not to worry…he would go. Fully expecting Lusapho to hop into his car….she was surprised to see him go inside, don his running gear and set off to Uitenhage!! Once he had done the shopping he went to the Taxi Rank to find the Taxi to Addo….not for the ride back though. He gave the groceries to a friend in the Taxi and set off back to Nomathamsanqa!!

Now when I say he got back before the Taxi, I also need to do some explaining. Unlike Taxi’s in what I will term First World countries, the Taxi’s in South Africa wait for a full load before undertaking a trip from one town to another…so Lusapho did have a start!! Nevertheless maKhulu (isiXhosa for Grandmother) was very surprised when he arrived home sans groceries!! A short jog (warm down) to the local Taxi Rank ensured there was a stocked cupboard.

Georgina Notati April...maKhulu

When Lusapho was about 13 maKhulu bought him a canary. And as is well documented…canaries and cats just don’t gel. The inevitable happened and said canary was eaten by the cat. Furious, Lusapho stuffed the cat into a sack and set off for Nqurha (some 30 kilometres away) and set the cat free…and dutifully jogged back again!

After the visit to maKhulu, me and Luyanda Frans (his neighbor and a barman at River Bend Lodge where I work) set off to meet his first Coach and paid a visit to Vusumzi Primary School where it all started for Lusapho.

Victor Mtuthuzeli Williams...first Coach

We were warmly welcomed by Victor Mtuthuzeli Williams, a teacher at Vusumzi Primary, Nomathamsanqa. He recalled just how talented Lusapho and natural a runner Lusapho was. Beating allcomers I the district from an early age. Victor coached Lusapho for about 4 years. He also spoke gratefully about some of the locals who assisted with transport and any medical problems. One of these was Steven Marais, a local Dairy Farmer, who’s son Stuart used to compete with Lusapho and is now an International Xterra Triathlete! Another was Alan de Vrye, who owned the local Hotel, who assisted with the aches and pains common to long distance runner’s.

The Tuckshop at Vusumzi Primary at break

Here is a man, Lusapho Lover April, who chose the hard road. From such humble beginnings it was never going to be easy….but he will be lining up on Sunday against the best the world has to offer in the Olympic Marathon.

Our Man....Lusapho Lover April

Nikiwe Street

And all of South Africa …and especially the people of the Sunday’s River Valley and the Eastern Cape…will be cheering him on.

maKhulu raised an Olympian!!!

Footnote: The distance from Nomathamsanqa to Uitenhage is somewhere between 40 and 50 kilometres! Google Maps will show the scale.

Thank you to my cousin Clive Read for bringing Lusapho to my attention and Luyanda Frans for making the necessary arrangements to visit maKhulu and Victor.

(All images the property of River Bend Lodge and michaelpricephotos and may not be used without permission)

To view a larger version of the images Click on any image and they will appear as a slide show.

Story by Michael Price - email: michael@michaelpricephotos.co.za or michael@michael@riverbendlodge.co.za
Website: www.michaelpricephotos.co.za

What we love to see at River Bend Lodge…….

…….”Unbridled Enthusiasm”!

The Sarup Family…Arjun and his wife Farzana (from Mumbai, India) and children stayed at River Bend recently. Darlington had the pleasure of Guiding the family and was blown away by what we can only term the “Unbridled Enthusiasm” of these children….Aryan and Ilaria.

Young Aryan (only 8 years old) impressed Darlington with his recognition of the behavior (normal and unusual) of especially, the Elephants. With his small point and shoot camera he captured some of this behaviour and we take great pleasure in sharing this with all followers of our Blog. The photograph of the Elephant sitting in this posture is very unusual.

Thank you the Sarup family for the joy and enthusiasm you brought to River Bend Lodge!!!

Watching Elephants!

Elephant Love and Care

Saying Prayers!!

Ilaria, Aryan and Darlington

Ilaria and Aryan....what enthusiasm!!

Introduction to Photography Course at River Bend Lodge

We have had a very encouraging response to our Introduction to Photography Course at River Bend Lodge.

The intention of the Course is to move aspirant photographer's from relying only on the Auto Mode of their camera's....and to explore the other Modes available, and to experience for themselves, the creative capabilities of modern Digital cameras.

We begin with an Introduction to the Exposure Triangle and move on to practical investigation of the various applications of Exposure (ISO, Aperture and Shutter Speed) and how these are used in different combinations and in different lighting circumstances to achieve the desired results in various techniques.

We await some images taken by our students to illustrate what can be achieved in a very short space of time....when changing from that prescriptive Auto Mode!!!! In the meantime these images were taken on our last Course...illustrating some of the techniques we explored. All Images taken at River Bend Lodge and Nyathi Concession.

Using Fill Flash to achieve various backgrounds..dark (above) and white (below)

Intentional Camera Movement (ICM) for a more abstract images (above)

Landscape

Panning

Portraits, indoors and outdoors, using natural light

The creative effect of Slow Shutter Speed...as on water, above

Wildlife...with.... and without, Telephoto Lenses

We will post more information about the Course with images and comments from one or two of the Guests who have availed themselves of this facility.

We try to keep this Introduction to Photography purposefully uncomplicated...it is designed to encourage those people who need an explanation of how best to learn more about their cameras.

(Click on an Image to view a larger version. All Images the property of River Bend Lodge and may only be used with permission).