SOUTH AFRICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
Conservation & Wildlife Photography in South Africa
By Charly Savely.
South Africa Photography Workshop Overview
27 June – 10 July 2024
Duration: 14 days
Language spoken: English
Spots available: 10
HELLO AND WELCOME TO THE SOUTH AFRICA WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP.
I am so glad you could join me on this wild adventure we are about to go on in South Africa. Not only are we going to see and photograph some amazing wildlife and landscapes in South Africa, but we are also going behind the scenes with some of the top conservationists in the world, supporting nonprofits, learning about conservation, and helping endangered wildlife as much as we can.
This is a very special trip with several elements you can’t book on even the most exclusive trips to Africa. These are not tours we are joining. All the work we will be doing and the wildlife we will be photographing will be either out in the African bush or with non-profits in private areas closed to the public.
With workshops I always say, you get out what you put in. With that said, please let me know what you would like to learn from me and don’t be afraid to speak up! Let’s create some beautiful photos together with some amazing memories, and learn and love along the way!
SOUTH AFRICA TRIP HIGHLIGHTS.
Spend 13 days with Charly in the African Bush on a photography safari.
Track Cheetahs and Rhino on foot.
Spend the day with a Wildlife Veterinarian on an exclusive Carnivore Immobilization or collaring.
Spend 4 nights in The Kruger National Park.
Full day of Post Processing / Editing Workshop.
Spend 4 nights in the incredible Sabi Sands Game Reserve.
We will be donating to The Endangered Wildlife Trust to help safeguard the future of their most endangered carnivores and The Dinokeng Foundation to safeguard Rhino and Cheetah.
In June 2024 we will embark on a Wildlife Photography Workshop to South Africa.
On this 14-day trip we will spend 4-nights on a camping safari in the Kruger National Park home to Africa’s iconic Big 5; Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Rhino and Leopard. The Park covers an area of 2 million hectares of African wilderness and has a greater variety of wildlife than any other African National Park, earning it the classification as one of the world’s super-parks. It will be all about wildlife and outdoor adventure, spending the day in open safari vehicles, where we will get up close and personal with wildlife and spending the afternoons in photography workshops in camp. Each guest will be allocated an end seat in an open vehicle to capture the perfect shot.
During our time at The Kruger National Park we will spend one day with Wild Dog Expert, Grant Beverley who works tirelessly to save the remaining 600 Wild Dogs in South Africa. We will also get to enjoy an exclusive night drive in the park.
After Kruger we will take a short drive to the Sabi Sands Reserve where we will spend the next 4 nights. The Sabi Sands and Sabie Game Reserve is particularly well known for their amazing leopard sightings. The most elusive animal of the Big 5 is frequently spotted when going on a game drive in the reserve. Sabie and Sabi Sands offer the ultimate photographic safari one can think of. Besides the Big 5, other game species occur in great numbers, among which are over 300 bird species. Sabie and Sabi Sands possibly make the best South African safari destination for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and bird watchers alike.
After our Sabi Sands safari we will spend 3 nights in Hoedspruit. Charly will host a full day Photography and Editing Workshop at the lodge. The 2nd full day we will be join the EWT Carnivore team and go out in open safari vehicles tracking Wild Dog, using telemetry equipment.
Our final 2 nights will be spent at Dinokeng Game Reserve. On our arrival afternoon we will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to track Cheetahs creatures on foot. On our 2nd day we join The Dinokeng Wildlife Team and veterinarian for a Carnivore immobilisation and to track Rhinos in the afternoon. All three activities will be an exclusive experience for our group only.
I am very proud to share that our trip will be donating 2500 USD to The Endangered Wildlife Trust to help safeguard the future of their most endangered carnivores.
We will also be sponsoring a Carnivore Immobilization to the value of 2000 USD, a Rhino donation to the value of 2500 USD and a Cheetah Donation to the value of 2000 USD.
SOUTH AFRICA PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP ITINERARY
DAY 1: WELCOME!
Meet Charly and the Inspired Team at KMI Airport in Nelspruit .
We aim to depart at 12 pm straight to The Kruger National Park so if you are unable to arrive before this time we recommend you fly in a day earlier and overnight at an airport hotel in either Johannesburg or Mbombela.
The Kruger National Park is home to Africa’s iconic Big 5; Elephant, Lion, Buffalo, Rhino and Leopard. The park covers an area of 2 million hectares of African wilderness and has a greater variety of wildlife than any other African national park, earning it the classification as one of the world’s super-parks. Starting our photographic safari as soon as we enter the park gates, enjoying a 2 hour game drive in an open game drive vehicles. We will have two open game vehicles with each guest enjoying an end seat, perfect position to catch your shot!
On arrival into camp we settle in and relax around the campfire under the African night sky. The camp is fully fenced and it is safe to walk around and explore the different viewpoints and attractions. We will camp in 2 person canvas safari tents with a comfortable mattress and pillow. There are hot showers and clean toilets, camp chairs, a gazebo kitchen complete with fridge, cooker and storage boxes, as well as charge points in camp.
Tonight we will get to fall asleep under the stars to the sounds of roaring lions, snorting hippos and the soft croaking of frogs in the river.
Dinner included.
DAY 2 AND 3: KRUGER NATIONAL PARK.
This safari is all about wildlife and outdoor adventure, so we'll experience a guided adventure in open safari vehicles, where we will get up close and personal with the park's residents.
Our professional and passionate Kruger guides will explain and interpret what is going on in the natural environment around us as we travel along the tracks. Our morning will start with tea, coffee and rusks in camp, before heading out on an early morning photographic safari. Avid bush enthusiasts love the Kruger in winter as the cooler temperatures and thinner bush make it easier for game spotting. Animals also tend to spend more time around watering holes giving us the chance for some incredible sightings and photographic opportunities.
The park has approximately 147 species of mammals, 500 species of birds, 114 species of reptiles, so there are plenty of opportunities to experience wildlife in their natural habitat. In addition to the Big 5, cheetah, hyena, wild dog, giraffe, large herds of zebra and wildebeest, and an impressive variety of antelope are among our usual sightings.
After lunch at a remote picnic site, we will head back to camp for some R & R before heading out on an exclusive night drive.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included.
DAY 4: TRACKING WILD DOGS
Rising with the sun and venturing right into the heart of Kruger we get to view the spectacular scenery, which provides a perfect backdrop for incredible wildlife sightings.
Today we will meet carnivore expert Grant Beverley, a senior member of the EWT Carnivore Conservation Programme. We'll head out into the reserve to track packs of collared Wild Dogs, which are one of the most Endangered carnivores in Africa second to the Ethiopian Wolf.
We will spend the day in the park with Grant and enjoy breakfast and lunch at remote picnic sites, where animals roam around us. Arrive back at camp in the late afternoon.
Enjoy the sunset from the camp’s wooden deck overlooking the river, followed by dinner around the camp fire. Share our last evening in the Kruger National Park, around the camp fire eating dinner and toasting smores.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
DAY 5 TO 8: SABI SANDS.
After our morning drive and last breakfast in The Kruger National Park we will transfer to Sabie Game Reserve, which is situated within the Sabi Sands. The ultimate South African safari destination and most famous private game reserve of all.
On this photographic safari we will spend 4 nights at Umkumbe Bush Lodge. During our stay at Umkumbe we will go out on an early morning and afternoon game drives in an open 4x4 vehicle, exclusive to our group only. Knowledgeable rangers with tons of experience will guide us during our photographic safari. Sabi Sands and Sabie Game Reserve, are adjacent to South Africa's flagship Kruger National Park, offering a safari experience found nowhere else in the world. Game viewing possibilities are simply unparalleled, including the much sought after 'Big 5'. There are no fences between Kruger National Park , Sabie and Sabi Sands Game Reserve, so wildlife roam freely in a huge natural environment.
The Sabi Sands and Sabie Game Reserve are particularly well known for their amazing leopard sightings. The most elusive animal of the Big 5 is frequently spotted when going on a game drive in the reserve. As such, Sabie and Sabi Sands offer the ultimate photographic safari one can think of. Besides the Big 5, other game species occur in great numbers, among which are over 300 bird species. Sabie and Sabi Sands possibly make the best South African safari destination for wildlife enthusiasts, photographers and bird watchers alike.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
DAY 9: HOEDSPRUIT.
After catching our final sunrise in the Sabi Sands its time head over to Hoedspruit for our Photography Workshop and to join a Wild Dog expert Grant Beverly from The Endangered Wildlife Trust, a team dedicated to conserving threatened species and ecosystems across East and Southern Africa.
The afternoon is free for you to enjoy, relax and unwind.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
DAY 10: EDITING WORKSHOP
Rest, Edit, Learn - The biggest feedback we hear about any photography trips: so this morning we will enjoy a lie in and a late breakfast.
After a relaxing morning Charly will teach her editing process, as well as help you with yours. Not into photography or editing. No problem! You are still welcome to join or take the day to rest, go hiking, go Hot Air Ballooning, visit a Elephant Sanctuary.
In the evening we will be joined by The Endangered Wildlife Trust for dinner and a presentation.
Breakfast, lunch & dinner included
DAY 11: TRACKING WILD DOGS
Today we will meet carnivore expert Grant Beverley, a senior member of the EWT Carnivore Conservation Programme.
We'll head out into various areas to track packs of collared Wild Dogs, which are one of the most Endangered carnivores in Africa second to the Ethiopian Wolf. We will discover the unique, effervescent behaviour these close knit pack animals, who use strength in numbers and seamless collaboration to make them a force to be reckoned with.
Each Wild Dog has a unique coat pattern, like human fingerprints, and many of the individuals within the packs monitored are known to Grant. As a result, he has the most fascinating and intimate insights into the dogs that definitely cant be found in a book or online. We will search for the dogs using radio telemetry to confirm the health of all pack members, to update identifications, update pack composition and structure.
Wild Dogs are regularly caught in snares, hit by cars, affected by disease outbreaks and face competition with other predators and are now the most endangered carnivore in South Africa, with just 200 left in the Kruger National Park and between 600 in the whole of South Africa. Throughout the day we'll learn from Grant about their unique hunting and feeding behaviour, how they share meals between the pack and even regurgitate their food for their pups! After tracking Wild Dogs for the day we will return to our lodge for a well-earned dinner.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
DAY 12: TRACKING CHEETAH.
We will load up the vehicles and travel as a group to "a place of rivers" Dinokeng Game Reserve. The Reserves lies in the catchment area of two rivers that flow into the Olifants and Limpopo rivers and on to the Indian Ocean.
The Reserves story centers around conservation, as a project started by Provincial Government and the efforts of more than 170 landowners. Together they developed the concept that eco-tourism could become the source for upliftment of rural communities through sustainable employment.
Dinokeng Game Reserve has the potential to become a model for future conservation where people and wild animals live in harmony. And it is on the way to prove itself as an example for successful transformation with so far more than 800 permanent jobs created for people living in the adjoining communities.
After lunch and settling into our accommodation we will depart on an OSV (open safari vehicle) to track Cheetah as part of Dinokeng's observing wildlife conservation experiences. Cheetah monitor Matt Templey will take us behind the scenes to give insight into what it takes to conserve these beautiful cats. Matt will use telemetry to track the Cheetah as all are collared.
We will then have a once in a lifetime opportunity to track these creatures on foot.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
DAY 13: CARNIVORE VET EXPERIENCE AND TRACKING RHINOS.
Head out early on our first African Game Drive. Our game drive will be in two open safari vehicles, where we will be able to smell and experience nature. During our morning drive we will stop for coffee and enjoy some home baked rusks in the middle of the bush or on the riverbank
After breakfast we join The Dinokeng Wildlife Team and veterinarian for a Carnivore immobilisation which will either be collaring or whatever needs to be done at the time. This will be an exclusive experience for our group only.
After lunch awe will depart on an OSV (open safari vehicle) to track Rhino as part of Dinokeng's observing wildlife conservation experiences. We will be taken behind the scenes to give us an insight into what it takes to conserve these Endangered Species.
Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner included
DAY 14: FAREWELL.
After breakfast we will start shuttles to directly to Oliver Tambo International Airport in Johannesburg.
Please only book flights from 13h00 onwards.
Breakfast Included.
WHAT’S INCLUDED.
13 nights accommodation on twin basis
Lion Immobilization Experience - Exclusive
Cheetah Tracking on foot - Exclusive
Meals as indicated on Itinerary
All game drives at Dinokeng, Kruger National Park and Sabi Sands Game Reserve
Airport Pickup at Johannesburg International Airport
Private transfers throughout tour
Guide and hosting services during the course of the tour
Entrance and conservation fees to the reserves where applicable
Donation to The Endangered Wildlife Trust.
Airport Drop Off at Hoedspruit Airport
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED.
All items of a personal nature
Gratuities and Tipping
All Meals and beverages not mentioned in Itinerary
Domestic and International flights
Travel and Medical Insurance
Visa
OUR CHARITY PARTNERS
THE ENDANGERED WILDLIFE TRUST.
A warm welcome from the Team at The Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) in South Africa. Our purpose is to boldly prevent carnivore extinction in southern Africa. Carnivores are one of the most charismatic yet threatened orders and require innovative strategies to ensure their survival. We boldly implement large-scale, collaborative, field-based projects to increase the range, numbers, and status of Africa’s threatened carnivores. We achieve this by re-establishing, maintaining, and expanding safe space for carnivores, actively reducing threats to carnivore survival and persistence, ensuring positive changes in human-based values to carnivores, and supporting legislation to protect carnivores. We should, we can, we do save carnivores. We are proud to have partnered with Charly to host you on this behind-the-scenes expedition. Our highly skilled field staff are looking forward to hosting you in South Africa. Your trip will directly help to safeguard the future of our most endangered carnivores, Lions, Cheetah and Wild Dogs. Thank you for your support
- The Carnivore Conservation Team.
REVIEWS FROM PREVIOUS SOUTH AFRICA TRIPS
BOOK YOUR SOUTH AFRICA PHOTO WORKSHOP SPOT NOW.
To book your place on this trip please click “Join” below.
The price of the trip is $6995 USD.
A deposit of $1500 USD will be due upfront, followed by monthly instalments.
This trip will be operated in partnership with Inspired Ventures who will be the principal for the trip. The booking conditions can be found here.