Thanda Light

One of the advantages of returning to a location time and again is the opportunity to experience it in all possible types of light. We're approaching winter now and the incessant comment one heres, "winter's approaching!"  at the the merest hint of a drop in the mercury. This is Kwazulu-Natal province we're talking about of course, where the standard response to the severest of winters is to put a thin jersey on (and still worry if you might not get a little warm). Our winter's are mild to say the least.

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Of course KZN is a big province and the temperatures aren't exactly balmy everywhere. The Drakensberg is a good case in point where temperatures plummet well below zero. I ramble however. the point is that with the changing seasons comes changing light. In some cases it's a result of the increased dust and smoke in the air. This means for fiery orange sunsets that belie the oncoming cold of evening (where it actually gets cold ;)). The dusty air that bung over Thanda reserve this week meant for glowing sunsets and dust kicked up in the air by animals and vehicles alike.

So it was a bit of a landscape week for my students in the end. Some guests on the reserve were in for a treat though. On a game drive (we were heading deep in to the 'King's Land' at the time towards one of my favourite landscape locations) guests were treated to lion, leopard, elephant and buffalo all around the same water-hole. It would be hard to find a better indication of the dry conditions that come along with the onset of winter.

As I mentioned though, we were hell-bent on our way over the rocky hills of the 'King's Land'. A minor mishap of a flat tyre on the return didn't remove from the incredible view that awaits those who make the effort to reach this little known vantage point. Rocky is sometimes an understatement as the above mentioned puncture was caused by a triangular shaped rock about the size of a toddler's fist which embedded itself into the tyre's rubber.



Overall a great week with great students!