PICS: From bush to coast – South Africa beyond the breaking news

2 min read
Easily recognised by its bold black-and-white plumage and dramatic, flowing tail, the African Long-tailed Shrike is one of the savannah's most charismatic birds. These highly social perching birds act as vigilant watchmen of the bushveld, keeping a keen eye out for insects and small reptiles below.
Easily recognised by its bold black-and-white plumage and dramatic, flowing tail, the African Long-tailed Shrike is one of the savannah's most charismatic birds. These highly social perching birds act as vigilant watchmen of the bushveld, keeping a keen eye out for insects and small reptiles below.Picture: Ayanda Ndamane / ANA Studio.

Beyond the high-stress pressure of breaking news and tight deadlines, three of our photojournalists at ANA Studio Henk Kruger, Bheki Radebe and Ayanda Ndamane reveal the beauty between chaotic headlines.

Beneath a sea of bright yellow and blue umbrellas, locals and holidaymakers soak up the seasonal warmth at Camps Bay Main Beach on Monday, September 21.
Beneath a sea of bright yellow and blue umbrellas, locals and holidaymakers soak up the seasonal warmth at Camps Bay Main Beach on Monday, September 21. Picture: Henk Kruger/ANA Studio.

Spring energy in Camps Bay

Nothing quite captures the energy of Spring like Camps Bay Main Beach. Beneath a sea of bright yellow and blue umbrellas, locals and holidaymakers soak up the warmth on Monday while the iconic terraced hillsides framed by luxury beach houses slope gently down toward the sand. A classic coastal afternoon in the Mother City! 

A baboon takes a stroll in Faure Marine Drive in Gordon's Bay.
A baboon takes a stroll in Faure Marine Drive in Gordon's Bay. Picture: Bheki Radebe/ ANA Studio.

Where wild nature meets urban life

A Chacma baboon casually strolls along Faure Marine Drive in Gordon’s Bay, highlighting the subtle, daily interface where wild nature meets coastal civilisation in the Western Cape.

Agama Atra enjoying the sun on rocks in Gordon's bay.
Agama Atra enjoying the sun on rocks in Gordon's bay. Picture: Bheki Radebe/ ANA Studio.

A splash of colour along the shore

During breeding season, male Southern Rock Agamas show off their brilliant cobalt blue heads and shoulders while soaking up the warmth on sunlit rocks. This stunning specimen was spotted soaking in the coastal sunshine around Gordon’s Bay.

A flock of White breasted Cormorants commonly known as Witborsduiker in South Africa.
A flock of White breasted Cormorants commonly known as Witborsduiker in South Africa.Picture: Bheki Radebe/ ANA Studio.

Taking flight over False Bay

Off the rocky shores of Gordon's Bay, a flock of White-breasted Cormorants (Witborsduikers) takes to the skies.

Launching off sunlit granite ledges into the coastal winds of False Bay, these expert ocean divers showcase effortless power against the breaking swell. 

A hyena cub at Balule Nature Reserve in Hoedspruit, Limpopo.
A hyena cub at Balule Nature Reserve in Hoedspruit, Limpopo.Picture: Ayanda Ndamane / ANA Studio.

A rare glimpse inside the den

A rare glimpse at one of the bushveld’s most misunderstood creatures in the making. 

Unlike many other carnivores, spotted hyenas are born with their eyes open and a coat of dark, velvety fur. This tiny cub was caught mid-stride while exploring the safety of its den in Balule Nature Reserve.

An elephant at Balule Nature Reserve in Hoedspruit, Limpopo.
An elephant at Balule Nature Reserve in Hoedspruit, Limpopo. Picture: Ayanda Ndamane / ANA Studio.

Face-to-face with bushveld giants

There’s nothing quite like coming face-to-face with an African elephant in the wild. 

Balule Nature Reserve in Hoedspruit forms part of an open, unfenced ecosystem that lets native wildlife move freely, providing a natural home for Africa’s most iconic species, including lions, leopards, cheetahs, hippos, rhinos and these majestic giants.

A female impala at Balule Nature Reserve in Limpopo.
A female impala at Balule Nature Reserve in Limpopo.Picture: Ayanda Ndamane/ ANA Studio.

Quiet vigilance in the thickets

Quiet moments in the bush.

A female impala pauses amidst the rain-dusted thickets of Balule Nature Reserve. In an open ecosystem where predators roam freely, every sense stays sharp, even during a quiet, reflective moment like this.

Bird at Balule Nature Reserve in Hoedspruit, Limpopo.
Bird at Balule Nature Reserve in Hoedspruit, Limpopo.Picture: Ayanda Ndamane / ANA Studio

Life on the dusty reserve floor

An iconic resident of Limpopo's bushveld, the Southern Red-billed Hornbill navigates the dusty grounds of the Balule Nature Reserve in search of insects and small prey.