Day 1 Upon arrival in Johannesburg South Africa, you will be met by our "meet & greet" service and will be escorted to an airport hotel within walking distance of the arrivals hall. First night spent in JHB

Day 2 After breakfast, you will all board a plane to Kasane in Botswana. This is a 2hour flight and upon arrival, you will be met by a representative from the Pangolin Hotel. This will be your home for the next three nights. You will arrive in time for lunch followed by your first afternoon boat ride on the Chobe River. The boat can easily accommodate six photographers.

Day 3 Morning and Afternoon photographic boat rides out on the Chobe River

Day 4 Morning and Afternoon photographic boat rides out on the Chobe River

Day 5 After a final morning out on the boat and delicious breakfast, you will depart from Kasane Airport back to JHB. You will arrive in the mid-afternoon and will overnight in JHB at an airport hotel.

The three participants who joined you for the Chobe River section will now leave on their international flights home.

Day 6 After breakfast, you will catch the domestic flight from JHB to Skukuza. At Skukuza, you will be met by a representative from Mala Mala who will drive you by road to Mala Mala Main Camp in time for lunch.

Day 7 Morning and afternoon photo game drives at Mala Mala Private Game Reserve.

Day 8 Morning and afternoon photog game drives at Mala Mala Private Game Reserve.

Day 9 Morning and afternoon photo game drives at Mala Mala Private Game Reserve.

Day 10 Morning and afternoon photo game drives at Mala Mala Private Game Reserve.

Day 11 Morning and afternoon photo game drives at Mala Mala Private Game Reserve.

Day 12 After a final morning photo game drive, you will be taken via road transfer back to Skukuza airport to catch the midday flight back to Johannesburg. You will arrive in the mid-afternoon allowing plenty of time to connect with your international flight home.

Included

• Meet & Greet service at Johannesburg International Airport
• 1 night at airport hotel (BLD) + Drinks
• Regional flight from JHB to Kasane in Botswana and from Kasane back to JHB
• 3 nights at Pangolin Hotel (BLD) + Drinks
• Photo Boat activities on the Chobe River
• 1 night at airport hotel (BLD) + Drinks
• Flight from JHB to Skukuza and from Skukuza back to JHB
• 6 nights at Mala Mala Main Camp (BLD) + Drinks
• Private use of photographic safari vehicle with experienced field guide at Mala Mala
• All road transfers as detailed in the itinerary
• All park entrance fees
• Meals as indicated: (B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner)
• DRINKS - are included but are limited to local Beer, House Wine, soft drinks (soda) and bottled water)

Excluded

• All meals & drinks not indicated
• All laundry
• Tips / gratuities for Lodge / Hotel staff and for your driver/guide at Mala Mala and boat captain on the Chobe River- see FAQ's
• Visa fees if applicable
• Personal medical, travel (including trip cancellation) & photographic equipment insurance
• Any extra nights of accommodation before or after the safari - we can arrange these for you and add it to your statement.
• INTERNATIONAL FLIGHTS

TRANSPORT

At the Chobe River, we will have sole use of one of the amazing Pangolin Photo Boats. These boats are incredibly stable and come equipped with their own camera supports and gimbals.

At Mala Mala, we will have sole use of a photo modified safari vehicle. Each participant with have an entire row of seats to themselves allowing plenty of space for camera equipment and guaranteed access to BOTH sides of the safari vehicle. Photo platforms and beanbags are provided.

LODGING - JHB AIRPORT

We are scheduled to stay for 2 nights in Johannesburg whilst in transit on this photo tour. We will be staying at a hotel within walking distance of the main arrivals hall.

LODGING - CHOBE RIVER

We will be staying at the Pangolin Hotel located in Kasane near the Chobe River in very comfortable en-suite rooms

LODGING - MALA MALA MAIN CAMP 

We will be staying at Mala Mala’s Main Camp in very comfortable en-suite rooms

AEROPLANES

There are two return flights on this photo safari. 

1x Regional return flight

1x Domestic return flight

1) JHB to Kasane (Botswana) back to JHB (flight time is approx 2hrs one way)

2) JHB to Skukuza, back to JHB (flight time is approx 50mins one way)

The flight from Johannesburg to Skukuza is approx 50 mins mins
The flight from Skukuza Airport back to Johannesburg is approx 50 mins

** If you wanted to add on the optional extension to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe - it would make logistical sense to do this BEFORE the Chobe River Section. We can arrange for you to fly to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe from Johannesburg, and then once the extension is over, we will arrange for you to have a road transfer from Victoria Falls through to Kasane, where you would meet up with the rest of the group at the Pangolin Hotel. 

Specific FAQs

• How long are the flight & road transfers on this photo safari?

  You will catch a domestic flight from Johannesburg to Skukuza Airport. This is a 50 min flight.
  
  At Skukuza, you will be met by a representative from Mala Mala who will drive you to the camp. This road transfer is approx 45 mins

• What are the luggage restrictions on this photo safari?

  On all our safaris it is preferable to use a soft duffel type bag for your main luggage (not hard suitcases) These are easier to pack into vehicles and planes. The normal luggage restriction as far as weight goes is 20 kgs for hold luggage and 8 kgs for Cabin Luggage. We all know that as photographers 8 kgs for camera equipment is not enough! However, you will find that the size of the bag is more important. A normal Think Tank type camera bag (airport accelerator) should carry the amount of equipment you need for your safari. When checking in, politely explain that it is expensive camera equipment and cannot go in the luggage hold.

  Usually, they allow you on with no problem as long as the bag can fit either in the overhead locker or under the seat in front of you. If for any reason you are refused to board with your camera bag (this seldom happens) then they will ask you to "sky check" your bag. Here you take your bag to the plane and leave it at the bottom of the stairs where it will be taken to a special storage area for the duration of the flight. When you step off the plane at the end of the flight, your bag will be waiting for you.

• What "stable shooting platforms" do you offer on this photo safari?

  Having a stable shooting platform on safari vehicles is a crucial element to successfully achieve good images. You need to be comfortable when shooting so that you can concentrate on the image. You will often sit and wait patiently for long periods of time for a shot to present itself - being comfortable is paramount.

  At Mala Mala, we will make use of special photo platforms that attach to the vehicle. Beanbags are provided for your use.
  
  At the Chobe River, we will be using the photo modified Pangolin boat. This amazing boat makes our photography so easy and comfortable.
  
  See the Transport & Lodging TAB for images of the vehicle and boat.

• Are we able to go off road to get closer to the animals on this photo safari?

  MALA MALA PRIVATE GAME RESERVE
  
  Yes, we are allowed off-road but at the discretion of the ranger who will be driving our vehicle. It is not a simple case of crashing off into the bush after wildlife. The ranger has to assess each situation before going off-road. Some areas are more sensitive to damage than others and some trees and bushes are more vulnerable than others. You can be assured that the ranger wants to show you the animals and get you as close as possible but on some occasions, we will have to respect the rules of the reserve as well as the environment and the comfort levels of the wildlife.

• What do you expect the weather to be like on this photographic safari?

  This photo safari will run during the cooler Southern African winter months of July & August. This time of year offers mostly clear skies, pleasant days, cool evenings and very little rain

• What clothing & equipment would be relevant on this photo safari?

  We have a more detailed kit list which we will send out to you at the time of registration

• Is there a laundry service available on this photo safari?

  There is a limited laundry service available at both Mala Mala and the Chobe Hotel in Botswana (Laundry is for your own account)

• How do we recharge camera batteries and laptops on this photo safari?

  All the accommodations you will be staying at on this safari will have electric points for recharging your batteries and laptops. We will send you a detailed plug information document before you start your safari

• Is there any internet access / mobile phone reception on this photo safari?

  All locations offer free Wifi. There is also cell / mobile phone reception, through this you can connect to the internet on your own data plan.

• How early can we leave camp and how late can we return on this photo safari?

  At Mala Mala, we usually leave before sunrise on our morning photo game drive
  
  Short night drives are also offered at Mala Mala so we usually return to camp after sunset
  
  The morning Boat rides at the Chobe River will commence just before sunrise and they last for 3 hours.
  
  The Afternoon boat ride must be back just after sunset

• What is a typical day "in the field" on this photo safari?

  MALA MALA
  
  Meet at the safari vehicle just before sunrise and head out taking a packed breakfast with us. We make use of the best morning light for photography and then stop at a convenient time to enjoy our breakfast in the bush. We usually return to camp between 11:00 and 12:00. Lunch at 13:00 followed by a short break and then we head out again at around 15:00. We stay out until after sunset when we return to camp to freshen up for dinner at 20:00
  
  CHOBE RIVER
  
  Meet at 05:30 for a small breakfast (cereals, toast, preserves, yoghurt, fruit, coffee/tea & cookies)

  Depart on our 3hr morning photo boat excursion. We usually get back to the lodge at around 10:00. Brunch is enjoyed at around 11:00. Afternoon tea will be served just before we head out for the 3hr afternoon photo boat excursion which will begin at around 15:00. Return to the hotel by 18:30 and enjoy dinner at 19:30
  
  ** Times are subject to change **

• What is the recommended Tipping Policy on this photographic safari ?

  Tipping is a safari tradition in Africa. We respectfully request that you follow our guidelines regarding tipping as it helps to set a standard across all of our photo safaris.

  Any form of gratuity should be earned by the recipient through excellent service and for effort beyond their job description. If for any reason you do not feel comfortable tipping then please let your tour leader know.

  We do our utmost to source quality safari companies/lodges/hotels and guides who have a similar work ethic and passion to us. The staff and guides work extremely hard to make sure we have a good time and they are incredibly patient and flexible.

  We will send you a detailed recommended tipping policy for this photo tour in your Arrival Information Document, which will be sent to you 2 weeks before the start of your photo safari.

General FAQs

• Do I need a visa for my photo safari ?

  It is best to contact the embassy of the country you will be travelling to, and double-check to see what their latest policies are with regards to Visas and whether you should apply for them before you travel or if you can obtain them at the port of entry.

• Is smoking allowed ?

  Smoking is not allowed in the safari vehicle and generally, it is not a very good idea to smoke in the bush as the grass is often tinder dry and bush fires can start easily. We do not take specific breaks for smoking either, but we will stop at relevant times for everyone to have a break and stretch their legs or have a cup of coffee. This would be your opportunity to have a smoke break. We ask you to respect the environment and carry your cigarette ends away with you.

• How do you deal with "comfort breaks" when out on photo safari ?

  Spending long hours in the safari vehicles will inevitably end up in folks needed a bathroom stop. We have to respect the rules of the different parks when it comes to this and these rules will be explained before the start of each safari. Generally, the safari saying of "any tree is a lavatree (lavatory)" goes. We will make sure we stop in a safe location for the comfort break.

  The Kruger National Park is the only location that has proper washroom facilities at designated picnic sites or in the camps, and as per the rules of the park, we are required to stop at these specific places, not anywhere in the bush. Botswana, Kenya and Tanzania have limited facilities, and stopping at an appropriate place in the bush is allowed.

• How do you deal with unexpected emergencies ?

  All of our safaris have emergency procedures in place. We will have contact with the office via either radio, cell phone or satellite phone. The office would then dispatch the relevant help - be it medical or otherwise.
  
  In the case of medical assistance, the initial recovery from the field to the most relevant medical facility would be covered by our safari insurance. Your medical insurance would need to cover you for all other expenses.

• I have special dietary requirements, can you cater for this ?

  Yes, we can cater for special medical dietary requirements, but you need to inform us of these requirements when you register. We will then be able to inform the lodges/camps we will be staying at about your requests well in advance.

  Depending on what your special requirements are there may be a surcharge for this service.

• Will we have leisure time to sleep in or relax by the pool ?

  Your time on safari is YOURS, you can feel free to use it as you wish. However, I can confidently say that very few people have ever opted to sleep in or spend time at the pool. This is a photo safari after all. Our main reason for being on the safari is to spend every possible minute doing photography so leisure time is not something people normally request.

  On occasion people have wanted to sleep in on one day or skip an afternoon game drive, this is entirely up to you. However please note that we will not change our usual schedule to accommodate "leisure time" If for example, you decided to sleep in, you would not have the right to request the vehicle to come back and collect you at a more convenient time.

  The photographers who go out with the vehicle can decide when to return. If you have a private vehicle to yourself then you can do as you please.

• Credit Cards or cash - what should I bring ?

  Credit Cards are by far the most convenient  90% of the time. Bringing along some cash as a backup is also a good idea. US$ are readily accepted in most African Countries and can also be used in some local shops (**Please note that there are some exceptions like South Africa and Namibia - both of these countries DO NOT ALLOW the use of US$ in their economy.
  
  ** If you are unsure please ASK us about which option is most suitable for the safari you are doing.

  As far as tipping goes (more on the tipping section) you could separate it into the following two scenarios:
  
  1) Your Local Driver / Guide / Ranger: - this can be done in US$ - CASH only
  
  2) Lodge / Camp staff
  > Kenya - this can be done in US$ - CASH or CARD
  > Tanzania - this can be done in US$ - CASH only
  > Botswana - this can be done in US$ - CASH only
  > South Africa - this can be done in US$ - CASH or CARD ** this depends on the actual accommodation used - please ask us for clarity **
  > Namibia - this can be done in US$ - CASH or CARD ** this depends on the actual accommodation used - please ask us for clarity **
  
  Any other major foreign currency will also be readily accepted (EURO, GBP)
  
  If you have any concerns please contact us and we will clarify it for you further.

• What fitness level is required on your photo safaris ?

  All of our scheduled photo safaris (except for Namibia) are vehicle-based for the majority of the time. You will need to be in reasonable health but we will not undergo any long walks or hikes unless you personally choose to do so, or unless it is detailed in the safari description. Our extensions and custom safaris might warrant a different fitness level - please ask us for more details about the fitness level required for your specific custom photo safari or chosen extension.
  
  Our Landscape tours of Namibia do require a fairly good level of fitness to get the most out of them. There is a lot of sand in Namibia and walking in this sand and up sand dunes are part of the trip. If you have more questions about fitness levels PLEASE ask us before signing up on any of our safaris.

• Is there a risk of getting malaria on the photo safari ?

  On any trip to Africa, there is a risk of getting Malaria. Some areas have a higher risk than others. As we are not medical doctors we cannot advise you about whether or not you should take malaria medication. Our advice is to consult your local doctor or travel clinic and ask them for their opinion based on the most up to date and relevant information regarding malaria as well as any other potential diseases.

• What Vaccinations do I need for Africa ?

  This is a topic you would need to consult a doctor or travel clinic about as details of these change on an ongoing basis. Be sure to ask your doctor or clinic about YELLOW FEVER as it is relevant in some of the countries we visit.
  
  We highly recommend that you contact your doctor or clinic as soon as you can after registering to do a photo safari with us.

• I really enjoy photographing birds, do you take time to stop for these too ?

  Yes, we do spend time photographing birds.

  On our photo safaris, we will be stopping for "the large and colourful birds". If you would like to try and cover the birds in more detail then we recommend you travel with a like-minded photographer or that you book out a private safari vehicle so that you can go entirely at your own pace.

  The pace of a regular photo safari compared with a bird photo safari is very different. If you do stop for every single bird no matter the distance or size, you will fall far behind the other vehicles who might find other sightings that you might not be able to get to in time. You would need to understand this and know that you cannot be everywhere at the same time and you will miss out on other sightings and photo opportunities. Also be aware that if you are sharing a vehicle with other photographers that you do not know, they may not be as interested in stopping for every single bird.

• Can I drink the local water in Africa ?

  In general, we would recommend that you stick to bottled drinking water on all the safaris. In Kenya and Tanzania, this also includes brushing your teeth with bottled water. In South Africa it is possible to drink the local water and brush your teeth with it, so the risk of getting ill is small, however, we still recommend you drink bottled water.

• Will our vehicles be in radio contact with other safari vehicles ?

  Yes, the vehicles in our group are in radio contact with each other and we do pass on relevant information about photo opportunities to each other.
  
  Our local guides are also excellent at acquiring any relevant pieces of information from their colleagues and friends. In Kenya, our guides do make use of cell phones to relay relevant information when radio comms are weak. 

• What electrical system can I expect to find ?

  Each country has its own electrical and plug system. After you have registered to do a photo safari with us, we will send you our "PLUG & VOLTAGE" document which will explain this topic in more detail.

• Can I add on an extension to my photo safari ?

  YES, it is possible to add on an extension to any of our safaris if you wanted to stay longer or visit a different place. There are some extension suggestions on the photo safari pages under the "EXTENSIONS" tab. Please ask us if you need help with this.
  
  Alternatively, you can also request a specific extension that you might like to do and we will gladly set this up for you.

• Can you arrange accommodation for me if I wanted to arrive early to help acclimatise before the start of my safari ?

  Yes this is possible to arrange for you - please ask us at the time of registration

• I would like the exclusive use of a photo safari vehicle can you arrange this ?

  Yes, this is possible to arrange, there will, of course, be a surcharge for the exclusive use of the safari vehicle, please ask us what this would be for the safari you are interested in.

• What is in your guides Training Manual ?

  Having worked with many different guides in different locations I have found that it is always nice and refreshing to have a guide with new ideas and suggestions and work together to achieve new images. It is also important though that the basics are understood by all the guides we use on our photo safaris which is why my training manual came to be.

  The manual covers the basics of how to guide photographers, looking at the light, the distance from the subject and parking in a position to predict the animals next move. The manual also illustrates "in the field examples" so that guides know what we photographers are talking about when we say "can we move 1 meter forward, my background is not good from this position, etc etc..." !!

  The manual has a big section on communication - this is the key to a successful safari. Both guides and photographers need to know what is going on so that they can prepare for potential situations, never assume, always ask, it will allow you to achieve more successful images.

• What is a "Private" Photographic vehicle ?

  We secure the use of "Private" Photographic vehicles on all of our safaris. This is a very important element of a successful photographic safari. Essentially it means that you will not share the vehicle with other guests staying at the lodge/camp who are not part of our group. Regular safari clients and nature photographers do not mix very well. You will want to stay for extended periods at a sighting waiting for the best photo opportunities.

  Many regular safari clients just want to see an animal, take one picture and leave to go and look for more animals to tick off their list. We avoid this by securing private safari vehicles at all locations. Understandably there is a surcharge to hire these vehicles as the lodge or camp has to issue a specific vehicle and guide for our group and the vehicle is not filled with up to 9 people as it often is on regular safaris. In our case, there will only be a maximum of up to 3 photographers per safari vehicle.

• What do I do if I have to cancel my photo safari ?

  Our full booking terms and conditions are found at this link on our website:
  
  https://www.wild4photographicsafaris.com/booking-terms-and-conditions
   

• Do you offer full day game drives ?

  Authentic photographic safaris, by their very nature, have to be flexible. We do our utmost to accommodate our client's needs and requests which are very different from regular safari clients. We take each day as it comes and yes we are able to be flexible and stay out all day if a particular situation warrants it.

  For example, if we are far from camp and are patiently waiting for a Leopard to descend a tree, a Cheetah to hunt or a group of Wildebeest to cross the Mara River, then we will stay out. It is always a good idea to bring along some extra snack bars for these situations.

  However, If there is nothing worthwhile waiting for and no particular need for us to stay out the whole day, we will return to the camp/lodge for lunch and a short break before heading out again once the animals start to become more active and the photographic light improves.

Booking Procedure

• Get in touch with us to confirm that there are still spaces available on the photo safari that you are interested in. Please fill out the “ENQUIRE” form on this page
• 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. This will allow you 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 able to complete our online booking form

To SUBMIT the booking form, you will need to have read, understood and agree to our booking terms and conditions.

If you would like to read our booking terms & conditions, they can be found here: BOOKING TERMS & CONDITIONS

Please note that each participant must complete their own booking form.

• Once your booking form has been submitted, you will then be required to make the deposit payment.

We offer two options for payment of the deposits:

• International Bank Transfer
• Paypal

Please note that ALL bank fees are for your account.

Bank fees for a Bank Transfer vary depending on your own bank but are usually in the region of US$ 50 to US$ 80

Payments through PayPal carry a 4% handling fee

• Your place/s on the safari will only be confirmed once we have received your completed booking form/s and deposit payment/s
• As soon as your booking form/s and deposit/s are with us, we will update your CLIENT AREA to display the outstanding balance amount, which will be due 90 days before the start date of the safari.

VICTORIA FALLS Photo Safari Extension - Zimbabwe

If you are interested in doing this 2-night extension to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe, then please let us know at the time of your enquiry.
Stu Porter sometimes accompanies the extension, but clients most often complete the extension on their own. We will arrange all the logistics for you.

DESCRIPTION:
One of the 7 Natural Wonders of the world, Victoria Falls is only a couple of hours away from Kasane / Chobe in Botswana.
If you are interested in adding on a visit to the Victoria Falls, we recommend that you do this BEFORE the Chobe River section of the scheduled photo safari.

You would need to make sure that you arrive in Johannesburg 3 days earlier than the start date of the scheduled trip. We would then arrange for you to fly to Victoria Falls direct from Johannesburg. You would be met at the airport and taken to the Ilala Lodge in Victoria Falls for a 2-night stay, during which you can visit the falls on foot or enjoy a helicopter ride and photograph the falls from the air which is very worthwhile. We can arrange all these extras for you. After a final morning of photography at the falls, we will arrange for you to have a road transfer from Victoria Falls to Kasane in Botswana. (This will involve a border crossing). You would be in Kasane in time for lunch and meet up with the rest of the group.

PRICE:
$ Please enquire

ITINERARY:
Day 1 - Arrive in JHB and overnight (we will credit you with this first night as you would have needed it anyway - it is included in the price of the scheduled trip (Bed & Breakfast only)
Day 2 - Depart after breakfast from JHB to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. You would arrive at your hotel in time for lunch - afternoon at leisure doing some of the activities on offer (overnight Victoria Falls)
Day 3 - Full day spent at Victoria Falls, visiting the Falls and doing optional activities like helicopter flights etc. (overnight Victoria Falls)
Day 4 - Depart after a final morning activity and breakfast for Kasane in Botswana - arrive in time for lunch at the Pangolin Hotel and meet up with the rest of the group.

INCLUDED in the package:
- Flights or road transfers can be included in this package (please let us know at the time of your enquiry)
- 02 nights at Ilala Lodge in Zimbabwe (B)
- Meals as indicated: (B = Breakfast L = Lunch D = Dinner)

NOT INCLUDED in the package:
- All meals not indicated
- All Drinks
- Laundry
- Visa Fees
- Change of Itinerary
- All activities such as entrance fees to the Victoria Falls, boat rides and Helicopter rides