DVD REVIEW - GO AFRICA WILDLIFE SERIES
by Loren Nel
As an ex-South African, I can honestly say that I love my new life in Australia. This beautiful country has been very good to me and I have found myself settled and happy in the new land. Every now and then, however, especially when thumbing through old holiday albums or driving in the hinterland where the landscape is so reminiscent of the South African bush, I find myself nostalgic for open-topped land rovers, excited, albeit hushed, whispers trying to draw attention to some or other marvellous creature just out of sight in the shadowed bushes, and the crackling of a bonfire accompanied by the spine chilling coughs of a nearby lion, the nocturnal rumblings of an elephant or the snickering of a hyena.
Even though hopping on a plane for a bushveld holiday is not a possibility, I have discovered a fantastic DVD series that offers a slice of the African landscape to any veld-longing immigrant! The award winning GO-AFRICA Wildlife Series is presented by Get Lost travel magazine and consists of nine volumes, each between 85 and 110 minutes in length. Each documentary is a visual feast of the majesty and fierceness of Africa; her landscape, her inhabitants and her soul, with impressive photography accompanied by eloquent narration and an indigenous musical score.
What is noteworthy about this series is the variety of the subject matter. These interesting snapshots of Africa include the life of lions of the Kalahari, a look at all five species of rhinoceros across the globe, the story of the skilful trackers of the red dunes, the many faces of Kruger Park (one of my personal avourites), the standoff between elephants and the helicopters used to monitor and manage them, and a beautiful fusion of the images and music of Africa. The films are by no means a romanticised portrait of Africa but present an honest and at times brutal picture of this vast and rugged land, and the often epic struggle for survival her inhabitants must endure. The tragedy in the films, however, is counterbalanced by the miracle of new life, the clumsy antics of amusing creatures, stunning sound and colour, and spectacular cinematography. From a small dragonfly to the massive elephant, the GO-AFRICA Wildlife Series offers an impressive array of images that are inspiring and informative.
Although it cannot replicate the dusty smell of the bush, the tranquillity of a blazing African sunset or the thrill of actually spotting an elusive creature hiding in the wilderness, I have no bdoubt that this beautifully filmed, diverse and informative series would be greatly appreciated by any savannah loving ex-pat!
WIN!!! WIN!!!! WIN!!!
Sabona Magazine has 5 complimentary copies of Volume 1 of the GO-AFRICA DVDs to give away!!
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