Best Photography Holidays in 2025

You’ve got your camera ready to go. You’ve worked hard and earned some much needed time off next year – woohoo! For the avid photographer the world is not just an oyster waiting to be cracked open – for most of you it’s an endless photographic canvas awaiting your creative interpretation. At Penda, we get it. We’ll get you to the right place at the right time for that epic shot. The hardest part may well be deciding where to go? Join us as we zoom in on 10 of the very best photography holidays in 2025.

Yellowstone – Age-old Fire and Brimstone

Not only is Yellowstone National Park home to the lovable Yogi Bear, it’s also a wonderland of impressive numbers. Stretching over 2.2 million acres across north-western Wyoming and beyond, the park rests on the Yellowstone Caldera, the largest supervolcano on the continent, home to more than 10,000 hydrothermal features including over 500 geysers. There’s 290 waterfalls, North America’s largest high elevation lake (Yellowstone Lake) and the largest concentration of mammals in the lower 48 states, with 67 different species. And with 285 different types of birds, the possibilities are endless for the keen wildlife photographer on our Yellowstone Photography Workshop.

Uganda – Gorillas in the Mist

You are deep in aptly-named Bwindi Impenetrable National Park, one of East Africa’s most famous reserves. Accessible only by foot, this is where half of the world’s remaining mountain gorillas live. Just over 450 at last count. If it weren’t for the flock of ‘go-away-birds’ setting off from the dense canopy of trees above, you could almost hear a pin drop. Your experienced guide quietens your small group of photographers with an extended forefinger to pursed lips. ‘Ssshh, we’re getting close’. If the thought of being alone in the jungle with a 150kg silverback makes your heart beat that little bit faster, then our Uganda Wildlife Photography Workshop should definitely be on your bucket list. From gorillas in the mist, to the wildlife of Kibale Forest and Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda richly deserves its spot in our 10 best photo tours of 2025.

Photo credit: Anna Lusty

South Africa – Make an Impact with Your Lens

This is your chance to learn about humanitarian photography from a seasoned professional, telling the stories of grassroots non-profit organizations through your lens. Join our experienced guide Anna Lusty, on our Impact Photography Program in South Africa. With Anna at your side, you will document the work of various social impact organizations, allowing them to use your images to raise awareness for their cause. This might involve education, skill development, poverty reduction, gender equality, food security, animal welfare or environmental initiatives. Best of all, you will be based in Stellenbosch, a charming town in the Western Cape, surrounded by rolling hills, winelands, and vibrant communities. Plus, we’ll be a short drive from Cape Town, arguably one of the most spectacular cities in the world.

Iceland – Land of Fire & Ice

Resting at the edge of the Arctic Circle, far from mainstream society, Iceland may not be on everyone’s list of must-see destinations, but if you are a shutterbug looking for a truly surreal experience, it should be. The land of fire and ice is a landscape photographer’s dream. You’ll be awestruck by the impressive waterfalls at Skogafoss and Seljalandsfoss. Blown away by a boat ride on Jokulsarlon Lagoon, where glacial ice-melts float by like ice castles. And rejuvenated by a swim in Gunnuhver Mud Pool, naturally heated by volcanic activity simmering beneath the earth’s surface. If you’d prefer the road less traveled, an Iceland Photo tour promises to deliver one of the best photography holidays of 2025.

Photo credits: Emil von Maltitz

Madagascar – Unique As a Ring-Tailed Lemur

It would be fair to say that Madagascar is truly unique, totally unlike anywhere else. It would also be fair to say that this huge island off the east coast of Southern Africa is incredibly photogenic. Where else can you access diverse opportunities for landscape, wildlife, portrait and astro-photography all in one place? Rainforest-covered mountain ranges, idyllic beaches and the warmth of local Malagasy people invite you to capture the country’s essence. Chance upon the ring-tailed lemur, the cat-like fossa and the panther chameleon, curious creatures you won’t find anywhere else on the planet. Be captivated by the Avenue of the Baobabs in Morondava, a grove of ‘upside-down trees’ that line the mist-covered plains like sentinels. Embrace the local village culture of the Malagasy, where rice is a staple. Exotic Madagascar awaits. Most definitely one of our best photo tours in 2025.

Namibia – from the Gates of Hell to Heavenly Game

If you’re looking for a few unusual items to tick off your photography bucket list next year, you’ll be hard-pressed to beat our Namibia Photo Tour. In this incredibly photogenic region of southern Africa, you’ll find the aptly named Skeleton Coast, the world’s biggest graveyard for seafaring souls. The Portuguese sailors called this the Gates of Hell, the native Bushmen call it ‘the land God made in anger.’ Formidable, anyway you look at it. Inland the Namib Desert, the oldest known to man, is also home to the largest sand dunes on the planet, dwarfing all that stare upward in awe. And all of that is well before we get started on the world class wildlife at Etosha National Park, one of Africa’s largest game reserves. A brilliant mix of landscapes and wildlife make this one of our best photos tours on offer next year.

Morocco – Could This Be Your Cup of Berber Tea?

Blessed with a unique blend of African, Arab, Berber, and European culture, Morocco is as distinctive as it is exotically charming. Old cities such as Casablanca, Marrakech and the ancient Fez, provide untold storytelling opportunities. On the streets, capture the steam rising from a lamb tagine, the kaleidoscopic color of a local bazaar, or the warm glow of a mosque at sunset. Across the dunes of the Sahara Desert, and over the snow-capped peaks of the Atlas Mountains, Morocco’s stark topography lends itself to superb landscape photography opportunities. If this sounds like your cup of Berber tea, then you should look no further than our Morocco Photography Expedition.

Botswana – Our Best Kept Secret

Some say the Tui Block is ‘Botswana’s best kept secret’. Vast lunar landscapes of rocky plains, wide river beds lined with giant Nyala trees, and stark blue skies, offer an incredible backdrop for wildlife photography and a true wilderness experience. Capture lions, leopards, large herds of elephants, hippos and cheetahs, all A-list stars that call this home. A supporting cast of smaller species treads the reserve with lighter feet. You may spot hyenas, wild dogs, jackals and with an ounce of luck, enjoy a rare cameo from the elusive bat-eared fox. Join the cast and crew on our Botswana Photo Safari, another worthy candidate for best photography holidays in 2025.

Victoria Falls – the Smoke That Thunders

Our Wildlife Photography and Conservation Program in Victoria Falls program offers you the chance to stay on the banks of the mighty Zambezi River, surrounded by wildlife as you develop your photography skills and contribute to local wildlife conservation projects. Recent participant Natalia Popiyakova had this to say: “What made this volunteering camp truly special for me, was its focus on wildlife rescue and rehabilitation. Helping rescue and release injured animals back into the wild added a meaningful dimension to my experience”. And for the adrenalin junkies with a thirst for adventure, the ‘smoke that thunders’ is definitely the place to hang if you want to live on the edge a little. Start or end your trip with some white water rafting on the Zambezi River or perhaps a bungee jump from Vic Falls bridge. Get your game face on – you’ve got this!

Maasai Mara – The Great Migration and More

The Maasai Mara is one of Africa’s prime safari destinations. Situated within Kenya’s expansive Great Rift Valley, it boasts a diverse array of habitats from open rolling grasslands to riverine forests and swamplands. These habitats are home to the Mara’s remarkable concentration of herbivores. The big cats such as lions, leopards and the elusive cheetah call this home, as do hordes of buffalo, giraffes and elephants. But the grand spectacle that arguably draws the most interest is the annual Great Migration. An astonishing 1.2 million wildebeests, 300,000 zebras, and other herds of smaller herbivores set the scene for the greatest show on earth. The masses begin their trek along age-old routes, moving from the southern part of Tanzania’s Serengeti Desert up to the Maasai Mara in Kenya, then back again. When it comes to an African photo safari, the Maasai Mara truly delivers.

It’s Your Call!

As you can see folks, the opportunities for world class photography experiences are endless, but at Penda Photo Tours, we’ve got your back, no matter what you decide to do in 2025. Our personalized small group tours will get you in the right place at the right time for that elusive ‘money shot’. Our photographic experts will help elevate your growing portfolio to the next level. All you have to do is decide where in the world you want to be, when the magic happens. And it will most definitely happen. It’s your call.