Cape Mountain Zebra

Gallery: WildlifePosted August 18, 2011325 views5 comments

Shot of a Cape Mountain Zebra in Camdeboo NP in South Africa. There is a wonderful 1-2 week loop trip that can be easily taken from Cape Town that includes Karoo, Camdeboo, Mountain Zebra and Addo National Parks with a return via the famous Garden Route back to Cape Town, taking in Garden Route and Bontebok National Parks. For lovers of wildlife and great scenery, this is a must take trip. Can't wait to get back there in 2013. We arrived at Camdeboo in late morning so the lighting was a bit harsh and the air was hazy due to some wind driven dust but we still managed some nice sightings even if the shooting conditions weren't optimal. Appreciate any feedback and thanks for looking.

Canon EOS 7D
Canon 100-400L IS @ 250mm
F5.6, 1/2,500 sec, ISO 640

Comments

5 comments

Comment posted by Ajit Huilgol on August 18, 2011 at 11:24 PM

Never seen one of this species, Joe. Looks very impressive. The lighting on this is a bit unfortunate, though, and would have loved more space above and less below.

Registered on December 19, 2008, 302 Posts, 2055 Comments

Comment posted by Lon Sharp on August 19, 2011 at 10:40 AM

I like the result of having the subject against that mountain backdrop. Yes, harsh light, but it feels real and is not a distraction to my eye. I agree with Ajit that a little less of the foreground might be better, but quite like this as posted.

Registered on December 9, 2007, 258 Posts, 9892 Comments

Comment posted by Vincent Grafhorst on August 19, 2011 at 1:56 PM

Hi Joe, I love these 'donkeys in soccer jerseys'!

I have been to the Karoo several times and love the area. Camdeboo however is a park I have never visited, is it as much worth visiting as Mountain Zebra? I like the low shooting angle here and the nice selective focus asn the dark backdrop. I do agree with your self-assessment about the harsh light conditions though, very unfortunate.

Registered on February 24, 2006, 504 Posts, 7203 Comments

Comment posted by Joe James on August 19, 2011 at 9:43 PM

Thanks Folks....appreciate the comments!

Vincent - Camdeboo is a really nice "lunch stop" on the drive between Karoo and either Addo or Mountain Zebra. What we liked about it is the game area is just North of the pretty little town of Graaff-Reinet which has a nice loop drive. If you leave Karoo fairly early you can see Camdeboo and be back in Graaff-Reinet for a late lunch before continuing your drive to either Mountain Zebra or Addo for the night. We saw Mountain Zebra, Springbok, Cape Buffalo, Black Wildebeest, Gemsbok, Blesbok, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Black Shouldered Kite and Blue Cranes in about two hours then had a nice lunch at Graaff-Reinet. The other bonus was that we only saw one other car in the park while we were there. Definitely worth a stop the next time you are headed to Addo or Mountain Zebra from Karoo but probably not worth an overnight trip.

Registered on November 20, 2009, 89 Posts, 808 Comments

Comment posted by Ken Watkins on August 21, 2011 at 8:33 AM

Joseph,

Having visited most of these parks before (I am a bit closer than you), I can thoroughly endorse your comments about hat great places they are and remarkably inexpensive, everybody should go.

Great image of a still quite endangered animal,

Registered on December 15, 2010, 1537 Posts, 4877 Comments