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Mashatu, MalaMala & Kruger Hotel - Wildlife Filming Safari - Nov 2027

November 04th - 17th, 2027
Mashatu, MalaMala & Kruger Hotel - Wildlife Filming Safari - Nov 2027
South Africa & Botswana &
6 Spaces

Welcome to Africa’s First Wildlife Filming Safari!

Turn Your Safari Into a Filming Experience

Step beyond stills photography and into the world of wildlife filming with professional wildlife filmmakers, Wim & Mags Vorster. Be part of an exclusive, hands-on safari staying in one of Africa’s premier wilderness destinations, where you will learn to film wildlife like a pro.

Walk away with a practical toolkit covering camera settings, frame rates, lens use, sound recording, time-lapse creation, and the ability to confidently edit your wildlife films.

From DSLR to mirrorless, and across all camera brands, you can expect comprehensive support throughout the entire experience.
 

From Wim & Mags - What Makes Our Filming Safaris Unique?
 

AFRICA'S FIRST WILDLIFE FILMING SAFARI

We offer you a unique opportunity to craft your own visual wildlife story. We are the first to specialize in wildlife filming, guiding you from the field all the way to the final edit, and we warmly welcome all enthusiasts and aspiring filmmakers.

✓ LED BY PROFESSIONAL FILMAKERS

Drawing on our own film productions and extensive broadcast credits with National Geographic, BBC, Discovery Channel, and others, Mags and I share the knowledge and insights we've gained from years of filming wildlife throughout Africa.

✓ OVER 25 YEARS LIVING IN THE WILD

We’ve lived, guided, and filmed across Southern Africa’s wildest corners, from the Kalahari to the Okavango Delta. Our boots-on-the-ground bush experience translates into accomplished field knowledge.

✓ HUSBAND & WIFE GUIDING TEAM

Together, we blend technical precision with intuitive storytelling. As your guides, we bring depth, warmth, and our two distinct perspectives to every scenario.

✓ FROM THE FIELD TO THE TIMELINE

With our guidance and streamlined editing process, your raw footage will become a compelling wildlife short video you'll be proud to share.

✓ SMALL GROUPS BIG ACCESS

We only take three guests per vehicle, which means you will get an entire row of seats to yourself and access to both sides of the vehicle. There is plenty of space for your equipment, and we guarantee personal guidance throughout.

 

OVERVIEW

This Mashatu / Mala Mala Filming Safari begins in Johannesburg and takes you on a 4-night wildlife filming adventure in Botswana’s Mashatu Game Reserve, followed by 4 nights at the legendary Mala Mala Game Reserve in South Africa.

Guided by professional filmmakers Wim & Mags Vorster, you’ll capture Big Five moments and learn practical filming skills along the way.

The journey ends at Kruger Gate Hotel, where you’ll edit your safari footage into a short wildlife video with expert support.

This creative safari blends thrilling game viewing with hands-on storytelling, leaving you with a short wildlife video you’ll be proud to share.

 

MASHATU PRIVATE GAME RESERVE (4 nights) - FILMING

Set in Botswana’s Northern Tuli Game Reserve where the Limpopo and Shashe Rivers converge, Mashatu is a remote and expansive wilderness celebrated for its wildlife diversity and striking natural scenery.

Covering 45,000 hectares of private land, it hosts the largest population of elephants on private property in Botswana and is renowned for frequent big cat encounters.

From rugged sandstone outcrops to wide open plains and dense mopane forests, Mashatu delivers wild, cinematic landscapes ideal for capturing stunning wildlife footage.

With minimal vehicle presence and skilled local guides, every sighting feels personal, authentic and ready to be filmed.

 

MALAMALA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE (4 nights) - FILMING

Following your time at Mashatu, you will travel to the world-renowned Mala Mala Game Reserve, one of Africa’s leading destinations for Big Five encounters.

Nestled between the Sabi Sands and Kruger National Park, this exclusive private reserve offers unrivalled access to extraordinary wildlife sightings.

It’s also your chance to film other iconic African species such as buffalo, rhino, hippo, and the endangered African wild dog.

The terrain is diverse, the action intense, and every drive is a cinematic opportunity.

For filmmakers, Mala Mala delivers the kind of drama and depth that transforms raw footage into gripping wildlife stories.

 

KRUGER GATE HOTEL (3 nights) - EDITING

Your creative journey concludes at the Kruger Gate Hotel, located at the gateway to South Africa’s famous Kruger National Park. Set on the banks of the Sabie River and surrounded by indigenous bush, the hotel provides a relaxed and inspiring environment.

This peaceful setting is not just for rest - it’s where your safari story comes together. Over two focused days, you will be guided through editing, sequencing, and refining your filmed material, helping you craft a compelling visual narrative from your safari footage.

With expert guidance every step of the way, you'll depart with your own edited wildlife short video - ready to impress, share, and relive with friends and family.

Kruger Gate Hotel offers the perfect creative atmosphere to complete your journey - from field to final cut.

 

IT'S A WRAP

Guided by seasoned wildlife filmmakers Wim & Mags Vorster, this hands-on filming safari is designed for all levels.

With strategic vehicle positioning and one-on-one support, you’ll have every opportunity to film Africa’s most iconic wildlife, lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, and more, set against the stunning backdrops of Mashatu and Mala Mala.

From the untamed energy of the bush to the focused creativity of Kruger Gate Hotel, this small-group experience offers the rare chance to capture and shape your own unforgettable short wildlife video.

DAY 1 - Arrival in Johannesburg

Accommodation: City Lodge OR Tambo (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

Arrive at OR Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.

You’ll be met at the arrivals hall and escorted to your nearby hotel.

In the evening, you’ll meet Wim & Mags and the rest of your group for a relaxed welcome dinner.

DAY 2 - Transfer to Mashatu, Botswana

Accommodation: Mashatu Lodge (All meals, local drinks & laundry included) - 4 nights

After breakfast in Jhb, we take a domestic flight to Polokwane, followed by a road transfer to the Botswana border.

Once across, we head straight to Mashatu Game Reserve, arriving in time for lunch and your first look at the wilderness that will become your filming set for the next four days.

DAYS 3 to 5 - Filming in Mashatu

Accommodation: Mashatu Lodge (All meals, local drinks & laundry included)

Each day includes two filming drives - early morning and late afternoon - with plenty of downtime to rest, review footage, or ask Wim & Mags your questions.

Using a private safari vehicle and fluid video heads, you’ll capture species like lion, leopard, cheetah, elephant, and more in this wild and exclusive reserve.

DAY 6 - Travel to City Lodge in Johannesburg

Accommodation: City Lodge OR Tambo (Dinner, Bed & Breakfast)

After a final morning filming drive and breakfast, we depart Mashatu and transfer by road to Polokwane. We then fly back to Johannesburg for an overnight stay at the City Lodge.

DAY 7 - Travel to MalaMala Game Reserve

Accommodation: Mala Mala Game Reserve (All meals, local drinks & laundry included) - 4 nights

We fly from Johannesburg to Skukuza, where we are met for our road transfer into one of Africa’s most prestigious private game reserves.

DAYS 8 to 10 - Filming at MalaMala

Accommodation: Mala Mala Main Camp (All meals, local drinks & laundry included)

We will spend four days in one of Africa’s premier Big Five filming destinations.

With private vehicles and off-road access, every drive is an opportunity to capture extraordinary moments on film.

DAY 11 - Transfer to Kruger Gate Hotel – Post-Production Begins

Accommodation: Kruger Gate Hotel (All meals included) - 3 nights

Drive from Mala Mala to Kruger Gate Hotel, where the post-production phase begins.

Start editing and shaping your safari footage into a story with the guidance of Wim & Mags.

DAY 12 to 13 - Post-Production & Editing

Accommodation: Kruger Gate Hotel (All meals included)

With guidance from Wim & Mags, you’ll dive into the creative process: reviewing footage, creating string-outs, building sequences, layering sound and music, and shaping your personal short wildlife video.

This is where your African safari story comes to life.

DAY 14 - Departure

After a morning at leisure and breakfast, a road transfer takes us back to Skukuza for your flight to Johannesburg, arriving in time to connect with your international departure.

STEP 1 - PLEASE READ OUR BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS

We first recommend that you read and become familiar with our booking terms & conditions, which can be found on this page, under the PRICES box.

STEP 2 - GET IN TOUCH

Get in touch with us to confirm that there are still spaces available on the photo safari that you are interested in. Click on the “ENQUIRE NOW” button above.

STEP 3 - AWAIT A REPLY FROM US & THEN CREATE YOUR CLIENT ACCOUNT

Once we confirm with you that there is space available, and you would like to join the safari, we will send you a direct link via email. Follow this unique link to sign up to our CLIENT AREA. After you have registered with your name, email address and a password of your choice, you will then be asked to complete our online booking form.

STEP 4 - COMPLETE A BOOKING FORM

As soon as we receive your completed booking form/s (1 per participant) then you will be required to send us the deposit to secure your place on the safari.

STEP 5 - SEND YOUR DEPOSIT

Deposits can be paid via credit card, PayPal or international bank transfer. We will notify you as soon as your deposit arrives. Places on the safari will only be confirmed once we have received both a completed booking form and deposit payment.

STEP 6 - FINAL BALANCE PAYMENT

As soon as your booking form and deposit are with us, we will update your CLIENT AREA to display the outstanding balance amount. This amount will be due 90 days before the start date of the safari.