HarveyG Photography

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Rietvlei is a hidden gem in close proximity to Pretoria (18km’s) and Johannesburg (38 km’s from OR Tambo Int. Airport). The reserve covers an area of almost 3800 hectares (38km²) and can support between 1500-2000 head of game. Currently some 1,600 head of game, including blesbuck, black wildebeest, red hartebeest, eland, Burchell’s zebra, waterbuck, reedbuck, springbuck, mountain reedbuck, steenbuck and grey duiker can be viewed here. There are other species but visit and find them for yourself From your own vehicle it is easy to spot these animals on the open endangered Bankenveld grassland plains. It is a relatively quiet unhurried reserve and well worth a full days visit. Rates are very reasonable.

Long-tailed Widowbird (Euplectes progne) (c) HarveyG Photography

The 60 km’s of tar and dirt roads in the reserve are fairly well maintained and serve for game viewing, park maintenance and for fire breaks in winter. Whilst a normal sedan can easily be driven around on the tar and most of the sand roads, there are some sections that require a vehicle with higher ground clearance. In the wet summer months I found that a double cab / bakkie with 4×4 or difflock capabilities allowed me to get into the odd area that I would not have gone with a family sedan due deep muddy ruts or washaways for fear of getting stuck. This is however the exception rather than the rule. Roads divide the reserve into 31 blocks and are well marked. A map, bird list and rules of the park are given to you when booking in. Rotation grazing is practised on the reserve by routinely burning blocks and using licks as supplementary feeding.

White-throated Swallow (Hirundo albigularis) (c) HarveyG Photography

4 well located Bird-hides (2 on Rietvlei Dam and 1 on Marais Dam with the 4th one centrally located on marshland) and 2 main picnic areas with braai facilities are situated along these roads. There is also a very special river crossing called Otter Bridge with some wonderful wildlife (I won’t spoil it for you, go and check it out). (continue reading…)

Isn’t she beautiful….! 4am-10am photo shoot with Camerastuff to Capital Park Pretoria and Friends of the Rail who unstintingly restore and maintain a few of what’s left of our National Heritage Steamers in their private capacity with no government and very little private sector funding. I am happy to pay a measly R150-00 for a mornings shoot. FOTR were very accommodating, running Engine 2650 back and forth so that about 60 of us could get some awesome shots.

Thanks to our culture-less management at Transnet who have taken over 15 years to finally wake up and “might” now begin pushing restoration and preservation work for steam tourism. A bit late, as over 90% of our steamers have been plundered and turned into scrap at various grave yards around the country.

Shot with a Sigma 28-70mm f/2.8 EX DG for Nikon

Cheugnette-SAR 19D #2650 - 2 (c) HarveyG Photography 2010

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