South Africa Photo Safari and Photography Workshop

Hosted by Professional Wildlife Photographer Gregory Sweeney

Realize your dream of a wildlife photography tour in Africa. Combine the thrill of an African safari with your passion for photography for an exciting and satisfying adventure.

Photographers have a special approach to viewing wildlife and they will benefit by traveling with a group and guide who will cater to their needs rather than one that is geared for the average tourist. With Africa Wild Safaris, our photo safari is all about maximizing time with the wildlife. Our groups of 4 - 6 will explore the best private reserves and Kruger National Park through the lens. Photographers of all skill levels are welcome; anyone who is interested in learning, practicing, and loves wildlife is right for this trip. You will stay at our very own tree house lodge on a private game reserve right near Kruger National Park and on a big 5 reserve. Our goal is to offer the best photo safari at an affordable price.

 

The photographic adventure of a lifetime is possible.

 

10 Day Photography Safari in South Africa
April 17 - 26, 2012	4 spaces left
Sept 26 - Oct 5, 2012	6 spaces left
2013 Safaris
May 1 - 10, 2013	now booking
Sept 25 - Oct 4, 2013	now booking

Special 12 Day Photography Safari Including Sabi Sands
May 30 - June 10, 2012	only 2 spaces

 

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Time is Running Out to Join our 2012 Safaris   Special 12 days Safari Including Sabi Sands- 2 Spaces Remain May 30 - June 10 I will be leading a special photographic safari that includes all of the private reserve action while at our exclusive tree house lodge and the big cat lodge. In addition we will be spending 2 nights at the famous Sabi Sands reserve for a total of 12 photography and wildlife packed days. This trip will be limited to 5 guests only. $4,750 per person inclusive of airport transfers, lodging, food, and activities. Join Our 10 Day Photographic Safari There are still a few spaces left on my 10 day safari April 17 - 26th or Sept 26 - Oct 5. Guests will stay at or tree house lodge and enjoy game drives on private reserves including the Thornybush big 5 reserve, other private reserves, and Kruger National Park. We also stay at a big cat lodge on a big 5 reserve packed with wildlife with special emphasis on big cats. $3,900 per person inclusive of airport transfers, lodging, food, and activities. Contact us now if you would like to join this great safari 10 Day Photography Safari in South Africa April 17 - 26, 2012 4 spaces left Sept 26 - Oct 5, 2012 6 spaces left 2013 Safaris May 1 - 10, 2013 now booking Sept 25 - Oct 4, 2013 now booking Special 12 Day Photography Safari Including Sabi Sands May 30 - June 10, 2012 only 2 spaces Welcome to Our Corner of South Africa Our safaris take place in Limpopo Province, South Africa's northern most province. Limpopo features vast expanses of bushveld and grasslands sweeping the landscape making this big 5 country. It is sanctuary to a large percentage of the county's wildlife with many game parks an animal sanctuaries. Temperatures are higher in the lowvld zone –the warmest winter temperatures in the counry. The terrain ranges from typical bushveld to more mountainous areas and there are stretches of forests and farmlands. Timbavati Private Reserve Many of our game drives will take place on the Timbavati Reserve and our tree house lodge borders with this big 5 preserve. Timbavati is one of the oldest private nature reserves in South Africa and adjoins the Kruger National Park with no fence for free movement of wildlife. It comprises 53,000 hectares of land and lies north of the Sabi Sands reserve. The character of the land is "savanna bushveld" with 6 different woodland types. Elephant, rhino, and plains game abound along with their attending predators. Wild dogs are also visitors to the area. Rarer antelopes such as roan, eland, and tsessebe have been slower to return to the area, but their numbers are increasing. Sabi Sands Private Reserve The Sabi Sands Reserve is adjacent to the Kruger National park, south of Timabavati and consists of various private game reserves. The fences between this privately owned land and Kruger were torn down years ago and these reserves enjoy fame as a premiere area to view wildlife especially leopards and lions. The area features Sand River valley running through it as it flows toward the Sabie river at the southern border. It is one of the most biodiverse wildlife populations in Africa. Kruger National Park Kruger National park covers almost 2 million hectares of beautiful unspoilt terrain and is home to the world's largest diversity of wildife in their natural environment. The south part of the park is treed with a few small hills and rocky outcrops. Centrally, grassland plains stretch for kilometers and as one travels further north, the surroundings are more sparse and arid and Mopani bush predominates. The wildlife species vary with the different eco zones. Using Lightroom Metadata to Research Best Settings With all of the integration tools, added image adjustment capabilities, and printing options going into Lightroom, it is easy to forget that LR is a database. Like all databases, it is only as good as the data is complete and detailed, but if you manage the detail you can create a powerful learning and efficiency tool. For my large collections of images taken of a single subject at the same location (manatees, dolphins, lions). To enhance the data already connected to the image, I enforce the discipline of recording the location in detail (for example: north corner or in canal), the sky and lighting conditions, and for underwater – the visibility. I also rate each photo before I do any adjustments. I have learned some surprising things such as most of my best manatee photographs happened between 9am and 9:30am. Using the Library Filter panel in LR, I can use it like a query tool to see a count of images taken with the conditions (entered as keywords) and combinations of the ISO, flash, rating, etc that I choose. While not the most flexible query tool, I can get valuable data about what settings make a great shot for that location and conditions. When I have my manatee workshop next week I will be able to look at the time, weather, and water conditions and recommend settings to the guests based on what worked in the past. Of course you can use the histogram on the camera screen and your experience to do the same thing, but many times I can't take the time to analyze and adjust in the field (while cageless with sharks or at a lion hunt) Thus is the nature of wildlife and sports photography. If you needed another reason to keep you photos organized and properly loaded, taking this "big picture" look at a collection of images of your favorite subject is very rewarding. Read the extended version of this article on my blog www.PhotographAfrica.com

Experience the South African wildlife at the best times for light and animal encounters. Our guides know the best places to find big cats, white and black rhino, elephant, and elusive rare species. Photographer Gregory Sweeney offers ways to improve your images through demonstration in the field and in informal learning sessions back at our lodge.

 

We will photograph in Kruger National Park, Thornybush Big 5 Reserve, and other private reserves and special sites.

 

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Safari Details

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We can also arrange a custom safari for your group of 4 or more

Why we are different than other wildlife safaris

 

Why we are different

 

We are wildlife photographers and a family owned business; you will be staying part of the safari at our own small tree house lodge in South Africa on a wildlife conservancy.

 

As photographers we explore and discover the best places to find and photograph the most exciting animals. We take a maximum of only 6 guests per tour(in special cases 8) and stay at small lodges in order to allow for a personal experience for each guest.

We keep the cost low by avoiding luxury lodges and overpriced operators while not comprising on the quality of the reserves and parks we visit. The lodging is comfortable and provides a personal experience and the food is great.

We use open vehicles with 3 tiers of elevated seats: not a glass enclosed minivan like so many other operators. No popping out the top! Open vehicles allow you to shoot in all directions. Our drivers are skilled in positioning the vehicle and approaching the animal. We stay until everyone gets their shot or the subject exits. Some private reserves allow guests, guides,and tracker to get out of the vehicle if you can safely approach your subject.

 

We explore the African wildlife from our own exclusive and personal bush 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 tented camp since the treehouses are more like cabins and have private ensuite facilities and electricity with lots of outlets for camera equipment and a safe.

 

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. We drive on the famous Thornybush reserve as well as other private reserves in the Timbavati

 

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 in the autumn and spring. 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

 

Details, Dates, Prices for the Safari and photography Workshops

Get tips on preparing for a safari and photography tips on my blog

 

Read Comments from our Guests

 

Read our Newsletter

 

 

Our Wild Times Newsletter is our way of keeping you up to date on our safaris. We also include a report after each safari, photography tips, travel information, and animal facts.You can follow our safaris and photo tours in more detail on our blog at www.PhotographAfrica.com

 

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This is a Cinemagraph created from a still image and video shot on my Canon 5D Mach II

 

 

 

January 2012	October 2011	May 2011
October 2010	June 2010	October 2009
May 2009	December 2008	June 2008

 

 

 

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