Antares Bush Camp needed to find a way to make our product different from the many other tourist attractions in the local area and set us apart from the more traditional lodges and so
Welcome to the Umgede underground hide
There are only a handful of underground hides in South Africa and even fewer in the immediate vicinity of the Kruger National Park. These hides offer guests the unique and amazing opportunity to sit in the safety and comfort of a game viewing hide and photograph the animals from their level. Whether your subject is the mighty elephants as they throw the mud over their ears, or the majestic lions as they lap the cooling water or just the dainty dragonflies as they rest on the lily pads, there will always be something of interest for you to focus your lens on.
At Umgede there will be ample space for up to four photographers to sit in the comfort of adjustable office chairs and mount your cameras on sturdy supports or rest them on your bean bags. The waters edge is a mere 60-70 cm from the opening of the shutters allowing you to get really close to the animals. Watch the video to give yourself an idea of just how special this experience can be, https://youtu.be/SBj9T0RCnkk.
Behind you is ample seating for the non-photographers to also relax and spend time waiting for the animals to turn up or just to keep their better-halves company. Some photographers have even taken the opportunity to snuggle down under a blanket and spend the whole night waiting patiently for that one opportunity. To get award winning photographs sometimes requires patience and dedication but it can be worthwhile.
Villiers Steyn took the following photograph of the lion in the Milky way recently and regards it as one of his best photos ever.