The 2018 Africa Journals, Ch. 21: The Small Bird Hide

The private game reserve called Zimanga is all about hides for photographers, and Zimanga’s are world famous, with good reason.

With the intent of bringing you close to the birds and animals, the hides are built so that when the photographer is in place, his or her view is at ground or water level.   A window of special one-way glass is built into one (sometimes two) walls.

Executive-style chairs on casters slide silently on laminate flooring.  Most of the hides are air-conditioned.   One hide is built for overnight stays, with beds, bathroom, and an efficiency kitchen.

These are not blinds—such as screens to keep the animals from seeing you on one or two sides.   These are four-walls-and-a-roof hides.  The animals cannot see you.   In the case of the hide with two windows, black curtains prevent the birds from seeing through to the other side, as well as from seeing the photographers.

Last night, we were eight feet from half a dozen Cape buffalo at the overnight hide.  In the lagoon hide, a hamerkop walked inches from the glass and a gorgeous gray heron strutted just feet away from the glass.

This afternoon, a few hours after we left the overnight hide, we are driving past the lagoon on the way to the small bird hide.   I looked across the water and saw elephants in the water, spraying water into the air and in general having a great time.

My breath catches.   How I would have loved to photograph the ellies.  As much as I was looking forward to the small bird hide, I would gladly have sacrificed 15 minutes or so for a few ellie shots.

I knew better than to ask.   Margarite had already told us about all the things she had to do, including taking two other parties to different hides or picking up new guests.  In addition, she has to clean the hides her guests used, make sure we have bottles of water (refilled glass bottles, not plastic), and pick up anything we have left behind in the hides or the vehicle.   I’m sure she has other duties and it’s no wonder she’s rushed.

Zimanga is so popular with photographers that it just recently more than doubled its lodging capacity, and I guess they are still working out the kinks.

I keep reminding myself that we are here for the hides.  

 
But, the ellies…

And then, we’re at the hide.  The pool is between two narrow concrete walls.   Various items are placed around the sides and end to make “natural” perches for the birds.

Greater blue-eared starling.

Before she leaves, Margarite puts bird seed in discreet places and soon the birds arrive.

Greater blue-eared starling

Greater blue-eared starling

Emerald-spotted wood dove

Blue waxbill

Emerald-spotted wood dove

Emerald-spotted wood dove

Yellow-fronted canary

Yellow-fronted canary

Yellow-fronted canary

Blue waxbill

Namaqua dove

Emerald-spotted wood dove

Fiscal flycatcher

Green-winged pytilia

And then it's back to the lodge.   Tomorrow, before the sun comes up, we will go to the scavenger hide.    Marg says eagles and other things.    Sounds positively fascinating!