In this latest blog post, Ronald Voorhees, resident photographer for PhotoMashatu, shares a gripping moment spent at one of Mashatu Game Reserve’s underground hides as the “King’s of the wild” approached him. Whether you’re a novice or seasoned pro, photographing wildlife from this vantage point takes ones breath away every time.
There’s a moment every wildlife photographer lives for—a moment when the light is right, the world is quiet, and something magnificent steps into your frame. For me, that moment arrived just after sunrise at Mashatu Game Reserve, where the silence of the morning was as thick as the dust on the lens hood.
I was at Matebole Hide, tucked low to the ground, eye-level with the waterhole. The bush was still, the kind of stillness that makes your breath slow down and your senses sharpen. The only sounds were the faint trill of a mourning dove and the distant drumming of hooves—perhaps impala, maybe something more.
Then, out of the golden haze, they appeared.
Four lions—three subadults and a lioness, their bodies rippling with strength, their eyes alert, hungry, and unbothered. They moved with the weight of something ancient, the kind of presence that silences everything around it. Not in a rush, not afraid. Just wild and assured.
They came to drink, crouching at the water’s edge in near-perfect unison. My camera felt suddenly small, almost inadequate, but I began to shoot—slowly, respectfully, letting the shutter speak for me. The reflection of the lions in the still water, the glint of light off an amber eye, the twitch of an ear—every frame felt like a gift.
That’s what Mashatu does. It doesn’t show off. It reveals. Not all at once, but in moments—quiet, powerful, unforgettable. The land is dry, sunburnt, vast—and brimming with life if you know where (and how) to look.
A Few Lessons from the Hide:
You wait more than you shoot – But the wait is part of the story. And in places like this, it’s always worth it.
Eye-level changes everything – Shooting from the ground gives your subjects power, presence, and intimacy.
Don’t chase drama—chase truth – A lion drinking in golden light is just as powerful as one roaring. Trust the stillness.
Know when to stop shooting – Sometimes the most respectful act is to lower the camera and simply witness.
That morning in Mashatu wasn’t just about photographing lions—it was about being reminded that we’re visitors here. The wild doesn’t perform for us. But if we’re patient, quiet, and lucky, it lets us watch.
And for a few perfect seconds, it did.
Until next time,
Ronald Voorhees
Visit www.mashatu.com or email our team at reservations@mashatu.com to book a photographic hide experience at Mashatu.
