A conversation with wildlife photographer and guide Mike Dexter

On wild places, storytelling, and what makes a great photo safari

If you join us on a photo safari, you might have the pleasure of being guided by Mike Dexter, a South Africa-based wildlife photographer and specialist guide with more than 16 years of experience working across some of Africa’s most remote and spectacular wilderness areas. His work has appeared in publications including BBC Wildlife and Africa Geographic, and he brings the same eye for storytelling to his guiding as he does to his photography. We asked Mike to share some of his favourite images and to tell us a little about what draws him to wild places, and what makes a great photo safari.

A short bio 

Mike Dexter is a South African wildlife photographer, photojournalist and specialist photographic safari guide with more than 16 years of experience working across some of Africa’s most remote wilderness areas. He holds a degree in photojournalism alongside a FGASA Level II guiding qualification – a combination that makes him something of a rarity in the field: someone equally fluent in the language of wildlife behaviour and the craft of visual storytelling.

His work has been widely published in international travel and wildlife titles including BBC Wildlife, Africa Geographic, Travel Africa, Practical Photography and Nature’s Best Photography, as well as in newspapers in the US and UK. Alongside his editorial work, Mike creates conservation photography for NGOs and protected areas, and produces architectural and lifestyle imagery for lodges across the continent.

“An elephant having a nightcap at a small waterhole at Mashatu Game Reserve. I took this image from an underground hide that is specifically designed for shooting after dark.”

Questions & Answers with Mike

What got you into wildlife photography?

“It began as an excuse, a means and a justification to spend more time in wild places. At first I was just trying to take images that would show family and friends what I had been fortunate enough to witness but over time I realised that to be effective my photographs needed to capture behaviour and atmosphere and have a storytelling element. That’s also what led me towards conservation photography.”

What are your favorite destinations for wildlife photography? 

“I’m drawn to places that still feel genuinely wild. The Okavango Delta for its diversity and constantly changing conditions, the far eastern Serengeti where the plains are endless and humans are few and Malamala for its unrivalled big cat sightings. I like places where you can spend time with a subject and where unexpected things happen.”

And are there any places you haven’t been to that are high on your list?

“Plenty. I’m often as interested in the landscapes and ecosystems as the species themselves, so places that feel visually and ecologically distinct tend to pull me. Antarctica for icebergs and penguins and Svalbard for polar bears. Ennedi in Chad for its cultural and historical significance and it’s otherworldly landscapes. Kamchatka in eastern Russia for volcanoes and grizzly bears.”

“What collection of images would be complete without a wildebeest leaping into the Mara River? I don’t spend much time at river crossings during the migration but on the odd occasion when I do I’m always blown away.”

What makes a photo safari great?

Good sightings are important but they’re only part of it. For me a great photo safari is about quality time in the field, good guiding, guests who are engaged and curious and, of course, good banter. The best trips are usually the ones where people improve as photographers almost without realising it while also having memorable wildlife encounters.

Who should consider joining a wildlife photography trip?

Anyone with an interest in wildlife and photography really, not just experienced photographers – from beginners wanting to understand their cameras better to experienced photographers looking for creative guidance. You don’t need to be highly technical – curiosity, patience and enthusiasm matter more.

“The open plains of East Africa are very close to my heart. I’m drawn to the simple compositions that these unusually minimalist landscapes allow.”

Join Mike in Brazil’s Pantanal

If Mike’s answers have left you wanting to see the Pantanal through his lens, you’re in luck. This September, Mike is guiding our Jaguars of the Pantanal photo safari,  an eight-day trip into the heart of the Brazilian wetlands, home to the highest concentration of wild jaguars on Earth. You’ll spend your days on the rivers by boat, searching for jaguars along the banks, with giant river otters, caimans, capybara, hyacinth macaws and a remarkable cast of supporting wildlife all around you. Small group, expert tuition, one of the most biodiverse places on the planet.

Find out more and book your place here.

“In my experience the leopard viewing at Malamala Game Reserve is unparalleled, and I was a full time guide there at one point. The density of these beautiful cats is exceptionally high and most are very relaxed around vehicles, making it a photographer’s dream.”