Join Wild4 Photographic Safaris on this exclusive, ultimate Big Cat photo safari experience. Aimed at all levels of photographer, this tour has a small group size of only 3 photographers, allowing for plenty of 1 to 1 tuition time and room for equipment. Most important of all is that it allows for unrestricted acces to both sides of the safari vehicle.

We begin at the PRIVATE BIG CAT RESERVE where we spend 3 nights. Here, various skills and techniques are practiced and honed and you will have close encounters with some special orphaned animals which could include, Caracal, Cheetah, Leopard, Lion and Wilddog. The attraction of this reserve is that you will get close to these beautiful animals and will get excellent photos of them in their natural bush environment. Having a slightly more controlled situation, allows you to often reshoot and fine tune your technique and your camera skills. We explore a number of different photo techniques such as panning, wide angle photography, night photography, fill flash, off camera flash and basic DSLR movie making skills.

Accommodation is at the reserves main lodge in comfortable en-suite rooms.

We then transfer via road to the wilds of the world famous KRUGER NATIONAL PARK for the next 4 nights. Over the years, Kruger has consistently produced the best "general game" photos of zebra, giraffe, wildebeest, impala, kudu, elephant, hippo, white rhino and of course a fantastic variety of birds. Photographing the great variety of "general game" will be the focus of our stay whilst in Kruger.

Accommodation will be in comfortable en-suite chalets at the National Park camp, Satara. This is located in central Kruger, traditionally one of the best areas for game viewing.

Finally we move on to the beautiful MALA MALA Game Reserve for our final 3 nights. This is the oldest private game reserve in South Africa, and the place where numerous award winning wildlife documentaries such as "Beauty & the Beast", Predators at War" and "Tjololo the Leopard" have been filmed.
Here our focus changes and we track down and concentrate on spending quaility time with the reserve's wild Lions & Leopards. This is the best place in the world to see these cats and offers unrivalled opportunities, a perfect way to end the safari.

Accommodation will be in luxury rooms at Mala Mala main camp.

Each photographer will have their own bench seat with unrestricted access to both sides of the vehicle.
WILD4's specially designed photo bars attach to the Mala Mala vehicles and offer a very stable shooting platform. We are the only company that makes use of such platforms, which can accommodate a Wimberley Tripod head or a beanbag. You will not have to fight & struggle with monopods or try hand holding, which is normally the case when trying to photograph from open safari vehicles.

This tour is open to all levels of photographer and offers a wonderful blend of excellent tuition opportunities coupled with the ability to put new found techniques and skills into practice out in the wilds of both the KRUGER NATIONAL PARK & the MALA MALA GAME RESERVE.

Off road driving is not permitted in the Kruger National Park, but is permitted at both the Big Cat Reserve and at MALA MALA.

INCLUDED IN PRICE:
> 3 nights at Private BIG CAT RESERVE (BLD)
> 4 nights in the KRUGER NATIONAL PARK (BLD)
> 3 nights at MALA MALA Main Camp in Luxury Rooms (BLD)
> all park entrance fees
> all road transfers
> internal flights from JHB to Hoedspruit and from Nelspruit back to JHB
> private use of safari vehicles with qualified (FGASA) guides at all locations
> laundry at MALA MALA
> Photographic tuition from your tour leader, Stu Porter
(B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner)

NOT INCLUDED IN PRICE:
> optional 1 night stop over in JHB before or after the tour
> all drinks
> curios & personal gifts / items from shops
> tips / gratuities for camp / lodge staff and for your rangers
> laundry at Big Cat Reserve & in Kruger National Park
> personal medical, travel & equipment insurance
> visa fees if applicable
> INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS TO SOUTH AFRICA

You would spend the two nights at a Forest Lodge, nestled at the base of the Drakensberg Mountains in comfortable en-suite rooms. The lodge offers excellent photography from a hide / blind that is eye level with the floor of a riverine forest. Diurnal & nocturnal mammals and birds visit a small waterhole in front of the hide / blind.

We also photograph a Wild Vulture Feed where up to 400 vultures have been counted. This is a great opportunity to fine tune how to photograph birds in flight and to support the Southern African Vulture conservation initiative.

The highlight is a full day of African Reptile Photography. We have an exclusive photo tour with a well trained reptile handler who will not only position the animals for us to get great photos, but you will get to learn a lot about these misunderstood and seldom seen animals.
Species may include:
Black & Green Mambas, Snouted & Spitting Cobras, Chameleon, Tiger snake, Puff Adder, Baboon Spider, Scorpion, Sungazer Lizard and more...
This is a fantastic opportunity to get great Macro shots of these creatures, almost impossible to duplicate in the wild.

EXTENSION PRICE: (see prices alongside)
Inclusive of 2 nights full board at Forest Lodge, all road transfers, park entrance fees and private guides.
NOT INCLUDED: Drinks and tips / gratuities for lodge staff and snake handler.