Twelve years! Twelve whole years since I’d last stood in front of Sharne and Ryan with a camera, back when they married in the Tsitsikamma forest on a magical, rainy afternoon. I’d also photographed their daughter in Sharne’s belly during a maternity session somewhere along the way, but I’d never met their kids in real life. So when Sharne messaged me a week before their Drakensberg holiday saying they’d won a family getaway and could we pleeeeease do a photoshoot whilst they were in the area, I didn’t even hesitate.

I knew EXACTLY where to take them for their Drakensberg family photoshoot: The rock pools at Monks Cowl Reserve. I’d been wanting to shoot there for years, and Sharne couldn’t have been more excited about the suggestion!

Why Monks Cowl is Perfect for an Adventure Family Photoshoot

Monks Cowl sits at the very end of the main road through the Central Drakensberg, tucked between Champagne Castle and Cathkin Peak. Most people wind their way through the Champagne Valley, past all the bakery and the chocolate factory and the resorts and hotels, and they never make it this far. Which is exactly what makes it so special.

My husband had been visiting this valley for YEARS before I dragged him down that final stretch of road. He’d never been to Monks Cowl. And now it’s one of our favourite places in the Berg!

The rock pools are 1.5kms from the main entrance. It’s an easy, gentle walk with a little scramble at the end down to the rock pools. The pools are simply spectacular! Clear water fresh from the source, huge boulders covered in moss and ferns, and this natural whirlpool where the water crests over the rocks and swirls you back into the shallows. It’s stunning, and it genuinely feels like a hidden tropical oasis in the mountains.

A Stormy Start to Our Drakensberg Family Photoshoot

We met in the parking lot on a December morning. December in the Berg means thunderstorms. Every. Single. Day. We’d chosen this specific day because it was the ONLY day in their holiday week without a storm in the forecast.

If only forecasts were reliable hahaha!

After the most beautiful reunion (hugs, catching up on twelve years of life, and meeting the kids properly for the first time), we bought our tickets and started meandering through the reserve. We were aiming for the Sterkspruit waterfall viewpoint first so that the kids could see ‘A WATERFALLLLLL!’.

That’s when the drizzle started. Then a bit of thunder. And finally then the heavens opened.

Sharne and Ryan were SO brilliant about it. Towels were pulled up over heads as they walked, and we kept moving through the misty green hills. The beautiful part about Drakensberg thunderstorms in summer is that they pass. By the time we reached the path down to the rock pools, the storm had moved through and the light was softening again.

Monks Cowl Rock Pools: Where the Family Photoshoot Magic Happened

Their daughter was hesitant at first. I get it. Cold mountain water, unfamiliar place, everyone watching. But with a lot of excitement and encouragement she eventually jumped in.

With the whole family in the water, laughing, swirling through that natural whirlpool, they had the absolute BEST time. The water at Monks Cowl is basically source water – so clean you can see straight to the bottom, and chilly enough to feel an injection of energy!

The kids were obsessed with the way the water pushed them around the pool and back into the shallows. Their little boy kept clambering onto the boulders to inspect the tiny stones he’d collected, turning them over in his hands like treasure. Sharne was radiating joy. Ryan was, as dads always are, the perfect human for the kids to cling on to when they didn’t feel like swimming from point A to B hahaha!

Sharne looked at me and said “This is an afternoon they will never forget!”

And THAT’S the whole point, isn’t it? These Drakensberg family photoshoots aren’t about standing still and smiling at the camera. They’re about giving families something real to remember. Something their kids will talk about for years. Something that sticks because it was an actual adventure, not just a photo session.

Twelve Years Later: A Drakensberg Family Photoshoot Reunion

What I love most about this work: it’s never just a wedding and off they go. I stay connected to my clients on social media and am genuinely invested in their lives. I want to know what happens next. So when Sharne and Ryan reached out twelve years later, it didn’t feel like reconnecting with strangers at all!

Getting to meet their kids in real life. Getting to photograph them as a family. Getting to share this part of the Berg with them. That’s the privilege of this job. These relationships grow. They deepen. They mean something way beyond the work itself.

A few weeks after the shoot, Sharne sent me a voice note. Her daughter had a school project where they asked, “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

She said she wanted to be a photographer.

She couldn’t stop talking about how much fun the photoshoot was and how cool it was that photography could be a job.

I mean… wow. Kids change their minds a thousand times about what they want to do (and that’s exactly how it should be), but knowing that she felt the joy behind the photographs, and that this was something she could actually do as a job? That is simply epic.

Walking Back Through Another Berg Storm

Whilst we were still in the rock pools, the lightning started again. We got out, dried off as quickly as we could, and started walking back.

Then the heavens properly opened. Thunder, lightning, rain coming down in sheets.

That’s the other thing about the Berg in summer: you have to be willing to get wet. The storms don’t hang around, and they’re not too dangerous if you’re sensible about it. We walked under the forest canopy for shelter where we could, towels wrapped around small shoulders, muddy bare feet on the path, and by the time we reached the gate, we were soaked and grinning.

My husband had been waiting at the gate with security, making sure they didn’t lock up before we got back. (Monks Cowl has closing hours, and we’d cut it a bit close. Oops.) We made it. Drenched, exhilarated, absolutely buzzing.

That electric atmosphere, with the lightning and the thunder and all the chaos, felt like the perfect metaphor for the whole session. You’re in the moment. You’re alive. You’re absorbing everything around you. And you trust that whatever the weather brings, it will pass.

What Makes Adventure Family Photoshoots in the Drakensberg Different

I travel light for these adventure family photoshoots in the Drakensberg. Two cameras, my lenses, batteries, all fitting into a sling bag. That’s it. No lights, no static setups, nothing that ties us down. So we can be spontaneous! We follow the light and the laughter and the moments as they happen.

These sessions usually run about two hours with the hike included, which is longer than a standard portrait session. But the time absolutely flies because we’re not just standing in one spot clicking through poses. We’re walking, exploring, discovering, playing. The kids are engaged because it feels like an adventure. Parents relax because they’re doing something they actually enjoy. Not something they’re enduring for the sake of photos.

And I get to share the beauty of the Berg with people who might never have found this corner of it on their own.

Sharne and Ryan, thank you for trusting me with this. Twelve years later, and you’re still two of my favourite humans. Watching your family laugh and play and make those core memories at Monks Cowl was everything I hoped it would be. I’m so stoked you jumped in.

If you’re looking for adventure family photography in the Drakensberg, the kind that gives your kids something to talk about for years and gives you images that feel ALIVE, let’s chat. I know all the hidden corners!

Drakensberg Family Photoshoot FAQs

Can you swim in the Monks Cowl rock pools?

Yes, and it’s amazing!!! The rock pools at Monks Cowl are some of the best swimming spots in the Central Drakensberg. The water is fresh from the source and crystal-clear, with a natural whirlpool section where it crests over the rocks and gently swirls you back into the shallows. It’s a firm favourite with kids, just keep little ones close as you would near any natural water.

How long is the walk to the Monks Cowl rock pools?

The rock pools sit about two kilometres from the main entrance of Monks Cowl Reserve. It’s an easy, gentle walk for most of the way, with a short scramble down to the pools right at the end. Totally doable with children, and the mountain views along the way are some of the best in the Berg!

When is the best time of year for a Drakensberg family photoshoot?

Summer (November to February) brings lush green landscapes and water warm enough to swim, which is magic for an adventure family photoshoot. Just know that Berg summers come with afternoon thunderstorms, though they usually pass within twenty to thirty minutes. I have written an amazing guide about the best time of year for your Drakensberg photoshoot if you’d like to read more.

What should we wear for our family photoshoot in the Berg?

Wear comfortable clothes you can walk, climb, and play in, with swimwear underneath if you’re keen to get in the water. Bring a towel or two, and don’t stress about bare feet or a bit of mud, that’s all part of the adventure. Different seasons bring different tones, and you can read more in my article: What to Wear for Your Drakensberg Photos.

What happens if it rains during a Drakensberg photoshoot?

Honestly, some of the most fun and atmospheric images happen in the rain. Summer storms in the Berg roll through fast, usually within twenty to thirty minutes, so we find shelter, wait it out, and carry on. Misty mountains and moody skies are also incredible for photos, so a bit of weather is never a problem.