After leaving Struisbaai we needed to head to Bredasdorp to stock up on groceries and decided to continue on to De Hoop Nature Reserve. This entailed a 50km stretch of dirt road which fortunately was in good condition. The howling wind continued unabated and in association with the harsh sunlight made it very challenging to get any decent pictures. We saw good numbers of the Bontebok that the reserve is known for in addition to Ostrich, Eland, Cape Mountain Zebra and Yellow Mongoose. Wind and heat haze made it difficult to get sharp images with the long telephoto lenses, especially with the Yellow Mongoose, with only a couple out of the series being adequately sharp. Support on a beanbag, monopod or tripod, using good camera stabilising technique and fast shutter speeds with the requisite high ISO, if needed, are often spoken of in terms of getting good sharp images with long lenses. Heat haze and air turbulence are less often mentioned but in certain circumstances are the major factors in loss of sharpness and are impossible to combat. This was one of those occasions where with the mongoose low to the ground we were shooting across a long distance of hot ground with turbulent air of different temperatures distorting the light on its way to the lens.

We took a self-guided walk along one of the trails which was recommended for birding but the wind largely had the birds concealed in shelter. The De Hoop Vlei had good populations of Great Crested Grebe but nothing amenable to anything but distant record shots. The most co-operative avian subject we found was a Fiscal Flycatcher hiding in the lee side of a shrub. Unfortunately the wind prevented a visit to the beach to look for shore birds, including the African Black Oystercatcher, and whales.

Driving back to Bredasdorp we came across a car that had punctured and shredded both rear tyres on the dirt road. We did a U-turn to go back see if we could help which seemed to surprise the family who were on their way to a wedding. Fortunately they had managed to contact a tyre shop that was sending out a truck to help. A quick stop at the Bredasdorp Spar to stock up on a couple of their local flavours of boerewors and we were back in Arniston enjoying a braai and Windhoek draught for dinner!