Photographer Ian Haggerty home from Mongolia
Mr Haggerty took part in an endurance race, the Wild Coast, and met people there that helped him to apply to become a photographer at the Mongol Derby.
KINROSS – It is not everyone who gets selected to be an official photographer at the Mongol Derby in Mongolia in Far East Asia.
Mr Ian Haggerty was chosen as a photographer and recently returned from his trip to Mongolia.
The Mongol Derby is an equestrian endurance race that extends over 1 000km through the Mongolian Steppe (grassland eco region) and is known as the world’s longest horse race.
He described the derby as an incredible adventure for both the crew and the horse riders.
“I do not think anyone, especially the riders, can explain to people what they have to go through and have people actually understand,” said Mr Haggerty.
“You have to experience it for yourself to truly grasp it.”
Mr Haggerty said he could fill books if he would share the whole journey and try to capture everything.
“It was an awesome journey. I met some of the best people on the planet, from the crew members to the riders to the Mongolian people.
“The Mongolians are such hospitable people, you can walk into a Ger (big round tent) soaking wet and they will give you food and a place to sit near the fire and milk tea.
“They will take your jacket and hang it up to dry.”
He enjoyed every moment of the 1 000km through the Mongolian countryside and found the food in this country incredible.
Mr Haggerty was one of three photographers who followed groups of endurance riders throughout their journeys.
He was up at the crack of dawn to catch them at the beginning of their ride at 6.30am and then worked until late to capture images of the riders coming in at 8pm.
The crew slept in tents and bathed in the rivers.
Mr Haggerty had a driver who took him on the routes through the Steppe which he described as the “green Karoo”.
He began horse riding at a young age while he was growing up in Natal and attended a school where there were horses.
Mr Haggerty took part in an endurance race, the Wild Coast, and met people there that helped him to apply to become a photographer at the Mongol Derby.
“The Mongol Derby as an incredible experience and I learnt so much.
“I would definitely do it again if I get the chance. I will be able to cover it so much better next time.”
Mr Haggerty enjoys adventurous sports such as scuba diving and underwater photography in his free time.
He also enjoys horse riding when he has the chance and spending time with his menagerie.
Mr Haggerty lives on a farm outside Kinross where he keeps various animals, from horses to interesting breed of dogs.
He has been living in the area for almost 11 years.
He worked as a safety inspector for NPE at Sasol until last year, but he would love to do his dream job, being an adventure photographer, preferably something to do with horses.
Mr Haggerty will be taking part in the Wild Coast endurance ride again this year and he is considering a ride through Mexico early next year.
“It would be awesome to spend a month riding through some of the places in Mexico and end it off with scuba diving with great white sharks off Guadalupe Island.”
Other things still on Mr Haggerty’s bucket list are scuba diving with great white sharks without a cage, to hug a Panda bear, to paraglide through the Alps, adventure riding holidays in various countries, to swim with whales and orcas and anything to do with the ocean and horses.
