Behind the Lens 2025: Audience Favorite Winner

25Aug

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For the past ten years, Kariega Game Reserve has hosted a Facebook Photo Competition, and it has been an absolute joy to see the incredible images shared by our guests. Through your photos, it has felt as if we've been able to experience your stay alongside you, one magical moment at a time.

A heartfelt thank you to every single person who has submitted a photo over the years. We truly appreciate your contributions.
In May 2025, we had the pleasure of announcing Eléa Yaghil as the winner of the 2024/2025 Kariega Facebook Photo Competition. As this was our final year running the competition, it made the announcement all the more meaningful.

Eléa captured a stunning, serene image of a heron standing along the banks of the Bushman’s River on a misty morning. The photo received the most likes from our Facebook community, earning Eléa a well-deserved, all-inclusive two-night stay at Ukhozi Lodge. Originally from the United Kingdom, Eléa is currently a mathematics teacher. Before that, she spent time working at a wildlife rehabilitation centre in Canada, where she discovered a deep passion for wildlife. Her love for observing animals in their natural habitat shines through in her photography, and we’re honored to have had her image close out this special chapter of the competition.

We caught up with Eléa to uncover the story behind the lens of the photograph that won the competition. It's a captivating read, and we hope you enjoy this behind-the-scenes look at our conversation with Eléa.

Tell us more about when and where the photograph was taken. 

The photograph was taken at about 6h30am on the 11th of April down in the valley . We had just stopped for some hot chocolate and coffee by the river and we were admiring the view. The photo was taken with a Canon EOS 1300D using a Sigma 100-400mm lens. The settings were 100mm, an ISO speed of ISO-125, F-stop f/5.6 and an exposure time of 1/320 seconds.

How did it feel to see and capture this photo?

That whole morning the scenery was dreamlike with all the low lying clouds and seeing shadows of trees, giraffes and later reflections in the river. I do actually remember talking that photo, choosing specifically my composition, placing the heron in the bottom right and after taking the photo telling my husband "If that's come out as I wanted, that'll be a great photo".

How did you react when you found out you had won the competition?

I found out about 5 minutes before starting my Year 7 parents evening (luckily online and not in person). I was literally jumping up and down and just couldn't believe it. I had to calm down quickly though as I was about to start 4 hours of appointments! However, between appointments I kept checking my phone, checking I wasn't dreaming!

Tell us more about your experience at Kariega.

Absolutely magical. I've never felt such peace anywhere in the world. Getting up didn't matter. The scenery is so beautiful and the sunrises gorgeous and then you just get to see majestic animals and such a variety of them too! A dream come true.

Tell us when you might be able to come back to take up your prize and who you will bring.

Hopefully next summer or May half term and I'd have to bring my husband. He wouldn't forgive me going back without him.

Eléa shared some beautiful images from her stay at Kariega, and we’re thrilled to be welcoming her and her husband back soon to redeem her prize.

Instagram Video Competition

We are still running our Instagram video competition – a fun and easy way to share your Kariega safari memories and stand a chance to win a 2-night all-inclusive stay for two at River Lodge!

Here’s how to enter:

• Upload your safari reel to Instagram
• Tag us in your post
• Send us a direct message with your post.

It’s that simple! We can't wait to see your unforgettable moments at Kariega.