Kim Helfrich

The freedom of South Africa's wildlife and the opportunity to enjoy it, particularly in the Kruger National Park, has spawned a pleasant headache for SANParks chief photographer Eric Reisinger.

Monthly he has to judge upwards of 200 photographic submissions and select a winner.

At the end of 12 months he has to look at those again and select an overall winner for Kruger's annual photographic competition.

"Submissions vary from the obvious quality and composition of professional photographers to people who, while not having the finely tuned photographic eye, obviously enjoy their time in Kruger and have recorded the park and its inhabitants," he said.

While still in the discussion stages, the SANParks honorary ranger corps is keen to use the year's top 12 images in a calendar. "It depends on money," said the corps'' Louis Lemmer.

"It could be a fundraiser that can assist in rhino anti-poaching operations, but we cannot commit to it yet."

kimh@thenewage.co.za