Left in awe by a wildlife documentary you saw on TV … check. Inspired to travel across the world to get up close and personal with the Big 5 in their natural habitat … check. Saved thousands of pounds to make that dream safari trip a reality … check. Bought an expensive SLR camera (treat it right and keep it safe with our tips!) to capture the moment you see a lion in the wild for the first time … check. Know how to take that perfect wildlife shot … er … wait … hang on … no!
Those who want to make sure they take home awesome photographs along with their memories of a safari now can. Pangolin Photo Safaris (they provided our feature image too!) run short photographic courses in conjunction with safaris around Botswana’s Chobe National Park.
With exceptional game viewing year round the park’s a great safari destination. It’s thousands of square miles of reserved land around the beautiful river Chobe, is home to one of the highest densities of elephant populations in Africa, as well to leopards, cheetah, lion, hyena and vast herds of buffalo.
Every aspect of the course takes place “in the field” – there’s no time wasted in a classroom! Each safari lasts a minimum of three hours. During each trip through the park groups of no more than eight people receive tuition on both the technical and artistic aspects of photography from renowned wildlife photographers and guides.
Pangolin’s safari vehicles (all-terrain Unimogs and boats) meanwhile are specifically set up for photographers. Each seat is equipped with a mounting for the high-end camera and lenses (Nikon D7000 and Sigma zoom lens) visitors are loaned for the duration of their course.
An individual safari costs $120, while a five-day course including accommodation and eight photographic outings costs $2,500.
Feast your eyes on the sights of Chobe National Park:
(Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…)
