Wildlife of Khoisan Gariep conservancy by Brendan Ryan

I first stayed at New Holme in the Khoisan Karoo Conservancy more than 20 years ago in what was a different era…a time when slide film still dominated photography because digital photography had not yet reached slide film quality standards.

I was looking to get photographs of migratory Lesser Kestrels which move into the Karoo in their thousands during the South African summer months.  I got those on New Holme plus a lot more as this was my first real exposure to the birds of the Karoo with species like Blue Korhaan and Rufous-eared Warbler.

I have been back many times since building up my image bank of Karoo birds and also the fascinating and difficult-to-photograph nocturnal mammals of the region.  All these images were taken at Khoisan Karoo. 

View more images by South African photographer Brendan Ryan here. 

Striped Pole Cat Springhare Spotted Eagle Owl Spotted Eagle Owl Spiked Heeled Ark Blue Crane Blue Crane Blue Korhan Blue Korhan Eastern Clapper Lark Eastern Clapper Lark Greater Kestrel pair on nest Karoo Korhan Large Billed Lark Lesser Kestrel Aardvark Aardvark Aardwolf Aardwolf African Hedgehog African Wild Cat Barn Owl Bat Eared Fox Black Footed Cat Black Headed Canary Lesser Kestrel Ludwig's Bustard Namaqua Warbler Northern Black Korhan (female) Pink Billed Lark Porcupine Red Capped Lark Rufous Eared Warbler South African Shelduck (female) South African Shelduck (male)