How about we arrange a photographers weekend away?!?  We're going camping, so if you have a tent and a sleeping bag, grab your stuff and come along!  If not, go buy a tent and a sleeping bag and still come along!  Hubby and I have a caravan and the whole tooty so we can make "us" the "base camp"!  Cook there and sort out our meals and whatever!

Let me know if you're interest, where you would like to go!  Let's see if we can make this happen.

And ANYONE else who is not a SA Citizen and would also like to come along, please do!  We can obviously arrange something!

Where is South Africa? Are there any photographers in South Africa? And what will happen if both photographers turn up, will the camping grounds be big enough? :unsure:

Gotcha! Just kidding. :tt2:

First reaction:  count me in, but hopefully in summer/spring? I am off packing...

LOL!  Piet, jou lawwe ding!  Where is South Africa indeed...  giggle  Look, SA rule!  You can say what you want and believe what you want, but SA rule!  We've got the best resorts, the most precious campsites, the most beautiful game farms, the most precious Cape Province, we've got the Karoo and the Desert (in Namibia of course)!  What do you want more?!?  Oh, and the Bushveld!  How can I forget the Bushveld?!?  SA rule! 

I believe there are 3 photographers there.  PeeWee  lives there...maybe not?   If you folks do that it would be nice to see a view of the country as "you see it" instead of just the basic stuff seen on the media.   Best Wishes!   

No no Tom, you've got it wrong.  Spooky-Wan lives in Cape Town and urbanarmitage lives somewhere in the Eastern Cape if I'm not wrong.  Come on SA citizens, where are you?!?  Crawl out of the woodwork!

Thanks, Zeldie.  I need to update my geography knowledge of the entire area, too... I just visited a "map" showing the various parts of the country. 

Hey!  We've got Table Mountain too!  Yeah, ours!  Al ours!  Wêêê!!!  Makes you jealous ne?  giggle

You got some good writers there too, h..

Yeah!  Of course we do!  Hey!  We've got some excellent photographers too!  Look at busi2ness, myself, urban, PeeWee and Spooky-Wan's galleries for instance!  We're a mean team don't you think? ego trip giggle

Not to forget short_ribs, or is he counted out?

Never ever will we count Kai out on anything!  But he's not an SA Citizen.  He's originally from Zimbabwe, but lives in Nieu Zeeland now.

Oops, I thought he lived in SA before Zimbabwe...

He did?!?  confused  Ok, I didn't know that.

You'll have to excuse me for arriving late. I live in King Williams Town in the Eastern Cape like Zel says and here things happen a little more slowly than anywhere else in the country! :closedeyes: :lol: Besides, I left Durban for King Williams Town to enjoy the quiet life! :biggrin:

That sounds like a great idea Zel! Has anybody made any suggestions about where yet? We have some beautiful places all over the country.

I like the idea of pictures of the 'real South Africa' Tom. Sounds like a lot of fun.

Sheesh! It's the first time ever I've seen a forum thread where every single person that has posted is 'Online Now!'

I was thinking central SA, so that EVERYONE all over SA can join, Wayne.  Like say maybe the Drakensberg?

@TomDart: Tom now we number exactly 3 South Africans!

@Geert: I dropped Kai (shot-ribs) an  offline on Yahoo, inviting him to the forum. So, once the Kiwi's have woken up, I expect reaction. I wouldn't like to have him here though, because he is stiff competition. :tongue2:

To those South African's hiding in the dark - if ever we catch you AFTER this planned weekend, remember I live near a lion farm, we may just decide to make you go away!

Just hang in there, by tonight the forum will get visited.

The 'Berg would be a great place I reckon. It's really beautiful there. When were you thinking? Winter, spring, summer? If its any time soon there may still be snow around.

There is 'Little Switzerland' too. South Africa's ski resort. I've never been there but I hear its awsome. That's also in the 'Berg somewhere.

Drakensburg is definitely do-able for me that is! Although it is a bit nippy at this stage... lol

I'm in Margate, KZN and it is so lovely and warm here compared to a lot of other places....
I'm a writer but I do dabble in photography so bring it on!

Can we start a suggestion box for the weekend?
If you are looking for a great place to visit I suggest Lake Eland near Port Shepstone - Oribi Gorge area... Nice place to camp and reasonable fees too.
http://www.lakeeland.co.za/
There is a game park you can walk/cycle through, horse rides and has some incredible views to photograph. It has the longest longdrop in RSA too. LoL

Zeldie! I think you are brilliant for the weekend idea.

Let's see what kind of a reaction we get.  I'll IM all who is interested tomorrow and we can get each other's personal details and see what we can arrange?  I was thinking late Spring?  Piet?  Wayne?  What do you guys think?  I'm not good with winter man!  But if you really WANT to see the snow, then we'll do that too!

Late spring & summer, suits me fine.

You guys suck. :sad: Sniff...i wanna go too....sniff...sniff. :m_cry:

Hey SusiQ :0))  Thanx!  I think the weekend is long overdue though, don't you?  Port Shepstone is WAY too far for our "Gautengers".  That's why I suggested the Drakensberg.  We need a "central SA" place, so we can get as many SA photographers as possible to come with, don't you think?

Andreas!  Then catch a plane man!  I mos said EVERYONE who's interested is welcome to join in the fun!  Besides, you know you and wifey is welcome to join us! 

Absolutely..

Just let me know where the party is at!

Hugs all!

Will do SusiQ!  It seems like late Spring it is then?  And Drakenberg is the place to be?  Ok, where in Drakensberg?  Come come Wayne, I need suggestions here?

I'm easy when it comes to the snow thing but that's because I don't really feel the cold. Late spring/early summer is a great time too.

I agree with trying to keep it central Zel but don't discount Oribi. It's a really beautiful place!

ROFL @ Zacko. "Do you need a silencer if you are going to shoot a mime? "

That's why I asked for suggestions, Wayne.  Where is Oribi anyway?  Yeah, I know SA well, but of course not THAT well.

sends Andreas two airtickets  I'll come and collect you personally at the Airport and you and wifey will be our guests for the weekend.  How bout that?

I found a great website with both Drakensberg places and Oribi Gorge....

http://www.drakensberg-tourism.com/oribi-gorge.html

Hope this helps...

Yay for SusiQ!  Will go check it out right now!

YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!!!!! That would be just smaaaaaaaaashing Zellie!!! :thumbupboth:

P.S When exactly is spring/summer over there? :huh:

P.S.S CONGRATULATIONS ALL YOU AFRICANS!!!! You have now got your hands on the fastest moving thread in the history of Renderisity. :tt2:

OK, so whoever is interest, IM me with your personal details so we can get this ball rolling.  I need to know if you want a campsite or whether you want a tented campsite.  And if you're REALLY petty, I think there's a hotel around somewhere too.  I like to rough it up though, so a campsite will do just fine for me.

Do we have an imposter here? :blink: Andreas, I thought you were advised to rest that arm and wrist so abused by making the drops fall into the bowl? This is not going to be for the faint hearted seldomly getting a good suntan! Just kidding, you are most welcome!

Place: I don't care as long as it's 1. practical, 2. accessible for all and 3. it sports some photographic opportunity.

Bear in mind we are 4 people coming from Leeudoringstad alone!

Andreas, Spring starts on the 1st of September.  So late Spring is anything from October I think?

Zel, Oribi is near the old border between the Transkei and South Africa, not too far from Port Shepstone and Kokstad.

There are quite a few places in the 'Berg that come to mind. Maybe we should look near Drakensberg Gardens? I know there are camping spots around there and it's mid-'Berg so its roughly half-way between 'Gangster's Paradise' and the real world ... ummm .. I mean Gauteng and Kwa-Zulu Natal!  Just Kidding! (before I get pelted with rotten apples!) :lol:

I know of a really beatiful spot in the 'Berg that we used to go to for bird photography too. It's about 3.5 hours from Durban. I'll try and get the details from a friend.

Oh my God! You people are amazing! This is like being in a live chat room or something. The replies happen IMMIDIATLY!!!! :scared:

"Uncle" Piet, since when are you scared of a bit of driving?  innocent face

Wayne, get those details buddy!  Oribi is a bit far for the Gautengers it seems, it's definitely a bit far for me!  Just for a weekend anyway.  I still think Drakensberg is central enough for everyone.

Zel, i'll give my mate a shout this evening and ask him for the details. I'm sure he can make a few suggestions too. He also does a lot of camping.

LOL Andreas! It takes a bit to get us Safrican's moving but once we do ... :lol:

There's Mountain Splendour in Champange Valley.

http://www.wheretostay.co.za/mountainsplendour/

Rates don't look too bad.....

I hope you don't mind me posting links here. I love doing research though.....
Apologies if I stand on any toes.....

http://www.antbear.co.za/information/drakensberg-camping.htm

No no!  Please!  Go ahead!  This is a team effort mos!  :0))

No problem at all SusiQ! We need some input on possible destinations.

Andreas, that's SA citizens for you!  Of you want to do something, we get it done and we make it real!  Don't we guys?!?

Thanks SusiQ for the links, I may only follow up and raise my humble voice tonight after having browsed these sites.  I still think Pofadder is a good choice for a venue :lol:

Oom Piet!  Het jy dit nou heeltemal verloor?!?  Pofadder van alle plekke?!?  throws hands in the air

logs off for now  We'll continue this in the morning.  Tatta everyone!  And please IM me with your contact details so we can make this thing real.  Oh by the way, is this a first thing in RR?  A weekend for RR members in a specific country or region?  I can't believe it if that's the case!  I know about photography clubs that does this type of thing regularly!  Anyway, enough for now.  Talk to you all tomorrow!  And for those of you who haven't replied to the thread yet, do so!  We want to see ALL the SA Citizens there this weekend! 

Keep it real!

This isn´t the first time no. The germans and other europeans have had their get-togethers....sniff....as well...so....sniff....it´s almost....sniff....as it´s only....sniff....us swedes that don´t get to play. :sad:

Cheer up Andreas, I am sure we will post the pictures for you to see

You have been invited...