I absolutely love South Africa. I'm a travel writer and it is still my favorite destination on the planet -- this year South Africa is celebrating the 100th birthday of Nelson Mandela so it is an extra special time to visit -- and I return frequently. On my last adventure to the southern tip of the African continent I explored Madikwe Game Reserve, which is up north by the border with Botswana and at the edge of the Kalahari Desert. On this trip I was a guest at Jaci's Safari Lodges and one of the best things about staying at this luxe and colorful lodge in the heart of the reserve is the camera loaner program. For a small fee you can rent a high-end Canon DSLR camera and capture photos like the ones I'm sharing here.
Pregnant Mama Wild Dog in Madikwe Game Reserve, South Africa
I'm a dog mom, so I loved seeing a pack of wild dogs for the first time up close. I've been on dozens of safaris and this was a first for me.
The king of the jungle.
So many elephants. There were also rhino, but I don't think it is cool to post them as it can attract poachers.
The sunsets are amazing. No filter. No editing.
It is gory and it was kind of hard to watch, but it is also the circle of life.
