Photo Safaris to South Africa with Photographer Gregory Sweeney

Join us on a thrilling and unforgettable wildlife photography tour in South Africa.

 

Africa Wild Safaris provides small group photo safaris and photographic tours for wildlife photographers of all skill levels

 

Our South Africa photo safari is all about maximizing time with the wildlife. Our group of 8 or less will explore the best private reserves and Kruger National Park through the lens. Improve your images by learning and sharing with your professional wildlife photographer guide Gregory Sweeney. Turn you holiday into a learning vacation and return with great photographs and stories.

 

The photographic adventure of a lifetime is possible and affordable.

We host our special safari for photographers twice each year. You can choose how long to stay with us:

 

7 Day South African Wildlife Photographer Safari & Photography Workshop

Observe South African wildlife and animal behavior while on game drives and walks on private reserves and Kruger National Park. Stay in a safari treehouse camp. Find out More...

 

13 Day Extended Safari for Photographers Adventure

Experience the South African bush at the best times for light and animal encounters. Our guides know the best places to find big cats, white and black rhino, elephant, rare species. Photographer Gregory Sweeney offeres ways to improve your images through demonstration in the field and in learning sessions. Find out More....

 

 

 

Contact us with a question or request a custom safari for your group of 4 or more through this website

Email us at Lion@AfricaWildSafaris.net

Or call us at (239)283-0022 EST

 

Notably different than other safaris for Photographers

Why we are different

 

We are wildlife photographers

 

As photographers we explore and discover the best places to find and photograph the most exciting animals. We take a maximum of only 8 guests per tour and stay at small lodges in order to allow for a personal experience for each guest.

 

We use open vehicles with 3 tears of elevated seats. Not a glass enclosed minivan like so many other operators. Private reserves allow guests, guides, tracker to get out of the vehicle to safely appoach your subject whenever possible.

 

We explore the African wildlife from an exclusive and personal family owned lodge comprised of unique treehouses, not a big impersonal lodge filled with bus tourists. The lodge keeps you close to nature but is more comfortable than permanent tent camp since the treehouses are more like cabins and have private ensuite facilities and electricity.

 

You will visit a very special place

 

Situated 20 minutes from Kruger National Park, you will be staying in an area with several contiguous private game reserves. The varied conservation efforts of the reserves (white rhino, black rhino, elephant, lions, buffalo, etc) and the large combined area with open range in proximity to Kruger greatly increase the quality and likelihood of encountering many of the more elusive species.

During the guided Game Drives you will be able to exit the vehicle and get up close to rhinos and elephants.

 

When on safari we pace ourselves for photographers and those who like to observe the animals. Your leader and local guides and trackers teach you how to read the animal's behavior and anticipate the action shots.

 

We spend time with the animals observing and waiting for that memorable moment rather and rushing off in a hurry in order to tick another animal off the list. If a special opportunity arises, we are flexible enough to change our schedule and take advantage. The range and quality of wildlife areas in this region means we do not spend whole or half days traveling between destinations: one hour is our longest travel time to get to a photographic site.

 

Though large animals are the attraction, the birds, trees , and small creatures are not forgotten. Our experienced guides know the best areas and times to find specific animals. When we find them, the drivers know how to position the vehicle to anticipate the best photographic angle and will follow photographers’ directions. Our vehicles are open so there is no hanging out the roof or obstructed views. We go on private reserves where it is possible to photograph all of the Big 5.

 

 

Time of year makes a difference to your experience

 

We visit South Africa during the change from autumn to winter. This has many advantages for our guests including the fact that this is the off season for travelers in Africa so you will have less crowds and cheaper flights. Autumn is the beginning of the dry season when less grass and undergrowth are present which means easier viewing of animals. The temperatures are lower which will ensure the animals (and the humans) can be more active – no need for closed in vehicles with AC. Dry season also means few mosquitoes and bugs to worry about.

 

Learn More with these Links

 

Get tips on preparing for a safari and photography tips

Read our Newsletter

 

View Safari Highlights

 

Get Information about our Digital Photographer's Safari and Workshop / Boot Camp

 

Wildlife Adventures Twice Each Day

Your days are active as we take you to the best game viewing and photographic opportunities

 

Our activities will vary depending on weather, animal activity, and group interests, during each safari we treat our guests to the following activities - all right near the lodge or a short drive away.

 

• Game drives and bush walks on private reserves
• A unique bush safari on elephant back
• Visit private reserves with elephant and rhinoceros sanctuaries
• Big 5 Game Drive on a world famous reserve
• A full day visits to Kruger National Park
• Canyon boat ride with hippos and crocodiles
• See predators and raptors up close at an animal rehabilitation center
• Guests on our 13 day extended stay will enjoy additional days in Kruger and on the Big 5 reserve. We will also spend a day viewing the spectacular vista of the panorama route.

 

More about our Photography Safari

View our Itinerary

 

Visit our African Photography page with tips for preparing for a photo safari

 

Suggested safari packing list

 

We are about to embark on our 2010 safaris. We are very excited and look forward to telling stories and the news from our adventure in our latest Wild TImes newsletter

 

 

 

Twice a year we publish our online and email newsletter Wild Times. Read past issues below and sign up to receive our new issues Here

 

October 2009   May 2009   December 2008   June 2008

 

 

Ivory Auction to Aid Conservation

More than R67 million ($6.7 million) raised through the auction of a stockpile of 51 tons of ivory will contribute significantly towards elephant research, community, development, anti-poaching, and conservation measures. The ivory was of illegal origin and this was the first international ivory sale in a decade

 

Bachelor Herds: A Trade Off

Male African buffalo living in bachelor herds are 4 times more likely to fall victim to predators in the Kruger than those living in mixed herds. This is because bachelor herds choose to live in areas of low visibility (and consequently increased predation risk) where as mixed herds choose more open habitats. Forage quality is better in low visibility areas however, allowing males in bachelor herds to gain more weight and have increased reproductive success.

 

Saving the Spots by Adopting a Spot

The Cape Leopard Trust is making significant progress in conserving the leopard species in the Western Cape of South Africa through a number of research projects, conservation strategies and tourism initiatives. The Cape Leopard Trust?s latest sponsorship option is the Adopt a Spot program where you can adopt a spot or rosette on the leopard of your choice for R500 per year ($60). Photographs and updates about your leopard will be sent to you quarterly. To find out more visit www.capeleopard.org.za

 

Lunch in a Crowd

Foraging in groups is thought to be beneficial for antelope species like impala at a cost of increased competition for food. There is no change in vigilance watching for predators as the size of the group increases, but when the density of the herd increases (the same number of individuals in a smaller area) members start spending more time feeding and less time watching for predators. Will they take notice if a few individuals disappear?