Greg Morgan
UK
The Wild4 team made my trip to South Africa a truly memorable experience. Stu's tuition on techniques, composition and familiarity with your gear was the foundation for the rest of the trip.
We had some wonderful sightings - highlighted by spending time with a leopard cub in a tree no more than 30 metres away and watching a pride of 14 lions stalking a herd of zebra for more than an hour - just wonderful experiences! The quality of my shots was infinitely better than on a regular safari, as the whole focus is expertly designed to maximise photographic opportunities.
Stu's knowledge, enthusiasm and patience were boundless, and Ann's spotting and catering skills were priceless! I hope to visit Africa again soon, and without a doubt Wild4 will be my first option.
Doug & Susan Croft
USA
We’re sitting in our day room trying to comprehend the past nine days on the Mara. To say the trip was fantastic would be a vast understatement!
From the logistics to the lodges to the very capable vehicles and guide, everything you set up was amazing! Then there is the Mara…stunningly beautiful plains and skies with unmatched wildlife. We saw everything we hoped to see and so much more! James was a perfect match for us. Great driver. Amazing eyes. Personable and open for whatever the day presented.
He has a wealth of knowledge of the area and wildlife and has a vast network of friends and guides that really helped us find some elusive animals. After the high of watching a cheetah hunt on our first morning drive we thought that things might drop off somewhat, but each drive stayed at a very high level with highlights each day. Just unbelievable!
We’re so glad that Stu convinced us that this was the right itinerary! Our third safari with Wild4 and we would not visit Africa with anyone else!
George Cathcart
USA
Wild4's photo safari to Botswana featured two expert guides, Stu Porter and Nkosi Sibanda and the abundant wildlife of four different Botswanan hot spots. Those features alone are worth the price of admission, particularly since they include vehicle modifications that ensure the best possible photographic experience.
We spent the first ten nights in expedition-style mobile camps, “roughing it” with bucket showers and drop toilets and listening to the leopards, elephants and hyenas wandering in and around the camp at night. However, the expert staff made "roughing it" a pleasure, preparing perfect meals, including fresh-baked bread and cakes and ensuring that the camp was safe and clean.
We finished the 12-night trip in a luxury lodge on the Chobe River, where we photographed from a boat customised to accommodate serious photographers, in a waterway full of hippos and elephants and lined with Africa's most iconic birds.
If you can only go once to Africa, go to Botswana with Wild4 Photographic Safaris. They will take care of every detail of your safari. If you are an old Africa veteran, ditto. You just can't go wrong with Wild4.
Manty Arnott and Andrew Dudgeon
Australia
We were lucky enough to enjoy 10 nights in Kenya (Samburu, Ol Pajeta and Masai Mara) and 4 nights in Rwanda with Wild4Photos Safaris. We are not really photographers but picked this company because we wanted to really observe and experience the wildlife - and we were not disappointed. Our guide in Kenya - Mamai - was incredibly knowledgable and able to position us perfectly to see both mammals and birds. He was a font of knowledge on everything we asked him! We really appreciated his gentle approach to viewing the Kenyan wildlife and his commitment to conservation and education. We are indebted to Mamai for providing us with such a unique and wonderful experience. Rwanda was also a highlight - both for the country itself and of course the gorillas. We loved the Rwandan's conservation efforts reflected in the growth of the mountain gorilla population. We were surprised and delighted with how close we got to these magnificent animals. We found the organisation of this safari holiday to be impeccable and made the experience even better. The itinerary, the transfers/flights/accommodation was brilliant. We would highly recommend Wild4 to anyone wanting to see and learn about Africa.
Doug Croft
USA
I found Wild4 through an article in Popular Photography magazine. I saw that Stu and Wild4 offered the kind of experience that I wanted:
- Small groups of dedicated photographers.
- Variety in wildlife viewing.
- Tuition on photography and wildlife behavior.
- Good communication and organisation.
I can say that Wild4 met and exceeded all expectations on all points.
We used one vehicle for three photographers. Being a trained photographer himself, Stu always got us into the best position with the best light. Three on the tour meant plenty of room for equipment and the ability to shoot from either side of the vehicle.
The three places we visited, each provided a unique experience and wonderful variety in scenery and wildlife viewing.
Stu's tuition was excellent but never pushed. Tips, reminders, anecdotes, all given with patience and good humor.
From the first email, the communication was timely & clear. Justyna was a joy to work with.
Wild4 didn’t provide the wildlife or the spectacular sunsets that we experienced, but they put us in a position to enjoy and capture them with our cameras and in our memories. Our safari was amazing and I would not have changed a thing.
If you're looking for a Photo Safari, there is nothing to consider. Just go ahead and contact Wild4 Photographic Safaris. You will not be sorry.
Phillip Scrimshaw
USA
This was my first trip with Wild4, and now I can't imagine myself travelling back to Africa without them. From the moment that I first reached out to Stu about my interest in one of the trips, I knew that he runs a different kind of tour company.
His knowledge, responsiveness, and overall warm personality really made it feel like I was planning a trip with an old friend. Even though Stu was not the tour leader for my trip, he was always happy to answer my many questions, whether that be over an email or a video call.
That level of customer service is almost unheard of in this day and age. On top of that, Stu was constantly checking in with me while I was on the trip to make sure that I landed safely and that I was having a good time.
The entire team at Wild4 run an incredibly well oiled machine, and I never had to stress about crossing borders, making transfers, or any of the usual logistical worries when travelling so far from home. They are total professionals, with some of the best guides and office personnel that I've ever encountered in my many trips to Africa.
The most important part of any photo safari though is making sure that you come away with good photos. Stu has carefully handcrafted every itinerary to perfection, and he really knows how to build up a tour in a way that your best sightings are saved for last. The timing of every tour balances good sightings with low crowds, and Stu's expertise from years of travel is out on display even if he isn't personally there. In the end I knew I would have a good trip, but I didn't realize how much better the trip was because it was run by Wild4.
They have absolutely earned themselves a repeat customer, and I look forward to many trips with them in the future!
Colleen Sullivan
USA
Wild4 Photo Safari gave me much more than an average safari tour. The experiences, friends, and information gathered from my trip will stay with me forever. My anticipations were greatly exceeded, beyond anything I could ever have dreamed of. I Love Wild4!!
Del Hunter
UK
I've recently returned from a "Wild 4 Photo Safari" and can recommend them without reservation. Their skill, professionalism and expertise is excelled only by the standard of excellence shown in every aspect of the trip.
From the logistics to the accommodation, the food to the transportation, their inside knowledge of African wildlife to their passion for what they do, every aspect SUPERB!!
If you are looking for the ultimate "Photo Safari", this is it!
I will definitely book again!!!
James Smith
USA
We recently joined a Wild 4 African Photographic Safari. To put things simply, we were completely blown away. Compared with others I’ve been on, this exceeded anything we had imagined, in so many ways.
Justyna handled all our travel and trip details with exceptional professionalism and always responded to even our most basic questions quickly and in a very detailed manner. We were met by our photo guide Stu Porter, who I cannot say enough good things about. His spotting ability and anticipation, together with his understanding of animal behavior and the ecosystem, produced an amazing wildlife experience. He went to great lengths to ensure that we had the best chance of capturing a great photo, without compromising the rules of the park or the integrity of the animals. This made the trip so much more than just a “drive around and snap at whatever we see” kind of experience.
In all honesty, I can’t imagine a better guide than Stu Porter. We will be doing our future trips to Africa with Wild 4 and cannot recommend them highly enough. Thank you so much for what a lot of people call “the trip of a lifetime”, although we feel that this is only the beginning of many trips of a lifetime. Thank you, Wild 4!!
Bastian & Matthias Freund
USA
We enjoyed the Migration photo safari very much and were blessed to see so many crossings and animals in such a short period of time.
The safari was well organized, all accommodations were first class and the food was certainly a nice surprise considering we were in the wilderness! Our guides took good care of us and were one reason that we saw such varied and exciting wildlife. You picked a great support team for this safari!
Bastian and I learned a lot of new photo techniques, which we will use in the future to improve our photographic results. Bastian for sure got hooked on time-lapse. Thanks to you and all your preparation, your guidance and support, this was a once in a lifetime experience. Our photographs will always remind us of you and the great time we spent together.
Thank you!
