Feedback from a Botswana Photo Safari

A Q&A with Michelle Rana

Botswana’s Tuli Block has become one of our favorite destinations over the past few years; it’s an area with grand landscapes and consistently brilliant game viewing. It’s also a true wilderness, which makes for an exclusive photo safari experience. We recently took another group of keen photographers on a Botswana photo safari, and one of them was Michelle Rana. Here’s how she experienced the trip.

Images by Michelle Rana 

What made you join this particular photo safari?

I chose to join the Penda tour to Botswana because I was looking for a small group trip where the teaching would be tailored to the level of each individual. As a complete beginner, I really liked that the group leaders seemed so experienced and passionate about photography and that the tuition was flexible with the opportunity to learn both during the game drives and reviewing/processing images later at camp.

Penda also seemed to have the perfect balance between the travel experience and providing fantastic photographic opportunities. It was really important to me that all of Penda’s trips are ethical and respectful of the subjects and that the wildlife is not disturbed in any way.

Botswana appealed to me as a destination because of the excellent and varied wildlife viewing possibilities and because the trip included a stay at two camps which were exclusively for people on the tour.

What were highlights of the trip?

The entire trip was amazing but some of my highlights were the incredible, close up encounters with wildlife including the elusive brown hyena, capturing images that I never thought possible, sundowners in the middle of the wilderness, learning so much about the wildlife we saw on the game drives from Mike, spending time chatting around the campfire in the evenings and getting to share the experience with a lovely, supportive group of people.

Do you have a favorite moment you can describe?

One of my favourite moments on the trip was watching a herd of elephants at the watering hole in camp one evening, just a few feet away from where we were sitting. Although it wasn’t an ideal photo opportunity, it was such a magical and surreal experience watching them drinking, splashing and enjoying the water and a moment I’ll never forget.

Overall, was the trip what you expected?

I wasn’t sure what to expect as I’ve never done a photo tour before and I had no prior photographic experience other than using my camera in automatic mode. The trip was one of my favourite life experiences so far and I have learnt so much about my camera, selecting settings, composing shots, processing images and more.

Alan was so helpful, even prior to my trip and was happy to chat about my equipment and helped me hire a lens to make the most of the photo opportunities. Whilst away, he made the theory so relatable and easy to understand and was patient and always on hand to make sure everyone had what they needed.

Mike was an incredible guide. He made every drive so interesting with his vast knowledge about the wildlife and geography of the area. He ensured the driver positioned the vehicle so we could all get the best shots possible and his knowledge meant he could often anticipate the animals next movements. He was amazing at helping everyone in the vehicle get the most out of every drive despite differing abilities, experience and equipment. His passion for photography and wildlife was so inspiring and I am very grateful to have spent time with someone so talented, patient and kind. Mike and Alan’s expertise helped me get shots I never thought possible and they have transformed the way I look through the lens.

The accommodation was also excellent – some of the highlights were watching an elephant drinking from the splash pool one evening, having a surprise dinner in the bush on our last night in Serolo, sitting around the campfire at Mohave, chatting and gazing at the stars and having lions wander through camp one night. The staff at the camps were also so friendly and helpful and the food and wine were delicious.

What did you learn as a photographer?

As a complete beginner who had only ever used the automatic settings on my camera, I learnt a huge amount on the trip. In addition to the theory behind selecting ISO, aperture, shutter speed and exposure compensation, I also learnt about photographic composition and using lightroom/capture one to process my images.

Mike and Alan were so patient and explained everything in such a relatable, easy to understand way. On the drives, Mike perfectly balanced guidance and support with letting me try out my new knowledge. At each sighting, he would always suggest camera settings and potential compositions but gave me the chance to select my own first. Knowing that he was there gave me the confidence to try without worrying that I would miss shots or spend more time looking at the back of the camera than at the incredible sights in front of me. Thanks to Mike and Alan, I achieved images that I never thought possible and that I am really proud of.

What will you look for in your next photography trip?

For my next photography trip, I will look for a small group size, private vehicle, excellent opportunities to see wildlife up close without disturbing them and tour leaders that are passionate and knowledgeable about both photography and the wildlife we are viewing. I have learnt that having a trip leader who understands the animal’s behaviour is invaluable in anticipating what they might do next and also for getting the vehicle positioned in the prime location for the best shots.

This trip has also made me realise that, for me, photography isn’t only about capturing the perfect shot, it’s also about the experience, connections and memories made along the way. I am very grateful to have done this tour with Penda and I would love to do another in the future.

Find out about our upcoming photo safaris in Botswana