Thula Thula Wildlife Photography Course
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It is not often in this world that we experience the mystical ambiance and primitive energies of ancient mammals. For me, I have been incredibly blessed to be able to document the transient journey of the elephants of Thula Thula. For the past two years I have been offering others the unique opportunity to witness the magnificence of what these lovable and enchanting creatures offer. I am privileged to be able to share with you one such clients unforgettable visit, thank you Nikki Relph for these wonderful words.
Worth every cent! An extra Bonus - the money helps the Thula Thula South African Conservation Fund!
"I can't recommend this experience enough! After reading the Elephant Whisper it had been my dream to visit the elephants at Thula Thula. However, the Ellie experiences during the photography week with Kim McLeod and Victor Ngwenya, our ranger, far exceeded my 'dream'. I arrived having only used a digital camera on Auto, Point and shoot. The photos from my first day and the ones over the next few days were chalk and cheese! Kim taught us how to capture a great wildlife shot and I can't believe how quickly our photos improved. The game drives with her and Victor were an absolute treat. Kim patiently helped us with settings and composition while Victor managed to get us up close for the perfect shot in the best light. He has also done Kim's course so, not only does he have brilliant knowledge of how the animals will behave, he makes sure the vehicle is perfectly positioned! He has a great sense of humour and even cooked us some excellent meals! A special memory was after the tasty braai and his special aubergine bredie and pap on our first night: We had met some of the herd that afternoon on our game drive and Mabula had really come up close to see who the new visitors were. Kirsty, my fellow photography student, got a “sniffing” from his huge trunk. Maybe he recognized her because this was her third visit to Thula Thula in as many months! She is also smitten with this wonderful place. We were just getting ready to retire after our exciting day when Kim heard a loud 'crack' beyond the fence. She said "the ellies are here!" We dashed to our tents to see that the entire herd had come up to the enclosure of the academy. We had the pleasure of their company from just a few meters from our tents! It was as though they had officially come to welcome us. We took some video footage and then got into our comfy beds and listened to them calmly munching away. What a fantastic way to drift off to sleep! The next morning Victor called to say that the herd was still close by, so we left the theory in the classroom and got out to practice. We were rewarded with some beautiful "Noah's ark' like shots with the rhino, giraffe, zebra and various antelope. The photography course is comprehensive and the notes are easy to follow but the best part was being out with Kim putting that theory into practice (a whole different ball game!). The time spent doing close ups with the tortoises, seeing just born impalas, getting aperture settings right for flowers and getting to know the individuals in this special herd of elephants heals one's soul. I felt a 'glow' that I hadn't felt for a long time. This was the perfect escape from the crazy year we have all been through. I left feeling energized and motivated again and I now have some new friends and a new hobby. I can't wait to be back for a refresher course! Highly recommended! Thank you to all the hard working individuals who give their all to keep these amazing animals protected"
For the January course, only we are offering an extra special rate for 2 including the course, 5 nights accommodation, game drives and food
www.volunteer.academy - For Photography Course Dates. academy@thulathula.com - Please mail me for more info and bookings Kim Mcleod Photography
For a little more information you can read the Photography Course Introduction Below
Below are a few of Nikki’s photos from the course,
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