#002 Tracking for Tracks: Safari Drum Kit

The definition of the Producers On The Run series is catching various flavours and sounds from all over the globe. Last October I travelled to California’s Yosemite National Park. Now the journey continues! This time around I was travelling through the land of the Big 5: South Africa. In December 2015 I decided to go on a road trip through South Africa to create the Safari Drum Kit. Travelling across the country the goal was to capture at least a little piece of the country's rich culture & nature.

Arriving in South Africa the journey started at Kruger National Park east of Johannesburg. The journey continued 3500 Km (~2175 miles) into the heartland of the country, lasted 4 weeks and finally ended in Cape Town. On December 25th, 2015 I arrived in Johannesburg.

After a long exhausting flight I had to familiarise with left-hand traffic as well as corrupt policemen. It took another 5 hours until I arrived at my first destination: Timbavati Safari Lodge.

After a couple of beers at the bar I met a local who invited me to a small village to be part of a traditional ritual dance. I was amazed by the welcoming of the villagers.

Before I knew it I was in the middle of a spectacular happening which I luckily recorded.

These recordings turned out as amazing sounding percussion & vocal chants which created the basis of the kit.

In the following days I joined several trips & game drives through Kruger Park to record all types of sounds from different animals. All samples have been recorded with the Zoom h4n mobile recorder using its build-in microphones. During this time I stayed at several other lodges (Blyde River Canyon Lodge, Crocodile Kruger Safari Lodge).

After driving through the country passing Lesotho my next big stop was Addo Elephant Park nearby Port Elisabeth. At this stop I recorded the elephant sounds which you can hear in the kit. As the trip came towards its end I was driving on Garden Route towards Cape Town.

Back in Germany I started using the freshly recorded sounds and they blew my mind. Hope you guys enjoy the drum kit as much as I do. But see for yourself!

Link to the kit: ProducersOnTheRun Vol. II: Safari Drum Kit

Cheers,
Julez

Photo edits: Philipp Levinger