Instagram offers people a way to stay connected using images and videos, no matter where they are in the world. There are many travel bloggers who take incredible photos and share them on this platform. Here are 8 South African travel bloggers we think everyone should follow on Instagram.
Words: Boitumelo Masihleho
1. Mzansi Girl
Meruschka Govender, also known as Mzansi Girl, has been blogging since 2010 and is the founder of the #Afritravel hashtag on Twitter. She is passionate about African travel and her Instagram account gives you a true feel of all her adventures across the continent.
2. Louw Lemmer
Louw Lemmer, a photographer from Pretoria, takes his inspiration from people. He’s always trying to add the human element to his Instagram photos in an interesting way. From the jacarandas of Joburg to the beaches of Cape Town and the Knysna elephants, Louw captures the beauty of South Africa and its people.
PHOTO TIP: Look where no one else is looking. Look off the path and direct your camera in the corners of the world where most would brush past.
Carlinn Meyer, also known as Campus Bay Girl, is a lifestyle and travel blogger from Cape Town. Her Instagram is not only filled with photos of the beautiful scenery in and around the Mother City, but international destinations.
Lauren and Vaughan Manuel McShane are a husband and wife team of travel bloggers from Cape Town. Not even a young baby has slowed them down. Their blog, cleverly named The Travel Manuel, as well as their Instagram account, inspire people to explore the far corners of the earth while making memories with their family.
PHOTO TIP: Play with different angles. Learn to look at things differently and extend your camera into that. Lie on your back, kneel down, look up – just find the best angle, any angle and run with it.
5. Dean Cothill
Dean Cothill is a talented photographer and thrill seeker from Port Elizabeth. He is the founder of the popular Instagram account @cityofPE where he has grown a community for local Instagram creatives to share their views of the city. His own Instagram account has more than 44 000 followers and features breathtaking landscapes and bold profiles of the people of South Africa.
6. Janah Vasti
Janah-Vasti Pieterse is a 20-something photographer from Pretoria. She is making waves on Instagram and Tumblr with her beachscapes, desert photography and striking landscapes. Her account, which has more than 22 000 followers, also features images of the journey, drawing her followers into her stories.
PHOTO TIP: Capture your images the way you would tell a story, start with an introduction hinting at the journey to come. Continue on with the experiences you have and the people you meet then, finally, end off by rounding up your whole journey in one moment.
Dawn Jorgensen is a conscious traveller who highlights eco and conservation issues via her travel stories and photos. Her Instagram account shows her deep love for Africa, its people and its animals. Dawn’s blog is called The Incidental Tourist and was named the best SA Travel Blog in 2016.
8. Mike Eloff
Mike is a Cape Town-based travel blogger always up for an adventure. Amazing travel photography projects on his blog, Life of Mike, include #365PortraitsOfStrangers where he approached random strangers on a daily basis, took their photo and heard their story.
Did you know that the small town of Bronkhorstspruit is home to the largest Buddhist Temple and Seminary in Africa, the Nan Hua Temple? This awesome location was one of the stops for the @kiamotorssa Worlds Longest Test Drive and quite an epic stop at that! Thanks @ryanguerilla for helping me out with this shot when my drone decided to give firmware issues today. #KiaWorldRecord #ThisIsSouthAfrica #BeautifulDestinations
PHOTO TIP: Put the camera down. Remember to take in what’s happening as it happens, don’t miss your journey by only experiencing it through your lens.
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