SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO SAFARI

£ 3250

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Enjoy close encounters with the Big Five. 

Join us for a photography safari in South Africa. We’ll be based in the stunning Timbavati Game Reserve, an area of private reserves that offer a truly exclusive wildlife photography experience. We’ll stay in a lodge in the middle of the reserve, surrounded by wildlife and beautiful scenery. During our twice-daily game drives, all guided by expert guides and trackers, you can expect to photograph the African Big Five (lion, leopard, buffalo, rhino, and elephant) – and a whole lot more. In addition, you’ll get to contribute to elephant conservation through some special elephant photography projects we’ll be embarking on. Throughout this photo safari, you’ll enjoy the expert tutoring of wildlife photographer Alan Hewitt, an official Fujifilm UK ambassador, who will help you hone your photography skills.

If you’re keen for an extended wildlife photography adventure, you can combine this trip with our photo safari in Botswana! This is based in the stunning Tuli Game Reserve, where wide open landscapes and some unique wildlife encounters will offer an equally exciting but totally different photographic experience. (There’s a discount if you join both trips!)

QUICK FACTS
Timbavati Game Reserve, South Africa
Aug 8 – 14, 2024
Wildlife Photography
Leader: Alan Hewitt
Group Size: Max. 6
All Photography Levels
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Map of South Africa
1
Sabi Sands

Get incredible photographic opportunities in the Timbavati, an area particularly known for its remarkable leopard viewings

2
Tutoring by professional wildlife photographer

Receive constant photographing tutoring by professional wildlife photographer Alan Hewitt

3
Personal guidance

Enjoy a small group size, allowing plenty of personal guidance

4
Expert guides

Be guided by expert guides and trackers

  1. Get incredible photographic opportunities in the Timbavati, an area particularly known for its remarkable leopard viewings
  2. Improve your photography skills through constant tutoring
  3. Enjoy a small group size, allowing plenty of personal guidance
  4. Be guided by local guides and trackers with great expertise
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THE DESTINATION

This photo safari is set in the Timbavati, a collection of private game reserves that borders Kruger National Park. The game viewing here is incredible; some of the best in Africa. The wildlife is exceptionally relaxed around game drives vehicles, allowing for phenomenal photographic opportunities. You can expect to photograph the Big Five with ease, including the otherwise elusive leopard. It’s also a brilliant area for spotting the highly endangered white rhino.

ACCOMMODATION

In 2023, we’ll be staying at a private lodge in one of Timbavati’s game reserves – and we’ll have the whole place to ourselves. The lodge is a traditional African farmhouse, rustic and basic, but comfortable and charming. The house has several communal spaces, an outside dining area, and a viewing tower overlooking a dam. Since we’ll be in the middle of a game reserve, you can expect to be able to do some game viewing right from your bedroom! We’re off the grid, but solar-power keeps all our gear charged.

During our 2024 photo safari, we’ll stay at Umlani Bushcamp, a lodge in the same private game reserve. It’s a bit of an accommodation upgrade; while the camp still has a lovely rustic African charm, the lodge is very comfortable and has a number of facilities. Set within a picturesque setting, your room will be a thatched room hut with comfortable beds, en-suite facilities and an open-air bush shower. You’ll have hot water and electricity. The lodge has a bush bar overlooking a waterhole, a pool, and a traditional African boma (outside dining area), where you’ll be served three gorgeous home cooked meals a day.

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THE PHOTOGRAPHY

Our itinerary on this photo safari is fully designed around getting you the best wildlife photography opportunities. Twice a day, around times when the African light is as its very best, you’ll enjoy a 3-hour game drive. You’ll be guided by expert local guides and trackers, who will make sure to find you a wealth of wildlife to photography. You can expect to have close encounters with a large amount of animals, including lions, leopards, elephants, buffalos, giraffes, zebra, rhino, and many different antelope species. We’ll always get you to the best possible angle and the best possible light, so that the photographic opportunities are optimal. You can expect to return home with an impressive portfolio of wildlife images!

YOUR WORKSHOP

Wildlife photographer Alan Hewitt will offer guidance throughout the trip, making sure that you’ll be improving your photography skills. The tutoring covers everything from composition to technical camera use and post-production. Since we’ll be traveling in a small group, there will be plenty of one-on-one time, which ensures that everyone can learn at their own level and pace. Photographers of all levels are welcome!

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YOUR 7-DAY ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrival in Hoedspruit, transfer to Timbavati

You’ll arrive at the airport in Hoedspruit, where we’ll be waiting to welcome you. We’ll take you on the short drive to our lodge in the Timbavati. After settling in, Alan will give an introduction to wildlife photography, and go through the itinerary of the coming week.

Day 2 - 6: Big Five game viewing in private game reserve

We’ll enjoy full days of being in the African bush, and photographing wildlife. Our days start early, with a 3-hour game drive at the first African light. This is a great time to be out; animals are at their most active, and the light is at its best. When we return, a delicious breakfast awaits us. Afterwards, there is time to relax, to review images, and to talk in-depth about wildlife photography with Alan. Late afternoon, after lunch, we’ll head out on another 3-hour game drive, this time at the last of the warm African light. During the game drive, we’ll stop for ‘sundowners’, drinks in the middle of the bush. After the game drive, dinner will be served, and there is time to relax.

Day 7: Departure

After a last game drive in the morning, we’ll pack up and make our way back to the airport in Hoedspruit. If you’re joining us in Botswana as well, you’ll make your way to Johannesburg, where we’ll pick you up for a road transfer across the border.

QUICK FACTS
Timbavati (Greater Kruger), South Africa
Aug 8 – 14, 2024
Wildlife Photography
Leader: Alan Hewitt
Group Size: Max. 6
All Photography Levels

£ 3250

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INCLUDES
  • Accommodation
  • All meals
  • Airport transfers
  • Transport on the ground
  • Game drives
  • Guidance by expert local guide and tracker
  • Photographic tutoring by Alan Hewitt
EXCLUDES
  • Flights to Hoedspruit
  • Travel insurance
Camera Icon
RECOMMENDED EQUIPMENT
  • SLR or mirrorless camera
  • A range of lenses; ideally including a wide angle lens for landscapes to telephoto for wildlife
  • Tripod or bean bag
  • Sturdy camera bag
  • Laptop if you’re keen to improve your post-production skills, and/or if you’d like to review your images with Alan

WORKSHOP LEADER: Alan Hewitt

Alan Hewitt photography

Alan Hewitt is a wildlife and conservation photographer, writer, and workshop leader. Mainly driven by his appreciation for and fascination of wildlife, Alan’s aim with his photography is to document our natural world and use this as a tool for conservation. His work has been used to support wildlife conservation organisations in Kenya, as well as ones closer to his home in the UK, including campaigns to save nature reserves that are home to iconic and endangered species. Alan is an official UK ambassador for FUJIFILM.

£ 3250

pp sharing

INCLUDES
  • Accommodation
  • All meals
  • Airport transfers
  • Transport on the ground
  • Game drives
  • Guidance by expert local guide and tracker
  • Photographic tutoring by Alan Hewitt
EXCLUDES
  • Flights to Hoedspruit
  • Travel insurance

WORKSHOP LEADER: ALAN HEWITT

Alan Hewitt is a wildlife and conservation photographer, writer, and workshop leader. Mainly driven by his appreciation for and fascination of wildlife, Alan’s aim with his photography is to document our natural world and use this as a tool for conservation. His work has been used to support wildlife conservation organisations in Kenya, as well as ones closer to his home in the UK, including campaigns to save nature reserves that are home to iconic and endangered species. Alan is an official UK ambassador for FUJIFILM.

What they’re Saying

In 50 years of travelling I have never been as happy as I was for that week. Everything and everyone was just perfect. Our guide and tracker were brilliant at consistently finding so many exciting close encounters. Alan Hewitt was endlessly patient and helpful with his advice. The accommodation was of a good standard and the food exactly to my taste! My fellow travellers were good company. Plus I came back with great memories and lots of good photos. There is nothing I would change (other than the fact that I wish I were still there!)

Alan MeekUK

I can’t stop talking about the experience. We were so blessed to see so much wildlife in such a short space of time. Every game drive held an incredible experience. The entire experience, the helpful staff, the incredibly talented guides, Alan, the people participating, such good service, and the abundance of wildlife is absolutely priceless.

Bianca LynessSouth Africa

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