We spent three days underground!

...in Umgede Hide at Antares Bush Camp.
Subscribe to Byron's KZbin Channel: / @wildwildjourneys
Learn more about Antares Bush Camp: antares.co.za/
Support me on Patreon: / thesafariexpert
Antares Bush Camp is a small, self-catering bush camp in the northern parts of Balule, which forms part of the Greater Kruger National Park. It's also home to one of my favourite places from which to take wildlife photographs - Umgede Underground Hide - which faces the camp waterhole.
Umgede Hide is arguably the most comfortable underground photography hide in all of Africa, if not the world, and has a fridge, kettle, wifi, charging points, comfortable high-back office chairs, bean bags and gimbals for camera support and a day bed on which you can nap when game viewing is slow.
The owner, Ian Owtram, also keeps record of every single sighting at the hide by means of CCTV cameras, so you can page through the monthly reports to see exactly what came to drink when...
On this trip I invited fellow safari KZbinr, Byron Grobler, with to Antares Bush Camp. Byron runs a channel called WildWild Journeys and it's probably the closest you'll find to what I do here on The Safari Expert Channel on all of KZbin.
We had three amazing days in Umgede Hide, starting with a big herd of thirsty elephants as we arrived at Antares. We also saw lions walk past twice, but unfortunately they didn't drink. Our bird list got to 40 species from within Umgede Hide, which is pretty good for only three days.
I hope you enjoy the video!
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[@WildWildJourneys]

Beautifully put together, Vil! Not easy to do… Such a peaceful watch 👌🏼 let’s do it again sometime P.s thanks for the very kind shout out 🙏🏼

[@paintedleopard6987]

Byron! @WildWildJourneys Great you got together both for a trip. Lovely video Villiers!

[@handyvickers]

Great video, again, Villiers... Love your attention to the small things, those little birds and small animals that are every bit as important as the big 5. Wish I was there!

[@KarinHelga-zb6rn]

I just love the bird sounds, I love the lillies on the pond/waterhole !! What beautiful massive herd of elephants!! They're my favorites, however also the majestic Kudu and Oryx!! ❤

[@deryckelthierry2037]

super !! thanks

[@bornufree]

The eco-philosopher❤ Two forces of nature pooling their talent I’m still recovering from Byron’s Mapungubwe treatise

[@andrestenger2848]

Thank you for your great videos. My wife and I returned from our honeymoon in the Kruger National Park a week ago. It was an incredibly nice time and some of your videos, especially the ones about the camps in Kruger, helped us a lot when planning the trip. We would like to thank you and look forward to the next videos. Many greetings from Northern Germany André and Katha

[@TheSafariExpert]

The pleasure is all mine 😁

[@fungaimagumise4360]

Prime viewing spot

[@eikefreudenberg6524]

Nice to see the two of you together. Love both of your channels.

[@joejames4231]

Another great video Viliers!

[@dylanlizette]

Two of the best together...awesome! Would of loved to be in the hide with you two gentleman.

[@MJ-un3xt]

Most people don't realize how incredibly easy and inexpensive a Kruger self-drive safari can be. Rest camps offer nice accommodations (including restaurants/stores,) so just figure out a flight to South Africa and make it happen.

[@TheWildlifeFanatic]

Awesome! Nothing quite like the images you get from hide photography. Will mention that the camp owner replied to a message I posted on the Hoodie FB page, that you can book the hide on it's own, even if not staying at the camp as long as there are no other guests lodging there at the time.

[@doug729]

Great video. As soon as we started watching, he's at Ian's place, Antares!!! We visited Ian last September at Antares as he does game walks. After we were given a tour of the hide and lodge. Nice guy and a legend in the guiding world. How recent is this video, as we were just down the road at Langau Lodge the last two weeks. Alas, back in Canada, keep these type of videos coming until we can get back to the bush.

[@TheSafariExpert]

Very recent - May 2024 😁

[@doug729]

@@TheSafariExpert we were down the road from May 24th.... I have joined on Patreon.

[@Leopard164]

I love both your channels, but to be honest, I watch your channel more, it’s awesome how much you two have in common.

[@jankoedam1123]

Great video, as always! Also very honest in what you can expect. Sometimes you're lucky, but often also not. When I was there the elephants came multiple times a day and also at night, but for the rest it was also quiet. Ian's videos showed a lot of predator activity straight after I left Antares. You can't have it all but as you mentioned, even in slow periods the birdlife makes up for it!

[@ethanhoward-gw9hv]

This is such amazing videography! Love the video!

[@ethanhoward-gw9hv]

This is such amazing videography!! Love this video!

[@Scott_Lawless]

My 2 favorite safari KZbins channels together?!?!

[@nerinecruywagen2008]

Stunning video! Thank you.

[@user-vl3mz3es9o]

Underground hides can become addictive. Great content. So miss my trips where i had the opportunity to sit in hides. Altyd lekker om jou reise te volg Villers. Groete uit die kaap.

[@tessb3039]

😎❣️

[@monicaalberts8130]

I love your videos re nature !!❤

[@IwanPieterse-iwanzbiz]

Enjoyed this video, inspiring. Out of curiosity I searched Madikwe on your channel and this is the top result, which is obviously not Madikwe, still am glad I stumbled onto this one. I am curious whether you’ve covered Madikwe or just your thoughts on that reserve? Cheers!

[@mash359]

Beautiful content I must say. Nice to see some of those little birds coming to bath and drink. That's my kind of wildlife. keep it up.

[@michaelfleetwood620]

Amazing video that gives major FOMO vibes lol. Love these videos Villiers! What would you consider your go-to equipment when visiting these hides and does it vary by location?

[@TheSafariExpert]

Glad you enjoyed it, Michael 😎 A wide-range zoom lens like a 100-400, 100-500 or 150-600 is idea, because it allows you to photograph birds up-close as well as drinking herds wide. When it gets dark, however, something like a 70-200 f/2.8 or 300mm f/2.8 that lets in more light, is ideal

[@mppaing]

Amazing video, keep up your work and waiting for new videos🎉 also can you tell me what's your sunglasses brand?

[@TheSafariExpert]

They are drug store cheapies called Bourbon 😎